Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2013 12 Hacker
Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2013 12 Hacker
Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2013 12 Hacker
Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2013 12 Hacker
Machinedesign Com Sites Machinedesign com Files Uploads 2013 12 Hacker

You knew this was coming: Hacker figures out how to skyjack drones

Dec. 9, 2013
It had to happen. A noted hacker now claims he can highjack simple drones and get control of them. Samy Kamkar, a privacy and security researcher perhaps best known for creating the Evercookie, a nearly-impossible-to-delete web browser cookie, says he uses a Parrot AR.Drone 2 to fly in the vicinity of the drone target. This quadcopter, widely available for about $200, looks for the wireless signal that is used to control the target drone, then disconnects the wireless connection and pretends to be the owner.

It had to happen.

A noted hacker now claims he can highjack simple drones and get control of them. Samy Kamkar, a privacy and security researcher perhaps best known for creating the Evercookie, a nearly-impossible-to-delete web browser cookie, says he uses a Parrot AR.Drone 2 to fly in the vicinity of the drone target. This quadcopter, widely available for about $200, looks for the wireless signal that is used to control the target drone, then disconnects the wireless connection and pretends to be the owner.

skyjack youtube video

Other components in Kamkar's highjacking system include a Raspberry Pi, a USB battery, and a wireless transmitter. He also uses some freely available hacker software, including a WEP and WPA-PSK key cracking program that can recover keys once enough data packets have been captured. Also used is a program called SkyJack that Kamkar developed himself.

SkyJack also works when grounded as well, no drone is necessary on your end for it to work. You can simply run it from your own Linux machine/Raspberry Pi/laptop/etc. and jack drones straight out of the sky," says Kamkar on his web site.

Kamkar says he wrote SkyJack primarily in Perl. The key cracking program puts the WiFi card into monitor mode, at which point it detects all wireless networks and clients around, deactivates any clients connected to Parrot AR.drones, connects to the now free Parrot AR.Drone as its owner, then uses freeware control software to control the targeted drones.

Kamkar says he detects drones by seeking out any wireless connections from MAC addresses owned by the Parrot company.

Kamkar's scheme works with Parrot drones because these devices actually launch their own wireless network through which the owner connects to the drone. Kamkar's hack takes over by deauthenticating the owner, then connecting back in and exploiting the fact that the wireless connection temporarily went down. Thus, the idea won't work with drones that don't use the same communication scheme or which use encrypted messaging.

Sponsored Recommendations

Altech's Liquid Tight Strain Relifs Catalog

March 13, 2024
With experienced Product Engineers and Customer Service personnel, Altech provides solutions to your most pressing application challenges. All with one thought in mind - to ensure...

Industrial Straight-Through Cable Gland

March 13, 2024
Learn more about Altech's cable glands and all they have to offer for your needs!

Smooth Sorting with SEW-EURODRIVE!

Feb. 22, 2024
Sorting systems are essential when it comes to warehouse automation, material handling, and distribution. SEW-EURODRIVE’s automated sorting solutions increase capacity, reliability...

Setting the Agricultural Industry in Motion

Feb. 22, 2024
Agricultural products go through specialized processes of harvesting, storing, conveying, cleaning, drying, sorting, and handling to ensure that seasonal products reach the processing...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!