2011's "Coolest Hacks" Uncovered

By siliconindia   |   Friday, 30 December 2011, 21:14 IST
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3. Minor hacker sets back time

“CyFi”, a 10 year old hacker, got bored with her favorite mobile game, and so tried to figure a way around the level settings that would let her advance in the game, i.e. to turn time forward on the device. The result almost stole the show at the DefCon Kids conference held this year in August. Cyfi discovered a way to restart the clock on the free trial of the mobile game, which worked on a number of other games (including some online games) and other OSs as well.

 

4. Hack-able insulin pumps

Jerome Radcliffe, SCADA security expert Jerome Radcliffe who is also diabetic, found out that his CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor) device could be hacked, when he tried to do so out of curiosity. His device (and four others from Medtronic) just chirped feebly, and gave in to his attack, and the attempt worked on insulin pumps as well. Not only could he switch off the devices remotely, but he could also alter the dosage of insulin administered via GSM. 
Barnaby Jack, a security researcher with McAfee, showed at the Hacker Halted conference (later this year), how to administer a similar attack that he said could administer a deadly dose of insulin using Medtronic’s insulin pumps. All he needed was an antenna, and some software.