Want to See the Homemade Spy Drone That Can Hack Phone Calls?
- Posted on August 4, 2011 at 3:54pm by
Buck Sexton
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Unmanned Aerial vehicles may be moving from far-off battlefields to the home front sooner than you think.
And considering one just unveiled, you might want to start worrying.
Wired is reporting on the WASP — Wireless Aerial Surveillance Platform — a spy drone created by two security consultants with about $6,000 and a military surplus FMQ-117B target drone. Mike Tassey and Rick Perkins demonstrated the WASP yesterday at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The capabilities of the clandestine mini-plane are breathtaking, according to Wired, comprising a:
“Personal remote-controlled spy plane, complete with WiFi and hacking tools, such as an IMSI catcher and antenna to spoof a GSM cell tower and intercept calls, as well as a network sniffing tool and a dictionary of 340 million words for brute-forcing network passwords.”
You can watch a test flight from May below:
At a weight of only 14 pounds and six feet in length, the drone is much smaller than most military counterparts, making it even more suitable for use in heavily populated areas. While FAA regulations mandate that the plane must fly below 400 feet and remain within line of site, the drone is quiet enough even at that restricted altitude to hover overhead and collect digital data.
On the technical expertise required to build and operate the WASP, Perkins said, “You don’t need a PhD from MIT to do this.” Perkins and Tassey created the drone to show others that it could be done, and to promote the possible positive uses of the technology as well as prepare the public for nefarious use in the future as well.
Search and rescue attempts, disaster relief, and, of course, law enforcement surveillance could utilize a drone like the WASP. However, it seems only a matter of time before criminals and terrorists turn to this technology to steal data, jam communications, or conduct reconnaissance for attacks. In a well-publicized example, the Terrorist group Hezbollah back in 2006 apparently rammed an explosives-laden drone into an Israeli warship.
As this technology continues to evolve, the public learns more, and the parts become less expensive, there is a good chance you might see something like this flying over your house one day soon.
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Comments (90)
vtxphantom
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:02pmTime to pull my ground to air model rockets out the box. If those don’t work I have the 12 gauge. This could be fun!
Report Post »yanki161
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:57pmYou think THIS is scary, you should see this:
http://video.designworldonline.com:80/video/vid=0f7d1e1689b1472a83149c3c5d822235
I guess it all depends on who has it and against whom it is used.
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:13pmInteresting video.
Report Post »Thanks for the link.
Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:33pm.
Report Post »Here, let me show you my “Drone Jammer”
I bought on the internet.
Zoom–splat.
truth-seeker2020
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:01pmOne triangulated “electromagnetic pulse” aka EMP blast may bring all MAV down.
Report Post »Perspective
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 8:58pmThat is a sweet video and it’s even better because I live about a mile from the AFRL. I was in Meijers in teh RC section and you can buy a drone that takes still pictures or video and its only about 6 or 7 inches tall. I think it was like $60 or so.
Report Post »OLDBIKEFIXER
Posted on August 7, 2011 at 7:42amIf they were even in the experimental stage, the video would have been made using an actual aircraft, and not by a computer-generated cartoon.
There have been radio-controlled airplanes with wingspans as small as 8 inches available to hobbyists for over a decade. These most likely will be what is used to develop the surveillance devices discussed in this article. However, their biggest drawback is their short flight times, caused by their size, which dictates that only light-weight, small, battery-powered motors, or internal-combustion engines can be used. Small size equals small load carrying capacity.
Of course, as battery technology advances, I‘m sure we’ll see these aircraft develop into something that should be monitored.
Report Post »billsweb
Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:48pmI clicked on it and got “File Not Found ”
Report Post »70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:47pmThis is what we got with the electronics college helicopter contest. There using it against us. Some of us in electronics that headed some of those college programs could make a transmitter to drop that out of the sky like a rock.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:56pmgreat maybe this drone can be used for some good
Report Post »I hope the builder is a Patriot
muhamadhater
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:56pmwant 2 see the govrnment waisting more money ? check this out!!
Report Post »http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/04/palestinian-authority-pays-millions-in-salaries-to-jailed-terrorists-with-help/?test=latestnews
Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:23pmThe finer the circuitry, the more susceptible to EMP.
Report Post »AIDANMAN
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:44pmPLEASE… i fly radio contol airplanes… this is easy to do .. off the shelf stuff….. the military stuff is smaller… how do we know? they demonstrate it or is developed be people we fly with… and it won’t be yellow when it spying on you.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:58pmspying can work both ways
Report Post »just think if you heard John Bohner talking with Harry Reed about a
NWO debt deal to funnel tax revenue to the Private Federal Reserve ?
weeblewacker1
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:11pmsame here,been flying and building r/c planes for a long time! i built a “spy-cam” plane a couple of years ago for less then 200 bucks from parts i got on ebay.with the new electric motors and long-life li-po batteries,getting cheaper and cheaper,you soon be able to make one for under a 100. as a side note to you aidanman, what are ya working on now? i am in the process of putting together a eclectic powered giant-scale p-51D. w.s. is around 9 feet.going to be a winter project.
Report Post »4smohrs
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:43pmbirdshot would usually wipe out a wasp nest, 00 Buckshot should take care of this wasp.
Report Post »Wonko_the_Sane
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:37pmThey could at least try to get their facts correct. Whats the deal Trools? S00r0s tells u what to say but your too dumb to actually reasearch and get the correct facts. I mean DANG at least try to spin a fact.
Report Post »dcwu
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:32pmSo you hack my phone. You’re going to get real sleepy. Come on by instead. I will feed you, give you a beer, and you can get the skinny one-on-one. I‘ll even talk about things you’re interested in. And, if it is as bad as I think for you, I have coffee and even a guest bedroom you’re welcome to until you recover.
Report Post »Thighmaster
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:28pmCriminals and terrorists? You think our government won‘t or isn’t already using this? May we call this AirGate?
Report Post »ILinch4U
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:26pmLand lines are starting to look more inviting all of a sudden.
Report Post »beekeeper
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:08pmYup, because no one outside the federal government has the ability to “tap” into your landline phone, right?
http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Tap_a_Phone_Line
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:31pmNever had a cell phone. Never will. I have no problem with 2-way radio in the clear, though. No ILLUSION of privacy or security there, unlike with cellies.
Haven’t found a CB/FRS/etc. 2-way with spread spectrum security that I like yet.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:19pmi was getting bored with my clay pigeons always flying in a straight line . its going to be fun shooting at a moving target :)
400 ft? i could drop it with my paintball gun lol
Report Post »Andy
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:57pmI was thinking exactly the same thing!
Report Post »Stepaheaded
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:19pmWhat is the daily bag limit? Do you need a tag to bag one of these drones.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 1:03amThe same limit as on libs and dems…all you can remove from office.
Report Post »Seneca264
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:18pmI am sure that there are people that are developing model rockets with the ability to home in on and knock these “drones” out of the sky. This does not require explosives, just kinetics. Actually the stuff to do this is already available off the shelf. Model rocket engines can easily propel a rocket to well over 10,000 feet without any problem. Actually it would relatively easy to modify a large scale model rocket with homing circuitry and control vane deflection controls. Trust me, it will render all of this technology useless overnight regardless of who is sending this spy crap up over our houses.
Report Post »Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:29pmDon’t get caught.
The only thing that makes model rocketry, especially the BIG model rockets, legal is that they have no guidance capability at all. Johnny Law finds out you have model rockets with servo actuated fins, an Arduino, a ZigBee, and a nose-cone cam, and they have a voluminous amount of arms restrictions to throw at you.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:01pmIt‘s illegal to put a guidance system on a rocket even if it doesn’t have explosive.
Report Post »MrJones
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 3:45amSENECA, you’re pretty damn ignorant when it comes to rocketry. There exists nowhere on Earth a “model” rocket engine that will “easily” propel a rocket to 10K feet. The smallest motor that currently will send an extremely light-weight carbon fiber rocket to 10K is an H motor – which is considered high power – which requires high power certification to fly. FYI, you can’t purchase these at Wal-Mart.
Report Post »http://www.tripoli.org/Membership/ArchivedContestsandRecords/RecordHolders/SingleMotorRecordHolders/tabid/125/Default.aspx
Modifying any hobby rocket kit to successfully aquire and strike an object the size of a hummingbird in flight would be anything but “relatively easy”. Relatively easy for God perhaps. In fact, it would be so fantastically difficult to do so that it could be considered practically impossible. Military seek-and-destroy missile systems cost millions of dollars and thousands of engineering man hours to develop. Your comment is both stupid and ignorant.
Ron_WA
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:13pmWhat you citizens need to understand is that the federal govt. has had this capability for well over two decades but thanks to the 4th Amendment they couldn’t use it – now under free enterprise & capitalism your wife/.ex-wife, boss or nosey neighbor can easily track your every movement (not an exaggeration I know of cases where it has already been done).
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:17pmNot to mention any dingbat terrorist cells in America who have a small budget and want to make a big impact, via electronic theft and such.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:50pm40 years ago it was said anything the government revealed or let leak out was already obsolete. Same thing today. Now they have invisibility cloaks where their agents can walk in your house, take all your guns, slap your wife, kick your dog and arrest you before you even see them. Almost anything man can imagine man can do, for good or evil. I plan on buying one of those invisibility cloaks as soon as one is put up for auction on Ebay. If you think I’m full of BS just watch this flick. The part I’m specifically pointing to is at 2:50 into it. I want one of these! You can keep you toy airplain.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:10pmNow this is hacking, calling someone‘s voice mail punching 1234 isn’t.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:08pmChances are that Obama is already using the technology to find Tea Party members after all they are terrorists to them. We don’t need the technology here at the Blaze to see what losers the others are. All we have to do is look at the markets that are dropping like lead balloons. All Obama can do is still blame Bush for it.
Report Post »youshuthehellup
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:17pmAgree 100%
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:21pmI am a Tea Party Terrorist and proud of it! Some of my terrorist agenda includes emailing and calling my representatives, speaking with them in person, and going to Washington, DC with a sign that says “Taxed Enough Already.” I even write Letters to the Editor!!
I only wish all terrorists had similar agendas. Obama’s buddy Bill Ayers certainly did not use our Tea Party Terrorist tactics.
Report Post »Tom
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:08pmYour Name reflects your ignorance.Obama just want to tax this guy more because he has a neater toy then the welfare brothers down the street. its all about fairness
Report Post »youshuthehellup
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:07pmi want one of those to fly over obama and pelosi’s secret behind door mtngs! lol
Report Post »spirited
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:07pmThe Matrix
>is coming
Report Post »Justthefactsmam
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:19pmIt’s here…only in a bad dream could this really be happening…(not talking about the drone)
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:00pmexcept there is not a NEO to save us in real life.
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:07pmI love flying scale aircraft. Let me have a shot at it!
Report Post »popeye76
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:07pmi blame obama. clearly he commissioned this thing to listen into my personal calls.
Report Post »Attention2Detail
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:25pmIn case you haven’t heard, the government has been listening in on every phone call anyone makes since the Clinton administration. More accurately, government computers have been listening to phone calls, reading e-mails and monitoring internet traffic. Do you really think they need an easily detectable and easily foiled spy drone?
Report Post »caexpat
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:03pm400Ft …..22 no problem!
Report Post »OneofMany
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:02pmGreat, Hezbolla and Hamas will now be ordering several 100 of them, asking, what is it’s payload? How about guys start working on spy BLOCKING now…
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:02pmwell now there’s a great idea
Report Post »olddog
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:01pmStock Market Carshing, while the folks at the Blaze take a nap, so much for news..
Report Post »Attention2Detail
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:16pmHey OLDDOG, did you notice the story on the top of the homepage about the stock market crash? I guess you just clicked on the wrong link. Go back to reading the newspaper DUMBA$$ !!!
Report Post »9stuff
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:27pmwhats “carshing”?
Report Post »chips1
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:21pmPeople don’t stay glued to the Blaze. I listen to SIRIUS radio in my truck while I went to buy more silver. If it hits the fan in 15 days, I’m covered. It’s getting nasty out there. Getting payed under the table isn’t so bad.
Report Post »Select Palin for GOP 2012 to Reelect Obama!
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:00pmChances are excellent that someone on The Blaze will blame Obama for this technology. yada yada yada
Report Post »Phoenixsoulfire
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:12pma hole
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:16pmNew here, Select? Looks like more Obama voters lost their jobs and are now blogging in the basements!!
Report Post »Brizz
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:19pm@I.GASPAR
Report Post »Very funny.
let us prey
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:22pmThere was a record number of new trolls here yesterday. Looks like one more today. No originality either.
Report Post »a hole
Wonko_the_Sane
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:32pm@ VENNOY, No Obama has just started hiring his basement, mommy’s house, dwelling trolls early for the election season. How much do all you get paid to sit in mommy’s basement in your undies eating chetos and trying to disrupt things. I can sit here and spread disinformation and lies all day for the right money but I ain’t doing it for th Dimms. I don’t even need talking points. YA MORONS!
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:40pmHey, I want one of those!
Report Post »