IOActive wants to point out security flaws found in popular models of robots used in workplaces and homes.
As robots move further away from science fiction and closer to your home and workplace, a new consideration must be taken: are these robots secure? closer to your home and workplace
No, we don’t just mean “can this thing go rogue, Skynet-style?” Hacking is also a serious concern facing consumer-level automatons — one that should apparently be taken far more seriously.
Seattle-based cyber security firm IOActive claims that several popular robots used in residential and industrial centers are full of vulnerabilities for malicious hackers to exploit, according to Bloomberg. IOActive Bloomberg
Such robots include industrial robots designed by Teradyne’s Universal Robots division, which IOActive was able to remotely hack and disengage key safety features — making the robot potentially capable of major property or bodily damage, even at low running speeds.
Home-oriented robots like SoftBank’s NAO and Pepper were also revealed to be wide open for cyber attacks, with IOActive turning the small robots into secret recording devices and, in one humorous (albeit still chilling) example, an unhinged stabbing machine complete with a little maniacal laugh. Pepper
The goal of IOActive’s demonstrations were to convince the companies behind making robots to greatly consider stronger security going forward, while also patching the vulnerabilities the firm uncovered for currently released products.
IOActive initially wrote a report on the issue earlier this year, but withheld details on how they made their hacks in order to give manufacturers time to address their findings. a report
Starting today, the firm plans to release more technical details in order to spur more companies into stepping up their security (as well as advertise their consulting expertise, we imagine.)
“If we know about these vulnerabilities, chances are that we’ re not the only ones, ” said IOActive principal security consultant Lucas Apa in the report, adding that “these are early days for the robotics industry, but as it grows, we want to make sure it has a more secure future.” 10 robots that are changing the world 10 robots that are changing the world
