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General => General Technical Chat => Topic started by: MT on February 19, 2018, 11:06:09 pm

Title: Hack your Furby!
Post by: MT on February 19, 2018, 11:06:09 pm
Gremlings if watered?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=246&v=GYLBjScgb7o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=246&v=GYLBjScgb7o)
Title: Re: Hack your Furby!
Post by: Halcyon on February 20, 2018, 01:49:58 am
Speaking of Furby's, in Australian Government buildings where there security clearance required to even enter is high, Furby's are specified on the list of devices which are banned and must be left either in your car or at the security desk in the foyer (as are mobile phones).

The rationale is that the Furby can potentially record and store or repeat classified information. Serious stuff but a little funny nonetheless.

Why any reasonable adult would bring a Furby to work is beyond me, but obviously someone has tried it before for it to make the list.
Title: Re: Hack your Furby!
Post by: Ampera on February 20, 2018, 02:47:07 am
"Ya bringing any furbies in to here sir"?

No, officer...

"I don't believe you, sounds like we need a furby cavity search" *snaps rubber glove*
Title: Re: Hack your Furby!
Post by: Halcyon on February 20, 2018, 04:23:23 am
The rationale is that the Furby can potentially record and store or repeat classified information. Serious stuff but a little funny nonetheless.
I think it's more likely to be a bomb hazard.

The chances of a security-cleared employee attempting to bring explosives into a classified workplace is so remote that you have a better chance of winning the lottery in the USA or flying to Mars.

Besides, it has nothing to do with the "vessel" itself, it's to do with the electronics inside.

If you've ever worked in such an environment, it feels like you're working in a bunker or a submarine except you can see out the window. No connectivity to the public world (no internet access, no unsecured phones, no access to mobile phone networks even if you wanted to). Forget bringing your phone inside, let alone anything that can store data. Nothing goes in, nothing comes out (except your lunch).
Title: Re: Hack your Furby!
Post by: Halcyon on February 20, 2018, 07:28:21 am
I thought the phone-ban is for visitors only. Employees can't bring phones to work???

In certain workplaces and areas which require high security clearances, absolutely not. Mobile phones are either not brought into the building or go no further than the lobby area. That's just for starters. National security is a huge thing and it's to be taken seriously. Your phone (Apple or Android) is not as secure as you think it is.
Title: Re: Hack your Furby!
Post by: jonovid on February 20, 2018, 09:40:40 am
regarding the video in question. I would make this and play this,  if I had musical talent, but I do not. and 40+ Furby's  but I do not.
however greeting card sound recorders are cheap so the type of musical instrument is not that hard to make.
even I can do it. its modular electronics 101. as for the list of devices which are banned from Australian Government buildings.
were will that leave the next generation of robotics and disability aids as many will be voice activated.
Title: Re: Hack your Furby!
Post by: Halcyon on February 20, 2018, 07:30:36 pm
Why not just decouple the high security area? The way Chinese government handles this is simple: each government bureau has a building, instead of multiple offices scattered in various "all-in-one" government buildings.

That's the way it's done here. Your top secret units/organisations work in covert locations which are not known to the public and even some people working for the same entity. Its very much "need to know". Locations for headquarters for those types of organisations are publicly known, but not the field/branch offices, labs, R&D buildings etc...

You generally won't find a mixture of government departments in the same location, but it does happen with some of the smaller parts of government which work together.