“CreepyDOL” Spyboxes Make Spying Possible For Just $57

When quizzed about NSA spying programs on European diplomats Barack Obama tried to justify it with “everyone else is doing it too”. So what better way to prove Obama’s sentiment correct than to start spying yourself. Brendan O’Connor, a security researcher, built a cheap and cheerful spying box costing just $57 to make. The device was made using some plastic boxes, over the counter sensors, WiFi adapters, a USB hub and “of course” a versatile Raspberry Pi Model A system board.

With a total cost of just $57 this is a device anyone can afford and make. O’Connor claims that he turned these 10 devices to spy on himself and said that he was able to pick up the web sites he browsed (when connected to public WiFi at a café), the unique identifier codes for his Apple devices and his location based on WiFi pings. He claimed that each bit of public information outed by his devices revealed certain information which can all be pieced together –

“When he logged on to an unsecured Wi-Fi, it revealed what operating system he was using on what kind of device, and whether he was using Dropbox or went on a dating site or browsed for shoes on an e-commerce site. One site might leak his e-mail address, another his photo.” said the NY Times report.

He commented that such spying is terrifyingly easy. Read the full report here.

Image courtesy of NY Times