Cyborg Unplug detects and kicks devices from wireless networks | Hacker News Reader

Cyborg Unplug detects and kicks devices from wireless networks

plugunplug.net

20 pointsskennedy14 comments

They seem to contradict their own statement of purpose in their FAQ. First, they imply that the primary use would be for your own wireless network:

> "It is perfectly legal to block any device you choose from a wireless network you own and/or administer. "

...but then change gears and imply that the real use is to plug it in at coffee shops and the like:

> "Cyborg Unplug isn't designed for use in those cases where there is already strict control over who uses the local wireless network. Rather, it's for those with networks used by many people (school, office, library, bar, cafe) that either give out the password or provide an open network."

As much as I like privacy, this seems less focused on personal protection and more on imposing your own will on other people's public networks because of your dislike for other people's taste in devices.

I read that as, this is not for network owners who already require authentication to access their networks, but for networks owners who run open APs.

I don't see the implication that this is for non-owners.

That thought did occur to me -- but it seems like that could be better achieved simply by reconfiguring your AP as opposed to introducing a new device entirely.

An AP won't have a checkbox to kick out a Google Glass device, nor will it auto-update the list of such devices.

Essentially, this is a plug-and-play solution to the problem of:

(1) having to learn about what distinguishes these devices (when most AP owners don't know what a MAC is)

(2) having to understand if and how their AP allows to ban those devices (I'm assuming they ban based on a MAC prefix, which many APs won't allow you to ban, only full addresses) and

(3) keep up to date with new devices.

There is plenty of money to be made from people who have more money than time and interest to learn how to solve these small problems.

This just blocks MAC address OUI's, which are easily spoofed. And it looks like it only applies to open networks. There's virtually no real use case.

I don't recommend buying this. Invest time into understanding and securing your local network, and hire capable admins if you manage an office/institution.

Even they note the device is useless on networks with tight security, leaving the "all out" mode it's only viable purpose, and I can't imagine blocking (targeted de-auth attacking) devices you don't own on a network you don't manage being legal in any jurisdiction.

The reasoning behind blocking certain spy-like wifi devices is in my opinion flawed. You simply cannot reach the result marketed here without jamming cellphones as well, so in reality how is this any different, more appropriate or more legal? It's not.

Seems like some people are absolutely desperate to make the cheap Chinese routers + openWRT combo a profitable product. Someone has a stock they need to burn? From a previous failed attempt maybe?

Use case seems somewhat flawed..

"HI THERE! IM A HOVERING DRONE, SENT TO SPY ON YOU - CAN I CONNECT TO YOUR INTERNETS?"

OK, YOU BLOCKED MY WIFI, I'LL HAVE TO DELIVER THE DATA ON A MEMORY STICK. DO YOU HAVE A SPARE SOCKET WHERE I CAN RECHARGE TO FLY BACK TO MY OVERLORDS ?"

Because they can afford an autonomous drone, but can't spring for a 15 gram cellular data module? https://shop-america.u-blox.com/en/usd/3~211~AMERICAS/Cellul... :)

I wonder how long before they (or a Business using their product) get a chat from the FCC.

http://fortune.com/2014/10/03/marriott-settles-complaint-tha...

That's a different situation, though; Marriott was blocking people from accessing other networks, not their own.

This seems like it would be much easier as a feature on your router/access point.

Their description suggests that it's just using a blacklist of MAC addresses so it would be pretty easy to add to something like OpenWRT or a captive portal.

For that, you'd need to replace your current router(s)/AP(s), which is configured by the kid down the block which is now at university and can't help you configure the new one, or by the ISP that blocks your access, or by the franchise IT people who administer it centrally, etc.

This is the kind of stuff that allows "muggles" to do stuff without having to be bothered calling an IT person. I'm not a fan (I can foresee many wasted hours of IT professionals trying to debug a network that's "working funny" because the owner plugged one of these without telling anyone), but I can see it being popular among small business owners.

There is a lot of solutions to save tour devices from wireless networks like Secure VPN, for example

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