Browsing throughout the Reddit not so long before, my eyes immovable sight of an interesting project called SpyPi: An (un)ethical hacking station exclusively intended to educate people about the importance of data security by putting them in the shoes of the invader.
What impressed me more even though was that, in spite of the difficulty and scope of the project, the device was completely built by a high school student. In fact, the SpyPi was their graduation assignment – a necessity of every student needs to fulfil prior to receiving their diploma certification.
“Nowadays technologies meet our requirements in loads of ways, that we frequently ignore the dangers,” said Sarah, a 19-year-old student from Bern, Switzerland and the inventor of the hacking station. “I have created a SpyPi as a part of my graduation assignment. The enthusiasm behind it was to create an innovative way of resembling data security.”

Sarah had marked a disturbing tendency in how the broad public treats matters of data confidentiality. “People look like to feel a requirement for data security, but act imprecisely at the same time. Of course there are various reasons for such behaviours, but it is very concerning even so.”
Whatever twisted her attention to the topic of data security was a recently introduced law that threatened to compromise the confidentiality of Swiss Netizens in an exceptional magnitude.
“In 2015, Switzerland nominated on the new Nachrichtendienstgesetz law, which allows safety and intelligence agencies to collect even more data primarily on the pretext of violence,” she told.
“During the voting, the nothing-to-hide-argument was ubiquitous. I was surprised, how easily people gave up parts of their solitude without inquiring the whole thing. The law was adopted. I’ve had the impression lot of people voted on it without having enough information to actually deal with the topic.”
This is when the cunning high-school student sees the chance to transform things for the better.
Instead of pursuing vain attempts to instruct people by “spreading the word” or flooding them with jargon-heavy fliers nobody reads, Sarah opted for an approach that put prospective victims in the place of the hacker – so they could sole-handily see how vulnerable to data breaches everyone on the network .
“Since discussion with the people didn’t work out in the past, my move towards was to create a platform, which allows people to interactively stay in touch with the topic,” she told.
“To making people passionate about information technology (IT) is a difficult task. But there is one thing a lot of people have in ordinary: The infancy daydream of becoming a hacker.”
“That’s why I created a hacking station. SpyPi ought to allow people to find out why keeping data privacy is important for them,” she continued. “To get in touch with people at emotional level, I’ve created diverse programs/attacks, which affect sphere of everybody’s daily life, such as payment, social networking, and wireless networks.”
By keeping in mind, Sarah built five core features into the SpyPi in order to exhibit the various ways in which data makes users at risk: A network scanner, a brute-force dictionary, an RFID Spoofer, a mitproxy data-catcher, and a Twitter data-miner.
The network scanner, for occurrence, was programmed to show readily available information about your network and turn your attention towards certain easily-detectable weak points in your area network setup, so you can scrap them up before an invader exploits them.
The brute-force dictionary was integrated to exhibit, how easy it is to crack insecure passwords; the Twitter data-miner, on the other hand, showed how malicious agents can collect your publicly available data and turn it into data that reveals your (online) behaviour.
One bonus component the student implemented in the hacking station was a self-destruction USB killer that would stir fry the machine, when plugged into its ports.
If you are wondering in case, the SpyPi cost about $400 to put simultaneously. Among other things, Sarah used a Raspberry Pi 3 B single-board PC, a 7-inch mini-display, a mini mouse/keyboard solution, and an RC-522 RFID reader.
While Sarah designed the SpyPi for white-hat uses, she doesn’t hesitate to admit the tool could just as easily to be used for spiteful purposes. Really, she seems to take the same standpoint as Snowden on this matter: It is ultimately up to the customer to decide how to use it.
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All she out to realize with the SpyPi was to bring onward the importance of maintaining accurate data security and privacy protocols in an extra engaging and pro-active way – and on that count, the hacking station seems to do a appealing straight job.
People who are searching for know more about how Sarah built the SpyPi can get more details on the official page she set up for the project here. There is also 70-page documentation (in German) for anyone interested in digging deeper into the technicalities. Drop an email to Sarah at [email protected] for a copy.
Wow, she sounds super smart and what a great way to get people involved about their privacy online. I always worry about being hacked because I was once and I lost everything. I need to learn how to be better prepared to keep my information safe.
Wow – I’m impressed. Props to her for taking the initiative to create something to help the mass population understand.
What an intelligent 19-year-old. We’ve definitely become more susceptible to cyber attacks because doing things on the internet is so common now.
What an inventive way to try to raise awareness for such an important issue. This impacts all if us today and it’s only going to become even more important.
This is such a great project that I’m sure really opened up a lot of people’s eyes! I foresee this student going far in life!
Such a great project. People need to be aware of how easy hacking is.
My younger brother is also interested in ethical hacking! Younger generation is so smart these days about technology!
Cyber attacks have become so much more common now. Great way to raise awareness and control the hacking issue.
I am so impressed that she knew how to do this. I wouldn’t have a clue! I’m glad she’s talking about how easy it is for hackers though. I certainly wouldn’t want one messing with my computer.
A very creative project and a very noble challenge – applause to her.
We need more teenagers like her! Such an innovative and informative idea!
She must be so talented! A device to curb hacking, that’s pretty amazing.
Wow! Now she is a smart teen! She is going to go far in the technical world maybe even create the next big social platform so move over Zuckerberg!
It comes as no surprise that this matter would interest young people. She’s done great!
I’m impressed! She seems so smart! Very innovative and resourceful.
This is really interesting! I am sure that it was able to open many eyes to raise awareness of your security.
What an interesting way to teach people that they need to be really careful with their data. This student is going far!
Wow… That’s awesome, we need more like this to get awareness in people on how easy hacking is
Wow! Amazing that she was able to do that and she is only 19! Very bright young lady!
She is one smart cookie! She makes a good point and she’s going places!
I salute to her! We need this kind of people in today’s high tech world!
Most definitely a challenge but very intriguing.
That’s incredible! I work at a tech company, in film, my I don’t consider myself techy. I know I wouldn’t have been able to do that as her age.
It is in inspiring to read what she has achieved at such a young age! SpyPi is an impressive resource for everybody.
I love this! Such a great idea and a much needed tool with such an increasing problem in today’s society! Great job!
WOW!!!! What an incredible high school student. SpyPi is an awesome idea to help educate the general public about hacking and data security. I think the world is going to see much more of Sarah in the years to come!
Yeah Danny. I also appreciate her effort to making such a cool gadgets. Thank You!
Wow, what a talented girl. What a great tool to have.
OMG. She is so smart. A great tool for everyone to have.
Kudos to Sarah for building the SpyPi. It brings awareness to data security and can help everyone in the future. Thanks for sharing the information.
WoW!!! What a way to raise awareness!!! Hopefully businesses will continue to take security seriously and improve.
Omg she is soo talented… that’s a great things ???… this seems like a great tool for everyone to have ?
She’s so talented! Hacking is a great field to work upon as it has so many career opportunities!
I’m not sure what language this is written in, but I’m pretty sure it’s not English which I’ve spoken for over 60 years.
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