2018/09/11 by Kiavash Satvat, Satvat, Kiavash, Mahshid Hosseini +3
Computer Science · #Advanced Malware Detection Techniques #Cryptography and Security (cs.CR) #FOS: Computer and information sciences #Information and Cyber Security #Innovative Human-Technology Interaction #User Authentication and Security Systems #cs.CR
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1809.04112
accepted in netcom 2018
arxiv created 2018/09/11 · openalex publication_date 2018/09/11 · arxiv updated 2018/09/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Single-Board Computers (SBC) refer to pocket-sized computers built on a single circuit board. A number of studies have explored the use of these highly popular devices in a variety of domains, including military, agriculture, healthcare, and more. However, no attempt was made to signify possible security risks that misuse of these devices may bring to organizations. In this study, we perform a series of experiments to validate the possibility of using SBCs as an espionage gadget. We show how an attacker can turn a Raspberry Pi device to an attacking gadget and benefit from short-term physical access to attach the gadget to the network in order to access unauthorized data or perform other malicious activities. We then provide experimental results of placing such tools in two real-world networks. Given the small size of SBCs, traditional physical security measures deployed in organizations may not be sufficient to detect and restrict the entrance of SBCs to their premises. Therefore, we reiterate possible directions for network administrators to deploy defensive mechanisms for detecting and preventing such attacks.