(Left) F-Bomb in 3D printed enclosure (Right) F-Bomb hardware hidden in a CO monitor
Of all the mini computers available, this one might have the biggest potential of all. It is appropriately called the F-Bomb, which stands for, Falling or Ballistically-launched Object that Makes Backdoors. Malice Afterthought's Brendan O’Connor, a security researcher, has developed a system made from commercially available components and put together, costs less than 50 dollars and is capable of breaking into a network with the right software.
The purpose of the device is exactly as its name dictates. When dropped, the F-Bomb searches for networks within its range and infiltrates all the networks it finds. The size of this computer is 3.5 in by 4 in by 1 in. It is made using a Pogo Plug, 8 gig flash memory, small antennae, and a case made on a 3D printer. The components of the F-Bomb are so small that they can be easily be fitted inside any ordinary device, like a smoke detector, and covertly operate for as long as the batteries last.
The F-Bomb will be inexpensive, around $50 USD, on purpose. O'Connor explained why, "If some target is surrounded by bad men with guns, you don’t want to have to retrieve this, but you also don’t want to have to pay four or five hundred dollars for every use The idea is that it’s as close to free as possible. So you can throw a bunch of these sensors at a target and get away with losing a couple nodes in the process.”
In essence, the F-Bomb is a data collecting device. O’Connor designed it with Wi-Fi cracking software to create back doors into the network and collect private information. However, any applications and programs compatible with its Linux OS can run on the F-Bomb. With the correct sensors, it can performs other valuable data collections like meteorological or atmospheric information.
Originally, O'Connor won the DARPA awarded project "Reticle: Leaderless Command and Control" for the Cyber Fast Track program. F-Bomb was a follow up project, funded independently. The purpose of Reticle is on the hush-hush.
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