Technology @lemmy.world 0110010001100010 @lemmy.world 1 yr. ago

Researchers Install Ransomware on Internet-Connected Wrench

www.404media.co Researchers Install Ransomware on Internet-Connected Wrench

“We were able to make the device completely inoperable by preventing a local operator from controlling the drill through the onboard display and disabling the trigger button."

28 comments

Why put ransomeware on a wrench?

For leverage
I think I am less concerned about the ransomware and more confused as to why there is a wrench that can connect to the internet. What use would that provide to the user that would improve it?
- Quality assurance on production lines, so there is a record of what happened.
- A few ideas off the top of my head
  
  asset tracking
  
  location awareness
  
  ability to send out mass specs to devices
  
  device assignment
  
  tracking working hours
  
  I’m not saying all of these are good ideas, or that they couldn’t just have a centralized hub that just pushes and pulls this information. That said, the website for them does list that they also have a camera for scanning barcodes. I could see having barcodes linked with a certain torque spec and that requiring a network connection if the information wasn’t hard coded. website
- The wrench is to tighten bolts to spec. You can program it to tighten different bolts to different tightness and that can be programmed online.
  
  So, a torque wrench for someone too lazy to spin the handle to their required ft-lbs/in-lbs?
- That's the neat part, there isn't. There is, however, significant incentive to the tool's manufacturer. Who can, I'm sure, not only demand a subscription for continued use of the tools but also employ lucrative maintenance contracts and other sundry corporate nonsense. I can tell you from a brief stint in the industrial automation industry that the sale of the equipment is not the money maker; it's the ongoing service contract on it.
  
  If these are meant to be used by hand I see no reason they can't just be configured on the tool itself and not need an internet connection. And if the point is plantwide automation, these sit directly in the bottom of the ugly trench between tasks that must be done by a human for whatever reason on one side, and just being done by a damn robot to begin with on the other.
  
  And a further clarification: Even if there is a use case for a hand tool being networked, having it connected to the outside internet is just bonkers.
  
  I see no reason they can’t just be configured on the tool itself and not need a network connection.
  
  Say you've got a couple dozen of these wrenches and during retooling new specs come out. You can either pay a group of people to go around and upload all the new specs to the tool or push it from a central server to all the tools.
I am not a fan of making everything part of 'the internet of things'
- Nearly all IoT items are developed for idiots, which is interesting because most of them are also made by idiots.
  
  Iot wrenches are built for blue collar workers to ensure proper tooling of complex parts on production lines
  
  except in this case, where it looks like there are more than valid reasons
- This feels like one of those things that'll go exactly opposite of what I expect. Ten years from now I'm be explaining to my grandkids how much harder live was before wrenches were Internet connected.
  
  I can't imagine a single valid reason to have an Internet connected wrench. But life is weird, so I'm guessing I'll keep one synced to my fax machine someday.
- Ok cool
Do we need this news posted 50 times over the course of a day?
- Honestly is the first one I see with s picture showing the ransom request.
Repost...
https://lemmy.ca/post/12959993

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