Cyborg Unplug, described as a wireless anti-surveillance system, will be able to protect users from unwanted attention from Google Glass users and drones.
Cyborg Unplug, a device that is a free and open source project, is capable of detecting surveillance cameras, drones and mobile technology such as Google Glass that are trying to gain access to your Wi-Fi signal and prevents them from doing so.
As private networks such as those used in homes can already protect their network through a password, the Cyborg Unplug is aimed to be used for public networks such as those used in restaurants, bars, schools and other public places.
Cyborg Unplug's unveiling comes just after the release of the glasshole.sh script that is written by Julian Oliver, the device's project lead. The script is written for the detection and disconnection of the Google Glass gadget from a network that is locally owned and administered by the script's user.
The script was broadly covered by the media, which revealed the sentiments of people worldwide against the increasing usage of covert and camera-enabled surveillance technology.
Cyborg Unplug addresses the concerns of the people by utilizing the unique hardware signatures assigned to every Wi-Fi device by its manufacturer. Each device broadcasts these unique signatures as they search for and connect to wireless networks.
Cyborg Unplug detects the signatures of devices that the user wishes to ban, such as the Google Glass, preventing them access to the user's network. If the device is already connected to the network that Cyborg Unplug is protecting, then the device automatically sends out de-authentication signals to disconnect the device from the network.
The creators of the device maintain that what the Cyborg Unplug does is legal; it is not a crime to block specific devices from connecting to a network that the user controls and administers. While some wireless routers can create blacklists for specific devices, the Cyborg Unplug can create blacklists for an entire product, with the list of banned devices automatically updated.
Cyborg Unplug, however, will not be able to prevent the usage of the surveillance devices to take pictures or record video. What it can do, however, is prevent the surveillance device to stream the recorded content online, stopping the creation of remote backups.
The device also works in two modes. The first is Territory Mode, which is the recommended mode of usage that disconnects targeted devices from specific networks owned and administered by the user. The second is All Out Mode, which disconnects the targeted devices from all networks, including their connections to smartphones. This mode, however, may be illegal in certain jurisdictions, warns the device's creators.
The Cyborg Unplug device will be ready for pre-order by Sept. 30, with two models with different degrees of functionality priced at $50 and $100.
