Wireless surveillance
For those concerned about privacy, today's technology brings new challenges: companies big and small are building pervasive product lines around tiny, network-enabled computers with powerful cameras, sensors and microphones. From tiny wireless cameras to quadcopters/drones, these new technologies - while not always intended as such - are routinely used to compromise privacy in the home, hotel and workplace.
Drones
Tiny cameras
Online surveillance
Just visiting a website your device sends and receives countless network packets, each of which are conveyed by many machines along their journey. Hidden from view in the interfaces we use, this infrastructure is not only privately owned and administered but may reside in countries with surveillance agendas that intentionally undermine our right to privacy.Without an encrypted route we have little choice but to trust that those unseen entities that control the networks we use will play fair and not capture, study and share our online activities without consent.
Detect spy devices
Cyborg Unplug sniffs the air for wireless signatures from devices you've selected to detect, sending you an email alert if it does. It can also optionally and automatically disconnect them (outside US only) from whatever network device they're connected to by sending specially crafted wireless deauthentication packets. This stops them from streaming video, audio and other data to the Internet (or the room next door).Detected wireless devices currently include: wearable spy cameras, microphones, Amazon Echo, Dropcam, small drones/copters and a variety of popular spy devices disguised as familiar objects (like smoke detectors and lightbulbs).
Share a VPN over Wi-Fi
At any given time there are a dozen or more computers between you and the website you're visiting, often spanning multiple countries. It's here that tunneling, or route encryption becomes important, with Virtual Private Networking the popular choice among information security professionals.Cyborg Unplug makes using a VPN easy, with no need for an extra software download or install on your laptop, phone or tablet. Simply connect your Cyborg Unplug to the Internet, load in an OpenVPN file (ends with .ovpn) and all devices connected wired or wirelessly to Cyborg Unplug can enjoy the privacy of encrypted Internet traffic, locking out spies along the route. Use services like Mullvad, VPN Book, IPredator or your organisation's own VPN.
Alternatively, use the Cyborg Unplug free VPN service (Premium models only) routed through Germany, built with special 'sheathing' technology to traverse firewalls (including the 'Great Firewall of China') undetected.
A classroom, organisation, family abroad or seminar group can all enjoy a secure, encrypted tunnel over the border and to the Internet, merely by wirelessly connecting to a Cyborg Unplug in VPN mode.
Share a USB stick over Wi-Fi
This feature does away with the need for using services like DropBox in classroom situations, making it quick and easy to privately share files between people.Not only is it saner that sending files around the globe when you're all in the same room, it has a significantly lower carbon footprint. More so, it's offline - no Internet connection is required. Just plug in a USB stick and share the files wirelessly.
Order Unplug
Little Snipper Solo
€29 + €7.20 shipping
Features
2.4Ghz detector
Detects and disconnects
(disconnection feature outside US only) most common classes of wireless surveillance
device
LED alert
Sends email alerts to an account you configure
US plug standard, with Euro adaptor for travellers
Wirelessly tunnel multiple devices (phones, laptops, tablets) through a VPN you configure, no need for extra software on any device
Share files from a USB stick over the network, with no need for third-party apps (like DropBox)
With no settings applied, functions as pocket-sized travel router
Little Snipper Premium
€58 ~ free shipping
Features
2.4Ghz detector
Detects and disconnects
(disconnection feature outside US only) most common classes of wireless surveillance
device
LED alert
Sends email alerts to an account you configure
US plug standard, with Euro adaptor for travellers
Wirelessly tunnel multiple devices (phones, laptops, tablets) through a VPN you configure, no need for extra software on any device
Share files from a USB stick over the network, with no need for third-party apps (like DropBox)
With no settings applied, functions as pocket-sized travel router
Free, 24/7 high-speed VPN service. No extra fees. Censorship-circumventing 'sheathed' tunnel to Cyborg Unplug OpenVPN server in Germany. Virtually undetectable, it appears as standard HTTPS traffic.
High quality and rugged travel case
1m, high-quality ribbon ethernet cable
Home Bake
Get it on GitHub
Features
Install our firmware on a compatible device you already own
Developer friendly
Free and Open Source.
Study, modify and redistribute the code
Support the cause
Stop the cyborgs
was founded in response to the combination of wearable
technology with ‘big data’. The aim of the movement is to stop a future in which
privacy is impossible and where the iron cage of surveillance and control
pervades every aspect of life. Add a donation using the pre-order interface
to help keep Stop the Cyborgs running.
Electronic Frontier Foundation
is the leading nonprofit organization defending
civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF champions user
privacy, free expression, and innovation through impact litigation, policy
analysis, grassroots activism, and technology development. Add a donation using
the pre-order interface to help keep the EFF running.
Tactical Tech
is an organisation dedicated to the use of
information in activism. They work hard to advance the skills, tools and
techniques of human rights advocates, empowering them to use information and
communications to help marginalised communities understand and effect
progressive social, environmental and political change. Add a donation using the
pre-order interface to help keep Tactical Tech running.
OpenWrt
OpenWrt is the giant on whose shoulders Cyborg Unplug stands; a finely crafted
Free and Open Source toolkit for building high quality GNU/Linux firmware for a
vast array of wireless router hardware. Without OpenWrt, Cyborg Unplug would be
very expensive and difficult to develop. Add a donation using the pre-order
interface to help the OpenWrt team with their running costs.
Frequently asked questions
+ How does it work?
+ Is this legal?
+ Why no disconnection feature for the US model?
+ Does it shut down spy devices entirely?
+ Why not just password protect my wifi?
+ What if I want to allow drones but block hidden cameras?
+ Can it be used to disconnect devices on any network (non-US model)?
+ What about device updates?
+ Wouldn't changing the hardware address fool the Unplug?
+ What about spy devices tethered by bluetooth?
+ Where do you ship to?
+ Is this an open source project?
+ How did this project start?
Team
Julian Oliver - Project Lead, Developer.
Crystelle V - Project management, Communication.
Brennan Novak - UI/UX Developer.
Stop The Cyborgs - Conspirator, Inspiration.
Samim Winiger - Original site design, branding and website code.
Samim Winiger - Original site design, branding and website code.