Hacking the Global Economy with GPUs
Skunkworks explores hacking the global economy with gpus at DEF CON 19, examining hardware-security and practical defenses.
Summary
Architecture and Background
Skunkworks - Hacking the Global Economy with GPUs or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Bitcoin In the post 9/11 era when it's nearly impossible to buy a pack of gum without alerting the big three credit bureaus, you may think that anonymity is long gone from the economy.
Vulnerability Analysis
That's where bitcoin comes in.
Exploitation and Demonstrations
Bitcoin is a decentralized peer-to-peer currency based solely on computing power.
Remediation and Defensive Strategies
It is (mostly) untraceable and highly anonymous, not backed by any banks or companies, and in the words of Jason Calacanis "the most dangerous project we've ever seen". In my talk I'll explain what bitcoin is and isn't, and why this 70+ PetaFLOP network has caught the attention of everyone from The Washington Post and MSNBC to Wikileaks and the EFF. Skunkworks is an undergraduate studying electrical engineering. He's an active phone phreak and experiments with high voltage and hardware hacking in his spare time.
Related talks
Main Stage·43 min
Yaniv Balmas · Lior Oppenheim
Yaniv Balmas and Lior Oppenheim demonstrate reverse engineering KVM switch firmware, subverting the 8051 microcontroller to install an undetectable, persistent hardware keylogger.
Main Stage·47 min
Michael Ossmann
Michael Ossmann explores the nsa playset: rf retroreflectors at DEF CON 22, examining hardware-security and practical defenses.
Main Stage·47 min
Pierce · Loki
Pierce and Loki explores nsa playset: gsm sniffing at DEF CON 22, examining hardware-security and practical defenses.