Gregory's Server"I have trust issues" is my profession. (Photo courtesy of @nstarke ).
 76 comments
 @reverseics @nstarke except I bet they got what they paid for. The shipping probably cost more than the item.   @lina And it extends the space taken by USB power block you plug it into. @reverseics @nstarke       @reverseics @nstarke  @GuerillaOntologist @reverseics @nstarke @m0xee @GuerillaOntologist @reverseics @nstarke bigclive on YT i think has some product teardowns that are obvious frauds, but usually stuff like "plug this in to reduce your electric bill" and the like! If we pop that single screw off and show the other side of the PCB, i bet it's a total of <10 total surface mount parts. 4 LEDs, four resistors, and maybe a 25 cent mCU to make it blinkenlight, if they do. @picofarad  @m0xee @reverseics @GuerillaOntologist @nstarke the ones in my profile header cost hundreds of dollars, and dont respond well to particular sprays. @m0xee @GuerillaOntologist @reverseics @nstarke haha it probably went something like this in Shenzen or wherever: @m0xee @reverseics @nstarke    @reverseics Looks to me like the only appropriate photo of this item would be with three of those "fingers" folded down. I'll let you guess which finger I think would still be standing up. @nstarke  @reverseics "and that this thing does absolutely nothing for your wifi" that is about the same what Wifi range extenders did in the past, even the one with more than just LEDs. :-P
 @reverseics @nstarke I also remember some (working) Bluetooth dongle that had a plastic antenna with no function.  @jernej__s @reverseics @vampirdaddy @reverseics Yeah, the WiFi worked just fine, but they had to pretend to have much bigger antennas than they really were. @reverseics @nstarke this reminds me of the power supplies that had a chunk of lead in them to make them heavier.  @reverseics  @reverseics @negative12dollarbill @reverseics Just from the photos it appears that this device was sold as a WiFi repeater when, in fact, it’s just a few LEDs in a fancy case. @mbirth @reverseics @reverseics I thought it was for hiding/storing keys and small valuables in plain sight…  @reverseics @nstarke Need the Big Clive breakdown for this device. https://youtube.com/@bigclivedotcom   @reverseics @nstarke How did you find this photo of my dating ..... huh. I can't decide if "strategy" or "history" is funnier. 🤔 @nstarke @reverseics in this very room (staying at a relative’s house) is a similar device. This one is a rodent deterrent that, apparently, emits a signal through the house wiring to drive the rats away.     @reverseics @nstarke Has anybody else noticed the eery similarity to those spiders infected by that behaviour-changing fungus which grows like these antennas?  @reverseics @nstarke Reminds me of NES cartridges, or the fact that expensive power supplies are often filled with sand to make them heavier. @reverseics @nstarke @edwardstoneIIIATL @reverseics Yeah. From the outside it appears to be a Wi-Fi repeater with antennas and status lights. But actually the antennas are fake, and the only functionality is 4 pointless LEDs.    @reverseics    @reverseics You and bigclivedotcom on YouTube. He makes tearing down electronic gadgetry fun and, sometimes, hilarious.  @reverseics @evamik That's pretty much fraud, if it actually does nothing instead of just having a small antenna module on the board itself.
 @reverseics@infosec.exchange @nstarke@bird.makeup In China, these things are basically everywhere online if you look for them, known by many different names, such as "power savers", "electronic mouse repellents", "lead-acid battery maintenance device", etc. All of them have the same design, and sometimes same PCB - an AC passthourgh outlet, and an LED. Almost nobody who knows what a watt is believes them, unfortunate, grandparents sometimes fall victim to them so they still get sales.  |
@reverseics At least that thing looks Mostly Harmless(tm). Useless, but unlikely to be particularly malicious.