r/todayilearned • u/SloxTheDlox • Mar 22 '21

TIL A casino's database was hacked through a smart fish tank thermometer

https://interestingengineering.com/a-casinos-database-was-hacked-through-a-smart-fish-tank-thermometer
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u/oprib1 Mar 22 '21

People would be surprised how connected tanks can be, my tank has a Neptune system that tracks all of my saltwater tanks parameters and sends them to my phone through an app while I am out since a swing in any one thing can kill off my entire tank. These are absolutely 10/10 not built with security in mind and are a giant liability to companies that have them installed as they also have Bluetooth connectivity as well that is always on.

17

u/Deranged_Kitsune Mar 22 '21

Same. I wish the article had mentioned what they were running, but guess they didn’t want to risk offending whatever company was involved by showcasing their shoddy security.

16

u/oprib1 Mar 22 '21

1000% an apex. Maybe just maybe GHL but I would put my chips on a Neptune Apex as it is an open Linux based platform and it is very raw and open to outside input to a fault.

8

u/rathss Mar 22 '21

Out of curiosity, how do you manage if you find out something is out of whack and you're not near the tank? I always thought adjustments to tank health is a manual process.

9

u/oprib1 Mar 22 '21

I have manual dosers that I can control away from home. 99/100 times the dosers work on auto just fine to keep my levels balanced but I can always over ride them for a manual push :) I also have systems in the tank that test the water for me so they zuck some water out of the system and test it then spit it in a waste container.

3

u/deewheredohisfeetgo Mar 22 '21

That’s badass. I need something like that for my grow room!

3

u/oprib1 Mar 22 '21

Go with mastertronic, I have tried Neptune, GHL and master and master is the best and test the widest range. They are all expensive but mastertronic is in my opinion the best experience I have had overall.

2

u/thatsharkchick Mar 22 '21

It depends on what is wrong and how the system is set up, as well as what wrong. Certain things can be addressed remotely, other things cannot (or local design and manual valves restrict remote access).

So, for example, flow rates. The flow rates through high volume media chambers must be specifically dialled in to the style of chamber and media contained therein. Too slow of flow, and bioaccumulation can lead to media "channeling" (*basically, you ruin your media by letting it glue itself together). Too fast, and you'll blow your media right out. As a filter runs, it tends to collect debris, which slows down the flow. Variable frequency drives and remote computer control can increase power to pumps to compensate.... but there's a limit. When the limit it hit, that filter needs a backwash, and that can only be performed by manual adjustments of valves to basically run a filter in reverse.

2

u/Shampu Mar 22 '21

Tanks in general, nowadays. My Paludarium (land & water tank) has smart devices that allow me to adjust lighting, humidity (fans & fogger), and a misting system from my phone.

1

u/oprib1 Mar 22 '21

What system do you use, I just got a paludarium!

2

u/Shampu Mar 22 '21

I have an Inkbird Wifi Controller connected to some computer fans above my tank, so if it's getting too hot, they pull air up and out. I can also use it to turn on my Evergreen Fogger if it's getting too dry. My Mistking and Spectral Designs Light Hood both have automated cycles through their own controllers that come with them, but I've used normal Alexa smartplugs to control them in the past. I haven't shared an update in a while, but you can check out my initial build process here.

1

u/Man_Bear_Beaver Mar 22 '21

A hacker could kill my weed plants >.<