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Projects

SPARSA's staff are always busy with different research projects, here's the lowdown on some of the big ones:

Hack-This-Network
A series of computers networked with a secure gateway for security students to test their abilities in hacking and defending. Each node on the network after logging into the secure gateway has a vulnerability or several built in. The design team knows about them, and regularly tweaks them for ongoing challenges. This setup enables the staff to host speed hacking, and defense tutorials remotely without the possibility of malicious traffic leaking to the internet.
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Build your own home surveillance system
The purpose of this project is to educate people that it is not pricey to build your own home security system with a little knowledge of computers and some inexpensive off the shelf webcams. Using properly configured ZoneMinder software, you can have a fully functional security system capable of monitoring your house for under $100. Integration of other standard sensors such as IR beams to follow the initial camera display.
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The Monroe County Wireless Audit
SPARSA will be auditing the wireless access points in Monroe County of New York to educate the people on what it means to use wireless security. In an age where wireless signal theft, identity theft, and hacking runs rampant, we would like to make the people aware of the simple steps to secure themselves more fully against outside attacks. The drive will take place during the Rochester Institute of Technology's Spring Semester and will blanket the total of Monroe County. We are currently looking for funding for gas money, GPS units, and Wireless antennas. Some equipment has already been donated. We can advertise for your company with magnetic banners or however you would like, we will also place your logo on the front cover of the informational packet that is to be handed out to all of the vulnerable Access Point owners.

Nepenthes Based Viral Research
Computer viruses are a part of the internet. Nepenthes Ampullaria acts like a honeypot to feign vulnerability to, and download viruses into hexdumps which can be reversed. A collection of 15,000 viruses is growing each day the nepenthes computer is online, gathering data to submit to anti-virus companies about what is in the wild.
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