If you’re a Linux fan, you probably hold similar views to our own on open source software and its relevance to the modern world. Covering everything from scripts to full-blown applications, modern, open-source software powers much of the modern world each day.

In fact, in some instances, open-source software offers the chance of being freed of the pain of monthly subscription services, and while it won’t work for everything, it will still spark some interesting discussions focusing on the relevance of proprietary software in a commercial world.

GitHub is the central focus of many of these software packages. Allowing developers to edit, contribute or modify code for passion projects, it’s also a great place to find obscure drivers, firmware and scripts that might be useful.

Want a USB security dongle? There’s a script for that. Lacking the drivers to put your wifi card into promiscuous mode? Good chance you’ll find them on GitHub. Want to store your own code in a centralised place where others can access it? You got it, GitHub is the go-to.

But GitHub is more than just a code repository. It’s not only a place where you’ll find interesting projects, but it's also a great place for security research too. We’ve all heard the push to production jokes, but the reality is that mistakes happen, and as such, it’s not uncommon to see credentials and other interesting bits of information crop up.

So with no delay, let’s take a look at the platform and see what interesting nuggets we can find.

USBKILL

Born in the aftermath of the Silk Road era, Usbkill offers simple security with a difference. The script looks for a change in the state of the USB ports, and when detected, it shuts down the machine automatically.

Aimed at preventing the capture of hardware that would eventually result in the downfall of the Silk Road’s founder, the script is still an interesting one even if you don’t have the same security profile as a dark web druglord.

Check out Usbkill using this link.

CyberChef

Originally developed by the United Kingdom’s GCHQ, Cyberchef has evolved to be a well-known and extremely useful tool for dealing with encryption, encoding and data decompression.

Starring in educational programs like TryHackMe and HacktheBox, Cyberchef allows users to use modular blocks to “cook” formulas that are used to encrypt and decrypt data.

If you’re interested in infosec, you’re probably well aware of its capabilities, but if you aren’t, Cyberchef can be a great way to learn about encryption in a controlled environment. Use it on Kali Linux, use it in a web browser, or visit the Github Repository to do a physical install.

Proxmark3

Describing itself as the “Swiss Army Knife of RFID,” the Proxmark repository offers a broad set of tools for RFID analysis. The Iceman repository aims to improve on these features and is considered to be a top candidate in decoding, cloning and replaying RFID Signals.

Featuring both command line interfaces and a GUI, Proxmark allows for detailed analysis of RF protocols for research and pentesting purposes. Pair it with the Raspberry Pi and some filters to clone and replay cards at your convenience.

Visit the Proxmark repository.

Mayhem Firmware

Aimed at the popular Hackrf transceiver, the portapack firmware aims to give your Hackrf more utility and the ability to be used in a portable fashion. Based on the original Havoc firmware, Mayhem expands its overall utility with a broad range of baked-in receive and transmit modes of all kinds.

While you’ll need to use the portapack carefully (some features are not legal for use depending on location) it’s well set up for beginners and the default receive and transmit range is broad, meaning it can be used for receiving GHz band satellites all the way down to amateur band, High Frequency transmissions.

Pair with good antennas for mobile use or plug it into your laptop in “Hackrf mode” to use it as a software-defined radio system on your computer.

Visit the Mayhem Repository.

Open Garages

If you’re currently following the Radio Hackers publication, you’ve probably heard it said that, from a cybersecurity perspective, unconventional systems can often be some of the most interesting ones to research, and Open Garages prove this concept.

Providing security researchers with a large array of tools that focus on CAN bus and automotive protocols, it's a go-to place if you’re interested in expanding your knowledge on those types of systems.

As cars and other devices become smarter and more connected, the security risk profile around these systems begins to change. No longer as cybersecurity professionals sitting in a SOC waiting for alerts. In today's world, professionals are also out testing vehicles, agricultural machinery and other IOT devices.

Visit Open Garages on Github.

Happy Hunting!

While today's article has focused primarily on larger repositories or projects, it’s worth pointing out that one of the best parts of GitHub is the amount of obscure research that is carried out on all manner of topics.

For every project that has thousands of forks, there are dozens of smaller projects that are run by some guy (or girl) in a random country that has a passion for some obscure topic or piece of technology.

So, when you’re exploring, keep your mind open as much as your eyes and use your imagination when you’re searching, as you never quite know what you’ll find.

And don’t forget that if you’re a coder, there’s always the option of giving back at some point. While open source projects are popular, some suffer from a lack of community support, meaning that a small amount of support can often go a very long way.

The community is, of course, what we choose to make of it.

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