Mobile work platform

[renderman]

So I've landed myself some work doing wireless assessments at alot of remote sites. They basically want an inventory of what's there and a plan for securing, monitoring and centralizing control of policy.

The inventory part will basically have me running around with my gear and scanning for anything and everything and cataloging what should be there vs what is found.

I've got the gear, but an old problem has crept up; how to carry it all? We all remember my solution last time: http://www.renderlab.net/projects/wa...k/warpack.html

This time though, I need something a little more polished and professional so I'm not automatically arrested on sight.

Google provided http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/a988/ this as a solution, however there is a certain dork factor with it that I might be able to get away with but I figure I'd ask around.

Any creative solutions for a highly mobile workstation you know of? Something from the auditors or inventory guys at your workplace?

[TheCotMan]

Re: Mobile work platform

So I've landed myself some work doing wireless assessments at alot of remote sites. They basically want an inventory of what's there and a plan for securing, monitoring and centralizing control of policy.

The inventory part will basically have me running around with my gear and scanning for anything and everything and cataloging what should be there vs what is found.

I've got the gear, but an old problem has crept up; how to carry it all? We all remember my solution last time: http://www.renderlab.net/projects/wa...k/warpack.html

This time though, I need something a little more polished and professional so I'm not automatically arrested on sight.

Google provided http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/a988/ this as a solution, however there is a certain dork factor with it that I might be able to get away with but I figure I'd ask around.

Any creative solutions for a highly mobile workstation you know of? Something from the auditors or inventory guys at your workplace?

What about a Segway or similar device? You might be able to tap its battery and attach some of your equipment to it (assuming jerks don't ruin parts, and vibration dampening in the unit is "good enough" for your needs.

[renderman]

Re: Mobile work platform

What about a Segway or similar device? You might be able to tap its battery and attach some of your equipment to it (assuming jerks don't ruin parts, and vibration dampening in the unit is "good enough" for your needs.

Cost is a factor, but a segway would be a pretty cool wireless audit platform

[streaker69]

Re: Mobile work platform

I guess shopping cart with a piece of plywood is out of the question?

How much gear are you going to be carrying?

[renderman]

Re: Mobile work platform

I guess shopping cart with a piece of plywood is out of the question?

How much gear are you going to be carrying?

Probably just the laptop and a directional for rogue hunting. I have another solution for the inventory and classification part of the audit.

[streaker69]

Re: Mobile work platform

Probably just the laptop and a directional for rogue hunting. I have another solution for the inventory and classification part of the audit.

Ok, I have an idea for you and this one is real, not a shopping cart.

Instead of the big and bulky warpack, how about make something new out of lightweight nylon webbing to hold the laptop on your back.

Didn't someone a while ago make an small LCD screen that displayed output from NS? Maybe do something like that, in a small handheld case and your handheld yagi. Have your PC record all the information but use the LCD to guide your hunt.

I'm sure something could be done to output Kismet data to such a thing as well.

[erehwon]

Re: Mobile work platform

So I've landed myself some work doing wireless assessments at alot of remote sites. They basically want an inventory of what's there and a plan for securing, monitoring and centralizing control of policy.

The inventory part will basically have me running around with my gear and scanning for anything and everything and cataloging what should be there vs what is found.

This time though, I need something a little more polished and professional so I'm not automatically arrested on sight.

Google provided http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/bags/a988/ this as a solution, however there is a certain dork factor with it that I might be able to get away with but I figure I'd ask around.

Take a look at some of the chest harnesses at High Speed Gear there are a few closeouts listed there, and you should be able to stash your laptop on your chest, and have the admin panel area to work from. Likewise with all the Molle straps there, you should be able to score some pouches to keep everything within arms length.

Only real negative is depending on the chest rig you buy, you'll look like the skinniest Blackwater contractor ever!

[xor]

Re: Mobile work platform

Do you own a large dog..?

xor

Good for carrying gear as well as hunting intruders.

Find a desk and place an access point on a Roomba. Not only would cover the area it would be clean afterword. Since I've just let the genie out of the bottle I imagine I will see one at Defcon.

[afterburn188]

Re: Mobile work platform

Probably just the laptop and a directional for rogue hunting. I have another solution for the inventory and classification part of the audit.

Ever thought of using a device like a Nokia N8x0? There are two options:

1) One guy I know added an RP-SMA connector to a N800 and used that along with a direction setup.

2) You can put the laptop in something as simple as a backpack, and link the Nokia via bluetooth. Assuming you are using kismet, you can kismet client to it...you get the idea. If you want to avoid using a 2.4GHz link, then you can add on a serial port to the nokia quite easily and just make a serial console to the laptop.

Just some ideas going a different route...

[xor]

Re: Mobile work platform

Since no one mentioned this:

Just using this one as an example.

http://www.globaltestsupply.com/test...m_Analyzer.cfm

You didn't specify your frequency range. Just Wi-Fi; what about 700, 900, 1800, 5800Mhz, bands. I mean I would want to know about those if I was hiring someone to do a wireless survey. Since a pro-data thief certainly isn't going to use Wi-Fi to tap and steal data. Cellular is going to be much harder to detect simply because the gear is so much more expensive.

If you could reveal the test spec we could maybe send you in some other directions.

Granted you are thinking $11,000.00 for a dedicated piece of gear, xor are you going to give me a loan.

No. Maybe my vet can he gets most of my money these days.

But often as a Test Engineer we rented or leased gear we couldn't justify buying. No we didn't always get the piece of gear we wanted but something usable. You will also look very professional. In addition the equipment you get will be calibrated and traceable to NIST, ISO, or whom ever they have doing that up in Canada.

In the Test Engineering biz if it is traceable it's not data.

xor

They are also good places to buy used gear from. Granted not the latest state of the art stuff.

[streaker69]

Re: Mobile work platform

Do you own a large dog..?

xor

Good for carrying gear as well as hunting intruders.

Find a desk and place an access point on a Roomba. Not only would cover the area it would be clean afterword. Since I've just let the genie out of the bottle I imagine I will see one at Defcon.

Nah, a Rovio with a WRT running as a kismet drone.

[afterburn188]

Re: Mobile work platform

Since no one mentioned this:

Just using this one as an example.

http://www.globaltestsupply.com/test...m_Analyzer.cfm

You didn't specify your frequency range. Just Wi-Fi; what about 700, 900, 1800, 5800Mhz, bands. I mean I would want to know about those if I was hiring someone to do a wireless survey. Since a pro-data thief certainly isn't going to use Wi-Fi to tap and steal data. Cellular is going to be much harder to detect simply because the gear is so much more expensive.

If you could reveal the test spec we could maybe send you in some other directions.

Granted you are thinking $11,000.00 for a dedicated piece of gear, xor are you going to give me a loan.

No. Maybe my vet can he gets most of my money these days.

But often as a Test Engineer we rented or leased gear we couldn't justify buying. No we didn't always get the piece of gear we wanted but something usable. You will also look very professional. In addition the equipment you get will be calibrated and traceable to NIST, ISO, or whom ever they have doing that up in Canada.

In the Test Engineering biz if it is traceable it's not data.

xor

They are also good places to buy used gear from. Granted not the latest state of the art stuff.

I highly recommend the tektronix RF Hawk. It is specifically designed as a "signal hunter" with lots of lovely modes to assist you. We had one of these out at the HHV at DC16 that people liked (some guy who was doing a talk on atheros cards even made use of it for his talk). We've used it several times and it's quite rugged and does the job well.

[renderman]

Re: Mobile work platform

I highly recommend the tektronix RF Hawk. It is specifically designed as a "signal hunter" with lots of lovely modes to assist you. We had one of these out at the HHV at DC16 that people liked (some guy who was doing a talk on atheros cards even made use of it for his talk). We've used it several times and it's quite rugged and does the job well.

Believe me, I'd love to have something like that, but it would be overkill for these sites. It's a large entity wanting to get a grip on all the wireless they have and streamline it so they can get a handle on security. It's not a pentest (yet).


I looked at the N800's a while ago and while they are sexy and they would make a great head for a backpack rig, they are notoriously bizarre on the software side and I've heard enough complaints from Dragorn that I'm steering away until they move to a more generic linux distro. They also don't solve the problem of carrying the main laptop and antenna's in such a rig.

Despite the dork factor, I figure the connect-a-desk is the best option, though I really like the idea of the rc rover but the client would not appreciate that I'm sure (though as a personal project it's piqued my interest, damn you streaker!). Also going to adapt some of the design of the Shmoo bloodhounds to mount a grip to a panel antenna rather than the vagi that would probably freak out alot of people.

We keep getting closer to the future of computing but why does it always seem to be so far away?

[Greyhatter]

Re: Mobile work platform

No mall this year? Nuts. I was hoping for another assessment of dorks. Only thing that comes to mind is purchasing a small hand held sniffer and find the hot spots first and then take a second pass with the heavier stuff when you can go right to the spot avoiding time wasted in between. I still like the concept of an assistant (a CS college student is cheap or free) in a wheelchair you could push between hs's + you could modify the chair to accommodate equipment underneath the seat. Hope the ideas aren't to tarded and good luck render. :~)

[renderman]

Re: Mobile work platform

No mall this year? Nuts. I was hoping for another assessment of dorks. Only thing that comes to mind is purchasing a small hand held sniffer and find the hot spots first and then take a second pass with the heavier stuff when you can go right to the spot avoiding time wasted in between. I still like the concept of an assistant (a CS college student is cheap or free) in a wheelchair you could push between hs's + you could modify the chair to accommodate equipment underneath the seat. Hope the ideas aren't to tarded and good luck render. :~)

Now who said anything about not doing the mall this year :) Also keep in mind that I own a eeePC, a universal battery pack and a messenger bag :)