Soon: IoT and Hardware Hacking Essentials

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way we interact with the world, connecting everything from household appliances to industrial systems. But with this convenience comes complexity—and risk. Understanding the intricate web of IoT devices, protocols, and security concerns has never been more essential. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our IoT and Hardware Hacking Essentials Course, coming in Q1 2025! After a year of hard work, extensive research, and fine-tuning, we are in the final stages of preparing this comprehensive course to meet the needs of professionals, penetration testers, and enthusiasts in the IoT, penetration testing and cybersecurity fields.

Be the First to Know—and Save!

Excited to dive into the world of IoT and hardware hacking? Don’t miss the opportunity to be among the first to access this course that will be launched through VHL in the first quarter of 2025.

By subscribing to our newsletter, you’ll gain early access to:

  • Course information and details
  • Special launch discounts
  • Bonus content, materials and opportunities

Sig up for the newsletter using the form below to receive more information and discounts when the course is launched.

IoT & Hardware Hacking Newsletter

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Why a VHL IoT and Hardware Hacking Essentials Course?

The IoT landscape is evolving rapidly, and security challenges are growing alongside it. This course is designed to provide a solid foundation for anyone looking to master IoT security and hardware hacking techniques. Whether you’re a beginner or someone with a bit of experience, this course will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the field.

We have structured the course to cover a wide range of essential topics, providing a balance of theory, practical exercises, and real-world applications. By the end, you’ll not only understand the inner workings of IoT devices but also gain the essential knowledge to test and secure them against vulnerabilities.

What Will You Learn?

Here’s a sneak peek at what the course will cover:

1. IoT Introduction

Gain an understanding of what IoT is, how it works, and security risks and vulnerabilities involved with IoT devices.

2. IoT Regulations & Standards

Dive into the legal and compliance frameworks that govern IoT devices, including laws and global security standards such as ETSI EN 303 645.

3. Hardware hacking lab tools

Learn about all kinds of tools that are used in a hardware hacking lab, such as logic analysers, oscilloscopes, soldering stations, debuggers, multi purpose tools and many more tools. With the practical assignments you will also learn how to create your own hardware hacking tools with development boards such as the Raspberry Pi Pico.

4. IoT Reconnaissance: Specifications, network & hardware

Learn how to identify and gather information about IoT devices and ecosystems on the product, network and hardware level. Reconnaissance and enumeration of the complete IoT attack surface is the first step in IoT security assessments.

5. Serial Communication & Protocols

Explore common IoT communication methods such as UART, SPI, I2C, JTAG and understand their applications, vulnerabilities and risks. Learn how to identify and communicate with hardware debug ports to obtain sensitive information, such as secret keys, passwords and firmware images.

6. IoT Firmware Extraction

Discover techniques for extracting firmware from devices using methods like JTAG, SWD, and chip-off approaches. The extracted firmware images can be analysed with static and dynamic analysis techniques.

7. Static Firmware Analysis

Analyse extracted firmware to identify vulnerabilities, backdoors, and misconfigurations without running the firmware on a physical or virtual device.

8. Dynamic Firmware Analysis

Use emulation tools and debugging techniques to test for vulnerabilities in firmware by using a controlled environment.

9. Ghidra Reverse Engineering

Master the basics of Ghidra, a powerful reverse-engineering tool, to understand and dissect IoT software, identify vulnerabilities and reverse engineer IoT device functions.

10. Case Studies

Expand your knowledge through detailed case studies that highlight real-world scenarios and solutions.

What Makes This Course Unique?

Our course stands out by offering a hands-on, practical approach to IoT security and hardware hacking. You won’t just learn the theory—you’ll actively apply it practical exercises and through demonstrations. Each module has been designed with great care and builds upon already completed modules.

Additionally, we’ve included in-depth case studies to give you insights into real-world applications and testing approaches. These examples will prepare you to tackle challenges yourself in security testing consumer IoT devices.

Bitlocker key sniffing with a Saleae logic analyser via SPI.

Stay tuned for more updates as we finalize this course and prepare for its release in Q1 2025. Together, let’s shape a safer, smarter future for IoT technology.