Ways to Brick Your Hardware

Explore the world of hardware hacking and learn from decades of experience in this 52-minute conference talk presented by Joe FitzPatrick at the 44CON Information Security Conference. Discover 101 ways to accidentally or intentionally render equipment unusable, from soft bricks to hard bricks. Gain insights into common pitfalls and recovery methods for various devices, including Chromebooks, routers, and consumer electronics. Understand the risks associated with firmware manipulation, PCB damage, and connector issues. Learn valuable tips on avoiding bricking your projects and benefit from real-world examples of hardware mishaps. Whether you're a beginner worried about damaging equipment or an experienced hacker looking to expand your knowledge, this comprehensive presentation offers practical advice and cautionary tales to help you navigate the challenges of hardware hacking.

Introduction
Overview
What is a brick
Bricking
Soft Brick
Hard Brick
Firmware
Defcon 18 Badge Bootloader
Chromebook Firmware
High and Low Entropy
Chromebook
Disk Destroyer
Unbreak Firmware
Breaking PCBs
Thermal bridging
Pogoplug
Scramble Pad
Routers
Connectors
Chromebooks
Mini PC
MicroUSB
Internal Cables
Consumer Devices
Reinforcement
USB to Serial
LD Oh Regulator
Unbreaking Your PC
WTF
Microcell
VeriFone PIN Pad
Parallax RFID Module
AR Sandbox
Photoelectric Effect
Manual Diff
Summary
How To Avoid It
Benefits
Conclusion