SDR · Self-paced video course · Sold separately
SDR for Pentesters
Software Defined Radio from the foundations up: analyse radio signals, reverse unknown protocols, and run replay attacks against real devices, taught by GNU Radio project officer Bastian Bloessl.
01 — About the course
From the foundations of SDR to real-world radio attacks.
Bastian Bloessl uncovers the underlying foundations of Software Defined Radio, how to get started analysing radio signals, radio reversing, replay-based attacks and more. If you have never had the chance to learn SDR, or have held back for lack of a DSP background, this course walks you all the way from the basics to the real-world practice of performing it.
The course is built around practical exercises you perform yourself, on a pre-configured course VM with GNU Radio ready to go.
02 — What you'll cover
Nine topics, each with exercises.
- 01
Introduction to SDR
What software-defined radio is, the hardware, and how signals get from the air into software.
- 02
Analysing radio signals with Fosphor
Real-time spectrum and waterfall views to find and characterise signals.
- 03
Spectrum, gain, controls and DC offset
The receiver settings that make or break a capture.
- 04
Identifying signals with GQRX
Tune, demodulate and identify what a transmission is.
- 05
Replay-based attacks
Capture and retransmit against real targets, and understand why it works.
- 06
Inspectrum-based analysis
Pull symbols and framing out of a recorded capture.
- 07
Working with GNU Radio
Build flowgraphs that turn samples into decoded data.
- 08
GNU Radio PyBombs
Install and manage out-of-tree modules and dependencies.
- 09
Out-of-tree modules
Extend GNU Radio with your own blocks.
03 — What's included
Videos and exercises. Hardware optional.
Recorded lessons across all nine topics
Practical exercises to perform yourself
Course VM with GNU Radio pre-installed
12 months full access, in-year updates included
HackRF One with ANT500 antenna
A vulnerable wireless doorbell
A car key fob for the replay exercises
Available as a bundle when in stock
Any SDR that works with GNU Radio will do for the exercises. An RTL-SDR covers the receive-only material; a HackRF One is needed to transmit for the replay work.
04 — Instructor
Bastian Bloessl
Project Officer, GNU Radio
Bastian is a researcher at the CONNECT Centre, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland's research centre for future networks and communications, funded through a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship. His research uses SDR-based prototypes to assess the performance and robustness of vehicular and sensor networks.
He received his diploma in Computer Science from the University of Würzburg, pursued his PhD with the Computer and Communication Systems Group at Innsbruck and Paderborn, and spent six months in Prof. Mario Gerla's group at UCLA on a DAAD FITweltweit scholarship. Since 2017 he has been a Project Officer of GNU Radio, the open-source SDR framework used throughout this course.
05 — FAQ
Before you enroll.
Is this part of All-Access?
No. SDR for Pentesters is sold on its own and is not included in the All-Access subscription. Buy it here for $424.
Do I need a DSP background?
No. The course starts from the basics and builds up to practical radio work.
Do I need hardware?
The analysis material works on recorded captures in the course VM. To transmit for the replay exercises you need a transmit-capable SDR such as a HackRF One, either your own or the optional kit.
How long do I have access?
12 months from purchase for the lessons, exercises and course VM. Updates released during that year are included, and renewing extends everything for another 12 months.