All I Really Need to Know About InfoSec, I Learned from Mr. Robot

As a full-stack developer, I‘ve always been fascinated by the portrayal of hacking and cybersecurity in popular media. From the cheesy graphics in The Matrix to the laughably inaccurate "zoom and enhance" scenes in CSI, Hollywood has a knack for getting tech wrong in the most cringeworthy ways.

But then came Mr. Robot – the USA Network thriller that follows a group of hackers intent on taking down the world‘s largest conglomerate. From the very first episode, it was clear that this show was different. The hacking scenes actually made sense, the tools and techniques used were real, and the attention to technical detail was unprecedented for a mainstream drama.

As I binge-watched the first season, I found myself constantly pausing to jot down ideas and insights sparked by the realistic depictions of security vulnerabilities and attack vectors. It occurred to me that underneath the gripping plotlines and stellar acting, Mr. Robot was sneakily teaching some valuable lessons about information security best practices.

Here are some of the key InfoSec takeaways I gleaned from the show, from a developer‘s perspective:

1. Mobile security is often an afterthought, and that‘s a big problem

One of the most unsettling hacks portrayed in Mr. Robot is how effortlessly a character‘s Android phone is compromised and turned into a surveillance device without her knowledge. In a matter of minutes, the attacker is able to remotely monitor all activity on the phone including recording calls, tracking GPS location, and even activating the camera and microphone.

This isn‘t just fiction – the spyware used in the show, Flexispy, is a real commercial tool that markets itself as a way to "catch cheating spouses‘‘ but is widely abused by stalkers and domestic abusers. It works by exploiting the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a developer tool that is often carelessly left enabled on Android phones and provides privileged access.

A 2019 study by researchers at Northeastern University found that the number of Android devices infected with stalkerware had increased by over 300% in just two years, with an estimated 50,000 devices compromised in the US alone. Worldwide, mobile spyware is a multi-million dollar industry that largely operates in a legal gray area.

The root of the problem is that unlike iOS, which is locked down and centrally controlled by Apple, Android is an open-source operating system that allows users to install apps from untrusted third-party sources. This flexibility is valued by power users but creates serious security risks for the average user who may not understand the implications.

Some Android security best practices that Mr. Robot illustrates:

• Always keep your phone locked with a strong passcode or biometric authentication
• Avoid enabling developer options or USB debugging unless you really need it
• Stick to installing apps from trusted sources like the Google Play store
• Be cautious about granting permissions to apps, especially ones that request access to your location, contacts, or messages
• Consider using a mobile security app that can scan for spyware and malware

But perhaps the most effective defense is simply being aware that your phone is essentially a pocket-sized surveillance device that can easily be turned against you if it falls into the wrong hands. As the saying goes, the paranoid survive!

2. The USB port is the modern-day Trojan Horse

Another favorite attack vector of the Mr. Robot hackers is distributing malware via innocuous-looking USB flash drives. In one memorable scene, a character poses as a street musician handing out free CDs of his music. The CDs actually contain an autorun script that silently installs a backdoor on any computer they are inserted into.

This may seem far-fetched, but so-called "USB drop attacks" are a very real threat. In fact, a 2016 study by researchers at the University of Illinois found that 48% of people who encountered a random USB drive in a parking lot plugged it into their computer. Even more concerningly, the attack had an estimated success rate of around 80% in corporate environments.

There are a few reasons why USB drives are such an effective delivery mechanism for malware:

1. They are ubiquitous and inconspicuous – people are used to seeing them and don‘t think twice about plugging them in
2. They can be configured to emulate a keyboard and automatically type commands when inserted
3. Many organizations still allow the use of removable media by default and lack controls to prevent unauthorized peripherals

Famously, this is believed to be how the Stuxnet worm that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities was initially introduced, by leaving infected USB drives in the parking lot and waiting for curious employees to plug them in.

Some best practices for mitigating the risk of USB-based attacks:

• Disable autorun and restrict the use of removable storage devices via Group Policy
• Use device control software to whitelist only authorized peripherals
• Require encryption for any sensitive data stored on removable media
• Train employees to never plug in unknown USB drives or other devices, no matter how tempting

Of course, determined attackers will find ways to smuggle in malicious hardware (there was an episode of Mr. Robot where a USB drive was hidden inside a Rubber Ducky), but the key is not making it easy for them. The more friction you introduce, the less likely an attack is to succeed.

3. Encryption is not a panacea

One of the most realistic aspects of Mr. Robot is its portrayal of encryption as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, encryption is an essential tool for protecting sensitive data from prying eyes. From securing wireless networks to safeguarding cloud storage, pretty much every aspect of modern computing relies on encryption to some degree.

However, encryption is not a silver bullet and can actually create a false sense of security if not implemented properly. The show highlights several ways that encryption can be subverted:

• Poor key management: In one episode, a character is able to decrypt sensitive files because the encryption key was stored in the same location as the encrypted data. This is a cardinal sin of cryptography – encryption keys should always be stored separately and securely, ideally using a hardware security module (HSM).

• Weak or reused passwords: Another character is able to gain access to encrypted files simply by guessing the password, which turned out to be the name of the owner‘s cat. No matter how strong the encryption algorithm, it is only as secure as the password or passphrase used to unlock it. Password reuse, dictionary words, and easily guessable patterns are all common ways that encryption is defeated.

• Social engineering: Perhaps the most realistic depiction of encryption‘s limits is how the characters are able to obtain passwords and encryption keys by manipulating people. In one episode, a character is tricked into revealing the password to an encrypted file over the phone by an attacker posing as IT support. No amount of technical controls can prevent a human from being deceived into giving up sensitive information.

So while encryption is a critical part of any security strategy, it is not a cure-all. Some best practices for using encryption effectively:

• Use strong, randomly generated encryption keys and store them securely
• Enable full disk encryption on all devices, especially laptops and mobile devices
• Use a password manager to generate and store unique, complex passwords
• Implement multi-factor authentication wherever possible to prevent unauthorized access
• Train employees on how to spot and report social engineering attempts

At the end of the day, encryption is only as strong as the weakest link, which is often the humans involved in the process.

4. The biggest vulnerability is between the keyboard and the chair

This brings us to perhaps the most important lesson that Mr. Robot teaches about information security: the human element is almost always the weakest link. Time and time again, the show‘s hackers are able to bypass even the most sophisticated technical controls by exploiting human psychology and social engineering.

Some of the most memorable examples include:

• Tricking an employee into opening a malicious email attachment by appealing to his ego and desire for recognition
• Impersonating law enforcement to intimidate a character into complying with demands and revealing sensitive information
• Leaving infected USB drives in a parking lot and waiting for curious employees to plug them in
• Tailgating into restricted areas by blending in with a large group or simply asking an authorized person to hold the door

These attacks prey on common human tendencies like trust, curiosity, fear, and the desire to be helpful. And unlike technical vulnerabilities which can often be patched or mitigated, human nature is much harder to change.

This is why security experts often say that the most important factor in any organization‘s security posture is its people. No matter how strong your technical controls are, if your employees are not properly trained and vigilant, they can easily become the vector for a devastating attack.

Some best practices for mitigating the risk of social engineering:

• Conduct regular security awareness training for all employees, with a focus on spotting and reporting phishing attempts
• Implement strict access controls and the principle of least privilege, so that even if an attacker gains a foothold, they are limited in what they can access
• Use two-factor authentication and other technical controls to prevent unauthorized access, even if a password is compromised
• Foster a culture of security where employees feel empowered to question suspicious requests and report potential incidents without fear of retribution

Ultimately, security is everyone‘s responsibility, not just the IT department. As one character in Mr. Robot puts it: "People make the best exploits."

Conclusion and key takeaways

As a developer, watching Mr. Robot gave me a new appreciation for the importance of security and the challenges of implementing it effectively. It‘s one thing to read about best practices in a textbook, but seeing them played out in a dramatic context really drives home the potential consequences of even small lapses.

Some of the key lessons I took away from the show:

• Security is a process, not a product. There is no such thing as a 100% secure system, and the threat landscape is constantly evolving. Security must be continually monitored, tested, and improved.

• Defense in depth is key. No single control or mitigation is sufficient on its own – a robust security posture requires multiple layers of protection across people, processes, and technology. Even if one layer fails, others can still prevent a breach.

• The human element is critical. Technical controls are important, but they can all be bypassed if humans are not trained and vigilant. Social engineering is still the most effective way for attackers to gain a foothold.

• Assume breach. No matter how strong your defenses are, it‘s important to have an incident response plan for when (not if) a breach occurs. Being able to quickly detect, contain, and recover from an incident can make all the difference.

As a developer, there are a few key areas where we can have an outsized impact on security:

• Implementing secure coding practices and performing thorough security testing throughout the SDLC
• Properly handling sensitive data like encryption keys, passwords, and PII
• Designing systems with security and privacy in mind from the ground up, not as an afterthought
• Staying up to date on the latest threats and vulnerabilities and proactively patching and mitigating them

But perhaps most importantly, we need to foster a culture of security and make it a core value of everything we do. This means not just focusing on technical controls, but also investing in security training and awareness for everyone in the organization.

Because at the end of the day, we‘re all on the front lines of the battle against cyber threats. And as Mr. Robot so vividly illustrates, the consequences of failure can be catastrophic.

So let‘s take these lessons to heart and strive to build a more secure future, one line of code at a time. And maybe, just maybe, we can make the world a little more like Mr. Robot – minus the whole "overthrowing the global financial system" part, of course!