Back in June, we profiled a disgruntled artist that was so fed up with people wearing Google Glass while viewing exhibits that he created a program capable of booting the wearable from nearby Wi-Fi networks.
The popularity of Julian Oliver’s original program encouraged him to create Cyborg Unplug, a consumer version of his DIY hack that he describes as a wireless defense shield for your home or workplace.
The device, which goes up for pre-order later this month, is about the size of a traditional notebook power supply. When plugged into a wall socket, Cyborg Unplug will scan the local Wi-Fi network in search of Google Glass devices as well as other network-dependent surveillance gadgets including Google Dropcams, Wi-Fi- enabled drones and even certain types of wireless microphones.
Cyborg Unplug can be programmed to perform a number of different tasks when an offending device is detected. For example, an owner could configure it to sound an audible alarm with a flashing LED light, play a sound or recording through a connected speaker and even ping the owner via a smartphone app.
All of this is, of course, in addition to booting the offending device from the network.
While it does have a neat sounding name and a consumer-friendly design, the Cyborg Unplug is little more than a modified router running custom firmware.
Oliver plans to offer two versions of the Cyborg Unplug. A $50 model known as Little Snipper will be limited to just the blinking LED alert while the full-featured model, the Axe, will set you back around $85. Oliver will begin accepting pre-orders on September 30.
