Researchers hack robot to violently stab tomato

According to a new report by cyber security firm IOActive, the researchers demonstrated how collaborative robots (cobots) from multiple vendors, contain vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to potentially spy on users, disable safety settings, violate applicable safety laws and even control them to cause physical harm to users and their surroundings.

The Seattle-based security firm discovered several flaws in consumer and industrial bots sold by a number of manufacturers. The researchers also demonstrated how the machines could be turned into surveillance devices, record and transmit video and audio of users back to the hackers, and remotely control them to cause physical harm.

The security researchers were able to hack into a popular house robot and program it to wield a screwdriver and stab violently at a tomato. The hack is an example of how potentially dangerous these systems can be when hacked.

Commenting on the news is Cesare Garlati, Chief Security Strategist at the prpl Foundation, who said: "With the introduction of robots making their way into our homes and in industrial settings, the appeal is to make human lives more efficient. However, robots present an extreme danger to the public if security is not properly addressed. Many manufacturers and developers are to preoccupied by sales, and rush to get their products to market, with security left as an afterthought. Security should be implemented at the development stages of the production lifecycle otherwise, If robots continue to lack the necessary security, they will become a danger to human life."