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Learn to investigate the safety and origins of foreign electronics purchased from online retailers through this conference talk from Recon Village at DEFCON 33. Follow along as cybersecurity expert Michael Portera demonstrates a comprehensive investigation of a foreign smartwatch sold on Amazon, combining OSINT techniques with hardware and software analysis. Discover how to trace supply chains using open source intelligence methods to uncover manufacturer relationships and potential red flags. Master structured hardware teardown procedures to identify components and risk areas, then apply both automated and manual firmware analysis to reveal hidden functionality and data flows. Explore how to pivot between technical findings and OSINT investigations to build a complete risk assessment picture. Develop a repeatable workflow for evaluating the trustworthiness of inexpensive online devices, learning to correlate manufacturer, reseller, and brand information effectively. Gain practical skills through live demonstrations showing how to perform due diligence on tech purchases, understand what happens behind the scenes with foreign electronics, and protect yourself when buying cheap devices online. Build expertise in combining multiple investigation approaches to answer critical questions about device safety, origin, and hidden capabilities.
