'Hacker drone' can crack wireless computer networks at close range

The hacker’s theoretical arsenal just got stronger, with the unveiling of a drone that can land on skyscrapers or inside walled compounds to crack into wireless computer networks at close range.

 David Jordan of US-based Aerial Assault was at an infamous Def Con hacker gathering on Sunday showing off a drone that could be dispatched to probe for cracks in computer networks.

 “There has never been this capability before,” Jordan said as he showed the drone.

 The drone was equipped with software tools used to perform the kind of “penetration testing” done by hackers or computer security professionals who seek vulnerabilities in computer networks.

 As with drones previously launched by hackers, the Aerial Assault model scans for unsecured wireless connections to networks, according to Jordan.

 Along with assessing weaknesses of networks, the drone logs precise GPS coordinates of a target and takes all the information back to its handler, he said.