'Smart rifle' hacked to miss target, hit another

By Tim Biggs
Updated July 31 2015 - 5:18pm, first published 11:54am
TrackingPoint's rifle's feature a 'tag' button to let you market your target. The rest of the electronics are supposed to make sure you hit it, but they can be fooled. Photo: TrackingPoint
TrackingPoint's rifle's feature a 'tag' button to let you market your target. The rest of the electronics are supposed to make sure you hit it, but they can be fooled. Photo: TrackingPoint
Runa Sandvik manipulates the gun's file system on a laptop to make Michael Auger's shot miss one target and hit another. Photo: Wired/YouTube
Runa Sandvik manipulates the gun's file system on a laptop to make Michael Auger's shot miss one target and hit another. Photo: Wired/YouTube
The family that slays together, stays together: the Wi-Fi gun tech is promoted as a way to involve loved ones in your hunting.  Photo: TrackingPoint
The family that slays together, stays together: the Wi-Fi gun tech is promoted as a way to involve loved ones in your hunting. Photo: TrackingPoint

Here's a piece of information you shouldn't need a team of security researchers to tell you: using an Wi-Fi-connected self-aiming firearm can be a phenomenally bad idea.