Featured in our April edition of Elektor Magazine and made in collaboration with IntelligentSoC, we’ve created the first secure IoT interface and we’re challenging the Elektor community to prove otherwise and score some loot in the process!

With The Internet of Things just around the corner it’s becoming increasingly vital that we have the right tools to make our devices secure and prevent unauthorized access. Our E-Lock enables secure access and connections over the internet and we’re confident that it is unbreakable. So confident, that we’re willing to put our money where our mouth is; to the tune of $25,000!

Apart from an essential tool to participate in the E-Lock Challenge, the E-Lock demo board described in the article is a perfect software/hardware platform to explore the intricacies of extremely secure communication with IoT devices.

The E-Lock chip comes in a 100-pin LQFP package, which is not easy to handle for manual assembly. That’s why we designed the Evaluation (and Application) Board available from the Elektor Store. The Evaluation Board will allow you to test the E-Lock chip while also serving as a basis for your own secure IoT projects. Deeply technical descriptions of the board ABND e-Lock chip datasheets are available for free downloading.

E-Lock consist of two different communication protocols: (1) Raw Ethernet configuration protocol, used to configure the main network and security parameters, such as IP address, Gateway address, DNS server, SNTP server as well as certificate, key and CA. It is done by using E-Lock unique MAC address; (2) Secure TCP/IP client-server application protocol: once E-Lock has been successfully configured, it acts as a secure TCP/IP server following the application protocol explained in detail in the datasheet. E-Lock comes with an extensive control, demo and configuration utility called ISLElektor.

Key features of E-Lock in a nutshell:

• Secure bidirectional TCP/IP communication using TLS 1.2

• Software Watchdog • Unique MAC address

• Raw Ethernet network configuration

• Supply Voltage: 5.0 V

• Temperature range: –40 ºC to 85 ºC

• RoHS compliant

• Ethernet Controller with RMII interface to PHY

• Power on Ethernet (POE) circuit (Option)

• 50 MHz System clock • 1 I2C Temperature sensor

• 2 Relays (one on board)

• 7 General Purpose Input/Output lines

• 4 Analog-to-Digital Converters, 16-bit

• 1 Digital-to-Analog Converter, 12-bit

• 1 Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) bus

• External temperature sensor (with connection cable)

• Expansion connector

• Self configurable

E-Lock comes with an extensive control, demo and configuration utility called ISLElektor.

The E-Lock challenge requires you to crack the device’s security by taking over control of a remote E-Lock board located under IP, change the certificate, change the board’s TCP/IP number and activate the relay. The first to do so wins the prize money. It’s that simple.

In order to participate, you will first need to purchase the board and create your own certificate. Following that, there are a few more simple steps you must follow in order to demonstrate your hacking aplomb;

Using a specific IP address and 8 different ports, you’ll have access to the 8 Elektor chip boards. You’ll have to copy your certificate to one of these boards, which is where your hacking skills will really have to shine. Upon successfully copying your certificate, you’ll have full control over the board and will need change the internal board’s IP address to activate the relay.

It is obligatory that you be able to reproduce your workings, explaining how you broke the board’s security and copied your certificate. Once we’re 100% sure that you’ve gained access (and if you're the first), we’ll send you the prize money!

The challenge will run until May 1st, 2014, so get cracking!

Find out more about the E-Lock Challenge here

Purchase the E-Lock board here