Packets Over Any Wire: Alternative Networking Mediums for Hackers (WHY2025)

Why limit yourself to Ethernet and Wi-Fi when every wire in your house can carry packets? This talk explores alternative physical networking technologies that exist but are often overlooked. From Powerline Networking (HomePlug AV/AV2) to MoCA over coaxial cables, we’ll dive into how these systems work, their encryption and security models, known exploits, and the inherent risks of non-switched cable mediums. Beyond the theoretical, we’ll examine real-world applications, including whole-home audio and video distribution, network segmentation strategies, and the unexpected advantages of leveraging existing infrastructure. You’ll see how HDMI matrices, IP-based video distribution, and networked audio solutions like SONOS Net can integrate seamlessly over alternative backbones. We’ll cover segmentation techniques to isolate security cameras, IoT devices, and AV distribution, ensuring efficiency and security. Expect deep technical insights, practical lessons from years of experimentation, and a fresh perspective on what’s possible when you stop thinking of cables as just power or TV lines—and start treating them as network highways. Whether you're looking to expand connectivity in a complex environment or just want to push the limits of home networking, this talk will leave you with new tools, techniques, and ideas to explore. Licensed to the public under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ about this event: https://program.why2025.org/why2025/talk/DJ7NXK/