From time to time the Signal Owl may be updated with new firmware to add features and security improvements. It is highly recommended that you keep your Signal Owl up-to-date with the latest firmware, available from https://downloads.hak5.org/owl
Update via USB
To install the latest firmware via USB:
- Download the latest firmware upgrade file. Make sure the filename is upgrade-version.bin (where version is the firmware version, e.g., upgrade-1.0.1.bin) and that the SHA-256 checksum matches.
- Copy the firmware upgrade file to the root of an EXT4 or FAT32 formatted USB flash drive. Do not rename, unpack or otherwise modify this file.
- Plug the USB drive into the powered-off Signal Owl.
- Power on the Signal Owl from a reliable USB power source and enter Arming mode.
- For version 1.0.0, entering arming mode by pressing the device button (quickly, for less than 1 second) when the device enters SELECT mode as indicated by a very fast blinking LED on bootup. Arming mode will be indicated by a double-blinking LED.
- For version 1.0.1 onwards, enter arming mode by pressing the device button any time after the bootup process completes (roughly 1 minute). Arming mode will be indicated by a double-blinking LED.
- The upgrade process may take up to 5-10 minutes and will be indicated by a series of LED patterns. Do not power-off or disturb the device until the upgrade process is complete.
Update via SSH
To manually install the latest firmware via SSH:
- Download the latest firmware upgrade file. Make sure the filename is upgrade-version.bin (where version is the firmware version, e.g., upgrade-1.0.1.bin) and that the SHA-256 checksum matches.
- Power on the Signal Owl from a reliable USB power source and enter Arming mode.
- For version 1.0.0, entering arming mode by pressing the device button (quickly, for less than 1 second) when the device enters SELECT mode as indicated by a very fast blinking LED on bootup. Arming mode will be indicated by a double-blinking LED.
- For version 1.0.1 onwards, enter arming mode by pressing the device button any time after the bootup process completes (roughly 1 minute). Arming mode will be indicated by a double-blinking LED.
- Connect your computer to the Signal Owl's WiFi interface
- Copy the firmware upgrade file from your computer to the tmp partition on the Signal Owl. Do not rename, unpack or otherwise modify this file.
scp upgrade-1.0.1.bin root@172.16.56.1:/tmp/
- SSH into the Signal Owl
ssh root@172.16.56.1
- From the root@Owl prompt, use the sysupgrade command to flash the firmware
sysupgrade -v -n -F /tmp/upgrade-1.0.1.bin
- The upgrade process may take up to 5-10 minutes and will be indicated by a series of LED patterns. Do not power-off or disturb the device until the upgrade process is complete.
Firmware Update LED Patterns
During the upgrade process, the red LED will indicate the following states:
Firmware version 1.0.0
- Red blinking – booting
- Red solid >> red fast blinking – entering SELECT mode
- Red double blinking – beginning upgrade process
- Red solid – upgrade in progress
- Red blinking – rebooting
- Red solid >> red fast blinking – entering SELECT mode
- Red slow blinking – upgrade complete, no payload found error
Firmware version 1.0.1 onwards
- Red blinking – booting
- Red solid >> user configurable – entering ATTACK mode
- (after pressing button) Red double blinking – entering ARMING mode, beginning update process
- Red solid – upgrade in process
- Red blinking – rebooting
- Red slow blinking – upgrade complete, no payload found error