SuperbØwl: A Botnet for Killing TVs During the Super Bowl
Back in 2020, I built SuperbØwl—a small device that uses an ESP8266 to remotely turn off TVs via infrared (IR). Originally a prank to kill the mood during the Super Bowl, it’s grown into a self-replicating IR botnet.
What It Does
- IR Blaster: Sends IR power commands to nearby TVs.
- WiFi Trigger: Scans for specific WiFi networks, then activates.
- Self-Replicating: Once triggered, each device spoofs the original network and rebroadcasts, creating a chain reaction across devices.
- Web Interface: Configure IR codes and behavior through a simple browser UI.
Botnet Behavior
Deploy a few across a bar, neighborhood, or office, and they’ll coordinate. One trigger and the whole swarm shuts down TVs in sync. No manual control needed after setup.
Use Cases
- Kill TVs at sports bars during major games.
- Quiet down waiting rooms or lobbies.
- Or automate dumb devices with IR control.
Get Started
Grab an ESP8266, follow the setup in the GitHub repo, and flash the firmware.