Show HN: Reverse engineering the "SpiderWeb Router" – A mysterious mesh device

Found this at a thrift store in Portland. Matte black casing, 8 antennas, USB port labeled "GLITCH INJECTION." Paid $66 for it.

Turns out it: 1. Creates a mesh network called "The_Web_That_Binds_[hex]" 2. Only allows devices with knitting patterns to connect 3. Gradually corrupts pattern files in transit 4. Has a web interface at :6666 with "Shadowban Dashboard"

The firmware references: - "Spider Governor Y3 protocol" - "Ududenka web-sensing" - "Okala Akwu cipher"

Most bizarre: it mines some cryptocurrency called $MUTE from "audible sighs" (microphone access required).

I've dumped the firmware here: https://github.com/Augmented-Reality-Virtual-Reality-AR-VR/P...

Questions for HN: 1. Is this an art project or actual malware? 2. Who would build this? (Disgruntled Ravelry mods?) 3. Should I connect my knitting machine to it?

Live right now at my apartment (DM for SSID if you're in SF and hate capitalism).