Reverse engineering notes by Snipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/https://surrealdev.com/new-site-new-look/https://surrealdev.com/new-site-new-look/Now with Open Source!Thu, 15 Oct 2026 20:25:08 GMTSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/what-is-not-malware/https://surrealdev.com/what-is-not-malware/The Troubles of Modern Android APK Forensics Those of you familiar with me know I have done quite a bit of work in modern Android forensics, malware or otherwise. The quick TLDR for those of you in the back is the landscape of Android has changed (quite awhile ago actually). Historically (like...Sat, 03 Oct 2026 22:17:33 GMTMalwareSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/rooting-the-cadillac-part-2-secoc/https://surrealdev.com/rooting-the-cadillac-part-2-secoc/Several months ago I mentioned much of Global B is neither encrypted nor signed. This is 'mostly' true, especially on CAN5, but its not as bad as you think. Since our goal is actually being able to repair the vehicle we own, being able to actually place a module on the vehicle that can cooperate...Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:09:26 GMTAutomotive RamblingsSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/rooting-the-cadillac-part-1-lay-of-the-land/https://surrealdev.com/rooting-the-cadillac-part-1-lay-of-the-land/Disclaimer: All actions performed here were performed in an enclosed safe environment by professionals with 10+ years in automotive pentesting experience. Attempting any of this yourself will likely cause irreparable hardware damage. Don't try any of this. Anyway, just enjoy the show. Most reading...Sat, 15 Aug 2026 21:45:30 GMTAutomotive RamblingsSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-ios-data-logs/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-ios-data-logs/It's about time. Coming soon (after the ControlV2 release). Charts A video is worth a thousand pictures. The charts and gesture system are built from the ground up to support analysis on the go while being efficient at displaying millions of data units. Starting a Record Just tap the little...Mon, 03 Aug 2026 20:21:27 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/maybe-you-should-decline-otas/https://surrealdev.com/maybe-you-should-decline-otas/featured image from BMW USA in car advertisements Let's talk about Why. If you have not read The ABCs of Global B yet I highly recommend starting there. Tuning modern vehicles is tricky as modules will only accept calibrations signed by GM. They usually won't even allow you to enter a programming...Thu, 30 Jul 2026 21:36:04 GMTAutomotive RamblingsSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-1-08-ios-preview/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-1-08-ios-preview/Our last post showed off Gretio 1.08 features, but it didn't reveal much about iOS. Gretio 1.08 Preview Gretio iOS 1.08 will be releasing over the next week alongside Gretio Android 1.08. ControlV2 iOS Gretio is getting the same control v2 treatment as Android. It just looks a little different as...Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:57:50 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-1-08-preview/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-1-08-preview/A preview of what's coming in Gretio 1.08. Global B is Stable Global B beta has been out for a little over a year now and is now considered stable. With 1.08 several major improvements are being done Initial connection to Global B is now much faster. Many minor mistakes have been fixed, data...Sat, 04 Jul 2026 07:09:28 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/the-abcs-of-global-b/https://surrealdev.com/the-abcs-of-global-b/At Surreal Development we created Gretio for Global B (successfully) with 0 prior knowledge. The only information you can find about Global B on the internet is conjecture but nothing definitive. We want to change that, and so we are pleased to create what might be the first definitive 100% public...Tue, 16 Jun 2026 23:37:32 GMTAutomotive RamblingsSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-android-1-07-01-034-data-migration/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-android-1-07-01-034-data-migration/Hello Gretio Users! If you want to keep your Android Dashboard configurations you must launch the app at least ONCE sometime between today and May 31s on v1.07.01.034 or higher. We have changed our local database provider from Realm to Room with the intention of removing Realm from Greito in a few...Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:39:28 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/obdlink-v5-12-2/https://surrealdev.com/obdlink-v5-12-2/At this time, OBDLINK v5.12.2 is not functional with Gretio. We are working with OBD Solutions to fix this problem. The issue is resolved in 5.12.4, please update your OBDLINK to 5.12.4 or newer. If you have not upgraded, please stay on v5.10.3. If you have already upgraded, you can roll back to...Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:30:49 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-android-ui-changes/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-android-ui-changes/Hello Gretio users! After the rollout of Global B, Gretio Android will be seeing some much needed UI changes. Light Mode Gretio will now support a light mode. It will automatically change to day or night mode based on your system. If you don't like this, you can manually pick your favorite in...Sun, 22 Jun 2025 04:32:09 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/global-b-support-open-beta/https://surrealdev.com/global-b-support-open-beta/Hello Gretio users! Global B support for Gretio is now here and will reach general availability within the next few weeks. This includes full PID Support, controls, Diagnostic Trouble Codes, and all the features you are familiar with from the old Global A system such as regens, lightning controls,...Sun, 25 May 2025 19:00:41 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/surrealdev-future-plans/https://surrealdev.com/surrealdev-future-plans/Hello Surreal Dev Followers and Gretio users, This will be a more informal post than is usual. Due to my expertise in Android, Reverse Engineering, and software development in general I ended up taking a regular old job as a Reverse Engineer with Trellix (previously known as McAfee) in 2022. I now...Mon, 18 Mar 2024 04:17:31 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-multi-device/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-multi-device/Did you know Gretio Android can work on multiple devices simultaneously? To start, both devices must be on the same WiFi network. One device must act as the server and connect to your OBD2 device. The client device must then enter the "Server Selection" menu. Gretio uses multicasting to find other...Tue, 02 Aug 2022 06:09:32 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-subscription-alternative/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-subscription-alternative/Gretio has added RPO Packs. These are alternatives to subscriptions which are one time purchases which last a lifetime. They are based on determining the engine of the vehicle. So an "LML" RPO package would unlock Gretio for all vehicles with an "LML" engine. The RPO Packs are extremely good value...Thu, 21 Apr 2022 07:03:08 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-global-b-status/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-global-b-status/GM has started introducing Global B in MY2022 (there was also several models in MY2020 and MY2021). Global B is a new electronics architecture for GM. It also changes the diagnostics architecture which is what Gretio uses to function. The changeover will take time as a new database has to be...Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:43:23 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/extremely-demoralizing/https://surrealdev.com/extremely-demoralizing/Since the pandemic, remote software engineering work has become common place. Daily stand ups around cubicles are now sit downs with tiny glowing boxes representing people. Agile and scrum have both adapted reasonably well to remote work, and the future of software dev is likely going to be...Sun, 26 Dec 2021 23:39:17 GMTAutomotive RamblingsSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-common-questions-and-answers/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-common-questions-and-answers/What device do I need? Checkout Which OBD2 Device to buy? – Surreal Development What Vehicles does Gretio Support? Gretio Support Vehicles Can Gretio do programming? Yes. But GM has a very limited number of features which can be programmed over OBD2 without flashing/programming a new calibration....Sun, 04 Jul 2021 16:34:56 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-crowd-sourcing-pids/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-crowd-sourcing-pids/If you explore the options of Gretio you may come across the option "Crowd Source PIDs" What is it? Why do you care? Well it's really what makes Gretio work at all. Whenever you discover a new vehicle your scan results are uploaded, and likewise other scans are available for you to use. In...Fri, 25 Jun 2021 05:47:42 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-ios-beta/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-ios-beta/Gretio for iOS is available for beta testing. Follow the guide to get started. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zFM4F7RMP_jIykMtbgR-ASuAbR9_VdVjwyQSxTotUKY/edit?usp=sharing *Beta slots are limited. Subject to availability...Sun, 16 May 2021 09:34:16 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/which-obd2-device-to-buy/https://surrealdev.com/which-obd2-device-to-buy/This is a common question we get a lot. To help with everyone's decision we have developed a spreadsheet. As more devices are tested they will be added to the list. Surreal Development OBD2 Testing – Google Drive...Sun, 16 May 2021 09:19:26 GMTGretioSnipesyhttps://surrealdev.com/gretio-now-available-on-android/https://surrealdev.com/gretio-now-available-on-android/Gretio, the fastest OBD2 tool on Android, is now available free to download on the Google Play Store. Go get it! Also visit us on facebook.Sun, 16 May 2021 09:18:19 GMTGretioSnipesy