Skip to content

SAFE-PC

Python License Code style: black

Secure Appliance Framework for End-of-Life PCs

Screenshot

SAFE-PC

Figure 1: SAFE-PC conceptual image (Studio-fi, n.d.).

Table of Contents

Installation

# download repo
git clone https://github.com/iiTONELOC/safe-pc.git
cd safe-pc

# install
python3 -m capstone.scripts install

# for development use (needed for tests)
python3 -m capstone.scripts install-dev

# activate virtual environment
python3 source .venv/bin/activate

Description

This repository is under active development as part of a senior Capstone Project in Cyber Operations - Engineering.

The goal of SAFE-PC is to demonstrate the feasibility of repurposing obsolete PCs into automated, cost-effective security appliances while simultaneously addressing the growing challenge of electronic waste.

This project emphasizes:

  • Sustainable IT practices
  • Practical deployment of open-source security tools
  • Academic research into cost-effective defensive frameworks

Academic Context

This repository represents the hands-on implementation component of a Cyber Operations - Engineering emphasis Capstone Project at the University of Arizona. The accompanying thesis explores the broader academic context, while this repository demonstrates a working framework for turning theory into practice.

Overview

As Windows 10 reaches end-of-life and millions of PCs face obsolescence, this project demonstrates that these devices can be repurposed into automated, cost-effective security appliances, commonly referred to as UTM (Unified Threat Management) devices, using open-source technologies and virtualization.

The motivation is twofold:

  1. Windows 10 End of Support: Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 in October 2025, leaving millions of still-functional PCs labeled as “obsolete” and destined for e-waste.

  2. Security Gaps for Consumers and SMBs: Most homeowners and small-to-medium businesses rely on basic ISP-provided hardware that offers little more than NAT (Network Address Translation) with minimal defensive capability.

By leveraging Proxmox for virtualization and Ansible for automation, SAFE-PC integrates open-source security tools into legacy PCs, turning them into practical cybersecurity appliances that extend hardware lifecycles and reduce e-waste.

Why This Research Matters

The end of Windows 10 support will create an unnecessary surge of e-waste as otherwise functional PCs are retired. At the same time, cyber-attacks against consumers and SMBs are rising, and many continue to depend on low-cost ISP or consumer-grade hardware with almost no real security features.

SAFE-PC bridges these challenges by:

  • Repurposing legacy PCs into dedicated security appliances rather than discarding them.
  • Deploying academically sound, open-source security tools within a Proxmox environment on repurposed hardware.
  • Delivering affordable, accessible security to households and SMBs traditionally underserved by enterprise-grade solutions.

SAFE-PC demonstrates that sustainability and cybersecurity can reinforce each other.

Project Goals

  • ♻️ Reduce E-Waste: Extend the life of PCs that would otherwise be discarded.
  • 🔒 Enhance Security: Provide better defenses than consumer-grade routers.
  • 💰 Increase Accessibility: Enable cost-effective security solutions for small organizations and homes.
  • 🌍 Sustainable IT: Bridge the gap between environmental responsibility and cybersecurity readiness.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Citation

If you use SAFE-PC in academic work, please cite as: 

Tropeano, A. J. (2025). SAFE-PC: Secure Appliance Framework for End-of-Life PCs [Computer software]. GitHub. https://github.com/iitoneloc/safe-pc

References

Studio-fi. (n.d.). Conceptual green circuit board close up showing safe system data 3D render [Photograph]. Adobe Stock. https://stock.adobe.com/images/conceptual-green-circuit-board-close-up-showing-safe-system-data-3d-render/443455567?prev_url=detail