Flipper Zero is the name of a tool that masters all kinds of remote control, access and wireless protocols and is not only aimed at penetration testers.

The idea behind the gadget called “Flipper Zero” was to put some hardware tools popular with hackers and penetration testers (e.g. Rubber Ducky, TV-B-Gone, Chameleon Mini or Nitrokey, mostly “naked” circuit boards) in a single device to integrate and to bring into a handy form. In fact, the hacking tool, with its graphics display and joypad, does not look unlike a small game console; the size even allows it to be used as a key ring.

However, it has it all: With the device it is easily possible to “clone” common RFID tags and store them in the internal memory, to eavesdrop on and reproduce gate opener logs, to iButtons (contact-based tags) or to a keyboard via USB simulate – whereby the virtual character of the device, an animated dolphin, is happy about every skill learned or used.

Powerful gadget

The remote protocols are processed via the universal low-power transceiver CC1101 from Texas Instruments, which covers practically all ISM frequency bands from 300 MHz to 1 GHz. The protocols are software-based and can be expanded at any time; PT-2240 and РТ-2262, among others, are currently available. The CC1101 supports all types of modulation from simple on / off keying, amplitude modulation (AM) to various FSK variants (frequency modulation, including Gaussian and Minimal).

The RFID part reads and emulates 125kHz tags (e.g. EM41xx chips) with the modulation types AM, PSK (phase modulation) and FSK. Of course, an IR transmitter is also installed, which masters various consumer goods protocols and can be “trained”. For hardware professionals, the port pins (I2C, SPI, etc.) accessible from the outside via holes are interesting, hardware extensions can be plugged in directly.

An STM32 with an 80 MHz fast Cortex-M4 core works in the Hacker Tamagotchi. The built-in 2Ah lithium battery should enable an operating time of 7 days. The Kickstarter project (initial contribution $119) reached its financing target of $60,000 after a few days, and the account balance has now exceeded the 3 million mark.