If theres one thing to say about the$169 Flipper Zero, its that its really damn cute.
Sometimes, they record a dancing praying mantis or swimming in the ocean.
The little dolphin cries elephant tears whenever you give a shot to turn off yourthumb-sized hacking and pentesting tool.
The new Video Game Module adds HDMI connection and gyroscope controls.Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
My little dolphins name is Miakal.
The companyreleased its new Video Game Moduleearlier this month, which did two things.
Its not illegal, butAmazon has banneddevice sales, andCanada also seems poised to ban the Flipper.
Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
If Flipper should be known for innovation, it should be in terms of form rather than function.
The Video Game Controller is an example of how modular the Flipper designers first made the original pentesting tool.
What Can the Video Game Module Do?
Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
Those apps available on the official Flipper Labs app store include games like Air Arkanoid that use the gyroscope.
This is not perfect, nor very one-to-one.
Playing games with the motion controls is a struggle with seemingly spotty sensitivity.
Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
The Flipper screen is extra big in 640480 resolution at a base of 60 Hz.
Very little quality is lost between the regular Flipper screen and how it looks on a far bigger monitor.
The module connects via 16 pins to the GPIO ports on top of the Flipper Zero.
Theres no latch to ensure the pins stay secure.
The module would fall off the main machine when it was in my backpack or coat pocket.
I was constantly concerned that the exposed pins might get bent or damaged.
No, you wont be able to take over Times Square with photos of your cat.
Maybe with extra resources and some ingenuity, the hacker types will find new penetration capabilities.
Still, for now, its a rather simple add-on thats more useful for developers than laypeople.
Kulagin told us the company plans on making even more modules that similarly attach to the Flipper.
In the four years since the first Kickstarter, DIYers have developed some add-ons, such as arange extender.
What is the Flipper Good For?
The companiesissued updates to their earlier model vehiclesto try and prevent these thefts.
Other than trolling the average Tesla owner, this isnt necessarily causing widespread societal disruption.
Its one of those odd design choices from Tesla thats compromised security for convenience.
Are there other nefarious uses for a Flipper?
If I ever lose that, it can copy my air conditioner remote.
Can it scan and emulate your work ID to access a building?
Yes, it absolutely can, for better or worse.
Does this present security issues for offices, warehouses, or far more sensitive locations?
Companies still rely on this overtly problematic RFID security technology to know about this issue.
Now, can it copy debit cards?
Is it still rotten to know your card details are still available?
Again, this security vulnerability has existed since the dawn of debit cards.
The Flipper app store is filled with slightly gimmicky games and tools that dont necessarily do much harm.
Roguemaster firmware includes the ability to brute force pins to unlock phones through the Bad USB app.
The fact that its just such a cute unit is icing on the cake.
Otherwise, its best to describe the Flipper as an RF leatherman.
Lets call a spade a spade here.
The Flipper Zero makes dump the long-existing vulnerabilities with our signal technology.
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