Probably Buy a Flipper Zero Before It's Too Late | Hacker News Reader

Probably Buy a Flipper Zero Before It's Too Late

gizmodo.com

44 pointsBrajeshwar27 comments

Note that the schematics, etc are freely available so something comparable could be assembled at home with the help of OshPark and Digikey: https://docs.flipper.net/development/hardware/schematic

Flipper is fun, and cool in a very cyberpunk way (even the name makes me think of the dolphin in johnny mnemonic), but what kept me from buying one, is, while cool, it's aesthetic was really the most unique thing about it. My use cases for it were covered by things I already own, and it is somewhat expensive given all that.

FZ is a toy that's easier to demonize than question the lack of security of systems and protocols in the real world.

But let's ponder what could possibly go wrong™ with autonomous, goal-seeking generative AI/ML/DL that can use local machine(s) and launch IaaS public compute instances, and effectively use a fraction of the toolset of Kali. But going further to add the capabilities of multiple, various sensors, network and RF hw modules, and autonomous vehicles.

does anyone here use it? I was considering buying it but I figured out I would play with it for few days and then wouldn't have any purpose.

I don't, because there are much better tools available (although they require more knowledge and skill). It seems to me that the Flipper Zero is mostly aimed at a less technical audience.

could you please list some of those tools?

tactical .

I have one. It's pretty useless, unless you have to juggle a lot of RFID cards I guess. But its a little like carrying a Swiss army knife or Leatherman. If you have it, you look for opportunities.

Is this a shadow ad?

Only if you're a middle class "the government wants to regulate it" buyer.

The coworker who first brought Flipper up to me has opinions on the best gas station kratom and buys a gun every time Fox News says "riot". He has aspirations of becoming a pool card pirate king.

I get valuing independence and self-reliance, but why not get into, I don't know, amateur radio?

As an owner of a flipper this caused self deprecating chuckle. You’re a bit too close for comfort.

It’s probably a weird fringe trifle, but I had a lot of fun with it during a physical security review for a client. It’s super impressive to open their front door with the CEOs keycard cloned by standing next to him in the elevator. That being said you can buy a dedicated badge cloner on Amazon for $14 and it doesn’t work for fancy ones like what goog uses.

Honestly the hackRF was the tool we all had before the flipper zero, its just a better carry factor.

also -- get into amateur radio, we need more hackers to offset the old people we are all turning into ;)

I initially thought being called a YL was a bit of mockery since I’m over 40, but to most other hams, I am young.

And seconded on the more hackers wanted! Don’t be put off getting a license because you’ve heard about grumpy (or worse) old men on the air - think of it as an RF experimentation permit. That’s what it was originally meant for.

I'm surprised the CEO's keycard would use outdated technology.

You'll be even more surprised to hear that the majority of keycard systems deployed use outdated technology.

> I get valuing independence and self-reliance, but why not get into, I don't know, amateur radio?

without any sort of statistical evidence whatsoever, I feel that the odds of any given Flipper Zero owner also owning at least one UV-5R is roughly 100%.

Probably so. And I'm guessing a single-digit percentage of them have bothered to even put in the small amount of study required to get a radio technician's license so they can make good legal use of that radio.

Licenses are just the government's way of getting all the sheep to tag themselves. -SvrnCtzn1776

Sent from my iPhone

But even if you're inclined to think that way, your ID is not broadcast automatically by the radio. So if you want to be unidentified, you can just not identify yourself.

But, in my view, you're broadcasting on the radio -- which immediately makes you trackable, license or not. The local HAM community in my area even has their own radio locators and when someone is causing a problem, they do track them down, knock on their door, and ask them to stop it.

guilty as charged on both counts! I'll get around to it someday. it really is something I'm interested in doing but I haven't found the time.

It really isn't a big deal. I put it off for years because I imagined it would require a lot of study and a hard test, but I picked up a study book, spent a week with it, and the test was not a problem.

I think the the license grades above technician are the ones where it gets harder.

oh for sure, I've looked over the materials before and it seems extremely straightforward... but it's something that I really want to get into sometime and not just pass for the sake of passing, y'know?

Oh, I get it completely. If you're anything like me, then just getting the license will suck you into it pretty deeply. You should be in a position where you won't mind the lost time.

Just bringing this up because it's what stopped me as a teenager, but learning Morse code is no longer a requirement!

Also, you'll probably want the book for street cred, but check out the free study guide: http://www.arrl.org/instruction-arrl-resources

Is there alternatives that can be controlled via smartphone instead? That menu looks like nightmare.

https://docs.flipper.net/mobile-app

Is it sold in India?

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