What’s Flipper and why is it Zero. Understanding the Tamagotchi for geeks from a beginner’s perspective / Habr

Not so way back, a few yr in the past, I lastly obtained my long-awaited bundle. Flipper Zero. For those that do not know, Flipper Zero is a small system that permits you to have interaction in all types of enjoyable actions in life. The enjoyable begins with the Sub-1 GHz antenna and continues with micro-scripts for PC. If you are , please learn on.

I’ll introduce you to it within the chronological order of the sections within the Flipper’s menu.

Applications

I would not select this as the primary level, because the Flipper’s process, for my part, is to work with the bodily world round us, not software program gimmicks contained in the system. As a tool for working functions, the Flipper just isn’t the best choice. I might suggest utilizing a Raspberry Pi or, as a final resort, an Arduino.

Nevertheless, there are fairly just a few functions inside already written by great web customers. I’ll say immediately, I put in the customized DarkishFlipper firmware. More on that later.

The pre-installed apps embody 8-bit video games like DOOM, add-ons for GPIO pinout, an audio participant, calculators, and extra functions for the 1 GHz antenna.

Again, this part just isn’t probably the most fascinating one.

Sub-GHz

Everything is straightforward right here. In the 300 to 928 MHz vary, in AM and FM modifications, you’ll be able to scan all uncooked and non-raw information.

For those that do not fairly perceive why, I can provide a easy instance – barrier gate codes. Data is transmitted to barrier gates on this vary. As an instance, I used to be capable of copy my key for a barrier gate. Any barrier gates and gates.

How can this be accomplished? I’ll inform you my story. I reside within the metropolis heart, the place there is a saying: “no barrier gate – no parking.” Living in a singular, I’m not afraid to say, constructing, the place in a single small courtyard the scale of a small “spit” with a playground and parking for about 30 vehicles, they put in as many as 3 barrier gates. Three, Carl!

The ache of this level is that the barrier gates had been put in by three completely different corporations, in three completely different ranges, and even had two sorts of closing mechanisms. Being a law-abiding citizen, I made a decision to request a distant for parking my automobile. After calling the numbers that had been stubbornly painted over on the barrier gate, I ended up, no extra no much less, within the metropolis of Reutov (I actually am in Moscow). There, I used to be informed that it could possibly be accomplished, however with no bodily key, nothing would work. When I requested the place to get one, I obtained a disappointing reply: “I don’t know.” A month of looking and by some miracle, I discovered from my neighbors that the important thing was with the “senior resident of the building entrance” (a “Moscow Center” characteristic). The senior resident had moved away, however the entrance remained. Not being lazy, I managed to name this proprietor of the copper barrier gate. It turned out that these three barrier gates had been put in earlier than the legislation on centralized set up of barrier gates, and every constructing entrance put in no matter system they needed and nonetheless they needed. Each barrier gate is a joint property, the place all of the paperwork is saved by the senior resident. The circus continued. The necessities for acquiring the coveted key had been as follows:

1. Pay 7,000 rubles for a group call-out (comprehensible, since they should journey from Reutov).

2. Buy a residential parking allow free of charge parking close to the constructing, which value 3,000 rubles a yr. I already had one, as I could not park my automobile close to my constructing.

3. Give all of the paperwork for the automobile and myself to the “senior resident of the building entrance,” who lives in one other constructing, “for scanning into the archive.”

While the primary two factors had been at the very least comprehensible and considerably cheap (though I haven’t got a residential parking allow now, as it is not wanted when parking within the courtyard), the final level outraged me. I would not have minded shopping for the “little key to the house” for 10,000, I would not even have minded shopping for this subscription from the lady who put in the barrier gate, as a result of due to her, the variety of taxis and out of doors vehicles within the courtyard decreased. But giving my paperwork to a stranger in one other constructing was one thing I did not wish to do. I politely declined the supply.

A step in the direction of parking was given to me by the corporate Prime Remote. The subject was solved merely.

For those that did not perceive – it is a key that copies the sign. I simply wanted to determine what frequency the important thing operated on. The value for 10 keys was 3,000 rubles.

Knowing the producer’s firm (in my case, Nice Flor-S), you’ll find out the producer’s frequency (in my case, 433.92 MHz). After that, every part is straightforward.

The Flipper, nonetheless, helped me do the identical factor, however not for a single barrier gate, however for all three by merely studying the uncooked (RAW) information. Also, the customized firmware has a key brute-force characteristic by frequency vary (the appliance is in a separate folder within the Applications menu).

125 kHz RFID

To put it merely, this part is for studying keys and sensible entry playing cards.

These keys at the moment are actively utilized in new buildings to open balconies or (excuse me) rubbish rooms. In many establishments, they open turnstiles for entry into premises.

I work at a college, and we’ve got the identical entry keys. How to learn it’s easy. Press the “Read” button and place it underneath the Flipper. Something like this:

NFC

Similar to keys, however with extra safety. There are two sorts of safety – PSK. With it, every part is similar as with 125 kHz keys.

The second choice is ASK.

Here it’s worthwhile to do 2 issues – file the important thing and the reader. The man within the video about ASK is the creator of Flipper, Pavel Zhovner @zhovner

Infrared

The infrared emitter permits you to management something with an IR receiver. Even a baby can deal with this. We choose the common distant:

Then, we choose the precise kind of system:

Next, we flip the Flipper over in order that the IR transmitter is on prime, and after urgent the button, all sorts of IR alerts are despatched.

GPIO

I used to be too low-cost to purchase the Wi-Fi module for the Flipper. I am unable to inform you something about it. Thanks to YouTube for the content material.

As an addition, the pinout:

iButton

Under the iButton label, there is a key scanner. It works merely. We scan the important thing by touching the + and – to completely different protruding factors:

Next, we emulate them and convey it to the intercom:

Bad USB

My favourite part. By default, solely 2 demos can be found for Mac and Windows. Since I’m on Windows, this is a screenshot of the output:

Of course, it would not finish there. Far from it. Among my favourite ready-made scripts for Windows in PowerShell is the event from Jakoby. There are many various variations of use, from a easy wallpaper change to a Wi-Fi stealer.

U2F

Two-factor authentication can be potential on the Flipper. All it’s worthwhile to do is join it with out the qFlipper utility.

Speaking of qFlipper. The utility could be downloaded here. The objective of the appliance is straightforward – to work with an exterior system (PC or telephone). It additionally works by way of Bluetooth.

Clock and settings

It’s exhausting so as to add something right here. The clock is important if you wish to know the time, and within the settings, you’ll be able to customise your Flipper.

Firmware

Among my favourite customized firmwares is DarkFlippers.

In my opinion, that is probably the most secure customized firmware. There are fairly just a few adjustments. They are all described on the hyperlink to the GitHub repository.

The second cool choice is the one from TalkingSasquach. It additionally has cool wallpapers like this:

Where, what, and learn how to purchase?

Currently, there are difficulties with Flipper deliveries. I obtained my Flipper virtually a yr after its official launch, as a Kickstarter backer. The bundle contains: a field, a USB Type-C cable, a sticker, and a fast begin information.

The Flipper itself, as said in Pavel’s official Telegram channel, could be purchased via Joom. Everything else (case, Wi-Fi module, board) could be purchased at Amperka.

But who wants it?

As a abstract of my utilization, I can say the next (word, that is simply my opinion): the system is cool, but it surely’s for “savvy” customers or those that have loads of key playing cards and all types of remotes.

In actual life, I generally used the Flipper for extra enjoyable issues like turning on air conditioners and projectors in places of work the place the remotes had been all the time misplaced. And after all, it is a good time killer. For me personally, the system could be very handy and, most significantly, pleasurable. However, there are two factors. First, I’m a geek and I get a kick out of it. Second, I purchased the system within the good previous days for 8,000 – 10,000 rubles (relying on the financial institution’s alternate charge for Eurobucks). Some actual pranksters even hack Tesla charging ports.

The system has potential. Linus Sebastian (from the Linus Tech Tips channel) talks about this potential. According to Sebastian, Flipper Zero is definitely some of the versatile hacking instruments that has ever appeared in the marketplace.

As all the time, the selection is yours. I’ll go on utilizing my Flipper and enjoying with new and newer firmwares.

And what do you concentrate on the Flipper?