Imagine a device the size of a toy that can unlock doors, hijack Wi-Fi, or even mimic your work badge. Today's hacker tools are deceptively simple and often look like everyday gadgets—think key fobs, USB drives, or even an innocent-looking Wi-Fi hotspot. But these devices can open a direct line into your data, workspace, and beyond in the wrong hands.

As unbelievable and out of a movie as they might seem, these gadgets can create massive distress for companies, users, and their families. Unfortunately, this time around, TV shows are not so distant from reality. These little, devious things are more real than one might think.

Aware Force breaks down the sneaky hacker tools flying under the radar in this article, like the infamous Flipper Zero, Wi-Fi Pineapple, and USB Rubber Ducky. We’ll reveal how they’re used, share real-world incidents, and, most importantly, show you how to stay a step ahead and protect yourself. If you are a Cybersecurity or IT professional, this is an excellent opportunity to share knowledge with your team. The objective is not to cause panic but to inform.

1- The Flipper Zero

Let’s get this celebrity out of the way first: the Flipper Zero is a multi-functional tool that can interact with wireless signals, control infrared devices, and even mimic digital access keys. Often called “the hackers’ Swiss knife,” it was initially marketed as an educational tool for learning about wireless systems. It quickly gained attention for its potential to bypass security measures, like unlocking digital locks and accessing restricted areas.

Famous tech YouTuber Linus Tech Tips talks about it in this video:

🛡️How to protect yourself?

• Turn off Bluetooth when not in use: This prevents unauthorized devices like Flipper Zero from connecting to your phone. Make sure to fully disable Bluetooth in iPhone Settings, not just from the Control Center.

• Use an RFID-blocking wallet: Protect your credit cards and key fobs from unauthorized scanning by using an RFID-blocking wallet

• Be aware of your surroundings: Be cautious in public spaces if you use a wireless access card or fob for entry. Tools like Flipper Zero can intercept signals from close proximity.

2- Wi-Fi Pineapple

Sitting at a café or in an airport, you might encounter several open/free Wi-Fi networks. A hacker using a Wi-Fi Pineapple can create multiple Wi-Fi networks and trick your device into connecting to their fake network instead of a real one. Once you’re in, they can spy on your online activity, steal passwords, inject malware into your device, or even launch a man-in-the-middle attack.

Not only can the Wi-Fi pineapple create fake networks, but it can also copy existing ones (SSID) and take their places. By doing so, the next time your devices try to log in to a known network, they might fall into a trap.

🛡️How to Stay Safe

• Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks: Avoid accessing banking or other sensitive sites if you're using public Wi-Fi.

• Use a VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your data, making it difficult for hackers to intercept it, even on unsecured networks.

• Disable automatic Wi-Fi connections: Ensure your device doesn’t automatically connect to open networks, which can expose you to fake Wi-Fi hotspots.

3- O.MG cables

They look like regular charging cables, but they’re far from it. Hidden inside are tiny devices that can record your keystrokes, input commands directly into your device, or steal your data while you charge your phone or connect to your computer. Hackers can even control it with their smartphones from up to a mile away.

This video is a funny demonstration of the cable in action:

🛡️Stay safe: 

• Use only trusted cables: Never use charging cables from unknown sources or public places. Purchase cables directly from reputable manufacturers or authorized retailers. Be skeptical of cables given to you by other people.
• Avoid public charging stations: Refrain from using public USB charging ports or stations, as they could be compromised. Instead, use your charger and plug it into a regular power outlet.
• Employ data blockers: When charging in public is unavoidable, use a USB data blocker. These devices allow power to pass through but prevent data transfer, protecting your device from potential attacks.

4- BadUsb

Bad USB drives, like the USB Rubber Ducky, look like ordinary flash drives but are actually highly advanced hacking tools that act as keyboards. When plugged into a device, they can execute commands in seconds, potentially disabling security software, nabbing credentials, planting backdoors, exfiltrating data… 

Hackers can dump some of these on a parking lot, and anyone could pick it up, thinking they were “lucky” to find some lost pen drive. As you can imagine, the consequences of plugging it into a family or company computer are catastrophic.

🛡️Don’t fall for this trap:

• Never plug in unknown USB devices: No! It’s not your lucky day. Avoid inserting any unfamiliar USB drives, even if they appear harmless. Rubber Ducky drives are designed to look like ordinary USB sticks.

• Disable AutoRun for USB devices: Turn off the AutoRun feature for USB drives on your computer. This prevents malicious scripts from executing automatically when a drive is inserted.

• Use endpoint protection software: Install and maintain up-to-date endpoint security solutions (antivirus, firewall, data encryption) to detect and block unauthorized USB devices and malicious scripts.

5- Lan Turtle and Packet Squirrel

@hak5 via Youtube. 

More prolonged surveillance operations might require getting and staying in the network and monitoring everything to loot useful critical information.

For these types of covert ops, on-site implants are the best tools hackers can use for data exfiltration since they’re designed to blend in and provide constant monitoring and real-time access.

LAN Turtle and Packet Squirrel are tools for remote access and man-in-the-middle attacks.

The first appears like a regular ethernet adaptor, and the latter resembles a simple ethernet coupler.

💻🛡️Network admins can do the following:

• Implement Physical Security Controls: Regularly inspect network infrastructure for unauthorized devices, including USB or rogue network interfaces. Secure network ports and lock server rooms to prevent physical access.

• Monitor Network Traffic for Anomalies: Use intrusion detection systems (IDS) and network monitoring tools to identify unusual traffic patterns or data exfiltration attempts. These devices often exploit vulnerabilities to create covert communication channels.

• Enforce Network Access Controls: Deploy strict access policies, including MAC address filtering, device authentication, and network segmentation, to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to sensitive networks.

Knowledge is the best defense against these hacker tools.

The availability of tools like the Flipper Zero and others listed here highlights the importance of staying vigilant. While these tools have legitimate uses, their ease of access by threat actors is the perfect reason to spread knowledge about them to avoid becoming a victim of security breaches and compromising personal or organizational data.

Understanding these tools and practicing good cybersecurity habits can help protect yourself and your organization from becoming a target. Remember, even small steps—like avoiding unknown USBs and securing Wi-Fi networks—can make a big difference.

Sources: Hak5, ZDNet, The Verge, David Bombal, Linus Tech Tips