Russians Raise $1 Million in One Day for “Hacker Tamagotchi” Flipper Zero
On July 30, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to fund the “hacker Tamagotchi” Flipper Zero. The project required $60,000 to get started, and the developers reached this goal in just eight minutes. By July 31, the campaign had surpassed the $1 million mark.
The Flipper Zero gadget allows users to control TVs, air conditioners, intercoms, and other electronic devices, including garage doors. The main idea behind Flipper Zero is to combine all the hardware tools you might need on the go. “I dreamed of a device that could carry out typical attack scenarios, was always ready for action, and wasn’t just a bundle of falling-apart circuit boards taped together,” said project creator Pavel Zhovner.
As a result, Flipper Zero includes:
- A radio module based on the TI CC1101
- A built-in decoder for popular remote control algorithms
- An infrared transmitter
- A 125 kHz RFID antenna
- A built-in panel for reading iButton keys
- GPIO outputs
- A USB Type-C port
What makes Flipper Zero similar to a Tamagotchi is the “cyber dolphin” living inside it, which you need to take care of. The dolphin is always hungry, and its “food” is the devices you hack.
Flipper Zero is not considered an illegal device. The original firmware’s source code is open, and by default, it does not include “hacker” functions such as password brute-forcing or signal interception. Users can add these features themselves if they wish. The device is reflashed via the USB-C port.
The $60,000 goal was just the starting point. Upon reaching $100,000, $300,000, and $700,000, Zhovner promised to add new features to the gadget: additional case colors, a Bluetooth module, and an NFC chip, respectively. At the time, there were still 28 days left in the fundraising campaign.
The first units, which have already sold out, were available for $99 (about 7,260 rubles). The main price during the campaign is $129 (about 9,460 rubles).