Hack it. Build it. Understand it.
Don't buy the brand. Build the tool. Open-firmware multitools, RFID and NFC readers, software-defined radios, and the loose parts to make your own. Sorted by what you want to be able to do, not by who has the best ad.
Choose your first build Shop a starter kit
Hacker candy for curious minds. Everything here is for gear you own or systems you have written permission to test.
What do you want to be able to do by Sunday?
Pick a goal. You get the few things that get you there, each one linked to the store that sells it.
Prices change daily, so we don't print them. The store shows the live one. Links earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
WiFi sensing: see a room without a camera
Open-source projects like RuView read how WiFi signals move through a space and estimate who is there and how they're moving. No camera. Nothing to wear.
It can estimate presence, movement and activity, and it can hook into Home Assistant. It's research and hobby software, and parts of it are still early. It is not a medical device, and we don't make health claims.
Which board do I need?
Just curious? One ESP32-S3 board. It's the starter setup, and it shows presence and movement.
Want a better picture? Add a few boards in one room and a Raspberry Pi to run the software.
No hardware yet? The project runs on simulated data, so you can try it first. Check its docs for which exact board it supports before you buy.
Only sense spaces you own or have permission to monitor. Tell the people in them, and follow your local privacy law.
Kits: the parts that belong together
Buying piece by piece is how people end up with a reader and no tags, or a radio and no antenna. Each kit is a short list that works together on day one.
Ground rules
These tools are for learning, testing your own equipment and doing authorized security work. We don't list jammers, and we don't list anything sold mainly to defeat systems that aren't yours.
Laws about radio transmission, cloning cards and testing access systems differ by country and state. Checking yours is on you before you plug anything in.
When you buy through our links, the store pays us a commission. Your price stays the same. We only link to gear we'd put on our own bench.
Questions people ask first
Do I buy from you?
No. We don't hold stock or take orders. Every button sends you to the store that sells the item, and the store ships it and handles returns.
Why not just buy a Flipper Zero?
You can, and it's in the Pocket Multitool list. It has the biggest community around it. Several cheaper open-firmware devices do much of the same work, and building from parts teaches you more.
I've never done any of this. Where do I start?
Card Lab Kit if you're curious about badges. Radio Lab Kit if you want to see signals. Build-Your-Own if you like soldering and tinkering. All three cost less than one name-brand gadget.
Is this legal?
Owning these tools is legal in most places, and so is using them on your own devices. Using them on other people's systems without permission is not. Read your local rules.