New Hacker Pager Device Unveiled by Hack 5 at DEFCON Conference
In this video, Ryan and Darren Kitchen from Hack 5 introduce a new device inspired by the 80s and 90s, as well as the cult film "Hackers." This device, a hacker pager, is an evolution of their famous Wi-Fi Pineapple, a Wi-Fi hacking tool. Darren explains that the idea for this pager came from the desire to create a tangible and standalone device that doesn't require a laptop connection to operate. The design of the pager is a tribute to the neon pagers and rollerblades from the film "Hackers," which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Hack 5.
The hacker pager from Hack 5 is more than just a nostalgic gadget. It features a user interface inspired by the film "War Games," with vibrant colors and dynamic backgrounds. One of the most innovative aspects of this new device is its theme system, based on JSON and PNG, allowing the community to create custom themes and ringtones. Unlike previous versions of the Wi-Fi Pineapple, which used modules via a web interface, this pager operates with payloads in Ducky Script and Bash, making hacking more accessible and fun.
Darren emphasizes that the pager is essentially a Linux box, encouraging users to hack it and explore its capabilities. He also mentions collaborations with other members of the hacker community, such as Wiggle for data ingestion and Draghorn, known for Kismet, who optimized the pager's firmware. These optimizations have enabled the pager to handle over 300,000 connections with only 5% CPU usage, an impressive performance that will also be carried over to the Mark 7 model.
In addition to the pager, Hack 5 is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a challenge coin containing over 20 digital and analog challenges. This coin is a global treasure hunt that includes elements of phreaking and old protocols, as well as number stations, offering an educational and fun experience for hacking enthusiasts.
The video concludes on a positive note, with Ryan and Darren expressing their pride in celebrating hacker culture at Defcon and their excitement for the pager's pre-orders, pending FCC approval. They invite viewers to come see the device in person and participate in this celebration of hacker culture.