Is Hacking WiFi Hard?
No. It just takes patience and like anything in life, you just have to apply yourself.
In another resource, I discuss WiFi Hacking Software Tools, but in this post, we’re going to take a look at specific WiFi Hacking Hardware Devices.
The hardware listed below can be considered as being the “best of breed” when it comes to being able to hack (and of course defend) Wireless Networks.
These tools are typically used by Penetration Testers when they are on an engagement to test how “secure” their client’s WiFi networks are. There’s a bit of a mixed bag with our [year] recommended hardware listed below but they all really fall under the following categories.
The hardware tools are either:
- Designed to deauthenticate a Wireless Network;
- Designed to be a “Man In The Middle”;
- Or are a blend of the two with an ability to enhance a WiFi Signal
Be careful!
These tools are very dangerous in the wrong hands and remember that all hacking WiFi is illegal in most countries.
Does An Ethical Hacker Need To Learn How To Hack WiFi?
Absolutely yes.
If you’re already a Pentester or Ethical Hacker then you need one or more of these tools listed below in your toolkit, and if you’re learning or just starting out then you should really make yourself familiar with the equipment and devices listed below. Ideally, we’d recommend that you learn how to use a tool like the WiFi Pineapple (Rogue Access Point) because you’d be able to easily explain it to a client upon client engagement and it is something they’d understand when you explain it to them.
Our Recommended [year] WiFi Hacking Hardware Tools!
DSTIKE WiFi Deauther OLED
This is a classic deauthentication tool and is very affordable for what it can do.
This tool is an incredibly versatile tool because you can write your own software as well as use it with existing well-known WiFi hacking software, however, it does come bundled with the latest ESP8266 Deauther software.
With this tool, you’ll be able to execute several different WiFi network attacks, and course, once successful in doing so you’ll be able to patch them!
One thing to note about the DSTIKE WiFi Deauther OLED ESP8266 is that it only supports the 2.4GHz frequency. As with all deauthentication WiFi hacking hardware this USB devices work by sending a deauthentication frame to the router telling it that it has been disconnected and thereby requesting a new password (albeit sent via hash).
Resources [1]
[1] DSTIKE WiFi Deauther OLED WiKi + Blog + GitHub
WiFi Pineapple – Rogue Access Point
Probably out of all the WiFi hardware listed within this resource I’d say that this is the most well-known and classic tool when it comes to pentesting WiFi networks.
The WiFi Pineapple lets ethical hackers perform targeted “Man-In-The-Middle” (MITM) attacks as well as executing advanced SIGINT reconnaissance, accurate credential harvesting, open-source intelligence (OSINT) gathering and a ton more – all from a clean, intuitive web interface.
The Evil Twin Attack is another typical usage case for this “Rogue Access Point” tool.
I’d highly recommend this tool because, more than anything, there’s a very active community surrounding it with constant updates.
What I also like about this tool is that you can explain it to a client and they’ll understand it.
There are also so many tutorials on how to use it, especially when it comes to understanding how to capture WPA and WPA Enterprise packets in pcap, hashcat, JTR or plaintext formats.
Furthermore, the tool is bundled with constantly updated software that visualizes the WiFi landscape with accurate, continuous, live passive monitoring.
The WiFi Pineapple product listed above comes with 3 x Antennas.
Resources [2]
[2] WiFi Pineapple – Rogue Access Point WiKi
Alfa AWUS036NH RT3070L WIFI Adapter Complete Kit
If the WiFi Pineapple is the absolute classic “Rogue Access Point” hacking hardware tool, then we can consider the Alfa AWUS036NH is the quintessential “old-school” WiFi hacking tool that has been around for years!
The Alfa AWUS036NH works superbly well with the classic WiFi hacking tools like the airmon-ng suite which you can read about in a resource I created here.
There are hundreds of tutorials on how to use the Alfa AWUS036NH on YouTube so you’ll be in no doubt on how to use it well and effectively.
The kit that we’ve listed here comes with a ton of extra features and accessories so for $25 you’re hardly getting a bad deal!
Having used this tool myself on several permission-based engagements I can vouch for its’ effective and powerful 5dBi antenna signal strength. This device is compliant for IEEE 802.11g/b, WPA/WPA2
Resources [3]
[3] Alfa Network Official Site
Cactus WHID: WiFi HID Injector USB Rubber Ducky/Keylogger
Although I haven’t owned this WiFi tool I’ve seen it in action and it’s pretty friggin awesome!
I’d consider this bit of hardware to really be in the toolkit of a hardcore Ethical Hacker!
This tool comes with a ton of support and enthusiastic users – there are over five GitHub forks with variations on how it can be used.
The Cactus WHID does exactly what it says it can do: it is able to log keystrokes sent via WiFi to and from a target machine. The target will recognize the Cactus WHID Ducky as both a standard HID keyboard as well as being a serial port which will, therefore, allow the Pentester to execute interactive commands and scripts to the target remotely.
As ever, tread with caution when using a tool like this.
Resources [4]
[4] Official GitHub, GitHub 1, GitHub 2, GitHub 3, GitHub 4,
WiFi Deauther Wristband
This tool would suit all the James Bond Hackers out there and would make an excellent gift for an Ethical Hacker.
This product is actually the same as the Deauther ESP8266 listed above but is encased as a Wrist Band.
So, ditch the Apple Wrist Watch and get this bad-boy!
This product also ships with a 600mAh battery, OLED display and a 3-way momentary slide switch.
A clear benefit of this bit of hardware is that you’ll likely not leave it behind in an engagement.
HiLetgo Wireless Zigbee CC2531 Sniffer Bare Board Packet Protocol Analyzer Module
From all of the WiFi Hacking Hardware Tools listed in my resource, this is clearly the most affordable.
This tool would particularly suit those amongst us that are interested in home automation. The reason for that is because as long as the target device is using a Zigbee Chipset (or alternatively using the IEEE’s 802.15.4 spectrum) then you’ll be able to sniff and decode packets from drones, security systems, popular products including for example the Amazon Echo.
Users of this tool have also reported being able to sniff packets from Samsung Smarthings, Yale Smartlocks, and other similar automation tools.
Resources [5]
[5] Wikipedia
Crazy Radio PA 2.0
This tool is definitely one for the WiFi hacking nerds out there.
This device is designed to hack from a distance using a long-range open USB radio dongle based on nRF24LU1+ technology from Nordic Semiconductor.
For those hackers amongst us aware of projects such as mousejack, JackIt, keyjack, and keysniffer then you’ll love this gadget.
This tool ships with a 20dBm power amplifier and inbuilt Crazyflie pre-programmed firmware.
The crazy thing about the “Crazy Radio PA 2.0” is that the power amplifier has an unbelievable range of more than 1km which can even be extended further with the right know-how.
Resources [6]
[6] mousejack, Keyjack, Keysniffer
ESP8266 WiFi Killer/Jammer
Update: None left anywhere….
Wow-Wee!
This is THE tool when it comes to jamming WiFi networks!
I can imagine the nefarious school kid going nuts with the ESP8266 WiFi Killer/Jammer.
If you are in the US be aware that you will need explicit permission from a legal representative to use this product. WiFi Jammers are, to my understanding, illegal under US Federal law because they interfere with mobile and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Personal Communication Services (PCS), wireless networking services (Wi-Fi) and police communications.
So, like all tools listed in this resource, here’s yet another disclaimer that you can only use these tools with permission!
DSTIKE WIFI Duck
This tool has a lot of support from a very active community.
One of the things that I really like about this WiFi device is that it is open-source.
The creators of the project intended it to be a user-friendly tool to allow Penetration Testers and others in the Cybersecurity Industry to learn how keystroke injection attacks happen, and as ever, how to prevent them.
This tool works by allowing a microcontroller to perform like a USB keyboard that is then programmable over WiFi. This tool uses the Ducky Script language that the legendary Hak5 Team introduced with their now infamous and amazing USB Rubber Ducky.
Great Scott Gadgets Ubertooth One
This tool has been around for many years now and it is a classic.
This tool is a bit of an outlier in the sense that it targets Bluetooth signals.
The Ubertooth One is, like the DSTIKE WIFI Duck listed above, fully open-sourced and was developed by the talented Michael Ossmann.
An interesting thing about this tool is that it is, to my knowledge at least, the only Bluetooth signal monitoring and development platform out there in [year].
Ubertooth One can be used for many uses but mostly for Bluetooth signal monitoring but also for wireless technology development, testing – and therefore defending too!
Resources [7]
[7] GitHub
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