Canada Reconsiders Its Ban on Flipper Zero
Canada Reconsiders Its Ban on Flipper Zero
The Canadian government declared its intention to prohibit the sale of the Flipper Zero in February 2024, primarily due to allegations that it was utilized to pilfer automobiles.
The portable Flipper Zero is capable of conducting penetration testing, specifically targeting access control systems and wireless devices.
If that fails to impart comprehension regarding its capabilities, a few instances culled from the news may be of assistance.
Versions of Flipper Zero that utilized third-party firmware were capable of causing iPhones running iOS 17 to malfunction (a vulnerability that has since been fixed in iOS 17.2).
Subsequently, news outlets uncovered details that car criminals could employ the Flipper Zero to intercept, record, and occasionally imitate the signal of a vehicle’s key fob and, if the vehicle was parked in a garage, the garage door opener signal as well.
Notably, this function is exclusive to older automobile models that employ static numeric identifiers for their key fobs. Rolling codes, in contrast, involve automobiles where the numeric code dispensed from a key fob is modified with every usage. Consequently, auto criminals persisted in disregarding the Flipper Zero in favor of significantly more potent key fob signal boosters and keyless repeaters.
Surprisingly, the prohibition on the Flipper Zero in Canada was primarily cited as a consequence of the car-stealing feature. Nevertheless, Francois-Philippe Champagne, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry of Canada, stated:
| “We are banning the importation, sale, and use of consumer hacking devices, like flippers, used to commit these crimes.” |
A cohort of security researchers recently disclosed a sequence of susceptibilities present in the DormakabaSaflok electronic RFID locks, which are extensively utilized. Over 3 million doors in over 13,000 locations in 131 countries are susceptible to this vulnerability, the majority of which are hotels.
An attacker reportedly requires only one keycard to execute the assault against any of the property’s doors. This keycard could be one that the guest removed from the express checkout collection receptacle or even one that has expired.
This breach can be executed on any device that has the ability to emulate MIFARE Classic cards and read, write, or print them. MIFARE is a 1994-introduced contactless card technology. Although primarily intended for transport permits, its technological prowess rapidly propelled it to the forefront of smart card usage for data storage and access control.
The Flipper Zero is one device that could be utilized in this attack; however, a Proxmark 3 or any NFC-capable Android phone would also suffice.
Following a security community appeal, it appears that Canada will now proceed with measures to restrict the use of devices such as Flipper Zero to authorized actors only. Following consultations with Canadian businesses, online retailers, and the automotive industry, the precise details will be disclosed.
The Bottom Line
The technology contained within the Flipper Zero is not particularly original; rather, it merely integrates a variety of functions into a single portable device. There have been no officially confirmed instances of larceny involving Flipper Zeros. If you wish to prohibit something that aids in preventing vehicle larceny, consider keyless repeaters, which are commercially available for a variety of automobile manufacturers and serve no other function.
Despite the existence of vulnerabilities that were delineated, patches were released to rectify the problems and enhance global security. However, the implementation of these patches was not universal; updating every lock in a hotel would require a substantial amount of effort, and retrofitting older vehicle key fob systems is not achievable. However, pen testers’ research has resulted in enhanced security measures; therefore, it is illogical to advocate for the removal of their instruments.
If we have piqued your interest in purchasing a Flipper Zero, we strongly advise you to exercise caution. Scammers are active as a result of the limited availability and will steal your money without providing anything in return.
For further insights into Flipper Zero, please call our hotline number +91-9513805401 and we can help you buy Flipper Zero where you can make a successful purchase with Craw Security, the sister vertical of News4Hackers, and the Best VAPT Solutions Provider in India. However, Flipper Zero is strictly banned in India, but we can make it available to purchase for you as we are the official Flipper Zero Reseller in India, only for learning purposes of ethical hacking methods.
About The Author:
Yogesh Naager is a content marketer who specializes in the cybersecurity and B2B space. Besides writing for the News4Hackers blog, he’s also written for brands including CollegeDunia, Utsav Fashion, and NASSCOM. Naager entered the field of content in an unusual way. He began his career as an insurance sales executive, where he developed an interest in simplifying difficult concepts. He also combines this interest with a love of narrative, which makes him a good writer in the cybersecurity field. In the bottom line, he frequently writes for Craw Security.
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