Dolphin’s Flipper Zero is a little device with immense potential. A handheld device made for tech gurus, hobbyists and geeks of all nature, the flipper zero is a multitool that can read and replicate radio frequencies (Sub-GHZ), near field communication (NFC), infrared signals and more.
Retailing at $199, the Flipper Zero has all kinds of capabilities, from acting as a universal TV or fan/ AC remote with its infrared sensor, to radio signals, able to replicate car key fobs and garage openers. It’s also able to read and copy short-communication chips like those found in key cards or physical passes, and even NFC chips found in Nintendo’s Amiibo figures for gaming.
Alongside its reading and replicating abilities, you receive a little dolphin pet, coming with a variety of cute animations that “levels up” after using the Flipper Zero in different ways. You can also connect the Flipper Zero to your smartphone via bluetooth and download a multitude of open-sourced apps and games, including the original Doom game, and the popular Nokia 6110 game Snake.
However, don’t let the cute dolphin graphics and convenient utilitarian uses trick you, the Dolphin Flipper Zero can absolutely be used in a plethora of nefarious ways, one being BadUSB. When connected to a device via USB port, the Flipper Zero can act as a virtual keyboard, installing any kind of program wanted without virtually any trace. This allows the little multitool to be used as a vector to deliver spyware or malware directly onto a computer.
With its ability to copy and replicate radio frequencies, the Flipper Zero can also be maliciously used to open garage doors and even in some cases, car doors. Older model cars that use “static codes,” or codes that only send one identical signal each time are particularly vulnerable, although modern cars that use “rolling codes,” or a signal that changes each use, are not unhackable.
In December of 2025, Hyundai and Kia were successfully sued by the New York Attorney General’s office for failing to use proper anti-theft technology in vehicles manufactured from 2011-2022. Although it’s unknown if any of the thefts that caused the lawsuit actually used a Flipper Zero, it is a stark reminder that the possibility remains.
However, there is a very simple preventative action you can take to prevent any signal-emitting input device from being compromised. Faraday cages or pouches purchased online for ~$20 can completely contain or block a signal from a keyfob or remote from being read, and even makeshift Faraday cages can be made from using foil pouches or tins if properly sealed.
The team behind the Flipper Zero has also recently announced the Flipper One, a device that will focus not on radio or infrared signals, but cellular, including 4 and 5G and WiFi. It’s unclear what the full capabilities of the device will be right now, but it’s an equally scary and exciting proposition.
While the Flipper Zero is undeniably a fun tool with about as many uses as one could imagine when it comes to signal-based inputs, it’s also just like any other powerful tool, its morality is purely mirrored by the person using it.
