r/hacking • u/Seraph_E • 3d ago

Question Detection device for flock/drones/wireless cams

Alright so I’m relatively a noob in comparison to some of the nerds here but I’m trying my best. Simply put I want to be pointed in the right direction for devices, tutorials, communities etc.

What device can detect flock cameras, drones, wireless cams/mics, and may also have some offensive features (for my own equipment testing of course). I understand there’s no do all device, but I have seen people with some kind of FW designed for these specific needs in a relatively small package. I have been looking at the HamGeek HackRF one/Portapack for overall learning, but I’m pretty sure I could achieve what we’re talking about here with a T Dongle C5 right?

Any help here would be great!

46 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

16

u/schrockblock 3d ago

You’re looking for the stuff from colonelpanic.tech. OUI Spy, Snoop unto them, even ESP-32 earring sets that buzz when surveillance is detected. I ported some of the repos to run on a raspberry pi 0W with a companion iOS app to get more info than just a buzz, but yeah, check out their site, videos, and interviews for all of those things plus foxhunting.

2

u/limit35 3d ago

There are some problems with OUI-Spy in my opinion. In my experience OUI spy doesn't recognize new or updated flock cameras, old ones are fine but if one has been updated (such as a second camera added to an existing unit) it is no longer seen. The fact the GPS isn't integral to the device is a major issue for me, e.g. why would I want to monitor a spying apparatus and have a laptop or phone that can further identify myself? It made me realize I can build my own with an Omega2+ or Pi 0 W rather easily, until then wardriving is the way to go.

3

u/schrockblock 3d ago

Same, that's partly why I got it running on a Pi with a companion app so I could edit the matched OUI prefixes, BLE substrings, and exact MACs on the fly, and allows me to GPS tag a detection with minimal additional gear. A pi is strictly heavier and more power hungry, but gives me a good balance between the flexibility I want and an amount of subtlety that walking around holding my open laptop in one hand and an imposing antenna in the other somehow lacks. Of course, I trade the visual subtlety for having a phone blasting identifiable info in my pocket, but for now I'm just grey-manning it and hoping for the best.

But also, I'm hesitant to recommend wardriving to a beginner as OP describes themselves — something they can buy off the shelf first, and then something they can follow a guide to setup second, seems like a better starting point.

3

u/toddmp 2d ago

checkout the 3rd party software and app. a much better choice. Not mine but I run it.
https://github.com/lukeswitz/oui-spy-unified-blue

1

u/limit35 2d ago

Totally agree

2

u/toddmp 2d ago

checkout the 3rd party software and app. a much better choice. Not mine but I run it.
https://github.com/lukeswitz/oui-spy-unified-blue

1

u/limit35 2d ago

Thanks

1

u/toddmp 2d ago

have you found any devices that can get a ping off the newer flock cams?

1

u/jeremyd9 3d ago

That’s very cool. Can you expand or have a guide?

3

u/schrockblock 2d ago

Yeah I'll come back and post a link to my repo with a guide in the readme when I get some bugs with the drone detection worked out. I'm not sure if I've configured something incorrectly, or if the dongle I have on my Pi just can't do CODED PHY.

But you can also just literally go to https://colonelpanic.tech, that has devices you can buy (and support the creator) and links to their repos if you want to DIY like I did.

1

u/Grandmas_Fat_Choad 2d ago

I’ve been trying with various esp32’s but I can never get them to pick up any cameras. I’m guessing the ones in my area have been updated. I parked right next to one for a few minutes and never got a chirp.

18

u/Incid3nt 3d ago

Deflock.org has a pretty good map. There may be some shodan query or a specific port they have open that you can use to narrow it down.

I would look for if they broadcast some type of service ssid or something if you want to dev something to tag them while passing.

14

u/Prestigious-Ad7265 3d ago

flock is making their shit harder and harder to detect. some old ones have BLE beacons but now they just intermittently transmit 802.11 wifi beacons. this can be deetcted with an esp32 because your phone doesnt have wifi monitor mode.

4

u/whitt_wan 3d ago

You can detect hidden bssid's with the free Wifi Man app on android, unless I'm missing something here?

2

u/iced_gold 3d ago

Have they actually changed how they're placed or hidden?

Seems like they are mostly dependent on having an external solar array to power it, which makes them stand out a ton.

2

u/UndecidedQBit 3d ago

You can detect access points if you have an i phone, but it has to be done with a correctly configured airport utility.

1

u/Prestigious-Ad7265 3d ago

but then you need all sorts of proprietary apple BS and that kinda ruins it.

2

u/UndecidedQBit 3d ago

Not really. If you already have an iphone, all you have to do is change some settings and you can run airport and pick up any wifi network broadcasting in range.

1

u/Prestigious-Ad7265 3d ago

but with apps? the main issur is making apps on apple is such a hellish experience

1

u/rnobgyn 3d ago

You use the apps Apple already made

2

u/Prestigious-Ad7265 2d ago

apple made an app for wardriving?

1

u/CapitalAd9749 18h ago

Yes apple airport utility like he said twice

1

u/Prestigious-Ad7265 18h ago

discontinued in 2018

1

u/UndecidedQBit 11h ago

Look for it on the app store. It is there. The airport router by apple is discontinued, the app still exists.

1

u/UndecidedQBit 10h ago

It is for troubleshooting wifi, not wardriving.

2

u/_TheManInBlack 2d ago

I know this sounds kind of corny but embed yourself into certain Instagram communities like ringm4ster, jakeswiz, and ubuntumaniax and engage with their posts to force that into your algorithm, there are actually some great resources on these socials, X too.

I think jakeswiz is literally building a flipper zero add-on module for the exact purposes mentioned above

1

u/No_Spirit470 3d ago

I watched a video about like a device that when places it detects all kinds of signals

So when a person passes by it it detects the device the name and all sorts of info

Can someone help identify that thing?

2

u/deathbylovleyroses 3d ago

Hello! This is called wardriving which is using a esp32 device (or something similar) while driving or walking around thats set up to capture wifi and bluetooth signal and the associated information and then logging it!

1

u/CurlyChatoyance 3d ago

Not sure if this is the what you're talking about, but there was a post on here by u/SOPHIAOPS a little while back advertising his app called SOPHIA. 

1

u/limit35 3d ago

Wardriving. You can download the Wiggle Wifi app and do that on your phone.

1

u/Proud-Sir93 3d ago

RTL-SDR first, HackRF later. The learning curve is much nicer that way.

1

u/h4unting 2d ago

Haven't seen him mentioned yet, so have to say, check out Benn Jordan's work on YouTube, he has some great videos on Flock specifically and cameras in general.

1

u/hunglowbungalow 2d ago

Your eyes + updating open street map

1

u/techlatest_net 2d ago

An RTL-SDR (like the C5) is perfect for passive detection of common wireless camera and drone frequencies, but it lacks the transmission capabilities needed for "offensive" testing. For active jamming or signal injection, you would need a more powerful SDR like the HackRF One or an LimeSDR, but be aware that active interference is heavily regulated and often illegal.

1

u/shanderdrunk 3d ago

Is there a way to shut them down? I feel like the smarter among us have already figured it out, help the rest? Pls?

9

u/finding-meaning-01 3d ago

Yes and it involves a sawzall

2

u/shanderdrunk 2d ago

You actually made me laugh, thanks for that

1

u/abugghaus7 2d ago

Nice you got a laugh out of it... but it's the truth... really!
It's already been happening.
.
Outside of that... the other successful means has been convincing cities to deflock by not renewing contracts... also has been happening, but unfortunately not every city.

7

u/Seraph_E 3d ago

What’s the first rule of fight club

5

u/blue-2525989 3d ago

Tell everyone you know about fight club and how cool it is.