It may not occupy much space in the minds of most people, but as an electronics hobbyist or professional engineer, you never know when you’re going to need to do a little hacking. Whether that involves checking out the security of a computer network or trying to fix a broken gadget, you’ll need the right tools to help you get the job done. Fortunately, there are better tools available today than ever before, like the Flipper Zero, for instance.
But if you truly want to have a multi-tool available at all times, even a little handheld like the Flipper Zero might not cut it. To that end, you might prefer something like HackKey, which was just launched on Kickstarter. It is not as powerful or capable as a Flipper Zero, but it is very, very small. In its USB dongle form, it is small enou…
It may not occupy much space in the minds of most people, but as an electronics hobbyist or professional engineer, you never know when you’re going to need to do a little hacking. Whether that involves checking out the security of a computer network or trying to fix a broken gadget, you’ll need the right tools to help you get the job done. Fortunately, there are better tools available today than ever before, like the Flipper Zero, for instance.
But if you truly want to have a multi-tool available at all times, even a little handheld like the Flipper Zero might not cut it. To that end, you might prefer something like HackKey, which was just launched on Kickstarter. It is not as powerful or capable as a Flipper Zero, but it is very, very small. In its USB dongle form, it is small enough to disappear in your pocket and be forgotten about until it is needed.
The device comes in two forms (📷: Ben)
The device is available in two physical forms: a compact USB dongle and a stealthy USB cable variant. Both are designed for everyday carry, whether worn as a pendant, clipped to a keychain, or carried as what looks like an ordinary charging cable. Despite their size, both versions include discreet physical buttons, a programmable RGB LED for status feedback, and built-in microSD card support for storing payloads, logs, scripts, and even encrypted credentials completely offline.
HackKey comes in two hardware editions. The Wi-Fi model is built around the ESP32-S3, featuring a dual-core Xtensa LX7 processor running up to 240 MHz, with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy. This version enables wireless control from a phone or laptop, remote execution of authorized workflows, and coordination between multiple HackKey devices. For environments where wireless radios are not allowed, there is also an RP2040 edition based on a dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ processor. This version emphasizes deterministic, repeatable execution and is ideal for air-gapped or high-security systems.
An overview of the features (📷: Ben)
Functionally, HackKey operates as a highly configurable USB Human Interface Device. It can perform human-accurate keystroke injection, automate workflows, and adapt to different operating systems and keyboard layouts without requiring drivers. More advanced users can extend its behavior using C, C++, or Python, while beginners can rely on templates and even AI-assisted payload generation to lower the learning curve.
If you want to give HackKey a try, rewards start at $49. Orders are expected to ship in June 2026.
R&D, creativity, and building the next big thing you never knew you wanted are my specialties.