HackRF One is a wide band software defined radio (SDR) half-duplex transceiver created and manufactured by Great Scott Gadgets. It is able to send and receive signals. Its principal designer, Michael Ossmann, launched a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2014 with a first run of the project called HackRF.[1] The hardware and software's open source nature has attracted hackers, amateur radio enthusiasts, and information security practitioners.
HackRF One is capable of receiving and transmitting on a frequency range of 1 MHz to 6 GHz with maximum output power of up to 15 dBm depending on the band.[2] The unit comes with an SMA antenna port, clock input and clock output SMA ports, and a USB 2.0 port. HackRF One integrates with popular software defined radio software such as GNU Radio and SDR#. The popularity of HackRF One as a security research platform has made it featured in many information security conference talks such as BlackHat, DEF CON and BSides.[3] [4]
Kimmo Heinäaro presented a paper at the 2015 International Conference on Military Communications and Information Systems (ICMCIS) outlining how military tactical communications could be hacked with HackRF One and other open source tools.[5]
In 2017, researchers described a GPS spoofing attack to feed a vehicle false signals and mapping data to deliver the target to a desired location.[6]
HackRF One has received criticism in several media reports because it can be used to intercept and replay the key fob signals to open car and garage doors.[7] [8]