Capivara: The Brazilian Flipper Zero Rival That Raised $180K on Kickstarter

Hello HaWkers, Brazil has just entered the global hardware hacking map. Capivara, a Brazilian device that directly competes with the famous Flipper Zero, raised over $180,000 on Kickstarter - exceeding the initial goal by more than 300%.

For developers interested in security, IoT, and hardware, this is news that deserves attention.

What is Capivara

Capivara is a multi-tool device for security analysis and hardware hacking, similar to Flipper Zero, but developed entirely in Brazil.

Technical Specifications

Hardware:

Dual-core ARM Cortex-M4 processor
1.3" color OLED display
2000mAh rechargeable battery
microSD card slot
USB-C for communication and charging
Integrated RF antennas

Capabilities:

Sub-GHz (433MHz, 868MHz, 915MHz)
NFC and RFID (125kHz and 13.56MHz)
Infrared (IR)
GPIO for external connections
Bluetooth 5.0

🇧🇷 Origin: Developed by a team of Brazilian engineers from Sao Paulo, focusing on accessibility and competitive pricing.

Why Capivara Matters

Beyond the pride of seeing Brazilian hardware competing globally, Capivara represents some important trends.

For the Security Community

Accessibility:
Flipper Zero costs about $170 + import taxes (reaching $200+ in many countries). Capivara promises more accessible pricing for the local market.

Local community:
Portuguese documentation, national support, and active Brazilian community facilitate learning.

Customization:
As a partially open source project, developers can contribute and adapt to local needs.

For Developers

Capivara - like Flipper Zero - is a valuable tool for:

Security testing in IoT systems
Quick hardware project prototyping
Learning about communication protocols
Authorized pentest of physical systems

Comparison: Capivara vs Flipper Zero

Feature	Capivara	Flipper Zero
Price	~$120	~$170
Display	Color OLED	Monochrome LCD
Battery	2000mAh	2000mAh
Sub-GHz	Yes	Yes
NFC/RFID	Yes	Yes
IR	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	5.0	5.0 (with module)
GPIO	Yes	Yes
Open Source	Partial	Partial
Community	Emerging	Established
Local Support	Native	Limited

Capivara Advantages

Price: Significantly cheaper in emerging markets
Color display: Better data visualization
Local support: Documentation and community in local language
Native Bluetooth: No need for additional module

Flipper Zero Advantages

Established community: More apps and firmwares available
Extensive documentation: Years of development
Mature ecosystem: More accessories and modules
Proven: Thousands of users tested

Use Cases For Developers

Devices like Capivara are not just "hacker toys." They have important practical applications.

1. IoT Security Testing

// Scenario: You developed an IoT system
// Need to test if communication is secure

// With Capivara, you can:
// - Capture RF signals from your device
// - Analyze if data is encrypted
// - Test replay attacks
// - Verify NFC vulnerabilities

const securityChecklist = {
  rf_communication: {
    test: 'Capture and analyze signals',
    tools: ['Capivara Sub-GHz', 'SDR'],
    vulnerabilities: [
      'Unencrypted data',
      'Replay attacks possible',
      'Jamming susceptible'
    ]
  },
  nfc_rfid: {
    test: 'Read and clone tags',
    tools: ['Capivara NFC', 'Proxmark'],
    vulnerabilities: [
      'Clonable tags',
      'Weak authentication',
      'Predictable UID'
    ]
  }
};

2. Hardware Prototyping

// Capivara GPIO for quick tests
const prototyping = {
  // Test sensors before integrating into larger project
  sensors: [
    'Temperature',
    'Humidity',
    'Motion',
    'Light'
  ],

  // Simulate devices during development
  simulation: {
    ir_remote: 'Simulate remote control',
    rfid_tag: 'Emulate tag for testing',
    nfc_card: 'Simulate card for development'
  }
};

3. Legacy System Analysis

Many industrial and commercial systems use old protocols that can be analyzed:

Access controls:

125kHz RFID cards (Wiegand, EM4100)
13.56MHz cards (MIFARE Classic)
Gate remote controls

Automation:

433MHz wireless sensors
315MHz/433MHz gate controls
Alarm systems

⚠️ Important: Always obtain authorization before analyzing systems that are not yours. Unauthorized use is illegal.

Legal and Ethical Aspects

It's crucial to understand the legal and ethical implications of using these devices.

What is Legal

Use on your own systems:

Test security of your IoT projects
Analyze devices you own
Academic research with authorization
Contracted pentest with defined scope

Learning:

Study communication protocols
Understand how systems work
Practice in controlled environments
Develop countermeasures

What is Illegal

Without authorization:

Clone third-party access cards
Intercept others' communications
Access systems without permission
Disable others' security systems

Damages:

Interfere with communications (jamming)
Damage devices
Use for fraud or theft
Espionage

Legal Framework

**Computer Fraud Laws:**
Most countries have laws prohibiting unauthorized
access to computer systems and electronic devices.

**Important:**
- Devices themselves are NOT illegal
- MISUSE is what constitutes crime
- Security professionals need authorization
- Educational use in controlled environments is generally OK

How to Get Started with Hardware Hacking

If you're interested in this area, here's a guide to start responsibly.

Learning Resources

Books:

"The Hardware Hacker" - Andrew Huang
"Practical IoT Hacking" - O'Reilly
"RFID Security" - Syngress

Courses:

Offensive Security Wireless Professional (OSWP)
SANS SEC617: Wireless Ethical Hacking
HackRF/SDR courses on Udemy

Communities:

Flipper Zero Discord/Forums
r/netsec and r/rfelectronics
Local security meetups

Initial Setup

# Complementary software tools

# GNURadio - Signal analysis
sudo apt install gnuradio

# RTL-SDR tools
sudo apt install rtl-sdr

# Proxmark3 client (if you have hardware)
git clone https://github.com/RfidResearchGroup/proxmark3.git

# Wireshark for protocol analysis
sudo apt install wireshark

Beginner Projects

const beginnerProjects = [
  {
    name: 'Universal IR Remote',
    difficulty: 'Easy',
    learn: 'IR protocols, modulation',
    hardware: 'Capivara or Arduino + IR LED'
  },
  {
    name: 'Simple RFID Reader',
    difficulty: 'Easy',
    learn: 'RFID protocols, UID reading',
    hardware: 'Capivara or RC522 + Arduino'
  },
  {
    name: '433MHz Signal Monitor',
    difficulty: 'Medium',
    learn: 'Sub-GHz, demodulation',
    hardware: 'Capivara or RTL-SDR'
  },
  {
    name: 'Own IoT Pentest',
    difficulty: 'Advanced',
    learn: 'End-to-end security',
    hardware: 'Capivara + test environment'
  }
];

The Brazilian Hardware Ecosystem

Capivara is part of a larger movement of hardware made in Brazil.

Other Brazilian Projects

BlueDuino: Arduino with integrated Bluetooth developed in Brazil

NodeMCU ESP32 BR: Local production of ESP32 modules

Franzininho: Brazilian educational development board

Why This is Important

Technological independence:

Less dependence on imports
More accessible prices
Adaptation for local needs

Education:

Material in local language
Local support community
In-person events and meetups

Economy:

Local job generation
Technology export
Ecosystem development

The Future of Hardware Hacking

The trend is clear: devices like Capivara and Flipper Zero will become increasingly common.

Trends For 2025-2026

More features:

LoRa for long-range communication
Support for more IoT protocols
Smartphone integration

Better software:

More intuitive apps
Machine learning for signal analysis
Integration with pentest tools

Community:

More educational content
Specific certifications
Clearer regulation

Implications For Developers

If you develop systems that use RF, NFC, RFID, or IR, you need to consider:

Your users can analyze your system
Vulnerabilities will be found
Security through obscurity doesn't work
Encryption and authentication are essential

// IoT security checklist
const iotSecurityChecklist = {
  communication: {
    encryption: 'AES-128 or higher',
    authentication: 'Challenge-response, not just UID',
    anti_replay: 'Nonces or timestamps',
    integrity: 'HMAC or digital signature'
  },

  hardware: {
    tamper_detection: 'Violation sensors',
    secure_boot: 'Firmware verification',
    debug_disabled: 'JTAG/SWD disabled in production',
    memory_protection: 'Sensitive data encrypted'
  },

  firmware: {
    signed_updates: 'Verify authenticity',
    rollback_protection: 'Prevent downgrade',
    protected_secrets: 'No hardcoded passwords'
  }
};

Conclusion

Capivara represents more than an interesting gadget - it's a milestone for the Brazilian hardware industry and a sign that the local security community is maturing.

For developers, the message is clear: devices like these make security analysis more accessible. If you develop IoT systems, connected devices, or RF protocol systems, it's time to consider that your users (and potential attackers) have increasingly powerful tools to analyze your work.

The good news? These same tools allow you to test and improve the security of your own projects before others do.

If you want to explore more about security and privacy in modern systems, I recommend checking out the article Brain-Computer Interfaces and Privacy where we discuss ethical issues in emerging technologies.