Initiating the Canada Flipper Zero ban, the Canadian government has announced its intention to prohibit the possession and use of the Flipper Zero and similar gadgets, deeming them as potential tools for vehicle theft.
Reasoning behind the Canada Flipper Zero ban
The Flipper Zero, a compact, versatile device, is engineered for penetration testing and debugging across a wide range of hardware and digital platforms, supporting protocols such as RFID, radio, NFC, infrared, and Bluetooth.
Since its launch, users have vividly illustrated its capabilities through online videos, demonstrating how it can be used for replay attacks to unlock cars, gain entry to garages, ring doorbells, and clone various digital keys.
“Criminals have been using sophisticated tools to steal cars. And Canadians are rightfully worried. Today, I announced we are banning the importation, sale and use of consumer hacking devices, like flippers, used to commit these crimes,” tweeted Canadian Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagn.
Criminals have been using sophisticated tools to steal cars. And Canadians are rightfully worried.
Today, I announced we are banning the importation, sale and use of consumer hacking devices, like flippers, used to commit these crimes.— François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) 🇨🇦 (@FP_Champagne) February 8, 2024
Following the Canada Flipper Zero ban announcement, a national dialogue on auto theft mitigation was convened by the Canadian authorities in Ottawa, Ontario, underscoring the urgency of addressing this escalating issue. The Canadian government has disclosed alarming statistics, revealing that approximately 90,000 vehicles are purloined annually—translating to a vehicle theft every six minutes. This epidemic of auto theft inflicts financial damages upwards of $1 billion each year, factoring in the insurance expenditures tied to the repair and replacement of stolen vehicles.
Beware, Flipper Zero might spam you with Bluetooth alerts
This revelation from the Canadian government dovetails with the latest findings by Statistics Canada, indicating a persistent rise in vehicle theft incidents since 2021. Moreover, Canadian law enforcement agencies have identified vehicle theft as a primary driver behind the uptick in the national Crime Severity Index for the year 2022.
In a strategic move to curb this trend, the Canadian government’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) department, which oversees industry and commerce regulation, has committed to exploring every possible strategy to eliminate the use of gadgets like the Flipper Zero
The department will “pursue all avenues to ban devices used to steal vehicles by copying the wireless signals for remote keyless entry, such as the Flipper Zero, which would allow for the removal of those devices from the Canadian marketplace through collaboration with law enforcement agencies.”
Can Flipper Zero be used for theft?
Amidst the Canada Flipper Zero ban discourse, where the Canadian government attributes a significant role to the Flipper Zero in the nation’s car theft spike, Flipper Devices, the creator behind the controversial gadget, counters with a robust defense. According to the company, the device is not capable of compromising vehicles manufactured in the last two decades and beyond.
Wall of Flippers is the way to put a stop to Flipper Zero
The company claims that the Flipper Zero cannot facilitate the theft of any automobile, particularly those produced subsequent to the 1990s, owing to their sophisticated security systems equipped with rolling codes.
According to the company, a theft attempt would necessitate an active interruption of the signal between the car and its owner, a feat beyond the hardware capabilities of the Flipper Zero and the device’s primary function as a tool for security assessment and development, assuring that measures have been implemented to prevent its misuse for illicit activities.
In a related development, Amazon has ceased the sale of the Flipper Zero since April 2023, labeling it as a tool implicated in card skimming. This decision followed actions by the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency, which commenced the confiscation of Flipper Zero shipments in March 2023, citing its criminal utilization. This global reaction underscores the complexities surrounding the device’s reputation and its impact on security and criminal activities.
Featured image credit: Flipper Zero
