In response to growing concerns about the use of advanced technology in car theft, the Canadian government has announced a ban on Flipper Zero, a compact hacking tool that it claims can be used to illegally access cars.
Background
At a recent summit, Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced the decision, emphasizing the need to combat the use of sophisticated tools by criminals to steal cars. The Flipper Zero, which costs $169, is primarily used for penetration testing, but can also hack the drives of smart devices, including car keyless entry systems.
Canada’s ban on the Flipper Zero has drawn strong opposition from hobbyists and security professionals who believe the tools have legitimate uses, including penetration testing to improve security. However, the government claims that this step is necessary to protect citizens from criminal activities related to car theft, which are becoming more and more technologically advanced.