A device that “looks like a normal USB cable” but is far more powerful has been a rip-roaring success on Kickstarter, with three weeks still to go. The Hacknect project by Little Gadgets packs an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, microSD card storage, and Wi-Fi capabilities into an unassuming cable that can be controlled remotely and used for a host of cybersecurity shenanigans. Ready-made Hacknect functions shown in the browser-based app include: remote payload execution, HID keystroke injection, mouse automation, and more. A single Hacknect red or white cable is being offered to crowdfunding backers starting from roughly $82 (€70).

Wireless wire with secret teeth

Electronics makers and gadget DIYers will probably be familiar with the ESP32-S3 microcontroller at the heart of the Hacknect. This is usually installed on a small rectangular devkit board, but Little Gadgets has hidden it within the confines of a USB cable connector. We’d guess it is in the USB Type-A side, so it can interface directly with the micro SD card, and that connector is larger than the USB Type-C end. However, neither end looks conspicuously or suspiciously bulky.

The ESP32-S3 is designed for AIoT applications and includes 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 (LE). Additionally, it enables a rich set of I/O, has mature software support, and includes several security features.

You can see the microSD card fits neatly in the solid side of the USB Type-A connector. It also seemingly works as a USB data and charging cable, but we aren’t sure if the microSD card storage is accessible from devices on either side of the cable, or if it is somehow veiled.

The advertised features of Hacknect are both impressive and concerning. Little Gadgets says that all these functions are available from a web browser UI accessible from your smart device or computer:

• Keystroke Injection - Execute automated keyboard payloads using high‑speed HID emulation.
• Mouse Injection - Simulate advanced mouse movements and automation actions.
• Payload Slots - Store and manage multiple payloads directly on the device.
• Wi‑Fi Triggers - Trigger actions wirelessly from smartphones or computers.
• Browser‑Based Control Panel - Control Hacknect completely from your web browser.
• One‑Click Payload Deployment - Launch payloads instantly with a single click.
• USB + TF 2‑IN‑1 Design - Integrated TF/SD storage support directly inside the USB‑A connector.
• Full-Speed USB Interface - Fast and responsive USB communication.
• Self‑Destruct Mode - Quickly erase stored payloads and sensitive data.
• Compact Stealth Design - Looks like a normal everyday USB cable.
• Mobile & Desktop Compatible - Works seamlessly with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and PCs.
• Open Source - Firmware, examples, and documentation will be openly available.

In summary, one might compare the Hacknect cable with the O.MG cable – another stealthy USB cable with Wi-Fi and an embedded microcontroller, covering much of the same functionality. Except that Hacknect is much more affordable and touted as an open-source project.

Since the project is already a success, should everything else run smoothly, backers are told to expect the first batches of Hacknect to ship in August this year. Our standard warning with crowdfunding projects applies. Remember that paying to crowdfund a project is not a guarantee of receiving a finished product. Backing a crowdfunded project is akin to an investment; you believe in the project and want it to succeed. You are not purchasing a retail product.

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Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.