Summary

The website content describes a tutorial on creating a DIY USB Rubber Ducky using a Digispark Attiny 85 microcontroller for less than $3, as an alternative to the more expensive Hak5 USB Rubber Ducky.

Abstract

The article titled "Make a USB Rubber Ducky with less than $3" provides a step-by-step guide for cybersecurity enthusiasts to build their own USB Rubber Ducky, a device that emulates keyboard input to execute pre-programmed keystroke sequences. The author, Satyam Pathania, explains the process of setting up the Digispark Attiny 85 with the Arduino IDE, programming it to function as a Rubber Ducky, and troubleshooting common issues. The project aims to offer a cost-effective solution to those interested in penetration testing and ethical hacking, with the entire setup costing a fraction of the commercial version sold by Hak5. Pathania also seeks support from the community for upcoming projects related to SOC/SIEM and IoT, suggesting a potential future presence on YouTube.

Opinions

The author, Satyam Pathania, expresses enthusiasm for the Digispark Attiny 85 as a tool for creating a budget-friendly USB Rubber Ducky.
Pathania positions the Digispark as a viable and affordable alternative to the Hak5 USB Rubber Ducky, which is significantly more expensive.
The author emphasizes the importance of community support for his upcoming projects, indicating a desire for engagement and collaboration with his audience.
Pathania hints at plans for a series of projects in early 2025, which include SOC/SIEM and IoT-related content, and seeks feedback on whether he should start a YouTube channel.
He encourages readers to support his work by buying him a coffee or donating via PayPal, which he states will help him acquire hardware for creating more hands-on cybersecurity content.
The author shares a personal quote, likening hacking skills to virginity in terms of their irreplaceable nature once lost, showcasing his passion for the field and the importance of maintaining one's skills.

Make a USB Rubber Ducky with less than $3

A series of IOT projects will be coming out soon , need your support :)

free access-

Recently, I got my hands on a Digispark Attiny 85 for just $2.94 (~INR 300) on an online marketplace. This tiny board, which packs 6KB of memory, works like a mini Arduino but comes with its own unique charm……but before building it let me tell you what USB Rubber Ducky is ..It is like USB flash drive, but it’s different. Because it will inject keystrokes with some payload to hack your computer. The best thing is, USB Rubber Ducky is not detected as a flash drive, but as a keyboard… as HID

Hack5 sell this kind of USB for $79.99.

https://shop.hak5.org/products/usb-rubber-ducky-deluxe

So, how to make USB Rubber Ducky with less than $3?

Digispark is the answer….

WHO AM I ????

I’m Satyam Pathania, a cybersecurity enthusiast who loves exploring new ways to gather information and make hacking a bit easier. I’ve spent time learning and working with some awesome tools, and I wanted to share one of the most underrated ones out there… and i have few plans for early 2025 to come up with series of projects related to SOC / SIEM and iot projects as well but all for that i need few hardware and your support what if i don’t get any view at all on my project and should i start youtube ?? i will drop a link soon to send your suggestions or others …

CONTINUE

image credit — my laptop camera ( yeah it sucks )

What You’ll Need:

Digispark Attiny 85 (costs ~$5-$7)…. for amazon link click here
Arduino IDE (free download)…
A glass of coffee paired with good music for the vibe……. get me a coffee as well :) — here

Setup the environment [Linux]

Download and Install the latest Arduino software at https://www.arduino.cc/en/software. For this project, I use Arduino IDE 2.3.3 for Linux 64 bits. And In this tutorial, I will skip for installation of the Aduino IDE.

Arduino IDE download page

Run Arduino IDE and go to File menu, and select Preferences. Then in the Additional Boards Manager Urls, put this link

http://digistump.com/package_digistump_index.json

And click ok.

Preference window

Go to Tools menu, then the Boards submenu, select Board Manager. In the Type field, select Contributed and install Digistump AVR Boards.

Boards Manager window

After the installation is finished, close the Boards Manager window.
The last step, select Digispark (Default — 16.5mhz) as your main board. Go to Tools menu, then Boards submenu, Click Digistump AVR Board and select Digispark (Default — 16.5mhz).

You have been finished setup the Digispark Environment.

Testing with Example Code

Try with testing code from File > Example > DigisparkKeyboard > Keyboard.

#include "DigiKeyboard.h"void setup() {
  // don't need to set anything up to use DigiKeyboard
}void loop() {
  DigiKeyboard.sendKeyStroke(0);
  DigiKeyboard.println("Hello Digispark!");
  DigiKeyboard.delay(5000);
}

Verify the code, and if it’s okay click the upload button at the right side of the verify button.

And Then plug in your Digispark.

Digispark plug into the laptop

Arduino upload success log

After upload complete, unplug your Digispark and congratulation you have made a USB Rubber Ducky with less than $3.

Testing

You can now test your USB Rubber Ducky:

On PC: Plug it into a Linux machine (I used Linux ).
On Android: Use an OTG adapter to test its functionality.

Troubleshooting

Encounter issues? Here’s how to solve common problems:

Error: Missing libusb-dev Run this command in your terminal:

sudo apt install libusb-dev

Digispark Not Detected If your dmesg logs show errors, reload the USB rules:

sudo udevadm control --reload-rules

Then reconnect your Digispark and try uploading again.
For more troubleshooting tips, check the official Digistump Linux guide.

☕ Enjoyed this article?

If you found this helpful and want to support my work, feel free to buy me a coffee! Your support will help me get hardware devices, which I’ll use to create more hands-on cybersecurity content and share my experiences with you all.

Buy me a coffee here!

Prefer PayPal? You can support my work and help me keep creating by sending your contribution directly via PayPal!

Got questions or need help? Just give me a shout. Happy hacking!

Hacking skills are like virginity — once you lose them, you can never get them back! ~ Satyam Pathania

author — -Satyam Pathania

Follow me on twitter :- https://x.com/satyam72565815