Cheap Yellow Display + ESP32 Marauder
So, you found a cheap yellow display board that’s been making rounds in hacker and maker communities. It typically packs an ESP32 under the hood with a teeny TFT screen. Combine it with the ESP32 Marauder Firmware, and you’ve got a pint-sized device that can scan networks, capture handshakes, and even inject Wi-Fi packets. If that doesn’t make you feel like a next-level security nerd (in the best possible way), I don’t know what will!
What Exactly Is the “Cheap Yellow Display”?
Think of it as a compact dev board for Wi-Fi/Bluetooth with a bright little TFT screen (often an ST7789 or ST7735, in sizes from about 1.14″ to 1.77″). It might come with a built-in antenna or an external connector, and usually has a few buttons for menu navigation. The “cheap yellow display” nickname comes from the super-inexpensive boards you’ll find on various electronics sites—complete with that distinctive bright yellow shell.
The big draw? It’s perfect for portable Wi-Fi reconnaissance or Bluetooth scanning.
The ESP32 Marauder Firmware
A Community-Driven Tool
Created by justcallmekoko, ESP32 Marauder is an open-source firmware designed to run on ESP32 boards with little color displays—exactly like our cheap yellow friend. Here’s what it brings to the table:
- Wi-Fi scanning (2.4 GHz)
- Handshake capturing (WPA/WPA2)
- Deauthentication / packet injection
- Bluetooth scanning (in some firmware builds)
And because it’s open source, new features pop up regularly. If you want to stay on top of the coolest updates, definitely keep an eye on the official repo.
Key Capabilities That’ll Make You Feel Like a Pro
- Wi-Fi Network Scanning
- Quickly list nearby networks: SSIDs, signal strength, security types, channels, and more.
- Deauth Attacks & Packet Injection
- Send those sneaky 802.11 deauth frames (legally, on your own network!) to test how robust your setup really is.
- WPA/WPA2 Handshake Captures
- Grab that 4-way handshake for offline cracking attempts—again, only with permission or on your own gear.
- Bluetooth Scanning
- If your Marauder version supports BLE, you can sniff out local BLE devices like fitness trackers or beacons.
- User-Friendly On-Screen Menus
- Thanks to its tiny TFT display, you get a straightforward UI. Buttons let you hop between scanning modes without constantly hooking it up to a computer.
Where to Find More Info (and the Cool Kids)
- ESP32 Marauder on GitHub
Your go-to place for firmware, documentation, and updates. - Adafruit Blog Post
A quick overview of new firmware releases and features. - Community Forks & Hardware Forums
Dive into Tindie, AliExpress reviews, or random GitHub forks for specialized features, alternative UIs, or wiring hacks.
Unlocking Extra Goodies: Pro Tips
- Flashing the Firmware
- Use ESPTool, Arduino IDE, or PlatformIO to flash the board.
- Pick the correct display driver (like ST7735/ST7789) in your config file so the screen works properly.
- Serial Console Debugging
- Plug the board into USB, fire up a Serial Monitor at 115200 baud. You’ll see logs, errors, and real-time scanning data.
- Custom Scripts / External Tools
- Pair your captures with aircrack-ng, Wireshark, or scapy to do deeper packet analysis or offline password cracking (legally, of course!).
- Battery Power
- Many of these boards let you hook up a LiPo battery. Great for on-the-go scans or “wardriving” your own living room.
- Keep It Legal
- Always test on networks you own or have explicit permission to audit. Unauthorized scanning, deauthing, or handshake capturing can be big trouble.
Project Ideas to Show Off
- Rogue AP Testing: Build a fake AP with a captive portal to see if your friends (or your own devices) fall for suspicious Wi-Fi.
- Bluetooth Beacon Spotter: Track local BLE devices—like your lost key finder or your neighbor’s smartwatch.
- Custom UI Themes: Because it’s open source, you could add custom color schemes, logos, or extra menu items.
- Integration with a Larger Pentest Setup: Use your cheap yellow display board as a roving sensor, sending data to a laptop or Raspberry Pi to automate scans.
Making Your Own Post About It
If you want to blog or share on social:
- Hype It Up
- Mention how unbelievably cheap and compact this board is, but how powerful it can be for learning Wi-Fi security.
- Hardware Showcase
- Snap pictures of the board, maybe in a 3D-printed case. Show its small yet mighty screen in action.
- Flashing Walkthrough
- Bullet out the steps (with screenshots, if possible). People love seeing the exact process to avoid driver or COM port headaches.
- Favorite Features
- Did you successfully capture a handshake from your own router? Did you track BLE devices in your living room? Share the highlights!
- Legal & Ethical Disclaimer
- Remind readers about responsible use. Link to local laws or disclaimers, because nobody wants uninvited Wi-Fi hijinks on their resume.
- Community Links
- Drop the GitHub repo, relevant forks, and Adafruit blog link so others can keep exploring.
A Quick Word on Tools & Legality
aircrack-ng, Wireshark, scapy… Wait, What?
- aircrack-ng: A suite for Wi-Fi security auditing and potential password cracking (WEP/WPA/WPA2).
- Wireshark: The most popular network protocol analyzer for seeing every packet on your network interface.
- scapy: A Python library for crafting and analyzing packets at a very low level.
All are fantastic for learning how networks function and for legit security testing. However, they can be misused for unauthorized hacking and snooping.
Potential Misuses (a.k.a. Don’t Do These!)
- Unauthorized Access
- Using aircrack-ng to crack your neighbor’s Wi-Fi without permission? That’s a no-go.
- Eavesdropping
- Running Wireshark on open networks to peek at others’ private data is typically illegal (think wiretapping laws).
- Denial of Service
- Deauthing or jamming people’s connections crosses ethical and legal lines.
- Data Theft / Man-in-the-Middle
- Capturing login credentials from unsuspecting victims is a surefire way to end up in hot water.
Real-World Consequences
You might’ve heard stories of folks getting into trouble for:
- Wardriving (driving around with a scanner, logging networks, and trying to crack them).
- Setting Up Rogue APs (coffee-shop honeypots to harvest passwords).
- Repeated Deauth Attacks (shutting down neighbors’ Wi-Fi for “fun”).
Even if no harm was intended, unauthorized network access often violates computer misuse laws. Stay safe, stay ethical, and only test with permission or on networks you control.
Key Takeaways
- The cheap yellow display + ESP32 Marauder = a fantastic, budget-friendly way to learn and practice Wi-Fi/BLE security.
- Tools like aircrack-ng, Wireshark, and scapy are powerful for in-depth analysis, but also come with big legal/ethical responsibilities.
- Keep your experiments on your own turf—or with written permission.
Bottom line: Tinker away, learn tons, and build your security skill set responsibly. Now, go forth and hack (legally)!
Have questions or want to share your own cheap yellow display build? Leave a comment or connect with me on GitHub (and the community forks). Happy ethical hacking!