This document provides tiered hardware kit recommendations for IoT and hardware security beginners.
No oscilloscope, minimal tools, focus on learning protocols & firmware
| Component | Description | Approx. Price (USD) | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTD400 | Bluetooth Adapter (for pentesting Bluetooth) | $15 | Buy Here |
| NRF52840 | BLE 5.0 Dongle, Zigbee, Thread pentesting purpose | $20 | Buy Here |
| BusPirate / FT232H | Hardware Debugger (I2C, SPI, UART, JTAG) | $25 | Buy Here |
| Logic Analyzer 8 Pin | Protocol analyzer (UART, SPI, I²C, etc.) | $10 | Buy Here |
| STLink v2 | SWD Pin Connector | $10 | Buy Here |
| ESP32 | MCU for WiFi/Bluetooth testing | $10 | Buy Here |
| RPi Zero | MCU - good for USB attacks (with adapter) | $15 | Buy Here |
| ICE-Bite | Microprobing for embedded security research | Open-source (DIY cost varies) | Check Here |