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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesBomberCat from Electronic Cats is a physical security-audit board—not one of the games that shares its name. To begin, install the official bombercat command-line tool, connect the board, identify it with bombercat device list, and check its firmware with bombercat status. The board’s hardware version matters: use the firmware branch that matches your BomberCat.
What BomberCat is—and what you need
Electronic Cats describes BomberCat as a security-audit board built around an RP2040 microcontroller and PN7150 NFC chip. Its published features include USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), a battery, and a MagSpoof coil. The project supports NFC reading and writing, card emulation, and magnetic-stripe emulation. See the Electronic Cats BomberCat repository for the hardware project and its official links.
For basic setup, you need the board, a computer supported by the CLI, and the official bombercat host tool. The board repository points to the project wiki for Getting Started, while firmware and host tools are maintained separately. Consult the tools repository and firmware repository; choose firmware for your board version rather than assuming every release fits every unit.
Install the host CLI
The CLI README lists packaged installation paths for Debian/Ubuntu, Arch Linux, macOS Intel and Apple Silicon, and Windows. Follow the current platform-specific instructions in the official tools README, since package details and caveats vary. The project says Linux is the platform on which the CLI is developed and tested; macOS and Windows packages are listed but described as untested.
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If installing from source, the README’s basic sequence is to create and activate a Python virtual environment, install the listed requirements, then check the command help:
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
python3 bombercat.py --helpThose shell activation commands are for Linux and macOS. On Windows, use the environment activation command appropriate to your shell and follow the repository’s current instructions. On Linux, serial-port access may require membership in the dialout group or the project’s setup procedure; use the instructions for your distribution if the board is not accessible.
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- 66 challenging missions that increase in difficulty
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Find the board and check its firmware
- Connect the board over USB. Use the board’s USB-C connection.
- List detected devices:
bombercat device list. If it is missing, check the USB connection and host serial permissions. - Check the installed firmware:
bombercat status. Compare the reported firmware with the version of your hardware. - Review available firmware choices:
bombercat flash --list. If you need another firmware, select the branch and build intended for your board version, following its firmware instructions.
Do not flash a version merely because it appears in the list: the hardware repository specifically directs users to match the firmware branch to the BomberCat version they own.
Choose a first workflow
BomberCat offers distinct paths depending on what you are testing. Tag detection and reader detection can run without an NFCGate server or a second board. A relay is a multi-device setup that needs two peers and a server.
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- STUNNING DESIGN: Amaze family and friends with the high quality of our card artwork, dice, and other game components. We collaborated with the best in the business, including cat illustrator Jey Parks (Star Trek Cats book, Marvel National Cat Day Covers), board game illustrator Jacqui Davis (Red Rising, Viticulture), and graphic designer Jason Taylor (Unmatched, Return to Dark Tower).
| Workflow | Purpose | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|
DetectTags |
Read, watch for, or scan NFC tags | One board; no relay server or second board |
DetectReaders |
Identify readers probing the board’s emulated card | One board; no relay server or second board |
NFCGate relay |
Relay NFC communication between reader and card roles | Two peers on the same NFCGate server and session: one reader role and one card role |
Read or scan tags without a relay
For a standalone tag workflow, flash DetectTags if needed, then use the relevant CLI subcommand:
bombercat flash DetectTags
bombercat tags read
bombercat tags watch
bombercat tags scanThe tools README documents these commands as options for reading a tag, watching for tags, or scanning. They do not require a server or a second BomberCat.
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Detect readers probing the emulated card
Use the DetectReaders firmware workflow when the goal is to identify readers that probe the board’s emulated card. The project documents this as another standalone path, without an NFCGate server or second board. Follow the CLI README for the available commands and firmware setup.
Configure an NFCGate relay
For relay testing, the official tools README illustrates the following sequence. Replace the example network credentials, server address, session, and role with values for your authorized test environment:
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bombercat flash --list
bombercat flash NFCGate
bombercat relay config wifi --ssid MyNet --pass 's3cret'
bombercat relay config nfcgate --server 192.168.1.5:5566 --session 42 --role reader
bombercat relay config show
bombercat relay run
bombercat relay status
bombercat relay monitor
bombercat capture start -wsThe sample configuration uses the reader role. The other peer must use the card role, and both must connect to the same server and session. The final capture command is documented for capturing relayed APDUs in a format usable with Wireshark. Do not copy the sample server or session values as if they were universal settings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Understand the connection paths
USB serial is the line-based control channel for configuring, arming, monitoring, and capturing the device. In an NFCGate relay, APDUs travel over Wi-Fi/TCP to the nfcgate-server; they do not travel over the serial connection. This distinction helps diagnose setup problems: USB is how the CLI controls the board, while the relay’s network path carries the NFC exchange.
Use the features only with authorization
Electronic Cats says BomberCat is “a wireless penetration testing tool intended solely for use in authorized security audits, where such usage is permitted by applicable laws and regulations.” Relay and spoofing features should be used only on equipment and systems you are explicitly authorized to test. The project’s statement does not replace checking the laws and permissions that apply to your location and engagement.
Where to find board-specific instructions
The hardware repository directs users to the official wiki’s Getting Started page, and the separate firmware repository contains firmware guidance. Since exact setup can depend on the board revision, use those current official instructions for your unit alongside the CLI documentation. The board repository is here; the separate host-tool and firmware repositories are here and here.
Quick Recap
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