Hackers Arise Wi-Fi Radar Welcome back, aspiring cyberwarriors! One of our advanced student who goes by the handle Mike211 has developed a Wi-Fi scanning script that we want to share with all of you. What makes this script different and special is it’s ability to locate the Wi-Fi access points (AP) in your area. I”ll […]

The post Python Basics for Hackers: Building a Wi-Fi Scanner Capable of Locating the Position of Local AP’s first appeared on Hackers Arise.

Hackers Arise Wi-Fi Radar

Welcome back, aspiring cyberwarriors!

One of our advanced student who goes by the handle Mike211 has developed a Wi-Fi scanning script that we want to share with all of you. What makes this script different and special is it’s ability to locate the Wi-Fi access points (AP) in your area.

I”ll let him introduce his new tool below!

In the Wi-Fi domain, raw signal strength and MAC identifiers can reveal more than just the presence of networks — they can open a path to estimating physical distance, mapping access points, and even executing wardriving missions or indoor localization without GPS. If you’ve ever wanted to push the boundaries of Wi-Fi auditing beyond mere detection, Hackers Arise Radar is your next-level tool.

Why this Tool is Game Changing

Just like Wigle.net collects crowdsourced location data of APs, this project allows you to discover and map Wi-Fi access points in real-time using only your Linux laptop or USB Wi-Fi adapter.

With this tool, you’ll get:

– Continuous scans over 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz, or all bands
– Fully automated interface setup (monitor mode, regulatory domain, TX power)
– Filtered and smoothed RSSI values with Kalman filtering
– On-demand calibration for RSSI-to-distance
– Spring-model map generation to visualize spatial relationships
– Exportable logs, visuals, and calibration profiles for future use

Whether you’re driving through a city, walking indoors, or performing a pentest, you can leverage this tool for actionable location data.

How it Works – Step by Step

Step #1. Launch & Configuration

Start the script:

kali > sudo python3 Hackers_Arise_Radar.py

You’ll be greeted with a colorful terminal interface that guides you through:

– Selecting your Wi-Fi interface
– Choosing the operational environment (indoor, urban, open space)
– Selecting scan band (2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6 GHz / All)

No need to manually enable monitor mode – the script automatically puts your adapter into monitor mode, sets the regulatory domain, and adjusts TX power based on your choices.

Step #2. Real-Time Wi-Fi Scanning

The script uses airodump-ng behind the scenes to:
– Continuously scan surrounding Wi-Fi networks
– Record BSSID, SSID, RSSI, channel, frequency band
– Stream live updates through a structured CSV output for parsing and analysis

Step #3. RSSI Filtering & Analytics

To reduce RSSI noise, the script implements a Kalman filter This Kalman filter:

– Smooths out transient signal spikes
– Creates a rolling average of RSSI per BSSID
– Improves distance estimation consistency

Step #4. Estimating Distance from RSSI

The tool calculates the distance using a log-distance path loss model such as:

d = 10^((TX_power – RSSI) / (10 * n))

Where:
– TX_power and path-loss exponent n are customizable or calculated through calibration
– RSSI is dynamically filtered
– Distance is measured in meters

Step #5. Calibration Engine

The included calibration module lets you:

– Input known RSSI and real-world distances
– Fit an optimized curve per BSSID
– Automatically store TX power, path-loss exponent, and R² fit for reuse
– Flag poorly calibrated networks with suggestions

Step #6. Visual Mapping – Spring Model Layout

Once enough data is gathered, the tool uses a spring-model algorithm to create a map:
– Nodes (BSSIDs) are arranged based on estimated distances
– Forces push/pull the layout into geometric balance
– Labels show SSIDs, bands, and estimated distance in meters

Step #7. Regulatory & Power Tuning Mode

The tool isn’t just a scanner — it includes a dedicated utility mode to:

– Set regulatory domain (iw reg set )
– Modify TX power (in dBm)
– Retrieve and display current wireless driver info
– Perform diagnostics before scanning

Focus Mode: Tracking a Single Access Point

Sometimes you just need to follow one Wi-Fi target — whether it’s a rogue device, a signal beacon, or an access point you’re using for indoor positioning.

Hackers Arise Radar includes a specialized mode for scanning and tracking a single BSSID:

– Select a known access point from your previously scanned list
– The tool locks onto that specific MAC address using:
airodump-ng –bssid –channel
– RSSI values are filtered using a Kalman filter
– Distance estimation is updated in real-time using the calibration profile
– Live updates show proximity and confidence

Real World Use Cases

– Wardriving Missions: Continuous logs while driving
– Indoor Wireless Mapping: Signal-based AP triangulation, spatial layouts
– Security & Pentesting Recon: Detect new/rogue APs, estimate proximity
– Wi-Fi Optimization: Adjust regulatory domain / TX power, evaluate coverage
– Wireless Simulation & Testing: Simulate RSSI data with simulate_rss_matrix.py

Requirements & Setup

– Platform: Linux (Kali/Debian-based)
– Python: 3.7+
– Privileges: sudo required
– External Tools: aircrack-ng, iw, ip, ethtool
– Python Libraries: numpy, scipy, pandas, matplotlib, adjustText

Launch simply with:

kali> sudo python3 Hackers_Arise_Radar.py

No need to prep interfaces — the tool handles it all.

Summary

Hackers Arise Radar is more than just a scanner. It is a fully interactive system for Wi-Fi discovery, proximity estimation, map generation, and interface configuration — all controlled through an elegant terminal menu.

Built for hackers, engineers, educators, and hobbyists, this tool empowers you to:
– Visualize your wireless environment
– Optimize TX power and regulatory settings
– Log and export clean data
– Build wireless maps with zero GPS

Start scanning smarter — not harder.

For more information on this unique and powerful scanner, see our Wi-Fi Hacking training.