Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
This ESP32 project can monitor selected Wi-Fi frames, count observed deauthentication frames, and display collected status in a web interface. It is a passive observation tool—not proof that an attack is underway or a way to identify who sent a frame. Keep monitoring to networks you own or are authorized to assess.
What the ESP32 can observe
Espressif’s ESP-IDF Wi-Fi library supports promiscuous monitoring: the application can receive certain 802.11 frames without associating with the network. Available capture categories include management, data, control, and CRC-error frames, subject to configured filters. Other 802.11 error frames are not delivered, so promiscuous mode should not be described as a complete capture of everything transmitted over Wi-Fi. See Espressif’s ESP-IDF Wi-Fi documentation and Wi-Fi Modes guide.
The received data depends on the frame filters and radio context configured by the project, including the channel being monitored. The cited documentation establishes the capture categories, but does not prescribe a channel strategy for this build. A monitor listening on one channel should not be represented as seeing all traffic across every channel.
How to implement packet monitoring without blocking Wi-Fi
In ESP-IDF, configure the Wi-Fi driver and the desired frame filters, then enable promiscuous mode with esp_wifi_set_promiscuous(). The API also provides a way to register the callback that receives captured data. Consult the version-specific ESP-IDF Wi-Fi reference for setup details and supported filter definitions.
#1 Best Overall
- Powerful ESP-32 Board: Unlock the world of Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced electronics with the heart of this kit: the ESP-32 board. It features a powerful dual-core processor, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, making it perfect for building connected, smart devices that communicate with your phone or the cloud. It's fully compatible with the Arduino IDE for easy programming.
- Super Starter Kit: This kit contains over 35 different modules and electronic components, including sensors, displays, motors, and input devices. From LEDs and buttons to an OLED screen, servo motor, and keypad, you have everything needed to explore a vast range of projects in one box.
- Step by Step Online Tutorial: Jump right in with our detailed, beginner-friendly tutorial. Access 30+ projects with complete code, clear circuit diagrams, and step-by-step instructions. Learn the fundamentals of electronics, coding, and how to utilize the ESP-32's unique capabilities without any prior experience.
- Hands-on Learning for All Skill Levels: Perfect for students, makers, engineers, and hobbyists. Start with basic circuits and coding, then progress to intermediate and advanced IoT applications. Build practical projects like weather stations, smart home controllers, remote-controlled devices, and interactive gadgets. The skills you learn are the foundation for real-world innovation.
- Quality & Great Support: Elegoo is committed to quality. We provide a clear, detailed tutorial guide, refined code, and a well-organized component kit. All modules are carefully selected for reliability and ease of use. Our dedicated technical support team and active online community are ready to help you succeed in your learning journey.
Keep the callback brief. Espressif notes that the promiscuous callback runs in the Wi-Fi driver task and that sniffing can significantly reduce station or access-point throughput. The callback should extract only the information needed for an observation and hand more substantial work to an application task, for example by posting an event to a queue. Avoid parsing, formatting, or serving a full web response inside the callback.
What a deauthentication detector can and cannot tell you
Deauthentication is a type of management frame used in Wi-Fi connection management. A monitor can count or report deauthentication frames it receives. A detector may also flag a pattern that meets a threshold chosen by its author, but the documentation cited here does not establish a reliable threshold, false-positive rate, or attribution method for a particular implementation.
Rank #2
- ESP32 camera board: Dual-core 32-bit microprocessor up to 240 MHz, 4 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM, onboard 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 (LE), USB code uploader, camera, memory card slot (Comes with 1GB memory card and card reader)
- 3 sets of code: MicroPython, C and Processing (Java). Python is one of the most popular languages, and C is one of the most classic languages. Processing code needs to run on computers to provide graphical interfaces
- Detailed tutorial: Can be downloaded (in English, 795-page in total) or viewed online (original in English, can be translated into other languages by browsers) (The tutorial link can be found on the product box, no paper tutorial)
- 122 projects from simple to complex: Provides step-by-step guide with electronics and components knowledge, each project has schematics, wiring diagrams, complete code and detailed explanations
- 240 items in total: This ultimate kit includes the most commonly used electronic components, modules, sensors, wires and other compatible items
Keep these conclusions distinct in the interface:
- Observed: the ESP32 received a frame identified as deauthentication.
- Flagged: the project’s configured rule classified observations as suspicious.
- Confirmed: malicious intent has been established by evidence beyond the frame observation. The monitor alone cannot make this determination.
Frames can be spoofed, and a count or alert does not establish who transmitted them or why. Espressif discusses spoofed management frames and related protections in its ESP-IDF v6.1 Wi-Fi Security guide.
Use Protected Management Frames as a defense
Protected Management Frames (PMF) add integrity protection for broadcast management frames and protect against specified spoofed management-frame attacks. Espressif documents PMF support for ESP32 station and Soft-AP modes. In the ESP-IDF v6.1 security guide, the documented default is PMF Optional; a device configured for PMF Required connects only to a peer that supports PMF.
Rank #3
- Perfect choice for beginners to learn, electronics and program.
- The Basic Starter Kit is easy to use and you can learn to program at an introductory level.
- You can use ESP32 modules to control other modules, such as LED,DHT11,OLED module, etc
- The tutorial include codes and lessons.It will teach every users how to assembly Basic Starter Kit for ESP32.
- Please download our tutorial and learn after you receive the goods.
| PMF setting | Behavior described by Espressif |
|---|---|
| Disabled | PMF is not enabled for the connection. |
| Optional | PMF support is optional; this is the documented default in the ESP-IDF v6.1 guide. |
| Required | The device connects only to a peer that supports PMF. |
PMF is a setting for the ESP32’s own station or Soft-AP operation. It does not make the monitoring tool a defense for unrelated client devices. Check the ESP-IDF v6.1 security documentation and the target network’s compatibility before requiring it.
Present observations through a web portal
ESP-IDF supports station (STA), Soft-AP, and concurrent AP/station operation. These modes can underpin a local interface, but they do not automatically provide a web server or captive portal. Those features—including DNS behavior, authentication, and how a phone reaches the page—must be implemented and tested by the project.
Rank #4
- COMPREHENSIVE STARTER KIT: Includes an ESP32 development board and over 20 different types of electronic components and modules. This complete set provides everything you need to start learning electronics and building Internet of Things (IoT) projects, all organized in a convenient plastic storage case.
- POWERFUL ESP32 MICROCONTROLLER: Features a versatile ESP32 development board with an integrated dual-core CPU, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity. This board serves as the core of your projects, enabling wireless communication and control for a wide range of applications from home automation to robotics.
- DIVERSE SENSORS AND MODULES: Explore your environment with a variety of included sensors. The kit contains a DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor, HC-SR501 PIR motion sensor, an IR infrared obstacle avoidance sensor, and a photoresistor light detection module for creating responsive, intelligent devices.
- INPUTS, OUTPUTS, AND CONTROL: Features an I2C OLED display for showing data, a 2-channel 5V relay module for controlling high-power devices (rated 10A 250VAC / 15A 125VAC), active and passive buzzers for audio feedback, various color LEDs, push buttons, and a potentiometer for precise analog input.
- PROTOTYPING ESSENTIALS INCLUDED: Get building right away with an 830-tie-point solderless breadboard, a bundle of male-to-male jumper wires, a USB cable for power and programming the ESP32 board, and a variety of common resistors. The kit is perfect for both beginners and experienced makers.
A useful monitoring page can separate live device state from observations and configuration. For example, it can show the current Wi-Fi mode, selected monitoring channel, active filters, and time-stamped frame counts. If the project performs a scan, the Arduino-ESP32 Wi-Fi API documents scan results that may include SSID, encryption type, RSSI, BSSID, and channel. Scanning is distinct from promiscuous capture; use the API’s Wi-Fi documentation and examples for the framework you choose.
- Label data as observed locally, and make the monitored channel and active filters visible.
- Keep configuration actions separate from packet processing so page requests do not stall the Wi-Fi callback.
- Do not label a count or threshold alert as a confirmed attack or identify an alleged sender without independent evidence.
- Restrict access to configuration and status pages according to the project’s deployment needs; the cited Wi-Fi APIs do not specify a portal authentication design.
Choose the framework and operating mode deliberately
ESP-IDF documents promiscuous monitoring and Wi-Fi operating modes directly. Arduino-ESP32 documents Wi-Fi scanning and AP and station examples. The appropriate choice depends on the project’s existing firmware and implementation needs; the cited documentation does not identify a specific board, framework version, or finished portal implementation for this multi-tool.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ESP32-S3 camera board: Dual-core 32-bit microprocessor up to 240 MHz, 8 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM, onboard 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 (LE), USB-OTG, USB code uploader, camera, memory card slot (Comes with 1GB memory card and card reader)
- 3 sets of code: MicroPython, C and Processing (Java). Python is one of the most popular languages, and C is one of the most classic languages. Processing code needs to run on computers to provide graphical interfaces
- Detailed tutorial: Can be downloaded (in English, 828-page in total) or viewed online (original in English, can be translated into other languages by browsers) (The tutorial link can be found on the product box, no paper tutorial)
- 121 projects from simple to complex: Provides step-by-step guide with electronics and components knowledge, each project has schematics, wiring diagrams, complete code and detailed explanations
- 243 items in total: This ultimate kit includes the most commonly used electronic components, modules, sensors, wires and other compatible items
| Project concern | What to decide |
|---|---|
| Framework and API | Use the Wi-Fi APIs documented for the firmware framework and version actually selected; do not assume ESP-IDF and Arduino examples are interchangeable. |
| Radio role | Decide whether the ESP32 acts as STA, Soft-AP, or AP+STA. These are supported modes, but the choice affects how the interface and monitoring behavior are arranged. |
| Capture scope | Select frame filters and state the channel context. Promiscuous monitoring does not deliver every possible frame type. |
| Processing and throughput | Expect reduced Wi-Fi throughput while sniffing. Keep callback work short and move substantial processing to an application task. |
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
