My ATMEGA32u4 Bad USB project represents a significant milestone in my journey as a maker and developer. Completed at the age of 15, it showcases my passion for hardware design, coding, and hands-on experimentation. This project is one of my earliest and proudest achievements, reflecting my dedication, perseverance, and technical skills. It also demonstrates my keen interest in penetration testing and cyber security.

At its core, it is a USB keystroke injector built around the ATmega32u4 chip, augmented by a carefully selected array of components and custom code. The project began with the ambitious goal of creating a versatile and powerful device capable of executing keystroke-based attacks, much like Hak 5’s USB Rubber Ducky, but at a more affordable cost.

I meticulously researched and designed the entire circuitry from scratch, leveraging my understanding of electronics and hardware design principles to create a robust and efficient layout. With careful consideration given to component selection and placement, I ensured optimal performance and reliability in every aspect of the design whilst remaining at a low cost.

Once the circuit design was finalised, I embarked on the process of fabricating the custom circuit board. By hand, I soldered and tinkered with every individual component until the design was completed.

With the hardware in place, I turned my attention to software development, coding in C# to create the firmware that would control the ATmega32u4 chip. Through iterative development and rigorous testing, I fine-tuned the code to ensure that the USB could be deployed on any kind of device and worked at incredibly high speeds.

Indeed, this project holds an incredibly special place in my heart - spending almost a year on its development. It was amazing to create something physical from scratch that functioned almost identically to a highly sought after product. This project solidified my love for electronics engineering and provided me with the skills needed to embark on all of my other projects.