- 🧩 1. What is STPhish? Features & Capabilities
- 🔥 2. Prerequisites & System Requirements
- 🧠 3. How Phishing Simulations Work (Architecture Explained)
- ⚡ 4. Step-by-Step Installation on Termux
- 🚀 5. Running STPhish: Menu Walkthrough & Tunneling
- 📊 6. Quick Command Reference Cheat Sheet
- 🛠️ 7. Troubleshooting 6 Common Termux & STPhish Errors
- ⚖️ 8. Ethical Testing Rules: Staying on the Right Side of the Law
- 🔐 9. 7 Ways to Defend Yourself Against Phishing Attacks
- ❓ 10. Frequently Asked Questions (10 Detailed Answers)
🧩 1. What is STPhish? Features & Capabilities
STPhish is a Termux-based phishing awareness and security testing tool maintained by Sandeep Tech. It is heavily inspired by Zphisher, one of the most widely used open-source phishing simulation frameworks in the security community. Instead of rewriting a black-box malware tool, STPhish packages the same educational concept into a simple, mobile-friendly installer that runs entirely inside the Termux Linux environment.
The core purpose is awareness training — not credential theft. Security teams use tools like this to measure how many employees click a suspicious link, how many type their password, and how quickly they report the incident. The results drive training programs and improve organizational resilience.
Ready-Made Login Templates
STPhish ships with a library of pre-built HTML login page templates for popular services. Templates are static educational simulations designed for awareness demonstrations inside your own lab.
Built-In Tunneling Support
Integrated support for tunneling providers such as Cloudflared and Localhost.run lets you generate a temporary public HTTPS link so test participants can reach your simulation page from any device.
100% Termux Native
Runs completely inside Termux on Android. No root, no Magisk, no custom ROM and no PC is needed — perfect for students learning security on a budget phone.
Live Captured-Data Log
Submitted form data is displayed in real time inside the terminal so you can immediately measure the success rate of an authorized awareness campaign.
Automatic Dependency Installer
The official setup script installs PHP, Git, Wget, curl and the tunneling binaries automatically, saving beginners from dependency hell.
Education-First Design
Every menu includes guidance on authorized use, making STPhish a practical learning companion for cybersecurity courses and CTF practice labs.
🔥 2. Prerequisites & System Requirements
Before running the installer, verify that your Android device meets the following technical prerequisites:
Official Termux Build
Install Termux from F-Droid or the official GitHub releases page. The Google Play Store version is abandoned and its repositories will throw 403 and 404 errors.
Stable Internet Connection
You need an active connection to download the setup script, PHP runtime, and tunneling binaries. A Wi-Fi connection is recommended for the first installation.
Free Storage Space
Keep at least 200–300 MB of free internal storage. PHP, Git, Wget and the tunneling binaries together consume a significant amount of space on first install.
No Root Required
STPhish runs in user space. You do not need Magisk, KernelSU, APatch or an unlocked bootloader. Standard Android 8.0 and above is sufficient.
cd, ls, and bash will make this tutorial much easier to follow.
🧠 3. How Phishing Simulations Work (Architecture Explained)
To understand STPhish, it helps to understand the general architecture behind every phishing simulation framework. The tool does not "hack" anything — it simply hosts a web page and records what a visitor submits, exactly like a normal web form.
- Step 1 — Local Web Server: STPhish starts a lightweight
PHPdevelopment server on your device, binding to127.0.0.1on a chosen port (typically8080). This server only listens locally. - Step 2 — Template Rendering: When you select a login template, STPhish copies the corresponding HTML/PHP files into the server root. A visitor sees a look-alike login page — but it is a static simulation, not a real login to any service.
- Step 3 — Public Exposure via Tunnel: Because
127.0.0.1is only reachable from the same device, the framework offers tunneling. A tunneling client creates an outbound connection to a public service and maps a temporary HTTPS subdomain back to your local port. - Step 4 — Form Submission Handling: Any data typed into the simulation form is written to a local log file (
ip.txt/usernames.txtstyle) and printed in the terminal, so the tester can measure awareness rates. - Step 5 — Reporting & Debrief: In an ethical awareness campaign, the test concludes with a debrief — participants are told they were tested, the results are used for training, and no real credentials are ever used or stored.
⚡ 4. Step-by-Step Installation on Termux
Follow these numbered instructions in sequential order. Each command should be typed or pasted into the Termux terminal, then executed by pressing Enter.
The Google Play Store edition of Termux was discontinued in 2020 and will throw broken repository errors. Download the latest official APK from F-Droid:
👉 Official F-Droid Link: Download Termux from F-Droid
Open Termux and refresh the package index. This ensures you download the latest available versions of every dependency:
apt update && apt upgrade -yIf the update hangs or shows connection timeouts, run termux-change-repo, select Main repository, and choose an alternative mirror such as Albatross or Grimler.
Git is used to clone repository resources and Wget is required to download the official setup script. Install both in sequence:
apt install git -y
apt install wget -yVerify the installation with git --version and wget --version. Both commands should print a version number.
Fetch the installer directly from the official Sandeep Tech link:
wget https://link.sandeeptech.dev/stphish-setupYou should see a progress bar and a message like 'stphish-setup' saved. If Wget reports a certificate error, run pkg install ca-certificates -y and retry.
Run the downloaded installer using the Bash shell. The script will automatically install PHP, the tunneling binaries, clone the tool files and configure permissions:
bash stphish-setupInstallation output will resemble the following (actual text may differ slightly by version):
[+] Installing PHP runtime...
[+] Cloning STPhish core files...
[+] Configuring tunnel binaries...
[✓] STPhish installed successfully!
[i] Run the tool by typing: stphish
Permission denied, run chmod +x stphish-setup first and then execute it again with bash stphish-setup.Once the installer finishes, start the tool by typing its command name:
stphishThe interactive STPhish banner and menu will appear. From here you can choose a simulation template, select a port, and pick a tunneling service for an authorized awareness test.
apt update && apt upgrade -y && apt install git -y && apt install wget -y && wget https://link.sandeeptech.dev/stphish-setup && bash stphish-setup🚀 5. Running STPhish: Menu Walkthrough & Tunneling
After typing stphish, the tool presents an interactive menu. The exact numbering may change between releases, but the workflow is always the same:
Step A: Choose a Simulation Template
Select one of the available login page templates from the list. These are static HTML/PHP pages used purely for demonstrating how convincing a well-designed phishing page can look — the core lesson of any awareness program.
Step B: Select a Local Port
The tool will ask for a port number to host the local PHP server. The default 8080 is almost always fine. If you receive an "address already in use" error, simply pick 8081 or 9090.
Step C: Choose a Tunneling Service
Because 127.0.0.1 is only accessible from your own phone, you must select a tunneling provider to obtain a public URL. STPhish typically offers:
| Tunnel Option | Purpose | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudflared | Creates a trycloudflare.com HTTPS link |
Quick demos, mobile testing |
| Localhost.run | SSH-based public URL | Low-bandwidth lab setups |
| Localhost (127.0.0.1) | No public exposure | Self-testing on the same phone |
Step D: Share the Link & Monitor Submissions
In an authorized awareness test, share the generated link with the consenting participants and observe the live capture log in the terminal. The log records what was submitted so you can calculate a click-through and submission rate for your report.
[*] Tunnel URL: https://example-tunnel.trycloudflare.com
[+] Visitor connected from 192.168.x.x
[+] Form submitted (simulation log saved)
📊 6. Quick Command Reference Cheat Sheet
Here is an at-a-glance reference of every command used in this guide:
| Purpose | Command | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Update packages | apt update && apt upgrade -y |
Run first, always |
| Install Git | apt install git -y |
Required for cloning resources |
| Install Wget | apt install wget -y |
Required for the installer download |
| Download STPhish | wget https://link.sandeeptech.dev/stphish-setup |
Official Sandeep Tech link |
| Run installer | bash stphish-setup |
Installs PHP + tunnels |
| Launch tool | stphish |
Opens the interactive menu |
| Fix mirrors | termux-change-repo |
Use when downloads fail |
| List saved logs | ls -la |
Shows captured simulation files |
🛠️ 7. Troubleshooting 6 Common Termux & STPhish Errors
Encountering an error during installation? Below are the root causes and instant solutions for the 6 most common obstacles:
Solution: Re-run
bash stphish-setup and read the final lines of the output carefully. If mirror errors appear, run termux-change-repo and pick an active mirror before retrying.
Solution: Grant execute permission and re-run the script:
chmod +x stphish-setupbash stphish-setupSolution: Switch to mobile data or another Wi-Fi network, then test connectivity with
ping -c 3 google.com. If ping works but Wget fails, install certificates: pkg install ca-certificates -y.
Localhost option, which binds the server to 127.0.0.1 and is unreachable from other devices by design.Solution: Restart STPhish and choose Cloudflared or Localhost.run instead. Copy the generated
https:// URL and share it only with consenting participants.
Solution: Close the old session with
Ctrl + C, then choose a different port such as 8081, 8888 or 9090 when prompted. You can inspect active listeners with netstat -tlnp.
Solution: Fully uninstall the Play Store version, then install the maintained release from F-Droid and repeat the installation from Step 1.
⚖️ 8. Ethical Testing Rules: Staying on the Right Side of the Law
Tools like STPhish are legal to install and study. What determines legality is how you use them. Follow these non-negotiable rules before running any simulation:
- 📄 Get Written Authorization: For organizational testing, obtain a signed scope document or engagement letter that clearly defines which users, domains and dates are covered.
- 🏠 Test Only Your Own Assets: For personal learning, use your own accounts, your own phone numbers and your own email addresses. Never target friends, family or strangers "for fun".
- 🧪 Use a Lab Environment: Practice inside a virtual machine, a dedicated test domain, or an isolated local network that you fully control.
- 🗑️ Delete Collected Data Immediately: After the awareness debrief, permanently delete any captured simulation logs. Never store real passwords, even temporarily.
- 📢 Always Debrief Participants: A simulation without a debrief is just deception. Explain what happened, why it matters, and what the participant should look for next time.
- 🚫 Never Use Real Credentials: Design simulations so that submitted data is obviously fake or is immediately discarded. Never attempt to reuse any captured password on a real service.
- 📚 Respect Privacy Laws: Capturing IP addresses and submitted text counts as personal data processing under GDPR, DPDP Act and similar regulations. Document your lawful basis before starting.
- 🤝 Report, Don't Exploit: If you discover a real vulnerability or a real phishing campaign during testing, report it responsibly to the affected organization or CERT-In.
🔐 9. 7 Ways to Defend Yourself Against Phishing Attacks
Now that you understand how convincing a phishing page can look, here is how to protect your own accounts and your organization:
- 🔗 Inspect the URL Carefully: Attackers use look-alike domains like
paypa1.comormicros0ft-login.net. Always read the domain from right to left before the first single slash. - 🔐 Enable Hardware-Backed 2FA: FIDO2 security keys and passkeys are phishing-resistant because they cryptographically bind the login to the legitimate domain.
- 🧭 Never Log In Through Emailed Links: Open the official app or type the website address manually instead of clicking a link in an unexpected message.
- 📨 Verify the Sender Separately: If an email claims to be from your bank or employer, call the official number you already know — never the number inside the suspicious message.
- 🕵️ Watch for Urgency & Fear Tactics: Phrases like "your account will be suspended in 24 hours" are classic social-engineering pressure cues designed to bypass rational thinking.
- 🧑🏫 Run Regular Awareness Training: Organizations that conduct authorized simulations and follow-up training reduce click rates dramatically within a few months.
- 🛡️ Deploy Email & DNS Filtering: Use DMARC, SPF and DKIM validation plus a secure web gateway to block look-alike domains before users ever see them.
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🚀 Generate Free Disposable Email at tempreply.com❓ 10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
git, wget, php and a tunneling binary.127.0.0.1 link only works on the same device. To open the simulation page on another phone or PC you must select a tunneling option such as Cloudflared or Localhost.run in the STPhish menu, which generates a public HTTPS URL.bash, not sh: bash stphish-setup. If the file is still not executable, run chmod +x stphish-setup first and then execute it with bash.apt update && apt upgrade -y, and retry with an alternate tunnel option.bash stphish-setup, use termux-change-repo to switch to a working mirror if downloads fail, and check the installation output for errors.
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