3 ms·

Much simpler hardware hacking: slightly bend the control panel and/or the door with a small lever (a coin might be sufficient). On some models, opening the door

Much simpler hardware hacking: slightly bend the control panel and/or the door with a small lever (a coin might be sufficient). On some models, opening the door starts the "admin mode" where you can control each spire, do tests, change prices etc. The sensor for door opening can be fooled by the slight bend, hence allowing you to take whatever you want.

SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
Perhaps if the vending machine isn't in a public space / covered by CCTV etc. This approach just makes the "hacker" look like a normal user to the casual observer.
- lapinot 8y ago
  I can assure you this hack looks casual: you do it in groups of two and it seems to anyone standing 2m away just as if one is leaning on the machine.
jaclaz 8y ago
Sure, also lockpicking the door open would work, and if you had the possibility to bring the vending machine at home and disassemble/study it you would probably also find another three different ways, what gives? Still, you would need to perform some "unusual" physical action on the physical machine and you might be noticed by people passing by or by a surveillance cam, this app hack is instead "clean". And it makes you think about the reliability of any similar app based paying system, in this case is "their" money[1] that "you" can "steal" (by drinking and eating for free), but what if it was "your" money? [1] so before or later the vending machine firm would notice
- beautifulfreak 8y ago
  Yeah, I pictured the victim too. A friend of mine owned vending machines. He paid rent for each location, and any loss of product came from his own pocket. Similarly, I remember reading a letter to my local newspaper by a woman whose husband managed the newspaper vending machines. She pleaded for people to stop taking extra copies, because her husband had to pay for them. I always thought the newspaper ran those machines, but they're serviced by independent contractors here.

SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago

Perhaps if the vending machine isn't in a public space / covered by CCTV etc. This approach just makes the "hacker" look like a normal user to the casual observer.

lapinot 8y ago
I can assure you this hack looks casual: you do it in groups of two and it seems to anyone standing 2m away just as if one is leaning on the machine.

jaclaz 8y ago

Sure, also lockpicking the door open would work, and if you had the possibility to bring the vending machine at home and disassemble/study it you would probably also find another three different ways, what gives? Still, you would need to perform some "unusual" physical action on the physical machine and you might be noticed by people passing by or by a surveillance cam, this app hack is instead "clean". And it makes you think about the reliability of any similar app based paying system, in this case is "their" money[1] that "you" can "steal" (by drinking and eating for free), but what if it was "your" money? [1] so before or later the vending machine firm would notice

beautifulfreak 8y ago
Yeah, I pictured the victim too. A friend of mine owned vending machines. He paid rent for each location, and any loss of product came from his own pocket. Similarly, I remember reading a letter to my local newspaper by a woman whose husband managed the newspaper vending machines. She pleaded for people to stop taking extra copies, because her husband had to pay for them. I always thought the newspaper ran those machines, but they're serviced by independent contractors here.