this post was submitted on 03 Oct 2023
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Detroit man steals 800 gallons using Bluetooth to hack gas pumps at station::undefined

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[–] Kalkaline@leminal.space 82 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So, how would this work exactly? For curiosity's sake.

[–] Erasmus@lemmy.world 64 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not sure about this specific pump but this same thing happened in my town several months back and BT was used then too.

When it happened we found out that the pumps at the station in particular (and probably most) have a BT receiver tied to whatever little processor that runs the pump so either a station manager or someone servicing the pumps can access them with the right equipment, make internal adjustments etc.

In the case that happened locally to us. Someone hacked them the same way, then posted to Facebook and other social media sites to come get some free gas, etc.

[–] abhibeckert@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

All the pumps I've seen have a physical key protecting them too. They're supposed to unlock it in the morning and lock it when staff leave for the night. I'd guess these stations didn't do that?

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

From everything I know about locks in important places, all pumps probably use the same key. You can probably buy that key online. I know this is true for elevators and those boxes for entering buildings, and Crown Vic police cars (and the taxis they've become after being sold), and many other things.

[–] DogMuffins@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 1 year ago (4 children)

those boxes for entering buildings

do you mean doors ?

[–] lemming741@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

Knox Box maybe

I wish he meant doors 😂

[–] youstolemyname@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's a lockbox that is mounted near the door that contains a key to said door or an override used by emergency services such as the fire department. The boxes are all keyed the same.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 year ago

I can't think of the term for them, but they have a keypad and other buttons to call in and unlock the door, often along with things for postal and emergency services to get in if required.

[–] Erasmus@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don’t know about that part. Just that it was all over the news when it happened here and I later read about the details as to how they did it.

I would have assumed the makers of the pumps would had put into them a little tighter security but then again look at some of these password and other web hacks we routinely see.

[–] ipkpjersi@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You'd be surprised how many times "good enough" is considered "good enough" when it comes to IT and security, even when it's really the bare minimum.