Two students find security bug that could let millions do laundry for free

return2ozma@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.world – 375 points –
Two students find security bug that could let millions do laundry for free
theverge.com
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Saw a video that showed using swizzle sticks jammed into the coin slots to release the lock and get free laundry.

I had bike spokes laying around and tried it. It worked, but actually broke the coin slots. Management reconfig’d to other slots, which I then broke.

Laundry was only 25 cents if you knew which slot to put a quart into.

Around 2007 or so I used to unplug Coinstar machines from the internet (plug was usually right in back) and then put in all my coins and try to redeem an online gift card. It used to be you could only get all of your cash back via online gift cards, because the machine took out a fee to give your money back in cash.

When it couldn't connect to the internet, it would apologize and refund me in cash, with no convenience fee (since I was clearly inconvenienced). Full amount returned.

You were supposed to use plastic coffee straws not a hard piece of metal. Turn a $1 bag of 100 straws into $25-$100 in laundry change depending on how much your reuse the straws.

Right, that’s what a swizzle stick is.

Counter point though, breaking it meant I didn't even need straws…