CallABike hacked by mischievous Germans
By Joshua Fruhlinger 
posted Dec 21st 2004 1:55PM
posted Dec 21st 2004 1:55PM
It started as a crunchy,
environmentally-friendly service called CallABike that
allowed German city-dwellers to rent bikes and leave them locked wherever when done. It ended as an IT war that has
resulted in hackers turning the rental bikes into HackABikes with backdoor access for a select few. The hackers were so
intent on gaining free access to these things that they abused several bikes to the point of paying for them until they
figured out how to re-flash the EEPROM. Now that they know how to do this, they claim they have hacked roughly 10% of
the 1700 rental bikes in the city of Berlin. The backdoor code supposedly allows them to rent the bikes for free.
As it should be. Free bikes. For hackers. Yeah.
[Via Slashdot]
I wonder if they sell the bikes for profit?
at least it gives them the chance to get some exercise.
If you read their whole description, they've actually been very careful in the way they hack the bikes: they don't disable them, and they have it configured so they can't actually take them while someone else is renting them. They just configured it basically so they can ride for free with no impact on the system other than a bike that isn't exactly where it's supposed to be when they're done with it. And the lost revenue, of course.
of course everyone knows it would only be a matter of when not if.
Well then, that makes it all ok then, right.
but the hidden message is hilarious...hummanity and free bikes are destined to be together. forever. like peanut butter and jam.
We don't have these in the city I currently reside in, but during a trip to Munich I encountered the CallABikes. For those curious, the Deutsche Bahn (German Railway) oversees the whole operation. I jokingly hopped onto one of these bikes, an lo and behold... the previous renter forgot to lock it up... so I got a free ride WITHOUT hacking! woohooo... go me... and those germans...
Will this suddenly result in a bunch of geeks learning what the sun feels like, and realizing that their legs are for more than just holding them up in their chairs?
Doesn't Portland (OR) have free bikes?
Hey matty, can I use your bike? No? I will just take it then. Sweet Justice!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stu
COool, COol, Hacked 170 bikes
Paul Raskin
http://paulraskin.webhostzero.com/adsense.htm
How can they call themselves real hackers..what are they doing outside of tehir bedrooms
Yeah, could we please not turn engadget into slashdot? The story was good, so I agree with the posting (even "via slashdot"), but if I may use a famous slashdot-ism...
RTFA.
No hackers bought bikes. Nobody destroyed bikes. They even went out of their way to not inconvenience any outside the "select few." There was no war-- in fact, there was no mention of a response by D-Bahn. Leave the outrageous hyperbolic summaries to CmdrTaco and those idiots.
>Our attack is probably worth the purchase price of a few dozen of these CallABikes, seeing the time and manpower that went into accomplishing it.
In other words, by spending time to hack the bike they have documented the one flaw in the design, the unlocked EEPROM.
Let me know if I am wrong.
I think this proves it conclusively: GERMANS LOVE DAVID HASSELHOFF!
Hackers are as bad as spammers, we should have very strict law against them.
10 spam emails -> 1 year in prison.
1 website hack -> 1 year in prison.
1 Spyware/Adware -> 5 year in prison.
The Internet will be a much better place for new Internet/computer users, most of them don't know how to protect themselves. One careless click could have very annoying spyware/adware installed, and they have to ask others to help out.
IMHO it's time to ban those lousy idiots not knowing how to use the internet and protect themselves from the internet. There is a reason for drivers licenses and there would be one for an internet license.
Last time I checked no one was trying to install GPS trackers on my Mustang at stop lights, paint ads on my fenders while shopping at the mall or download a vicious virus into my EEC while I'm at the post office. Driving and internet use are two separate activities, trying to compare the two is idiotic (including that statement about having a license).
The problem here is many of you seem to think this is funny or cool. Just because the end result isn't a fried machine doesn't mean their actions aren't taking a toll on the company and their customers. The fees associated with recovering the bikes and reflashing every EEPROM will increase rental rates.
well this company aint gunna last long if every one cantchs on to this but fair play to those who managed to hack them. you've got to get as many free things in life as you can.
well this company aint gunna last long if every one cantchs on to this but fair play to those who managed to hack them. you've got to get as many free things in life as you can.