If you were a contractor for the CIA, what would you use your intelligence and talents for? Surely most people think, “I’d use my intelligence for my work”. That’s the point, isn’t it?
In 2012-2013, several CIA contractors had a different idea. Instead of using their genius for the obvious intent in which they were hired, they put their talents into hacking a vending machine . . . of all things!
The suspects stole $3,314.40 in products by unplugging a cable that connected the machines to an electronic payment system called FreedomPay. They then used “unfunded FreedomPay cards” to purchase the products for free.
“The machines take payment via prepaid cards, but one contract worker realized he could use a dummy card with no money on it if he simply unplugged the so-called “FreedomPay” system so it could not connect to payment servers.”
Of course, it didn’t take atrociously long for the Virginia-based establishment to notice the stealing. Throwing up their signature cameras, it wasn’t long before the CIA caught their thieves red-handed.
An official report released by the company claimed,
“[OIG installed] surveillance cameras at several key vending locations where a high occurrence of thefts were taking place. Video footage recovered from the surveillance cameras captured numerous perpetrators engaged in the FreedomPay theft scheme, all of whom were readily identifiable as Agency contract personnel.”
Clearly, the CIA contractors involved in the FreedomPay scheme are no longer working with the CIA. Although little information has been released on their consequences, they were obviously fired and face future challenges in finding similar careers.
This situation just goes to show that sometimes . . . hacking just isn’t worth it. At the very least, use your damn brain before literally ruining your life. Besides, if you work for the CIA in the first place, you can probably afford to spend a few dollars on snacks.