Stealing Bicycles by Swapping QR Codes

Read Time:39 Second

This is a clever hack against those bike-rental kiosks:

They’re stealing Citi Bikes by switching the QR scan codes on two bicycles near each other at a docking station, then waiting for an unsuspecting cyclist to try to unlock a bike with his or her smartphone app.

The app doesn’t work for the rider but does free up the nearby Citi Bike with the switched code, where a thief is waiting, jumps on the bicycle and rides off.

Presumably they’re using camera, printers, and stickers to swap the codes on the bikes. And presumably the victim is charged for not returning the stolen bicycle.

This story is from last year, but I hadn’t seen it before. There’s a video of one theft at the link.

Friday Squid Blogging: Squid Sticker

Italy’s Data Protection Watchdog Issues €15m Fine to OpenAI Over ChatGPT Probe

Ukraine’s Security Service Probes GRU-Linked Cyber-Attack on State Registers

LockBit Admins Tease a New Ransomware Version

Webcams and DVRs Vulnerable to HiatusRAT, FBI Warns

CISA Urges Encrypted Messaging After Salt Typhoon Hack

Ransomware Attackers Target Industries with Low Downtime Tolerance

Web Hacking Service ‘Araneida’ Tied to Turkish IT Firm

US Organizations Still Using Kaspersky Products Despite Ban