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The BBC reports that several Target stores in the US have had their public address systems hacked, resulting in explicit pornographic audio being broadcast across the stores, in some cases for more than 15 minutes at a time.
An email obtained by the BBC, sent by company bosses to Target store managers across the US on Friday afternoon, outlines a weakness in the store's PA system being used to carry out the prank.I've removed a key detail for obvious reasons.
"Non-Target team members are attempting to access the intercom system by calling stores and requesting to be connected to line [xxxx]," it reads. "If connected, callers have control of the intercom until they hang up. We are actively working to limit intercom access to the Guest Services phone only. In the meantime, inform all operators to not connect any calls to line [xxxx]."
So in other words, if you ring up Target and ask to be put through to a certain extension, you're suddenly live on the PA system for as long as you like. Hardly the hack of the century, granted, but a reminder that there are people out there that will find even the most obscure vulnerabilities and exploit them.
I don't condone breaching computer systems but I guess that's one way to draw attention to vulnerabilities. Too bad they didn't pick something more kid-friendly. Like broadcasting that for the next 60 minutes there would be an 80% discount on everything in the store.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by WillR on Monday October 19 2015, @01:50PM
(Score: 2) by miljo on Monday October 19 2015, @02:39PM
Yeah, I remember sitting in a phone bridge around the late 90s early 00s where we spent an entire evening trying to get on the PA of various stores. Old stuff yet still funny.
One should strive to achieve, not sit in bitter regret.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Monday October 19 2015, @04:06PM
Back then "we" did this to walmarts more so than targets.
I never did much phreaking, I worked in the industry so I already had all the free phone calls and whatever I wanted. But I always kept an eye on our professional opposition, more or less. Also they were sometimes very funny.
I got rid of most of my 2600 collection in a move a long time ago, but I had all that in the old days.
I used to distribute "Phrack" issues to the local boards in the BBS years. Hey, I needed my upload quota to download my warez!
Something that always amused me was I sometimes found it harder to do stuff legally as an employee because of Dilbert-level screwups than the kids did because they didn't care if it doesn't work, they'll just try again elsewhere, whereas I was being paid to get THIS one thing working and can't just give up.
(Score: 1, Troll) by Alfred on Monday October 19 2015, @07:25PM
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Daiv on Monday October 19 2015, @08:51PM
Call your closest Meijer and ask for extension 79. Or #79 if you happen to be wandering around a Meijer and find a phone on the back of a pole. That should still work...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday October 19 2015, @04:04PM
Indeed. I remember doing similar before I was four and a half feet tall. Last I heard they still have those phones everywhere in the store that you just have to punch the extension into and there you go.