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Hacked Oyster Card System Crashes Again

Posted by kdawson on from the no-pearls-in-sight dept.

Barence sends along PcPro coverage of the second crash of London's Oyster card billing system in two weeks. Transport for London was forced to open the gates and allow free travel for all. "There is currently a technical problem with Oyster readers at London Underground stations which is affecting Oyster pay as you go cards only," explains the TfL website. This follows the first crash two weeks ago, which left 65,000 Oyster cards permanently corrupted. Speculation is increasing that the crashes may be related to the hacking of the Oyster card system by Dutch researchers from Radboud University, though TfL denies any link. Plans to publish details of the hack were briefly halted when the makers of the chip used in the system sued the group, although a judge ruled earlier this week that the researchers could go ahead. During the court action, details briefly leaked on website Wikileaks.

5 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. What really happening is.... by benwiggy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can't you see, man? The Underground *wants* to be free!

  2. If it isn't working... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Guide for IT Managers When Deciding Blame.

    1. Hackers did it! If hackers couldn't have done it...
    2. Disgruntled employees did it! If disgruntled employees couldn't have done it...
    3. It's the vendor's fault! If the vendor couldn't have done it...
    4. It's our fault.

    Now... Reverse the list and that's what really happened.

    1. Re:If it isn't working... by Coraon · · Score: 5, Funny

      reminds me of my first day as an IT lead: The old lead as he is leaving hands me 3 envelopes and says that if I run into a problem that the bosses have to call me on open the first envelope, if it happens again the second and if it happens one more time open the 3rd. The first one told me to blame it on him, the second said to blame it on the team and lay a few people off. The third says "make 3 new envelopes..."

      --
      -Ours is the wisdom of Solomon, the magic of Merlyn, the fall of Icaris.
  3. Re:Wikileaks problems? by internewt · · Score: 5, Informative

    The doc that appeared on Wikileaks was an older document about the cards, not the current doc that details the cloning, so thats why it was removed.
    https://secure.wikileaks.org/wiki/Censored_Milfaire_Classic_Oyster_Card_break_paper_2008

    --
    Car analogies break down.
  4. Re:Operater Error by Golygydd+Max · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do you think they used Perl?