California's Wireless Road Tolls Easily Hackable

An anonymous reader writes "Nate Lawson, a researcher at RootLabs, has found a way to clone the wireless transponders used by the Bay Area FasTrak road toll system. This means you can copy the ID of another driver onto your own device and, as a result, travel for free while others foot the bill. Lawson also raises the interesting point of using the FasTrak system to create false alibis, by overwriting one's own ID onto another driver's device before committing a crime. Luckily, Lawson wasn't sued before he could reveal his research, unlike those pesky MIT students."

Comments

Re:Cameras at every toll booth

[cayenne8]

"We have a law against dirty license plates. "

Well, just rig up some sort of James Bond plate changing mechanism....where you can flip the plate, or just obscure it when going through the booth, then hit the switch, and set it to normal again.

I've been thinking of something like this for the stupid red light cameras they've been putting in down here in NOLA.

Back on the ez-pass system. For awhile I was having to cross the bridge across lake pontchartrain, and it was a toll bridge. I just don't like the idea of having a system track my movements, so I just paid cash...no toll tag for me. Sure, it costs a dollar more, but, worth it to me.

Re:Cameras at every toll booth

[kg9ov]

Ohhh.... you must mean the great state of Chicago...

California Schemin'

[jollyreaper]

all the streets are free
and the highway's no pay
I've been for a drive
on a self-made freeway

My hacks will do the charm
Cuz I'm in L.A
California Schemin'
on a self-made freeway

Re:Cameras at every toll booth

[chaim79]

If the chances of getting caught are high enough you can use it in reverse to screw your neighbors, program theirs to be some random person (or find one from a cop car) and let them explain it to the judge. :)