RantCrush Top 5: June 22, 2017

Several CIA employees lost their jobs for hacking the agency’s vending machines and obtaining free snacks. The thefts reportedly took place between late 2012 and early 2013 but became public recently after a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The scheme was made possible after someone found out they could unplug a cable between the machines and the payment system that is connected to cards that you put money on. The employee, who figured this out thanks to “his knowledge of computer networks,” could then use empty cards to get snacks. Once the hacker figured out how to do this, he reportedly told some colleagues about it. The CIA found out and put up a surveillance camera to watch the machines. After that, an unknown number of contract employees were fired. According to the report, they stole $3,314.40 in snacks. The Justice Department declined to press charges. And a lot of people seem to think the hacking of a snack machine is pretty valuable knowledge.

ok, this scheme is much more advanced than the old “arm reach for the dangling Snickers” method. https://t.co/0FXxCmRO3o

— Rachael Sullivan (@rachaelsullivan) June 21, 2017

“What are you in for?” “I hacked the vending machines at the CIA to get free Skittles.” https://t.co/neuE7xPptG

— Ian Duncan (@iduncan) June 21, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.