THE INSIDER: Spy versus spy in CIA snack wars
The US Central Intelligence Agency has been penetrated by a sinister network of hi-tech snack thieves
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has admitted it was penetrated by a sinister network of hi-tech snack thieves. Sky News reported on a newly declassified document that reveals hackers managed to steal chocolate bars, crisps and other snacks valued at $3,300 from CIA vending machines in 2013. CIA vending machines work off cards that need to be topped up with funds online. One culprit figured out that disconnecting certain cables to the machines would enable them to dispense unlimited quantities of food, even if a card had run out of money. After making the sweet discovery, he or she told friends, who began stealing snacks for themselves. It took months before the US intelligence agency realised the junk food was being taken without payment, but after suspicion was raised, officials put surveillance cameras on the machines, as might be expected from a spy organisation. The perpetrators, mainly contractors working for the CIA, were eventually fired. Don’t keep it tight, let fle...
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