Imagine hacking an Android App just to get a free beer!
This is what Kuba Gretzky, a developer from Poland did and earned himself a chilled beer.
Gretzky though that it would be worthwhile to hack such an offer and get something in return.
Gretzky hacked the broadcast signals and earned himself a beer.
This helps the restaurants and pubs to verify purchases and also award patrons with points, offers and coupons.
Gretzy found that most of these beacon in Poland are manufactured by a company calledEstimote.
Gretzky studied Estimotes App documentation which gave him inputs about the information beacon transmits.
Further, he got access to an Android library to simplify listening to beacon broadcasts via any program.
While bruteforcing the four-digit PIN, he got his account locked down for 30 minutes after five failed attempts.
He then set an interception VPN to be used over 3G/4G on his mobile phone while in the restaurant.
However, Gretzky was happy with the beer that he earned through the process.
He has explained the entire process on his bloghere.
source: www.techworm.net
