Open Source Minibar

Now here's something finally useful from the hacker community: Adam Laurie demonstrated at Defcon, how to empty a hotel room minibar or watch PayTV without getting charged. Or schedule wakeup-calls at 3am for someone else. Or check out the person in room 209. All with a simple laptop and a TV card. Pretty amazing that all those "hotel room devices" (that is, fridge, TV) use client-side authentication. Switch the client, and authentication is passé. Now, I wouldn't attempt to bring in my big-screen TV into a hotel (part of the reason is that I don't own one) but since every road warrior is equipped with a de-facto TV unit, those hotel software vendors better act soon. Until then, I will gladly watch Shawshank Redemption a hundred more times. And have a free Martini.

"It is - four - twenty - five - a.m. This is your wake-up call. Press 9 for another call in 10 minutes." Aarrgghhhh..