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Hacked Detroit gas station gives away 600 gallons

A Marathon gas station in Detroit suffered a hack via a ‘remote device’ that allowed 600 gallons of fuel, valued at $1,800, to be stolen.



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Police are investigating two suspects who hacked a Marathon gas station in June, letting some 600 gallons (2,270 litres) of fuel flow freely into a number of vehicles. The station attendant was unable to control the pumps due to an apparent hack.

Authorities believe the suspects used some kind of remote device to take control of the dispensers. Some 10 cars were able to fuel-up for free during the 90-minute period of time, reports Fortune.

"I tried to stop it here from the screen but the screen's not working," gas station attendant Aziz Awadh told Fox 2. "I tried to stop it from the system; nothing working (sic)."

Despite U.S. gas station being used to suffering credit card skimmers at the pump, remote devices to take control of dispensers has occurred less frequently. A number of studies, such as the Kaspersky Lab program, have already pointed out the vulnerabilities of gas stations to hacking attacks.

Marathon brand gasoline is available through approximately 5,600 retail outlets in 20 states and the District of Columbia.

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