E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#1

Post by jmcintyre » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 5:34 PM UTC

E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)
forbes.com

Re: E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#2

Post by rayiner » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 6:27 PM UTC

Scumbag Puking Monkey: puts wireless tracking/identification device on his car; surprised when he is wirelessly tracked/identified.

Re: E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#3

Post by addflip » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 6:28 PM UTC

Oddly enough I just received an email from SunPass(Florida tolls) encouraging me to trade in my old battery operated transmitter that beeps when it's read for one that doesn't. They're even offering to foot the bill. Weird... maybe I'm just being a conspiracy theorist :)

Re: E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#4

Post by Stwerp » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 6:33 PM UTC

I can't find details of his hack, but I am curious if his detector detects actual read events (when his device responds with its ID) or if it is just an RF power detector. Is there a link to a technical description?

Re: E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#5

Post by seiji » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 6:34 PM UTC

His presentation also featured pictures he took of many NY police's personal cars with deliberately obscured license plates so they can't be automatically read (and other features like illegally too-tinted windows, etc).

*edit: found the presentation at https://www.defcon.org/html/links/dc-archives/dc-21-archive....

Re: E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#6

Post by ethomson » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 6:34 PM UTC

I had thought it was common knowledge that E-ZPasses were used to collect real-time traffic estimates; certainly I've known for years that i-Pass (the Illinois equivalent) was used for this purpose. Unfortunately, some quick googling does not appear to locate any information on this, so now I don't remember where I heard / read this in the first place.

Re: E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#7

Post by koopajah » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 6:36 PM UTC

This reminds of Little Brother by Cory Doctorow that I just read two weeks ago: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/954674.Little_Brother

Re: E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#8

Post by Phargo » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 6:36 PM UTC

Is there any way to install a switch to kill the tag when you don't plan on using it? If that's possible, how difficult would it be to control this on/off switch with a spare smart phone based on approved GPS location?

Re: E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#9

Post by oceanstone » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 6:36 PM UTC

Your license plate is always visible, it's probably a nicer target for people interested in tracking you.

Search for "license plate" on http://www.zdnet.com/wikileaks-uncovers-trapwire-surveillanc...

Re: E-ZPasses Get Read All Over New York (Not Just At Toll Booths)

#10

Post by oceanstone » Fri, Sep 13, 2013, 6:37 PM UTC

ethomson wrote: post #6

I had thought it was common knowledge that E-ZPasses were used to collect real-time traffic estimates; certainly I've known for years that i-Pass (the Illinois equivalent) was used for this purpose. Unfortunately, some quick googling does not appear to locate any information on this, so now I don't remember where I heard / read this in the first place.

FastTrak (used in the SF Bay Area) have a warning, laying this out when you buy the devices. You don't actually need the device though, as each bridge using it also uses cameras to read license plates. It's more convenient this way, as you just need to register your vehicle on their website.