Most Bizarre Cyber Attacks Of All Time

When we talk about hacker attacks, we always think of actions performed using classic computer systems, such as home or corporate networks, computers, and mobile devices. Yet this is not always the case. In fact, there are many examples of hacker attacks carried out with unusual methods. Here are some of the strangest.

Free petrol

In 2019, some men managed to hack several gas stations in Paris, thus stealing thousands of liters of fuel. The petrol pumps were connected to a particular service that allowed them to be managed remotely by entering a password. The problem is that many managers have never changed the password, continuing to use the default one. Hackers were able to enter this system and change the price of the supply, thus filling up the tank substantially for free.

Tornado Warning

In 2019, a small town near Dallas was awakened in the middle of the night by sirens warning of the imminent arrival of a tornado. Citizens were obviously worried, and evacuation procedures were initiated, but in a short time, it became clear that there was actually no tornado coming. The alarm system is connected to a local network that allows it to be managed, and some malicious people connected to this network and rang the alarm.

Technological aquarium

In 2018, an American casino suffered a major data theft. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon accident, but the method used by hackers is unusual in this case. In fact, in this casino, there was a huge aquarium equipped with IoT sensors to be able to monitor and manage it via computer. This aquarium was therefore connected to the internet, evidently without particular protection. Some hackers managed to exploit this aquarium to break into the casino’s local network, and from there, they reached the archives containing the personal information of customers.

Creative road signs

The large electronic road signs are now all connected to a network and controlled remotely. The companies that manage them, in fact, are able to change the messages displayed in a very short time: this is how it is possible to report traffic queues or incidents in real-time. However, these signs are vulnerable to attacks by hackers, who enter the system and thus modify the displayed message without the necessary protection. There are many examples of attacks of this type, generally with a humorous background: for example, messages such as “zombie queue in 5 km” or “drive at full speed” are displayed.

Owned monitoring systems

In recent years, monitoring systems for children have spread that are able to connect to the network so that they can also be controlled remotely using special apps. This is a great way to always keep an eye on your children’s sleep even when you are in other parts of the house, but if you don’t take the necessary precautions, you can encounter various problems. In the United States, for example, there are several cases of hackers who have managed to break into these monitoring systems to observe children or to scare them with strange sounds and noises.

How to protect yourself from attacks

Whether a traditional attack or a weird one, the solution is always the same: protect your data. To do this, one of the most effective solutions is to use a VPN. By installing a virtual private network on your devices and using it every time you connect to the internet, you can completely encrypt the traffic and prevent your data from being intercepted and stolen by hackers. Some VPN providers even offer additional features, such as an ads blocker. With a VPN, it is also possible to mask your IP address and surf anonymously without leaving a trace of yourself, thus protecting your privacy.