Hackers Hail all Taxis in Moscow — HUGE Gridlock for 3 Hours
Ukraine supporters hacked Russia’s biggest ride hailing app, Yandex Taxi. They sent every available cab to a single address, all at once.
The Anonymous collective claimed responsibility. They are legion. And they do not forgive. #OpRussia
Yesterday was not a great day if you were trying to drive on the west side of central Moscow. In today’s SB Blogwatch, we get out and walk.
Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: POV.
In Post-Soviet Russia, Taxi Order YOU
What’s the craic? Vilius Petkauskas reports—“Hackers created an enormous traffic jam in Moscow”:
“Hotel Ukraine”
Hackers breached the app [of] ride-hailing service Yandex Taxi … sending dozens of cars to the exact location, forming a traffic jam that lasted up to three hours. … Hackers likely [created] multiple fake orders that prompted drivers to simultaneously go to the same location … the Stalinist-era building … Hotel Ukraine.
…
Yandex Taxi is owned by Russia’s largest IT corporation … often dubbed the Russian Google. … Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, groups supporting Ukraine started targeting organizations in Russia.
Expect them. Ciaran Daly does not forget—“Anonymous hackers take over Russia’s largest taxi firm”:
“Cripple entire towns and countries”
Hackers manipulated the Yandex Taxi app and ordered every available cab to the same place at once. The street, known as Kutuzov Prospect in Moscow, was jammed for hours as cab drivers found themselves unable to get out of the area. … Anonymous has claimed it as part of their ‘OpRussia’ but their role is unconfirmed.
…
It highlights the dangers that hackers could pose once self-driving cars become a reality: [Yandex] is one of the world’s biggest companies working on self-driving technology. If a fleet of AI-powered cabs could be taken over by hackers, there’s no knowing what damage could be caused, with everyone from cyber criminals to armies being able to cripple entire towns and countries.
Let’s hear it for prank warfare—instead of kinetics. u/JohnnyMnemo channels A Taste of Armageddon:
There’s a famous Star Trek ep with this as the the concept. Instead of firing real missiles, they fire fake ones and expect all of the human targets to go to suicide chambers as a consequence.
But is it fair to harass ordinary Russians? YES, says thegarbz:
**** em. A nation is responsible for their leaders [so] harass away. If they want to double down on stupid, then that is up to them. I still know Russians who think that they are saving the world from Nazis.
Whatever next? u/IDK_WHAT_YOU_WANT knows exactly what we want:
This is the kind of warfare I can get behind. Quick, someone give Putin’s phone number to the extended car warranty people.
Wait. Pause. Yellow Yoshi—@kkchan0323—corrects our grammar:
It’s wrong to call this a hacking. It should [be] “Special Call-Taxi Operation.” 🙃
Hang on a minute, lads. I’ve got a great idea. PPH seems to have some déjà vu:
In related news, Michael Caine was spotted speeding away in a Mini Cooper loaded with gold.
Speaking of cliffhangers, Captain Cliff—@ProperLookout—foreshadows thuswise:
Next up: All the drivers receive $100 tips, billed to Putin’s Amex card. 🤣
Meanwhile, 0use4msm simply shrugs:
Large traffic jam in Moscow — just a regular day then.
And Finally:
POV: One minute of Moscow mayhem
You have been reading SB Blogwatch by Richi Jennings. Richi curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites … so you don’t have to. Hate mail may be directed to @RiCHi or [email protected]. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. E&OE. 30.
Image sauce: Думминг Тупс
