Idaho inmates hacked prison-issued tablets for $225,000 in credits

Idaho inmates hacked prison-issued tablets for $225,000 in credits

5 years ago
Anonymous $dicfOfy7s2

https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/27/inmates-idaho-jpay-hack/

Inmates in Idaho successfully hacked the software of the prison-issued tablets to issue themselves nearly a quarter of a million dollars in credits on the devices that are often one of their only connections to the outside world. The tablets, made by prominent prison vendor JPay, give inmates the ability to use email, listen to music and transfer money, among other basic computing functions but charge fees for some services.

The Associated Press reports that Idaho prison officials discovered 364 inmates leveraging a software vulnerability to increase their JPay account balances. In Idaho, the devices are the result of a partnership between JPay and CenturyLink. The latter company confirmed the software vulnerability but declined to offer further details beyond stating that it had since been resolved.