With the cost of everything going up it seems that people are looking for anything and everything that can save them a buck. This of course leads to scamers who take advantage of the less educated with things like magnets to improve fuel mileage and a vortex creating device to install in your car's intake to improve mileage.
It seems that "hacking" everyday objects as internet videos often refer to it is on the rise. Now there are simple things you can do that don't really cause harm like the secret menu on the new Coca Cola Freestyle machines which allow you to view the remaining levels of syrup and machine diagnostics by going to the water menu and pressing a series of bubbles. Then there are others that could be potentially much more damaging like secret codes for gas pumps that allow users to get discounts or even free gas. Also the more troubling reprogramming ATM machines to dump all their cash at the push of a button.
I would expect to see more of this if the economy doesn't come back around anytime soon but manufacturers need to better protect these devices against the MacGyver's among us who have the skill and patience to figure out that your "secret diagnostic menu" can be exploited to cost you product and or money. The technology has been around since the days of playing a recording of coins falling into a pay phone, but as long as a machine has a weakness you can be assured some one will find it.
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