Ethical Hacking News
Dutch students are facing an unexpected crisis after hackers compromised the digital payment system of their university's smart laundry machines, leaving them without access to clean clothes. The management company behind the machines has refused to cover the costs of repairing or replacing the damaged equipment, highlighting the growing trend of attacks on Internet of Things devices.
The Spinozacampus laundry room has been closed since July due to a hacker attack on its digital payment system. Students are unable to access their laundry facilities, leaving them without clean clothes. The management company, Duwo, refuses to cover the costs of repairing or replacing the damaged equipment. Awareness about IoT security is growing, with a 92% increase in IoT attacks reported by SonicWall in 2022 compared to the previous year. IoT attacks are becoming increasingly common and targeted at cameras, especially those deployed in critical sectors. The incident highlights the need for robust security measures to prevent similar attacks on smart devices.
The Netherlands has witnessed yet another instance of a smart device falling victim to hackers, leaving thousands of students without access to clean clothes. The Spinozacampus laundry room, which caters to around 1,250 University of Amsterdam students, has remained closed since July after an unknown attacker tampered with all five machines' digital payment system, allowing residents to wash their clothes for free.
The attack on the smart laundry machines has still not been resolved, and management company Duwo has refused to cover the costs of repairing or replacing the damaged equipment. According to a spokesperson from Duwo, the company purchases the machines themselves and needs the income to continue offering laundry services to its residents at affordable prices.
This latest incident highlights the growing trend of attacks on Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which are often targeted for their potential to build robust botnets rather than for malicious purposes. Attacks on IoT devices have become increasingly common in recent years, with security vendor SonicWall reporting a 92 percent increase in IoT attacks in 2022 compared to the previous year.
More recently, SonicWall reported an upward trend in IoT attacks, with an increase of 124 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. The primary targets under the broad "IoT" umbrella are cameras, specifically those deployed in critical sectors.
The Spinozacampus laundry room's situation is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of these attacks on individuals and communities. With the university students forced to continue traveling to wash their clothes, there is also a risk of lice infestation in the building, which has already sparked concern among some students.
The incident serves as a wake-up call for organizations responsible for managing smart devices, highlighting the need for robust security measures to prevent such attacks. It also underscores the importance of educating users about the potential risks associated with IoT devices and the importance of reporting suspicious activity.
In conclusion, the attack on the Spinozacampus laundry room serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of IoT attacks and the need for organizations to prioritize security measures to protect their smart devices and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Dutch-Students-Left-High-and-Dry-After-Smart-Laundry-Machines-Fall-Prey-to-Hackers-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/09/12/jailbroken_laundry_machines/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/crime/general/1-200-undergrads-hung-out-to-dry-after-jailbreak-attack-on-laundry-machines/ar-AA1MqDG4
https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/12/jailbroken_laundry_machines/?td=keepreading
Published: Fri Sep 12 09:57:56 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
