December 21, 2004

Hacking Coke Machines A how-to on hacking Coca-Cola vending machines using the drink buttons on the front of the machine! Anyone tried this? (If that site's down, just google for "Hacking Coke Machines" and you'll get several sites)
posted by hunterdane 20 years ago
  • I read this through BB earlier today, it's an excerpt from anarchist's cookbook, and it unfortunately explains why it's impossible to get free soda using this method.
  • I tried this a while back on at least a dozen coke machines in my univ. campus after finding it on del.icio.us. No luck. I think people are careful to change the passwords on the machines these days.
  • It reminds me of those General Destruction lists and other "phun philes" I used to find on C64 boards in the 1980s.
  • Not to be a goody two-shoes or anything but the apparent aim of this is stealing, not hacking, with all the legal ramifications that implies.
  • I can see the temptation, what with many vending machines charging anywhere from $1 to $2.50 for a bottle or a can, but thanks to my very undiscriminating taste buds (I swear it is still a little hard for me to differentiate between Coke/Pepsi), I am happy enough with whatever generic supermarket brand comes out of the machine for $0.25-0.35.
  • This was in 2600 as well, probalby the exact same article (I don't have my copy handy to see). However, it is fairly useless becuase you can't change anything unless you can get the door open, so this is NOT about stealing because if you get the door open, then you don't really need to bother with hacking. That's like picking the lock to a vault when the door is already open, not much point...
  • I don't care about getting a free soda from a machine. I don't think this is floating around so people can steal, either; reading the article you'll see that's not really possible. It's cool because it's something you can do, practical or not; hacking doesn't have to be negative. When I buy electronics, I look for stuff with a lot of features. Will I use most of them? No. But I like knowing I could if I wanted to. Just knowing you can do it is the point. IMO
  • Let's not forget Col. 'Bat' Guano, who wrote the book on hacking into Coke machines in 1964.
  • Was thinking the exact same thing when I saw the link title, rolypolyman: "You're gonna have to answer to the Coca-Cola company."
  • Hey, guys: If you're going to hack a Coke machine, be very careful.
  • Misinterpreted the title of the post. I thought that someone had a cough of biblical proportions and was coughing up vending machines. I was hoping for pictures.