Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Career Intelligence
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Interactive Spotlight
    • Photo Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Cybersecurity NewsPorts: Sea, Land, & Air

Hackers Find NFC Loophole for Public Transit

August 6, 2013

Unlimited rides on public transportation? No problem for hackers.

Matteo Collura, 19, and Matteo Beccaro, 18, uncovered two new security loopholes that allow them to timestamp NFC-enabled tickets (MiFare Ultralights) with NFC-enabled Android phones and turn a limited-ride ticket into an unlimited one, according to an article from Mashable. The two Italian teenage hackers claim the hacks are fairly easy to reproduce, as they presented their findings at Def Con on Saturday.

After the city of Turin implemented NFC-enabled cards in January, the two researched how the chips worked. That was the easy part – it was advertised on their website, Mashable reports. The issue is, the cards are not encrypted, so the data inside is readable with any NFC device. At that point, Collura and Beccaro were able to set the cards in a “read-only” format, so the cards could not be stamped and always contained the same number of rides.

The timestamp is valid for 90 minutes, but all the hacker needs to do is re-scan the ticket with an NFC-enabled device and change the date, effectively stamping the ticket by him- or herself. 

KEYWORDS: Def Con 2013 NFC fare cards NFC smartphone public transportation

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Cyber tech background

    Security’s Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2026

    Security magazine’s Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2026 award...
    Top Cybersecurity Leaders
  • Iintegration and use of emerging tools

    Future Proof Your Security Career with AI Skills

    AI’s evolution demands security leaders master...
    Security Education & Training
    By: Jerry J. Brennan and Joanne R. Pollock
  • The 2025 Security Benchmark Report

    The 2025 Security Benchmark Report

    The 2025 Security Benchmark Report surveys enterprise...
    The Security Benchmark Report
    By: Rachelle Blair-Frasier
Manage My Account
  • Security Newsletter
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Cables plugged in

Chinese Supercomputer Allegedly Hacked, 10 Petabytes of Data Stolen

Man on laptop

Healthcare Executives Face a New Era of Personal Risk

Abstract shape

What Are Security Experts Saying About Claude Mythos and Project Glasswing?

Padlock with computer keys

Breach of FBI Surveillance System Considered a “Major Incident,” Security Experts Weigh In

AI

AI Startup Mercor, Which Works With Open AI and Anthropic, Confirms Data Breach

SEC 2026 Benchmark Banner
SEC 2026 Benchmark Banner

Events

April 30, 2026

Building a Campus-Wide Culture of Security and Shared Responsibility

In today’s higher education environment, where institutions face evolving and multifaceted incidents, safety must be embedded into the fabric of campus culture. Learn strategies for generating collective buy-in from faculty, staff, students and senior leadership. 

May 7, 2026

Beyond Cameras: Revolutionizing Perimeter Security with LiDAR, AI and Digital Twins

In this webinar, we will explore how LiDAR‑based detection, AI‑powered analytics and digital twins are transforming the future of perimeter protection with 3D detection, real-time situational awareness and unified operational views.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products
SEC 2026 Top Cybersecurity Leaders

Related Articles

  • Man waiting for train

    The Future of Public Transit: Leveraging AI Analytics for Enhanced Operations and Passenger Experience

    See More
  • United Airlines Will Reward Hackers Who Find Security Vulnerabilities

    See More
  • Fiat Chrysler to Pay Hackers Who Find Cybersecurity Flaws

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • surveillance.jpg

    Surveillance, Privacy and Public Space

  • security culture.webp

    Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

  • 150 things.jpg

    The Handbook for School Safety and Security

See More Products
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing