Researcher Who Cracked McDonald's Free-Food Hack Turns Attention to Chinese Restaurant Robots

In a shocking expose, a researcher who made headlines last year for discovering a free-food hack at McDonald's has now turned her attention to uncovering security vulnerabilities in the burgeoning world of commercial service robots.

The researcher, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, first gained widespread recognition for revealing that Pudu, a leading supplier of commercial service robots, had left its administrative controls wide open on its machines. This allowed attackers to redirect the delivery machines to anywhere they pleased and make them follow any command.

"It was like a game of robot fetch," she said in an interview. "I could log into these machines remotely and make them do just about anything I wanted. It was terrifying, but also fascinating."

The researcher's discovery sparked widespread concern among industry experts and government agencies, who had been warning for years about the dangers of unsecured robots.

The Risks of Unsecured Robots

Commercial service robots are increasingly being used in everything from restaurants to hospitals to warehouses. But these machines are also vulnerable to hacking, which can have serious consequences.

"If someone were able to take control of a robot like this," the researcher explained, "they could potentially use it to steal sensitive information or disrupt critical operations. It's a nightmare scenario for anyone who relies on these machines."

The Pudu Response

Pudu has since taken steps to address the security concerns raised by the researcher. The company has patched its administrative controls and implemented new safety protocols to prevent similar breaches in the future.

"We take the security of our robots very seriously," said a spokesperson for Pudu. "We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and are committed to ensuring that our machines are safe and secure."

The Next Frontier

While the researcher's discovery has sparked widespread concern, it also highlights the need for greater awareness about the risks of unsecured robots.

"There's a lot of work to be done here," she said. "We need to make sure that these machines are safe and secure before they're deployed in our homes, hospitals, and businesses."