Solid as a Paper Whopper Wrapper in the Rain: Hackers Report "Catastrophic" Cybersecurity Flaws at Burger King

A pair of hackers has successfully compromised the cybersecurity of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), which owns some of the world's most recognizable fast-food chains, including Burger King, Popeyes, and Tim Hortons. The hackers uncovered "catastrophic" vulnerabilities so severe that they left the duo, "BobDaHacker" and "BobTheShoplifter," impressed by the company's commitment to terrible security practices.

The hackers' findings were detailed in a blog post that went live on September 6, only to be taken down within 24 hours. However, a cached copy of the original blog post is still available on the Wayback Machine, revealing the shocking extent of the vulnerabilities. The hackers claimed they could access every single store in RBI's global empire, including a Burger King in Times Square and a lonely Tim Hortons location where Bugs Bunny should have taken a left turn at Albuquerque.

But that was just the beginning. The hackers also reported being able to eavesdrop on drive-thru conversations – a feature that seems both fascinating and disturbing. In their blog post, the duo stated: "We stumbled upon vulnerabilities so catastrophic that we could access every single store in their global empire." They even mentioned they could listen to actual drive-thru conversations.

The hackers, who have a stated mission of cracking systems to uncover security vulnerabilities and reporting them in an effort to improve security, claimed RBI's response time was "impressive" when it came to addressing the issues they found. However, it appears that the company did not directly respond to their findings or provide any further information on how they plan to address these security loopholes.

Despite RBI's less-than-stellar response, the hackers' mission seems to have been accomplished: uncovering and reporting major security flaws. While it is concerning that a major fast-food chain like Burger King may have such weak security measures in place, it's a good thing that the hackers discovered these vulnerabilities before someone else could exploit them.

The Bobs, as they are known, ended their blog post on a somewhat lighthearted note, stating: "No customer data was retained during this research. No drive-thru orders were harmed in the making of this blog post. Responsible disclosure protocols were followed throughout. We still think the Whopper is pretty good, but Wendy's is better." It's unclear what the future holds for RBI and its cybersecurity, but one thing is certain: the Bobs have left their mark on the industry.

What's Next?

In related news, we'll be keeping a close eye on RBI's efforts to address these security flaws. As always, PC Gamer will provide you with the latest updates and analysis on this developing story. In the meantime, stay safe online and keep your data secure – it's never too late to learn about cybersecurity best practices.