Domino’s hacker said ‘no’ to free pizza for life

Brit Paul Price is clearly a good man. Faced with the choice of free pizza for life or not free pizza for life, the security consultant opted for a clear conscience when he discovered a flaw in Domino’s app that let him place food orders without paying a single cent.

Examining the Android app’s source code one evening, pizza-fan Paul noticed that a couple of tweaks enabled him to order what the heck he liked. For free.

In a post detailing exactly how he did it, Paul says he was shocked to see an order go through and surprised at an absence of any secondary checks regarding confirmation of payment. Or, more accurately, non-payment.

“A few minutes pass and the Pizza Tracker changes from ‘Order’ to ‘Prep’ and then to ‘Baking,'” Paul explained. “I couldn’t bear to wait another 30 minutes to see if an Americano pizza, Chicken Strippers and Chocolate Chip Cookie + Ice Cream side turn up at my door. I called the store and they confirm they have received my order and it will be delivered within the next 20 minutes. My first thought: awesome. My second thought: shit.”

Possibly salivating, worrying, and setting the table all at the same time, Paul waited for the order to arrive at his home. While the temptation to happily accept the food and wish the delivery guy a good evening must have been overwhelming, Paul decided to tell him he wanted to pay by cash, and handed over £26 ($37) for the order.

Note to Brit-based pizza lovers already poring over Domino’s menu in the hope of scoring some free pizza – the bug has long been squashed, Domino’s confirmed, so you’ll have to pay for your pizza. Just like Paul does.