Lateral with Tom Scott 66: The lock-breaking pencil
Jan 12, 2024
The podcast discusses topics such as stationery stories, secret shapes, and sporting sites. The hosts also delve into cooking, food history, driving customs, computer pranks, and security breaches. They explore unique areas and discuss the use of pens for security breaches. The speakers express gratitude to the players and provide information on their online platforms.
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Scented Ads Can Trigger Security Alarms
- Disaronno's 2002 Tube ads pumped almond liqueur scent into stations and buses, which smelled like cyanide to some and worried authorities.
- Perceived similarity between almond scent and cyanide triggered a government ban on the campaign.
Fuel Checks Stop Cross‑Border Tax Evasion
- Singapore-Malaysia border guards inspect dashboards to check fuel levels because petrol is far cheaper in Malaysia.
- Rules require drivers leaving Singapore to have three-quarters tank to prevent cross-border fuel tax evasion.
Unchecked Terms Lead To Wild Consents
- Many people accept Wi‑Fi and software terms without reading, agreeing to absurd clauses like firstborns or 1,000 hours of service.
- Security researchers demonstrated how unread terms can be exploited to teach users to inspect legal fine print.