Posted on 01/28/2009 10:29:13 AM PST by Domandred
Transportation officials in Texas are scrambling to prevent hackers from changing messages on digital road signs after one sign in Austin was altered to read, "Zombies Ahead."
Chris Lippincott, director of media relations for the Texas Department of Transportation, confirmed that a portable traffic sign at Lamar Boulevard and West 15th Street, near the University of Texas at Austin, was hacked into during the early hours of Jan. 19.
"It was clever, kind of cute, but not what it was intended for," said Lippincott, who saw the sign during his morning commute. "Those signs are deployed for a reason — to improve traffic conditions, let folks know there's a road closure."
"It's sort of amusing, but not at all helpful," he told FOXNews.com.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
My wife told me not to worry about Zombies. Boy was she ever wrong!
I like the last one..”kids ok”
So has the FBI recovered the CIP device yet?
This is clearly a warning shot and test run for future disruptive attacks...
Dangit - where’s Jack?????
In all likelihood, the crew will not have changed it [the default password]. However if they did, never fear. Hold “Control” and “Shift” and while holding, enter “DIPY”. This will reset the sign and reset the password to “DOTS” in the process. You’re in!Quite an impressive programming effort there, at least in terms of security.
Yes, to give you legal warning that you are entering an enhanced revenue corridor, and that all fines will be doubled to pay for socialist causes.
Damn right “zombies ahead”.
Watch our for those dammed Skating Zombies from Austin.
OMG!! That’s so PERFECT!
Anyone know the cost of these signs?
Obama cultists have been sighted.
Someone knew the Texas legislators were going to starting their semi annual session in a few days.
Zombies indeed.
It’s that “Time of the Season” for Keeping Austin Weird...
I’ll bet Alex Jones did it
Uh huh. Right after posting step-by-step instructions on how to do it:
According to the blog i-hacked.com, some commercial road signs, including those manufactured by IMAGO's ADDCO division, can be easily altered because their instrument panels are frequently left unlocked and their default passwords are not changed. "Programming is as simple as scrolling down the menu selection," i-hacked.com reports. "Type whatever you want to display … In all likelihood, the crew will not have changed [the password]."
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. . ./sarc
Yes, I believe someone does.
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