Caution! Zombies Ahead! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

JumpinJesus · 02-04-2009, 06:50 PM

I can't believe this hasn't been posted here yet.

Quote:

Construction signs warn
of zombies
Hackers change public safety message

Last Edited: Thursday, 29 Jan 2009, 5:12 PM CST
Created On: Wednesday, 28 Jan 2009, 8:29 PM CST

* Shannon Wolfson

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin drivers making their morning commute were in for a surprise when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers. The signs near the intersection of Lamar and Martin Luther King boulevards usually warn drivers about upcoming construction, but Monday morning they warned of "zombies ahead."

"I thought it was pretty funny," said University of Texas sophomore Jane Shin, who saw the signs while driving down Lamar Bouelvard with friends Sunday night. "We wondered who did it."

The City of Austin does not own the signs, but they are responsible for the message. The contractor on the construction project owns the signs. A city spokesperson said the hacked messages were only up for a few hours, until the construction project manager saw them during his morning commute and immediately ordered them to be changed back.

"Even though this may seem amusing to a lot of people, this is really serious, and it is a crime," said Austin Public Works spokesperson Sara Hartley. "And you can be indicted for it, and we want to make sure our traffic on the roadways stays safe."

Hartley said though it was a locked sign, the padlock for it was cut. Signs such as these have a computer inside that is password-protected.

"And so they had to break in and hack into the computer to do it, so they were pretty determined," said Hartley.

This crime is a class C misdemeanor in Texas, and Hartley said it endangers the public.

"The big problem is public safety," said Hartley. "Those signs are out there to help our traffic on the roadway to stay safe and to know what's coming up."

KXAN Austin News cameras caught many drivers slowing down to read the signs as they approached. Some read, "Zombies ahead! Run for your lives!"

Hartley said the city will discuss more secure safety measures with the manufacturer of the signs.

Speculation among the tech-savvy on the Internet is that the signs were inspired by the video game Call of Duty 5, World at War, which is the top game in the country right now and features "nazi zombies," or an upcoming movie about zombies called "Dead Snow" (an official selection at Sundance '09). There are also several online sites that teach people how to break into these construction signs.

Do you believe in zombies? Do you have a zombie escape plan? Let us know what you think about zombies by participating in our message board .

I think this is funny as hell. Of course, there are those who are saying this is a dangerous stunt putting drivers in danger since they aren't warned of the dangers ahead. But really, what's a bigger danger than zombies?

So, the topic is: Hacking road signs - Good Harmless Fun - or - Communist Plot to Take Over Your Identity - or - Danger!

Plan9 · 02-04-2009, 07:22 PM

Woohoo!

Hahah, I would "jizz in my pants" if I saw that. That's like X-mas for Crompsins.

...

I've got a plan. Let those brain-eating bastards come. I've been waiting.

...

OP: Yeah, it's not harmless. It's disrupting public warning signage.

bazkitcase5 · 02-04-2009, 07:53 PM

that is pretty funny

around here, it might not be too dangerous being half the time you see a road construction sign, there is nothing really going on at that point in time, but I suppose the point is, you just never know...

JumpinJesus · 02-04-2009, 08:06 PM

I find the irony being that it's probably the only time ever that traffic has slowed down for a construction zone sign.

Baraka_Guru · 02-04-2009, 08:07 PM

* * * * *

It's funny, yes. But only because no one was hurt.

Pretty stupid, but funny, thing to do.

Plan9 · 02-04-2009, 08:10 PM

God damnit! This thread has me harder than the armor package of a M1 tank.

inBOIL · 02-04-2009, 11:28 PM

Was the sign being used to warn motorists of an actual danger? If it was just sitting idle, I don't see how this endangers anyone.

/considers hacking amber alert signs to warn about flying tentacle monsters.

nomcat · 02-05-2009, 02:29 AM

Man, if only it was for real... dream. come. true.

PonyPotato · 02-05-2009, 03:18 AM

I prefer the "raptors ahead" one in Indiana: 'Raptors Ahead' Sign Gets Stares, Chuckles - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis

(the subtitle on this article just makes me giggle: "Indiana Road Sign Urges Dinosaur Awareness")

pig · 02-05-2009, 04:17 AM

I can understand the public safety argument, but then again...if I see the big orange cones, and a traffic flashing sign...I pretty much work out that I'm headed into construction all on my own. For me, it would depend on the message that was pre-empted.

"Construction ahead - 1000 ft"...I could care less. At that point I'm screwed anyway, so I'd prefer the laugh.

"Caution! Road ends in abrupt cliff just over next hill" - probably a dangerous thing.

However, I understand why they have to say that it's a bad thing and that they are going to be out to find the perpetrators - having every highway sign hacked wouldn't be useful, and there probably are times that it would lead to danger. In this case, or the one pony linked, I don't really see the big deal. Made me laugh; I'd love to see that on the way to work.

BigBob234 · 02-05-2009, 06:28 AM

I LOVED this when I heard it! When my local city charged me a late charge of $25 when I accidentally underpaid my sewer bill by 3 cents (hit a "6" instead of a "9" using online bill pay) I took their site down and replaced it with a nice zombie picture with the mayor's face photoshopped on the lead zombie. I was fairly proud until I read this. This trick was MUCH better.

Craven Morehead · 02-05-2009, 07:30 AM

djtestudo · 02-05-2009, 12:56 PM

Road sign hacking: White Marsh road sign hacking mentions zombies -- baltimoresun.com

Zeraph · 02-05-2009, 01:59 PM

Soooo awesome.

JumpinJesus · 02-05-2009, 04:09 PM

Ha! I love the Day the Earth Stood Still homage.

LordEden · 02-05-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craven Morehead

That made my fucking day. I agree with Crompsin, bring the motherfucking zombies on!

LoganSnake · 02-05-2009, 05:54 PM

I've always wanted to do this.

ASU2003 · 02-05-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

There are also several online sites that teach people how to break into these construction signs.

Why didn't they post links? Are they making this up? How do I know there are several online sites if they don't tell me which ones to use?
I guess I have to do all the work myself.

http://albotas.com/2009/01/how-to-do...truction-sign/
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/200...C-0D6B48984890
How to Hack Construction Signs - Neatorama
I-Hacked.com Taking Advantage Of Technology - Inside Programmable Road Signs

carrot glace · 02-05-2009, 10:04 PM

i dunno, if i saw that i might laugh so hard i'd drive into oncoming traffic

Mister Coaster · 02-06-2009, 09:06 AM

+1 for Pig. Electric sign + orange cones = enough warning.

That's some funny shyte. Lighten up, City of Austin officials (although I suppose they have to say what they said).

02-04-2009, 07:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	Woohoo! Hahah, I would "jizz in my pants" if I saw that. That's like X-mas for Crompsins. ... I've got a plan. Let those brain-eating bastards come. I've been waiting. ... OP: Yeah, it's not harmless. It's disrupting public warning signage. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

02-04-2009, 08:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
JumpinJesus Junkie Location: Chicago	I find the irony being that it's probably the only time ever that traffic has slowed down for a construction zone sign. __________________ "I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

02-04-2009, 08:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru warrior bodhisattva Super Moderator Location: East-central Canada	* * * * * It's funny, yes. But only because no one was hurt. Pretty stupid, but funny, thing to do. __________________ Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing? —Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön Humankind cannot bear very much reality. —From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

02-04-2009, 08:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Plan9 I Confess a Shiver	God damnit! This thread has me harder than the armor package of a M1 tank. __________________ *Whatever you can carry.* "You should not drink... and bake."

02-04-2009, 11:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
inBOIL I have eaten the slaw	Was the sign being used to warn motorists of an actual danger? If it was just sitting idle, I don't see how this endangers anyone. /considers hacking amber alert signs to warn about flying tentacle monsters. __________________ And you believe Bush and the liberals and divorced parents and gays and blacks and the Christian right and fossil fuels and Xbox are all to blame, meanwhile you yourselves create an ad where your kid hits you in the head with a baseball and you don't understand the message that the problem is you.

02-04-2009, 07:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
bazkitcase5 Crazy Location: Tupelo, MS	that is pretty funny around here, it might not be too dangerous being half the time you see a road construction sign, there is nothing really going on at that point in time, but I suppose the point is, you just never know...

02-05-2009, 02:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
nomcat Twisted Location: UK	Man, if only it was for real... dream. come. true. __________________ There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.

02-05-2009, 03:18 AM	#9 (permalink)
PonyPotato Soaring Location: Ohio!	I prefer the "raptors ahead" one in Indiana: 'Raptors Ahead' Sign Gets Stares, Chuckles - Indiana News Story - WRTV Indianapolis (the subtitle on this article just makes me giggle: "Indiana Road Sign Urges Dinosaur Awareness") __________________ "Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark." — Henri-Frédéric Amiel

02-05-2009, 04:17 AM	#10 (permalink)
pig pigglet pigglet Location: Locash	I can understand the public safety argument, but then again...if I see the big orange cones, and a traffic flashing sign...I pretty much work out that I'm headed into construction all on my own. For me, it would depend on the message that was pre-empted. "Construction ahead - 1000 ft"...I could care less. At that point I'm screwed anyway, so I'd prefer the laugh. "Caution! Road ends in abrupt cliff just over next hill" - probably a dangerous thing. However, I understand why they have to say that it's a bad thing and that they are going to be out to find the perpetrators - having every highway sign hacked wouldn't be useful, and there probably are times that it would lead to danger. In this case, or the one pony linked, I don't really see the big deal. Made me laugh; I'd love to see that on the way to work. __________________ You don't love me, you just love my piggy style

02-05-2009, 06:28 AM	#11 (permalink)
BigBob234 Upright Location: Central IL	I LOVED this when I heard it! When my local city charged me a late charge of $25 when I accidentally underpaid my sewer bill by 3 cents (hit a "6" instead of a "9" using online bill pay) I took their site down and replaced it with a nice zombie picture with the mayor's face photoshopped on the lead zombie. I was fairly proud until I read this. This trick was MUCH better.

02-05-2009, 07:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
Craven Morehead Custom User Title

02-05-2009, 12:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	Road sign hacking: White Marsh road sign hacking mentions zombies -- baltimoresun.com __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

02-05-2009, 01:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Soooo awesome.

02-05-2009, 04:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
JumpinJesus Junkie Location: Chicago	Ha! I love the Day the Earth Stood Still homage. __________________ "I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

02-05-2009, 05:54 PM	#17 (permalink)
LoganSnake We work alone Location: Cake Town	I've always wanted to do this. __________________ Maturity is knowing you were an idiot in the past. Wisdom is knowing that you'll be an idiot in the future. Common sense is knowing that you should try not to be an idiot now. - J. Jacques

02-05-2009, 10:04 PM	#19 (permalink)
carrot glace Crazy Location: orange county	i dunno, if i saw that i might laugh so hard i'd drive into oncoming traffic __________________ "blaine is a pain and that is the truth"

02-06-2009, 09:06 AM	#20 (permalink)
Mister Coaster Big & Brassy Location: The "Canyon"	+1 for Pig. Electric sign + orange cones = enough warning. That's some funny shyte. Lighten up, City of Austin officials (although I suppose they have to say what they said). __________________ If you have any poo... fling it NOW!