Warning: Zombies ahead

[neil]

You just can't help but love this:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,484326,00.html

[streaker69]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

Texas is a perfect state for it to have happened in as well.

Ya gotta wonder how many people saw it, shrugged, and proceeded to make sure their shotguns were loaded and accessible.

[neil]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

Now it's velociraptors....

http://www.indystar.com/article/2009...7/1015/LOCAL01

"I did not hear of accidents happening from rubber-necking or gawking (at the sign)," Heck said.

Neither, she said, were there any raptor attacks.

[noid]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

and here in WA

http://www.kirotv.com/traffic/18650048/detail.html

Buddy of mine even got photos while it was up and running (he was driving by).

One of the better quotes from the article:

"They think it's funny but it's extremely dangerous," explained Holter.
"First, they have to manually change the reader board so they are standing
out on the side of the freeway putting their life in danger. Second, drivers
think there are either Zombie's ahead or it's a joke, so they stay in the
lane. The reader board should be warning drivers their lane is about to end
as machinery is in the way. If drivers don't know to change lanes then it
becomes very dangerous."

[g3k_]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

Apparently most of these things have some sort of instructions with passwords written right on them. I remember driving back from Orlando two years ago and someone changed a sign to "GO HOME NASCAR SUCKS" and I chuckled to myself, I've always wanted to learn how to do that >:3

[streaker69]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

"They think it's funny but it's extremely dangerous," explained Holter.
"First, they have to manually change the reader board so they are standing
out on the side of the freeway putting their life in danger. Second, drivers
think there are either Zombie's ahead or it's a joke, so they stay in the
lane. The reader board should be warning drivers their lane is about to end
as machinery is in the way. If drivers don't know to change lanes then it
becomes very dangerous."

I know I don't have to point this out to you, but, how many times have all of us seen these boards with inaccurate information posted on them about traffic conditions. So his statement about important information is bullshit. Personally, I'd like to know if there's zombies ahead.

[noid]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

I know I don't have to point this out to you, but, how many times have all of us seen these boards with inaccurate information posted on them about traffic conditions. So his statement about important information is bullshit. Personally, I'd like to know if there's zombies ahead.

And in this case here in WA, the sign originally was advising people of a closed lane that wasn't closed.

[FarmerPete]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

I know I don't have to point this out to you, but, how many times have all of us seen these boards with inaccurate information posted on them about traffic conditions. So his statement about important information is bullshit. Personally, I'd like to know if there's zombies ahead.

Weatherman said chance of zombies today was 30%. Of how often is the weatherman right?

[Thorn]

Apparently most of these things have some sort of instructions with passwords written right on them. I remember driving back from Orlando two years ago and someone changed a sign to "GO HOME NASCAR SUCKS" and I chuckled to myself, I've always wanted to learn how to do that >:3

About 4-5 years ago there was a 2600 Magazine article on how to program these signs. If I recall the details correctly, it comes down to getting in the battery/computer box (usually secured with a cheap, easy to compromise padlock) and entering the info you want to display. The signs have a series of preset buffers containing stock phrases like "CONSTRUCTION AHEAD" or "RIGHT LANE CLOSED". There are open buffers beyond those which you can put in anything you want as long as it is under the buffer size (~30 characters or so.) In many cases the default password is "DOT" or "DOT1", and in more than one the author of the article said the password was written inside the box cover to workers didn't even have to remember the default.

and here in WA

http://www.kirotv.com/traffic/18650048/detail.html

Buddy of mine even got photos while it was up and running (he was driving by).

One of the better quotes from the article:

"They think it's funny but it's extremely dangerous," explained Holter.
"First, they have to manually change the reader board so they are standing
out on the side of the freeway putting their life in danger. Second, drivers
think there are either Zombie's ahead or it's a joke, so they stay in the
lane. The reader board should be warning drivers their lane is about to end
as machinery is in the way. If drivers don't know to change lanes then it
becomes very dangerous."

Another quote you have to love:

"... The Web site mentioned in the alert, www.jalopnik.com, has a post about road signs that have been hacked all around the country. ...

What the KIRO 7 traffic department found scary was that on this Web ,site there are links teaching people how to hack road signs.

Holter finds this scary too. She urges motorists to call 911 if they see anyone in a construction zone that isn't in a hard hat and an orange vest."

So KIRO 7 thinks it is bad that there is a web site with "scary" information, but publishes the link anyway, and the DOT spokesman essentially gives out social engineering instructions on how to evade detection. The next thing will no doubt be a push for a law to restrict the sale of hardhats and safety vests.

[valkyrie]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

About 4-5 years ago there was a 2600 Magazine article on how to program these signs. If I recall the details correctly, it comes down to getting in the battery/computer box (usually secured with a cheap, easy to compromise padlock) and entering the info you want to display. The signs have a series of preset buffers containing stock phrases like "CONSTRUCTION AHEAD" or "RIGHT LANE CLOSED". There are open buffers beyond those which you can put in anything you want as long as it is under the buffer size (~30 characters or so.) In many cases the default password is "DOT" or "DOT1", and in more than one the author of the article said the password was written inside the box cover to workers didn't even have to remember the default.



Another quote you have to love:

"... The Web site mentioned in the alert, www.jalopnik.com, has a post about road signs that have been hacked all around the country. ...

What the KIRO 7 traffic department found scary was that on this Web ,site there are links teaching people how to hack road signs.

Holter finds this scary too. She urges motorists to call 911 if they see anyone in a construction zone that isn't in a hard hat and an orange vest."

So KIRO 7 thinks it is bad that there is a web site with "scary" information, but publishes the link anyway, and the DOT spokesman essentially gives out social engineering instructions on how to evade detection. The next thing will no doubt be a push for a law to restrict the sale of hardhats and safety vests.

/me snickers. I am so glad you pointed it out, because I was all vibrating about that. BTW, I have had a hard hat and safety vest for a while now. Add chaps and a riding crop and I am ready to go... (me packs her Leatherman. They come in handy, you know?)

Regards,

valkyrie
__________________________________________________ ____
sapere aude

[noid]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

Another quote you have to love:

"... The Web site mentioned in the alert, www.jalopnik.com, has a post about road signs that have been hacked all around the country. ...

What the KIRO 7 traffic department found scary was that on this Web ,site there are links teaching people how to hack road signs.

Holter finds this scary too. She urges motorists to call 911 if they see anyone in a construction zone that isn't in a hard hat and an orange vest."

So KIRO 7 thinks it is bad that there is a web site with "scary" information, but publishes the link anyway, and the DOT spokesman essentially gives out social engineering instructions on how to evade detection. The next thing will no doubt be a push for a law to restrict the sale of hardhats and safety vests.

I just think its funny that this Jalopnik tool is repackaging shit this community did years ago. He should stick to doing whatever the fuck it is that he does, leave the hacking to us.

[erehwon]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

The only thing that worries me here is the Chicken Little effect, when the zombies are roaming the highways, seeing a roadway sign blinking "ZOMBIES AHEAD!" will have most if not all motorists just blaming the hackers, only to become zombie fodder and we'll all be up a creek without a chainsaw or shotgun...

[AlxRogan]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

The only thing that worries me here is the Chicken Little effect, when the zombies are roaming the highways, seeing a roadway sign blinking "ZOMBIES AHEAD!" will have most if not all motorists just blaming the hackers, only to become zombie fodder and we'll all be up a creek without a chainsaw or shotgun...

I think that's fine. If they want to ignore the inevitability of a Zombie Apocalypse, then more ammo and molotovs for me.

[xor]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

Texas is a perfect state for it to have happened in as well.

Ya gotta wonder how many people saw it, shrugged, and proceeded to make sure their shotguns were loaded and accessible.

In Texas it's, YEE-HAW!!!!! lets get us some Zombies(the sound of a round entering the chamber follows).

xor

[g3k_]

Re: Warning: Zombies ahead

I think that's fine. If they want to ignore the inevitability of a Zombie Apocalypse, then more ammo and molotovs for me.

GRABAN PEEELS.

I saw a sign this weekend, but I was too chicken to go near it D: