DHS to Send Widespread Alerts

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DHS to Send Widespread Alerts

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Wednesday July 12, 2006 @05:54AM from the ripe-for-exploits dept.

MarsGov writes "The Department of Homeland Security is gearing up to be able to periodic test 'alerts' to cable television stations, satellite radio, as well as any text-capable device — PDAs, cell phones, and web sites." From the article: Some glitches remain as telephone companies and other networks grapple with potentially trying to alert all of their customers at the same time without jamming their systems, Lawson said. But the alerts could be transmitted by text messages, audio recordings, video or graphics, he said, opening the possibility of sending out additional detailed information to specific sectors, like hospitals or emergency responders."

13 of 265 comments (clear)

Invasion? by cb8100 · 2006-07-12 05:56 · Score: 5, Funny

So, if the U.S. gets invaded I'll get an SMS saying "All our base are belong to them?"

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My lack of God, it's Trotsky!
1. Re:Invasion? by kimvette · 2006-07-12 11:36 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  If it's outsourced to an Indian company it'll read "All your base are belonging to us!"
  
  (Apologies to my Indian friends if you're reading this. I just couldn't resist.)
  
  --
  The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
I can see where this goes... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-07-12 05:57 · Score: 2, Funny

Great, all we need now is gov't spamming of cell phones...
1. Re:I can see where this goes... by chmod+a+x+mojo · 2006-07-12 07:00 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  this is the government we are talking about, i think you mean in-ept :-P
  
  --
  To err is human; effective mayhem requires the root password!
FLASH! by bk4u · 2006-07-12 06:07 · Score: 2, Funny

So when you get a text, remember to duck and cover. Hiding under desks also helps.

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Remember kids, with great power comes great opportunity to abuse that power
Can't wait... by ph43thon · 2006-07-12 06:14 · Score: 4, Funny

...until some guy hacks that system to send out "Test Alerts" about his large penis.
Keeping Americans scared... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-07-12 06:16 · Score: 1, Funny

The Department of Homeland Security... keeping Americans scared for a double plus good future.
*text msg chime* by Rob+T+Firefly · 2006-07-12 06:17 · Score: 5, Funny

FROM: DHS
SUBJECT: omgwtfbbq
BODY: big missls cmg oshit run awy now pls kthx

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Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
Re:Interesting. by FLEB · 2006-07-12 06:20 · Score: 3, Funny

It means we go into Emergency Bureaucracy. May God help us all.

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Information wants to be free.
Entertainment wants to be paid.
You just want to be cheap.
Re:kind of scary by pixelpusher220 · 2006-07-12 06:32 · Score: 5, Funny

and 5 minutes later a 2nd SMS saying:

No, the OTHER way!

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People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
Re:Just in time for the fall election season by Fallingcow · 2006-07-12 06:50 · Score: 2, Funny

If you look at a timeline of terror alerts, they all seem to coincide with the release of news that was damaging to the Bush administration.

To be fair, pretty much any news is damaging to the Bush administration.
Re:How is this about fear? by voice_of_all_reason · 2006-07-12 07:12 · Score: 2, Funny

reverse 911

That would be totally freaky. Skyscrapes being built all by themselves, followed by people madly jumping hundreds of feet off the ground in order to get to work. I'd run the fuck away from anything that scary.
Re:Just what we need... by Walt+Dismal · 2006-07-12 07:19 · Score: 2, Funny

Homeland Security Spam!
(Simultaneously received on my cell phone, my Blackberry, and my in-box)
Hello, esteemed Sir. I am Nageeb Prahook, with the Departmint of Honeland Security. We wounder if you would help us. We have $25 million in loose cash we do not know what to do with. If you could email me your bank account number, I will deposit most of it with you. Only you must send me by Western Union wire transfer a good faith payment to show you are sincere. I await your assistance. This is an official message, we did not hack into anyone's computers to send this.