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FBI Nabs Chicago Transit Authority Radio Hacker
Wh15per writes "The Chicago FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested an individual for misusing Chicago Transit Authority radio systems. Marcel Carter, 20, is charged with violating a US code that forbids interference with transportation operators. A federal complaint alleges he began using a radio to transmit on CTA frequencies in June 2008, often interjecting comments during communications between the agency's control center and train operators. The CTA claims Carter's radio communications were never followed, and passengers were never in danger."
A simple answer is that it isn't much of a problem (how many deadly incidents have there been in the last decade?) and there are thousands of radios.
Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
Oh, and can we reserve use of the term "hacker" for someone with at least a modicum of technical skills? This guy isn't even a cracker. All he did was talk on a stolen radio.
Mr Barn, I'd like to introduce you to Mr Horse. Oh, sorry - he seems to have run away already.
Gone are the days when "hacker" meant free-spirited computer programmer of the 1960's. Also long gone are the days when it meant home computer hobbyist. These days, assume "hacker" means simply breaks into stuff, or more generally "does something wrong using technology."
Use an exploit to "own" a server? Hacker. Break into your school's computer system and change a grade? Hacker. Impersonate the transit authority hub station using a radio? Hacker.