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Report: Watch Dogs Game May Have Influenced Highway Sign Hacking

Posted by Soulskill on from the video-games-caused-the-holocaust dept.

An anonymous reader writes 'Earlier this month, at least three U.S. states reported that a hacker had broken into electronic road signs above major highways, with the hacker leaving messages for people to follow him on Twitter. The Multi-State Information Sharing an Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) produced an intelligence report blaming a Saudi Arabian hacker that the organization says likely got the idea from Watch Dogs, a new video in which game play revolves around "hacking," with a focus on hacking critical infrastructure-based electronic devices in particular. "Watch Dogs allows players to hack electronic road signs, closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs), street lights, cell phones and other systems. On May 27, 2014, the malicious actor posted an image of the game on his Twitter feed, demonstrating his interest in the game, and the compromise of road signs occurs during game play. CIS believes it is likely that a small percentage of Watch Dogs players will experiment with compromising computers and electronic systems outside of game play, and that this activity will likely affect SSLT [state, local, tribal and territorial] government systems and Department of Transportation (DOT) systems in particular." The signs allowed telnet and were secured with weak or default passwords. The report came out on the same day that The Homeland Security Department cautioned transportation operators about a security hole in some electronic freeway billboards that could let hackers display bogus warnings to drivers.'

154 comments

  1. Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Sell more of these type games!

    1. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by UltraZelda64 · · Score: 1

      No... the real solution is, quit fucking putting such high-tech god damn road signs on the highways. Since when the fuck did the traditional pure metal signs go out of style? The roadsides don't need such expensive hackable junk. In fact, if they're electronic, programmable and have giant screens of some sort, I'd have a hard time even calling them "signs" in the first place. Just go back to the basics. How hard is it to figure out?

    2. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Sometimes the message they need to display changes

    3. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by PPH · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Like the Amber alerts every time some rednecks get into a domestic dispute and drive off with the kids.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    4. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Lumpy · · Score: 2, Insightful

      90% of those are called on the father by the vengeful bitch that is trying to punish the father.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    5. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hi tech doesn't do shit with sign meddling. If not telnet they'd be high school or college students going out at night to fiddle with the panels so it warns about zombie attacks in town..

    6. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      90% of those are called on the father by the vengeful bitch that is trying to punish the father.

      Wow. No bias there.

    7. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Aqualung812 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Since when the fuck did the traditional pure metal signs go out of style?

      Since we figured out that electronically changing the message on a sign was MUCH more cost effective than printing a new one each time the message changed.

      "Road closed from June 1st to June 14th" Oh, shit, now we need one that says "No left turn from 8a-5p until August 1st", I guess will order a new sign...

      Also, don't discount the usefulness of re-routing traffic when there is a large planned or unplanned event, like a sports event or an Interstate closing because of a massive wreck.

      --
      Grammer Nazis - I mod you "troll" unless you actually add something on-topic. Yes, I know I have mispellings in my sig.
    8. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No... the real solution is, quit fucking putting such high-tech god damn road signs on the highways. Since when the fuck did the traditional pure metal signs go out of style? The roadsides don't need such expensive hackable junk. In fact, if they're electronic, programmable and have giant screens of some sort, I'd have a hard time even calling them "signs" in the first place. Just go back to the basics. How hard is it to figure out?

      Ironically this is the same person who carries around a smartphone and talks shit about road signs being "expensive hackable junk".

      Yeah, speaking of going back to basics, how hard is a goddamn land line to use these days? Oh, you NEED social media in the palm of your hand? Ah, OK, yeah got it...rant on Kettle, rant on...

    9. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by craigminah · · Score: 2

      You comment on the father/mother bias but not the redneck bias...interesting.

    10. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by craigminah · · Score: 1

      Use prisoners to make those signs...sure, there will be shank-shaped pieces missing, but it'll be cheap and will help control the prison population.

    11. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by ATMAvatar · · Score: 0

      "Road closed from June 1st to June 14th" Oh, shit, now we need one that says "No left turn from 8a-5p until August 1st", I guess will order a new sign...

      "Road Closed" and "No Left Turn" work just as well, and those signs have existed for longer than most of us here have. You don't have to worry about hacking, they're sturdy against most impact damage, and you don't need electricity keep them going..

      --
      "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    12. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by cheesybagel · · Score: 2

      Uplink: Hacker Elite was kewl.

    13. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Cryacin · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Pffft. Kids have been "hacking" signs for years. I remember when I was a kid, there was a place called Fairy Falls Creek. A couple of my university friends went and made a professional quality sign, in the same colour, and font as the existing sign, and renamed the area to Hairy Balls Creek. The fact that there were round rocks covered in hairy moss made the sign very plausible. So plausible, that after a few years, even the local tourism guides quoted Hairy Balls Creek.

      You don't need to be high tech to engage in social engineering and changing signs.

      That said, if you're going to make it convenient to change your signs, be sure to make them secure. If you can't ensure your level of security, don't blame a game for your ineptitude.

      --
      Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
    14. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by mysidia · · Score: 2

      the real solution is, quit fucking putting such high-tech god damn road signs on the highways. Since when the fuck did the traditional pure metal signs go out of style?

      The Low-tech metal signs are hackable too. Ever heard of this stuff called spray-paint?

    15. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Fjandr · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's pretty hard for a kid in Saudi Arabia to spray paint signs all over North America.

    16. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      That's because all the stereotypes of hicks and rednecks are absolutely true.

    17. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      #Notallmothers

    18. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by rainmaestro · · Score: 2

      You'd be surprised. Most work programs are run by corporations nowadays (I used to work in the IT dept for one). It isn't like the old days where inmates were making products that sold for pennies on the dollar, prices at the company I worked for were good but typically were not that far below the industry averages. And as far as prison control, the inmates who made it into our programs were the low-risk ones that didn't need that much control to begin with. Typically they were "light" criminals with 2 year sentences. The high-risk inmates weren't considered viable for the programs.

    19. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by __aajfby9338 · · Score: 1

      Pffft. Kids have been "hacking" signs for years. I remember when I was a kid, there was a place called Fairy Falls Creek. A couple of my university friends went and made a professional quality sign, in the same colour, and font as the existing sign, and renamed the area to Hairy Balls Creek. The fact that there were round rocks covered in hairy moss made the sign very plausible. So plausible, that after a few years, even the local tourism guides quoted Hairy Balls Creek.

      Epic! I salute the miscreants who pulled that off.

    20. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Xolvix · · Score: 1

      Sounds like you're proposing that we don't bother trying to develop more flexible and capable signs because what's existed for years is good enough (despite advances in technology). Sure, we can sit back and let things stagnate because it's "how we've always done it", but you're hardly going to find new and interesting ways to put a modern spin on old tech just by keeping things as they were.

      Just because electronic signs have disadvantages does not mean that static signs don't have their own disadvantages.

    21. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      just needs a higher pressure can.

    22. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      You needn't go Luddite whenever something technical got abused. But we have to KNOW what we're doing when employing technology so it cannot be turned against us.

      Technology is neither good or evil. It's most blatant with guns, but any kind of gadget or technology cannot be good or evil by itself. It's the application that makes it so. And when we want to use technology for good, for the betterment of ourselves or our society, we also have to safeguard it against abuse by those that want to hurt or destroy.

      That's part of our responsibility if we want to use it. Just as you have to lock your guns away from your kids, you have to lock your online tools from the hands of those that want to abuse them. Privilege comes with responsibility. Always.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    23. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Like his god given curry powered one?

    24. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      It just had nothing to do with hacking. But it sure was entertaining.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    25. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by xOneca · · Score: 1

      Oblig xkcd: Astronaut vandalism

    26. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The real solution is to put Ubisoft out of business and drown every single person involved with them in a pool of liquid shit.

    27. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Lumpy · · Score: 1

      He only said redneck not a Chevy Tahoe owner. That is unforgivable.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    28. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      all depends on the signs. Id LOVE for highways in america to implement digital speed limit signs that they can adjust according to traffic, like they do in germany on the autobahn. again on highways if theres an accident ahead, or roadwork those signs are awesome.

      the problem isnt with the signs, its with the techs who dont lock the access panels when they are done setting them up

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    29. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ironically this is the same person who carries around a smartphone and talks shit about road signs being "expensive hackable junk".

      The two aren't comparable. I don't leave my smartphone laying out in public all day every day for years at a time, where thousands of people look at it every day.

    30. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hence less than 100%

    31. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Id LOVE for highways in america to implement digital speed limit signs that they can adjust according to traffic

      The northern half of I-285 in Atlanta is getting those soon.

      the problem isnt with the signs, its with the techs who dont lock the access panels when they are done setting them up

      The signs aren't "setup and forget," they're controlled in real-time from a central office. They have to be remotely accessible.

      The real issue is that DOTs are not like ecommerce or tech startups; they just don't have the right kind of expertise (or budget, probably) to think about cybersecurity in the way that they need to.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    32. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by ganjadude · · Score: 1

      i see, I didnt RTFA, where i live the signs are still controlled from a access panel on the devices not remotely, although that does make more sense

      --
      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    33. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by anagama · · Score: 1

      Why do you own a smartphone that doesn't have an internet connection? You might as well just get a landline.

      --
      What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
    34. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by cheesybagel · · Score: 1

      Yeah but Watch Dogs has nothing to do with real life hacking either.

    35. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do we need such frequent updates to signs? From your example, what does a driver do knowing that the roadwork is complete next week? Go home and wait? Does the alternative route change that frequently? Is paint and having one of three guys watching the one guy work paint instead that cost ineffective?

    36. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They have the electronic signs here in Australia. They are in fixed positions (for the most part), solar powered and I think they are networked together as well. They are used to display various information such as:
      - Any accidents further along the road which may cause problems
      - Estimated times for exits allowing for accidents and level of traffic
      - Safety messages (stuff like taking a break every hour or two, don't drink and drive, don't speed, etc)
      - Notices of double demerit points for long weekends and holidays
      - construction (current and scheduled)
      They are quite useful and I don't think I have actually seen any that were not displaying what they are supposed to.

      -BUT-
      From what I have heard (which was a while ago so it may have changed), hacking the signs is mainly just a matter of having a usb key with the correct files and formats and plugging it into the sign. It has been going on for over a decade now (not very often though) so attributing it to Watchdogs maybe going a bit overboard (much like the "VIDEO GAMES ARE TURNING OUR KIDS INTO PSYCHOTIC KILLERS!!11!@!" kind of overboard)...

    37. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by mea2214 · · Score: 1

      In 1984 University of Illinois got killed by UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Near the end of the game someone hacked the scoreboard to replace UCLA's name with MIT (the victor) and Illinois' name with CalTech. Never heard anything more as to how they did that but it was pretty funny after suffering through a boring one sided football game.

    38. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by DarwinSurvivor · · Score: 1

      Many areas have roads whos conditions change with the weather or other scenerios. Mountain passes can be closed due to heavy snow, highways can have reduced traffic from a large accident, detours can be set up for long-term (but sporatic) construction, etc.

    39. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      90% of those are called on the father by the vengeful bitch that is trying to punish the father.

      Wow. No bias there.

      I'll fix it for you. 90% of them are called in by the parent who holds legal guardianship status. Which is, in most cases, given to the mother (or the State). And in a large number of situations it's not a case of good parent vs. bad parent, it's much more highly nuanced and the child is rarely in any actual danger. Which is therefore an abuse of the Amber Alert system, which was "sold" on the idea that it would be used only in situations where the life/safety of the child was in immediate peril... not as a means of locating kids involved in a custody dispute.
      Incidentally, the other 10% are mostly cases of a child who has run away from home, or is out doing something they aren't supposed to be doing, as opposed to any actual snatching/kidnapping attempt.

    40. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Talderas · · Score: 1

      90% + 10% = 100% of all amber alerts are bullshit. Almost true.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    41. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Road closed from June 1st to June 14th" Oh, shit, now we need one that says "No left turn from 8a-5p until August 1st", I guess will order a new sign...

      This was done all the time in the 70s/80s, usually with a set of screws and some bolt-on labels. You'd have a set of placards with the month names and a set of placards with the 1-31 days. Or you'd just spend the few dollars per sign to get them painted up with the proper information.

      It required no power, minimal effort, and was very environmentally friendly when compared to a diesel generator running 24x7.

    42. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Pope · · Score: 1

      When I was a kid, my mom was driving me to school one day, and someone had spraypainted the word "breast" onto the bottom of a "Squeeze Left" sign. She pointed it out to me and we had a good chuckle.

      --
      It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
    43. Re: Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you not heard of statically deviants?

    44. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In Berlin there is a sign beside the Adlershof train station advertising the area as a science & research estate; it normally reads: "Adlershof. Science at work."

      One Sunday night some miscreants rearranged the letters to read "am arsch. Leider." which roughly translates to 'up the ass. unfortunately.' This brightened up my Monday commute considerably.

      http://rebelart.net/vorhernachher-am-arsch-leider/0015812/

    45. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by cwsumner · · Score: 1

      ... "Road Closed" and "No Left Turn" work just as well, and those signs have existed for longer than most of us here have. You don't have to worry about hacking, they're sturdy against most impact damage, and you don't need electricity keep them going..

      It's not the electronic signs, it being too lazy to use a decent password!

    46. Re:Well then the SOLUTION is obvious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That would suck. I'd have to actually read the signs, instead of just driving my well-known route at the same speed every day.

  2. Sign hacking has been done for ages by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    but to do it to plug their own twitter account? Now that's an idiotic new low.

    Idiocracy in effect...

    1. Re:Sign hacking has been done for ages by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      A true guru would have created a webpage where people can alter the sign content on the fly, with a webcam pointing at it so you can see your creation.

      Pfft. Amateur.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  3. Fuck off. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    These stupid signs get hacked all the damn time. Interest in hacking games or not.

    I hate these stupid reporters posting such nonsense.

    1. Re:Fuck off. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe dice will choose this for their next pop-over video ad when I scroll to the bottom of a page! It's about as relevant as the apparent MySpace video ad about shoes...

      Viva la Slashdot! Long live beta!

  4. SMH by Hategrin · · Score: 2

    Classic example of an idiot confusing causation with correlation.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...

    1. Re:SMH by plover · · Score: 3

      It's not like the game taught him to hack.

      --
      John
    2. Re:SMH by dissy · · Score: 1

      But I bet the game didn't even bother changing the default passwords on the real world signs. Clearly this was all the games fault ;P

    3. Re:SMH by mrxak · · Score: 2

      And here I thought the reason they included that into the game was because lots of people were doing this already and the game was inspired by real life.

      --
      -mrxak
      Onions Will Kill You
  5. That game should be required to graduate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And you shouldn't be permitted to run fo election until you've successfully won the game at that!

    1. Re:That game should be required to graduate by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      So we get politicians who are even MORE scared of the big bad evilz trying to hack the country and who think that everyone is out to get them because they get their information about hacking and its possibilities from Hollywood and computer games?

      Thanks, but no thanks. We have plenty of them already.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  6. And in other news by future+assassin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    people getting fed up with the gov are going on killing sprees. Gov at fault, let ban it.

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
    1. Re:And in other news by cwsumner · · Score: 1

      people getting fed up with the gov are going on killing sprees. Gov at fault, let ban it.

      Sounds like a good idea to me! 8-)

  7. more quality moderation/editing: by frovingslosh · · Score: 1, Interesting

    more quality moderation/editing:

    SSLT [state, local, tribal and territorial]

    So does the T stand for tribal or territorial, and WTF does the second S stand for? Soulskill?

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    1. Re:more quality moderation/editing: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      I am the Commander of The CLIT.

    2. Re:more quality moderation/editing: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Doesn't sound as tasty as the BLT.

  8. Don't think the game matters by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 2

    Personally, I've always thought it would be amusing to hack one of those signs and I've never heard of the game "Watch Dogs."

    "Help! I'm trapped in a highway sign factory!" is the most obvious message, but I'm sure I could come up with a bunch of random messages to put in...

    1. Re:Don't think the game matters by Mashiki · · Score: 2

      "Long cat is long" is in the game, I have seen that on the MTO highway signs here in Ontario. Which are used for traffic warnings.

      --
      Om, nomnomnom...
    2. Re:Don't think the game matters by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      "Incoming nuclear attack est. 20min."

    3. Re:Don't think the game matters by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Way ahead of you.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    4. Re:Don't think the game matters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      That would be as illegal as shouting FIRE! in a crowded theatre.

      Very very BAD idea, and not funny!

    5. Re:Don't think the game matters by Guppy · · Score: 1

      Fine, then. "Incoming rabid flying kitten swarm est. 20min".

    6. Re:Don't think the game matters by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      Clearly your job is to warn everyone of the impending zombie apocalypse

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    7. Re:Don't think the game matters by Quirkz · · Score: 1

      Road Ends, Convert to Hover Mode

      --
      The Quirkz Handbook of Self-Improvement for People Who Are Already Pretty Okay
  9. Much older than that game by meerling · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I heard about road signs being reprogrammed back in the 90s. This is nothing new.

    1. Re:Much older than that game by Lumpy · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yup, back in the 90's all you had to do was wardial and find the sign's dial in. most of the time the password was retarded simple like 12345.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    2. Re:Much older than that game by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's also happened fairly recently before the game came out, warning people about the city being closed because it's too hot, zombies, and GODZILLA.

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    3. Re:Much older than that game by iamhigh · · Score: 1

      Dude, I even got a story accepted on this 5 years ago (although can't say it was remotely hacked).

      http://slashdot.org/submission/935687/hackers-and-zombies-attack-austin-tx

      --
      No comprende? Let me type that a little slower for you...
    4. Re:Much older than that game by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

      The balance between the risk of having a sign hacked with a funny text or not being used because it's too complicated has to be considered.

      Most signs haven't been hacked, drivers are usually used to incorrect information anyway and just consider a hacked sign a change from the normal boring commute.

      Can as well have a standard text "Laser wielding cop behind this sign, max 20mph".

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    5. Re:Much older than that game by Anubis350 · · Score: 1

      For that matter back when I was in HS I seem to remember some changed messages on the NYC subway because some of the signs were programmed via infrared with no protection (and the port left uncovered), and you could reprogram them with a palm pilot or laptop with an IR port.

      --
      "goodbye and hello, as always" ~Prince Corwin, from Zelazny's Amber series
    6. Re: Much older than that game by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://jalopnik.com/5141430/how-to-hack-an-electronic-road-sign

    7. Re:Much older than that game by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Yes, but this is: ON THE INTERNET!

      If legislative is any indicator, that's something completely different now.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    8. Re:Much older than that game by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Many of the outdoor, roadside construction signs were RF or IR. I remember changing one with a wireless IR remote I bought at radioshack that happened to use the same encoding (there was a 2600 article about it). Two hits of the enter key to go into programming mode, and you could overwrite what they had stored in memory. I'm pretty sure we changed it to say "Speed Humps ahead." "Ok, Stop Smiling." or something lame like that.

    9. Re:Much older than that game by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know one of the major sign manufactures was producing signs in 2010 that all you had to do was know the phone number of the cell modem. Since its typically listed on the sign itself, it wasn't hard to find. Admittedly, these were the trailer style mobile signs, so typically you'd have to go out in the middle of traffic to get close to them (which is also why they want the modem so they can change them more easily and safely).

  10. Oh god. by PhrostyMcByte · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Instead of rational articles with headlines something like:

    Insecure government process allows trivial unauthorized access to road infrastructure

    We get ones focusing on how a game may have encouraged people to hack into the stuff. I don't think it'll ever end.

    1. Re:Oh god. by Nimey · · Score: 1

      That's a symptom of why I never share Slashdot stories on social media: this place has about zero credibility.

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
    2. Re:Oh god. by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 1

      This. Flipping open a box and typing in "Password" isn't hacking anymore than pushing open a door is picking a lock.

      --
      A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
  11. Maybe Ubisoft made this press release by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    So they can sell more copies of the failing Watch Dogs game. The graphics turned out to be terrible compared to the videos, and the gameplay is below that of older GTA V. The DRM system (UPlay) is a nightmare on PC.

    I'd bet they are welcoming any press they can get.

    1. Re:Maybe Ubisoft made this press release by RogueyWon · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't disagree with you on the quality of the game. Unfortunately, in this case, Ubisoft are laughing all the way to the bank, because it's the fastest selling game not based on an existing IP in history and has posted the best opening weekend sales of any Ubisoft game in history. And this is despite the terrible PC port, the uPlay problems affecting all platforms, the limp plot and character designs that feel straight out of the notebook doodles of a 13 year old who still thinks wearing a trench-coat makes you cool and the laughable implementation of the core "hacking" concept.

      So sure, while it would be nice to think that Ubisoft is sitting there feeling sad and desperate, it's simply not true.

      But if you're reading this and thinking you need something shiny and new to play on your PC or new PS4/Xbox One, then be advised that the new Wolfenstein is a far better game in every respect (an actual proper shooter, rather than a 2-gun corridor game).

    2. Re:Maybe Ubisoft made this press release by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      how did they manage to screw up the PC version if its essentially identical BUT BETTER vs the ps4/XO versions?

      this is supposed to be a new golden age of pc gaming

    3. Re:Maybe Ubisoft made this press release by RogueyWon · · Score: 1

      The same way PC ports sometimes go horribly wrong - terrible mouse and keyboard support and a lack of technical optimisation that is causing framerate issues on $6,000 test-PCs. Plus uPlay.

      Ports like this are less common than they used to be, but the odd one still sneaks through. Especially from Ubisoft.

  12. Yes, lets blame video games by Nyder · · Score: 4, Funny

    Video games are the big evil. They are murderer trainers and hacking instructors. They fill our kids with all sort of evil ideas and shows them how to properly and easily do them in the real world.

    Fucking twats. People been hacking non electric street signs since those have been coming out. And I'm pretty sure you'll find other peeps have been hacking electric sings way before this (I know I've seen them). What makes this big? Oh ya, a video game came out where you can hack signs. Easy to blame the game, since obviously video games are responsible for the shooting the other day also.

    --
    Be seeing you...
    1. Re:Yes, lets blame video games by Dahamma · · Score: 2

      People been hacking non electric street signs since those have been coming out

      Yeah, seriously... someone is smart enough to hack a street sign, but not smart enough to think of it? I'd say there are probably 100 people who would think "hey it would be cool to hack that sign" for every one who is capable of doing it.

      The kind of people who can be influenced by a silly hacker video game are not often those with the intelligence to do anything about it.

    2. Re:Yes, lets blame video games by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      It's computer games! Computer games, I tell you!

      Before GTA, nobody hit hookers or used cars as getaway vehicles! And the older ones here might still remember what a place of love and joy this planet was before Battlefield introduced people to a way to kill each other.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  13. Or by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or you know, the people who have been doing this for 10 years before Watch Dogs was even conceived. Just sayin

  14. Stop listening to Glenn Beck by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Glenn Beck is an old fart who can't get with the times. All this technology just confuses him, he has no idea what it takes to hack.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwaL3kp8niA
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwD5BfK1odY

    In other words, fuck you Glenn Beck, go back to Fox News.

  15. maybe it's this, by djconsultingmeister · · Score: 1

    Homeland Security Dept. reports security hole in some electronic billboards that could allow hacks.

    --
    CrazyOldMan
  16. Erika Christensen Pics - ALIEN HAND SIGN!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://imgur.com/a/VTbcB/nosc...

  17. Dwarf Fortress made me masturbate to midgets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    with beards!

    1. Re:Dwarf Fortress made me masturbate to midgets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Mod parent informative.

    2. Re:Dwarf Fortress made me masturbate to midgets by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 2

      Overinformative I would say.

      --
      If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
    3. Re:Dwarf Fortress made me masturbate to midgets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you mean mod parent EEEEW!

  18. Telnet is irrelevant by Gothmolly · · Score: 0

    Why include it in the summary? Telnet or ssh, it's the same difference - a remote backdoor.

    --
    I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
  19. Because Obviously... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Watch Dogs teaches people how to Hack, am I right?

    1. Re:Because Obviously... by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Yeah. Haven't you learned how to hack from a computer game?

      I somehow really feel like writing a game that DOES actually teach people how to hack.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    2. Re:Because Obviously... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Make sure it teaches to hack from the Net, maybe call it nethack?

    3. Re:Because Obviously... by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Well, in this particular case, .hack//SIGN would be the more logical information source.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  20. Did they even bother to change the passwords? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Back when I was a kid the passwords were all "DOT". Then they wised up and changed them all to "DOT1".

  21. L.A. Story? by Irate+Engineer · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd hack a sign to say "KISS HER YOU FOOL" or "THAT FELT GOOD". That should make things interesting.

    --

    Left MS Windows for Linux Mint and never looked back!

    Vote for Bernie in 2016!

    1. Re:L.A. Story? by Dahamma · · Score: 1

      Damn, I just posted or I'd have modded this one up :)

    2. Re:L.A. Story? by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      Well, here's a quick summary of a few of the more interesting or funny sign hacks I've seen:

      "The British R coming"
      "Why join the Navy when you can be a pirate"
      "Snowden is a hero"
      "Report sign hackers"
      "City closed. It's too damn hot"
      "Caution! 7 hacked road signs ahead!"
      "Extreme Fire hazard! Don't even fart in the forest"
      (on a church announcement sign) "Staying in bed and shouting Oh God! Does not constitute going to church"

      But aside of that, most hacked signs are some variant of "zombie attack incoming". It's actually rather sad how little imagination the average sign hacker has.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  22. So security via Obfuscation was a good idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why blame a game for an issue that has existed for years/decades. Security via obfuscation is not security. Obfuscation is the equivalent of hiding the key under the doormat, and hoping that nobody looks.

    The flaw is the trust in existing security. Even if it is know quite well that it is flawed, and easily broken. So what is the easiest solution? As opposed to blaming the completely open and flawed security practices that have been know to be flawed for decades, it is easier to place the blame on what has brought it into the open, than fix the actual problem itself.

    The keys to the kingdom are accessible by anybody. We just give them a weird name in hopes that nobody finds it.

    1. Re:So security via Obfuscation was a good idea by Z00L00K · · Score: 1

      This is also a case where too much security may be counter-productive. It shall be possible to assign any random person at a construction site to go change a text to be suitable for the moment. If not then the wrong text may be displayed leading to worse problems.

      A possibility exists to only allow selection between pre-programmed texts without authentication, but even then it would cause headache in some cases.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    2. Re:So security via Obfuscation was a good idea by Opportunist · · Score: 0

      It's the logic of "if the burglar didn't come that key under the doormat would have been safe".

      Try to get your insurance to follow your logic and accept your claim!

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  23. This happened 20 years ago by statemachine · · Score: 3, Funny

    Some guy hacked freeway condition signs in LA with cryptic messages and weather reports, and even installed a set of remote-operable bagpipes in one.

    The hacker went to jail later for a series of 419 scams.

    1. Re:This happened 20 years ago by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At least he didn't cause any damage to anybody seeing the sign.

      RUOK?

  24. lol by nicobigsby · · Score: 2

    Hackers gonna hack right? This guy obviously had the necessary skillset to hack "critical infrastructure" before the game released. I mean unless they want us to believe that anybody inspired by a video game can learn how to hack such things in the span of a little over a month, this guy already had the skillset. So are they implying that the game provided the motivation? Last time I checked, hackers didn't need video games to provide them with motivation. Likely the guy is a fan of Watchdogs both because it is a fun game, and because he is intelligent enough to tie his activities to a popular video game in order to boost his notoriety. Of course a small percentage of fans of the game will experiment with such things. But chances are, these were already people that were likely to do such things. What we can look forward to now is the media going on and on about every single hack like this and trying to tie it to the game. Just waiting for one of these media dinosaurs to come along and talk about how the game is basically hacking practice.

  25. Re:LOL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I figured it would be the standard Zombie Invasion report...

  26. Thank you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Watch_Dogs. That shit should be hardened already.

  27. OMG! Think of the children! by tlambert · · Score: 1

    OMG! Think of the children!

    Won't someone, please, please, regulate these games so that I can know that San Jose is 18 minutes away because they are monitoring the FastTrak in places they said they wouldn't be monitoring the FastTrak, rather than reading an amusing sign for a good 5-10 seconds?

    Or, you know, come up with a video game that espouses my socioreligious value system, but doesn't actually suck to play (you know, like my socioreligious value system), so that kids imitate that instead?

  28. It's an improvement, I guess by Sprinkels · · Score: 3, Funny

    They use to shoot people after playing video games.

    1. Re:It's an improvement, I guess by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      The older ones amongst us might still remember that peaceful time of joy and love before computer games taught people how to shoot at each other.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  29. You don't need to know to hack by Sprinkels · · Score: 1

    There's an app for that.

    1. Re:You don't need to know to hack by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Considering how "well" the whole thing was secured, I'm actually amazed that there isn't.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  30. jeeeeeez by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    goverment put high tech highway signs with no password... yeah, blame watchdogs... do they also leave the street lights without security? jeez

  31. Or as happened on I-90 here in Washington... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    .. only a few days ago, when a major accident blocks access to every lane, including the exit to another large highway (I-405), except the carpool lane. Having all the road signs telling people to merge to the carpool lane, and the carpool lane was now open to all, is useful.

    That said, with respect to the article, I don't understand. You mean to say zombies aren't ahead?

  32. so about those other ones? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    how many "Zombie attack ahead!" signs does it take for people to realize that hey, these hacking existed prior to watchdogs... how can you blame watchdogs on something that happened years before the game was conceived?

    maybe instead of life imitating art here it's art imitating life???

    1. Re:so about those other ones? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Because it's easier to blame video games than to admit that people use technology they don't understand AND THEN complain about people who know how to use it playing pranks on them?

      You've never gotten into trouble for making a teacher look bad because you showed him how he knows less about his subject than you?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  33. Nothing to do with Watch_Dogs by ildon · · Score: 1

    People have been modifying the text on these signs for almost a decade. Most companies don't even bother to change the password from the default.

    1. Re:Nothing to do with Watch_Dogs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

      PSA: The game has nothing to do with actually watching dogs. :-(

      I bought it thinking that I'd get to see a simulation of dogs. So sad. Much disappoint.

    2. Re:Nothing to do with Watch_Dogs by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Next time get Goat Simulator. It delivers what it promises.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  34. Weed valley by TapeCutter · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The town of Nimbin in Northern NSW is famous for it's weed, they try to attract tourists from the gold coast, they have a weed museum, fashionable hemp clothing, tourist trinkets, and once a year they have a weed Mardi Gras. It's located in the Tweed valley and the main road out of town leads to a town on the coast called Tweed heads. There's been an uneasy "live and let live" relationship with the local police for decades, the practical outcome is there's much less crime and vandalism than (say) the gold coast.

    Having said that, there isn't a single road sign in the district that still has the 'T' intact. :)

    --
    And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    1. Re:Weed valley by __aajfby9338 · · Score: 1

      It's too bad that Bullock's isn't still around. Those "L"s on the sign really begged to be crossed with a piece of tape...

    2. Re:Weed valley by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Surely cross the top of the u - less tape needed and arguably funnier ;-)

    3. Re:Weed valley by DarwinSurvivor · · Score: 1

      There's a highschool near where I grew up called "Tweedsmuir". Every year at the end of the school year, the grade 12 grads would steal the "T" off the sign. One year the principle, knowing about the tradition, made an announcement threatening the grads "if anyone took the "T" off the sign". He said he'd with-hold report cards, cancel some event, or something like that. The next day they discovered that someone had taken *all* the letters, leaving only the "T".

    4. Re:Weed valley by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      converting the u to an o would have been much more epic

  35. Who is retarded enough by ruir · · Score: 2

    To connect vital infra-structure as traffic signs to the Internet-at-large?

    1. Re:Who is retarded enough by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      The same kind of really intelligent people that connect power plants, traffic lights and emergency services to it.

      In other words, traffic signs are by some stretch our least problem when it comes to that shit.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  36. So sad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Solution is to secure those hightech signs in firstplace... Fact that more and more people are realizing how vulnerable our surroundings are in reality, just means manufacturers have done piss poor job building that infrastructure as secure. Some have offered security but only as cost added option, not as integral part of solution in first place...

    I honestly believe next war is not about size of army attacking, but who ever manages to disable other countries infrastructure first... Drop that power grid, banks stops working, panic and chaos ensues because people are not ready to deal with such attack... How many of us actually have cash stashed away and food supplies stored up for few weeks.. Not too many.

    My personal view is manufacturers should be made liable for not securing their products... If kid can hack road sign after reading simple instructions from internet, then that road sign really is not secure at all..

  37. wowoooo kerennn by mikyula · · Score: 0

    ouh... heacker????? serremm klik: http://agenobat69.com/

  38. Oh yeah, because without the game, nobody would've by Opportunist · · Score: 1

    Amazing. The game hasn't been out for longer than a week but a Google image search for "hacked sign" produces like a billion pictures of various people immediately going out and doing what they learn from the game!

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  39. Gah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    When will these assholes in charge, stop blaming anything besides themselves and their own department, when explaining issues with theis own department/system?

  40. How do you have CCTVs?!? by GNious · · Score: 1

    How can you hack Closed-Circuit Television cameras?
    If you can access them from the outside, they are clearly not having a Closed Circuit (limited, controlled, separated distribution of signal)

  41. buzz word "hacking" to get the john q attention by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If by hacking they mean walking up to a digital sign on the road opening the terminal (which was never locked in my home town) on the side of the sign and typing a new message then yes "hacking"

  42. It's a cultural problem. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I work for a regional government agency that uses these boards.

    I'm posting anonymous on purpose.

    The culture in these places is that security is "too complicated," so they don't bother locking anything down. Considering this is the place that requires PAPERWORK IN TRIPLICATE to request a password change request, it's no surprise that these signs get hacked routinely.

    I suppose the day it stops is the day they stop hiring using the Civil Service, and actually get qualified staff from the private sector. I know, never going to happen.

  43. Awesome and effective advertising by mekkab · · Score: 1

    Ubisoft must be lapping this up! You can't pay for advertising this good! Congrats!

    --
    In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
  44. telnet and default passwords .. by lippydude · · Score: 1

    "The signs allowed telnet and were secured with weak or default passwords"

    Perhaps they should thank this "malicious actor" for drawing attention to such weak security. What moron connected these systems to the Internet using telnet and default passwords?

  45. Happened long before Watchdogs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Road sign hacking already happened in Winnipeg a a year or two back. But, hey, when a game could be to blame, lets just do that instead.

  46. achievement unlocked: Hack Signs IRL by ze_jua · · Score: 1

    Ubisoft is a French company. Watch Dogs was made in Ubi Montreal. Let's blame the French for hacking the US!

  47. If only... by Balial · · Score: 1

    If only more officials had played the game so they could learn about the risks and prevent them.

  48. Hate the new reports so much by Bitbyte_x · · Score: 1

    It's not like This has never ever been done before : http://jalopnik.com/5141430/ho... God forbid that the sole purpose of this brand new state of the art attack is this game

  49. All Your Base Are Belong To Us. by DrPeper · · Score: 1

    Would have been the perfect message to have posted on these signs.

  50. Correlation == Causality Time! by DiEx-15 · · Score: 1

    Video games are the big evil. They are murderer trainers and hacking instructors. They fill our kids with all sort of evil ideas and shows them how to properly and easily do them in the real world.

    Fucking twats. People been hacking non electric street signs since those have been coming out. And I'm pretty sure you'll find other peeps have been hacking electric sings way before this (I know I've seen them). What makes this big? Oh ya, a video game came out where you can hack signs. Easy to blame the game, since obviously video games are responsible for the shooting the other day also.

    All this shit boils down to is somebody assuming Correlation = Causality. It's the exact same shit we hear when some kid goes nuts and shoots up a school. It's the exact same shit we hear when Political Party A wants to discredit Political Party B.

    It's nothing new.

    Some kid gets bored and for a few laughs does a readily available trick on some road signs. Rather than figure out ways to prevent it, it's much easier and cheaper to pin point some trivial bullshit and raise a fuss about it. So, naturally when they found out this kid played a video game about hacking they found a scapegoat and focused on that. Nevermind the fact this has been going on long before this game came out. By [Insert deity here or leave blank], that game is at fault because they don't want to face the responsibility that it's their own damned fault for not better securing such a trivial thing!

  51. Weed valley by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    not at all related to the difference in size, or the number of teenagers visiting (or living on the streets) on the Gold Coast at all