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Texas Traffic Signs Hacked With Anti-Trump and Anti-Hillary Messages (hackread.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the political-agenda dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Someone is hacking the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) electronic message boards and displaying anti-Trump and anti-Hillary messages. For example, one message read "DONALD TRUMP IS A ... SHAPE SHIFTING LIZARD!" while the other read "HILLARY FOR PRISON." The hacker appears to be a supporter of Bernie Sanders, displaying "BERNIE FOR PRESIDENT" on the message boards. One of the messages read "FREE BARRETT BROWN," an imprisoned U.S. journalist and alleged unofficial spokesperson for Anonymous. Not all the messages have been political, however. In reference to an incident in which Zookeepers shot and killed a rare gorilla after a 3-year-old boy fell into its enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo, a message read "GORILLA DESERVED IT." The reports mention the defacing occurred a couple of weeks ago.

14 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. "Hacked" is a strong word by svanheulen · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've modified the message on one of those signed before. The box was unlocked and there was a manual inside with the default password for the device (which worked).

    1. Re:"Hacked" is a strong word by Shakrai · · Score: 2

      Hack: To gain access to (a computer file or network) illegally or without authorization: hacked the firm's personnel database.

      --
      I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
      We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
    2. Re:"Hacked" is a strong word by TeknoHog · · Score: 3, Informative

      In the olden days of /., 'hack' would have been more about technical skill and an inquisitive attitude, rather than legality or authorization. Even with the later, incorrect usage of hacking to mean cracking, I wouldn't say that "doing stuff without a permission" is synonymous with "hacking".

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    3. Re:"Hacked" is a strong word by svanheulen · · Score: 2

      This was my point exactly. I wasn't commenting on the legality of the action, only that I doubt there were any "hacking" skills required to do what they did.

    4. Re:"Hacked" is a strong word by Solandri · · Score: 2
      That's the definition that's been redefined by people, corporations, and governemnts trying to hide their incompetence behind the veneer of law. Hacking = illegal. Here's the original definition
      1. n. Originally, a quick job that produces what is needed, but not well.
      2. n. An incredibly good, and perhaps very time-consuming, piece of work that produces exactly what is needed.
      3. vt. To bear emotionally or physically. âoeI can't hack this heat!â
      4. vt. To work on something (typically a program). In an immediate sense: âoeWhat are you doing?â âoeI'm hacking TECO.â In a general (time-extended) sense: âoeWhat do you do around here?â âoeI hack TECO.â More generally, âoeI hack fooâ is roughly equivalent to âoefoo is my major interest (or project)â. âoeI hack solid-state physics.â See Hacking X for Y.
      5. vt. To pull a prank on. See sense 2 and hacker (sense 5).
      6. vi. To interact with a computer in a playful and exploratory rather than goal-directed way. âoeWhatcha up to?â âoeOh, just hacking.â

      Notice there's nothing about legality or authorization. That was all added afterwards by authority figures who didn't like people poking their noses into things they weren't "supposed to be" messing with.

    5. Re:"Hacked" is a strong word by parkinglot777 · · Score: 2

      A lot of "hacks" involved social engineering. Realizing that people are too lazy to change default passwords fits that bill.

      Please take a look at his original post... If the door is unlocked and there is a manual there with default password, do you mean you need to talk to social engineer with the box in order to get the password? Are we living in Futurama?

  2. Awesome by WolfgangVL · · Score: 2

    Keep it up. Just because we cant win the game doesn't mean we cant have a little fun with it anyway.

    --
    You are being ripped off every second of every day, so that advertisers can help rip you off even more tomorrow.
    1. Re:Awesome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, foolish human. We xenopilliaromorphs are greatly pleased at your choice in supporting our long term plans to silently replace the unintelligent growths your unsightly heads produce as part of our ultimate goal of enslaving your entire population.

      The host body you refer to as "trump" has been most compliant with our deep compulsion techniques. We are pleased that you have determined our true origins, and yet still (wisely) accept our rule, by openly endorsing the candidacy of his "toupee." A number of our ethicists were concerned about the ethics of parasitizing a sentient species. Your willful cooperation pleases us.

      As a friendly gesture, we shall tell you how to please us further: We find the more luxurient of earth hair care products most enjoyable, but dislike many earth styling methods. To curry our favor, use shampoos and conditioners rich in decadent natural oils, and free of parabens, silicones, and sulfates--Avoid the use of hair driers, and styling irons. Observe proper combing and grooming techniques to avoid breakage.

      Do these things, and we shall reward you in the new order. Together, we shall make "america" great again.

  3. You Mean Improved? by zenlessyank · · Score: 3, Funny

    Replacing stupid messages with useful ones is not what I call hacking. I would call that fixing or improving. Trump or Hillary is like an alternative reality gone wrong, except this is real.

  4. Re:meh by zenlessyank · · Score: 2

    ASCII art for the win.

  5. Re:meh by TeknoHog · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Agreed, but even that won't always work out. Recently, a Finnish subway driver wrote 'wish I had a beer' on the in-car display, and a media shitstorm ensued. The subway operator had the driver scolded, though not fired, and issued a statement on their stance against promoting alcoholic drinks.

    --
    Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  6. Re:Next up... by PPH · · Score: 2

    FREE THE MALLOCS

    Come on, this is Slashdot.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  7. Re:#GorillaLivesMatter ... by camperdave · · Score: 2

    (I want to get in the water that's thirty feet below me!)

    Clearly, it is a Global Warming issue.

    --
    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  8. Re: #GorillaLivesMatter ... by Falos · · Score: 2

    #hashbrownsaredelicious