Stay Out of Austin!
This is beyond awesome. :)
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/Road_signs_warn_of_zombies
Construction signs warnof zombies
Hackers change public safety message
Last Edited: Thursday, 29 Jan 2009, 10:50 AM CST
Created On: Wednesday, 28 Jan 2009, 8:29 PM CST
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin drivers making their morning commute were in for a surprise when two road signs on a busy stretch of road were taken over by hackers. The signs near the intersection of Lamar and Martin Luther King boulevards usually warn drivers about upcoming construction, but Monday morning they warned of "zombies ahead."
"I thought it was pretty funny," said University of Texas sophomore Jane Shin, who saw the signs while driving down Lamar Bouelvard with friends Sunday night. "We wondered who did it."
The City of Austin does not own the signs, but they are responsible for the message. The contractor on the construction project owns the signs. A city spokesperson said the hacked messages were only up for a few hours, until the construction project manager saw them during his morning commute and immediately ordered them to be changed back.
"Even though this may seem amusing to a lot of people, this is really serious, and it is a crime," said Austin Public Works spokesperson Sara Hartley. "And you can be indicted for it, and we want to make sure our traffic on the roadways stays safe."
Hartley said though it was a locked sign, the padlock for it was cut. Signs such as these have a computer inside that is password-protected.
"And so they had to break in and hack into the computer to do it, so they were pretty determined," said Hartley.
This crime is a class C misdemeanor in Texas, and Hartley said it endangers the public.
"The big problem is public safety," said Hartley. "Those signs are out there to help our traffic on the roadway to stay safe and to know what's coming up."
KXAN Austin News cameras caught many drivers slowing down to read the signs as they approached. Some read, "Zombies ahead! Run for your lives!"
Hartley said the city will discuss more secure safety measures with the manufacturer of the signs.
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Zombies were gonna go to College Station
but there were no brains to eat there.
Ooooo… Burn!
by the other Andrew on Jan 29, 2009 11:05 AM CST reply actions 4 recs
This story is just a cover up. The government wants you to think the zombie problem is under control.
Heaven forbid Vince ever gets bitten. Combine superman DNA with the zombie virus and we’re all in a heap o’ trouble.
by burntorangehorn on Jan 29, 2009 12:18 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
You failed to include the best part of this story
Which is the comments from the AAS story.
by BoddickerIsClutch on Jan 29, 2009 3:03 PM CST reply actions
saw in NC
that made local news here in Raleigh/Durham, NC. My wife and I (UT grads) saw it and laughed our asses off.
Austin kicks ass.
I love how
that made the night’s “Top Story.” In Houston, 12 murders and a few stabbings is the norm, sometimes a mass murderer. I love Austin.

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