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Thu Aug 9, 2012, 11:20 PM

Newsjock (9,871 posts)

Hacked (Utah) I-15 sign flashed ‘God Hates Gays’

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

After one of its mobile construction-zone message signs on Interstate 15 flashed "God Hates Gays," the Utah Department of Transportation says it is now busy ensuring such signs are secured to prevent passers-by from reprogramming them.

On Tuesday night, a sign at Provo’s University Avenue exit alternated flashing "Follow detour," and "God Hates Gays."

... Leigh Dethman, spokeswoman for the I-15 Corridor Expansion project that is rebuilding the freeway in Utah County, ... said the sign was not secured, allowing any passer-by to reprogram it. "So anyone could have done this," she said.

... The online video was attracting plenty of negative comments — so one Provo spokeswoman even added a comment there saying the city did not do it, and condemned the message.

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/54666287-90/sign-message-signs-dethman.html.csp

18 replies, 2398 views

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18 replies	Author	Time	Post
Hacked (Utah) I-15 sign flashed ‘God Hates Gays’ (Original post)	Newsjock	Aug 2012	OP
Keeerist! Who knew the Westboro Baptist cult had mad hacking skills?	Ken Burch	Aug 2012	#1
I don't think walking by and retyping the message is "hacking"	Tunkamerica	Aug 2012	#11
You can do that with those signs?	Ken Burch	Aug 2012	#13
"KLAATU BARADA NIKTO"	kentauros	Aug 2012	#14
Given that this was Utah, I'd try "BRIGHAM YOUNG LOVED COFFEE!"	Ken Burch	Aug 2012	#15
If the metal box at the front of the trailer isn't locked,	petronius	Aug 2012	#18
I guess that cybersecurity bill the GOP blocked in congress....	dballance	Aug 2012	#2
ahh nevermind	Yeah Its Spin	Aug 2012	#4
I can't tell if you're serious or just	JoeyT	Aug 2012	#7
I am being very sarcastic.	dballance	Aug 2012	#9
Then it was damned good sarcasm.	JoeyT	Aug 2012	#10
So shouldn't God have created the "gays"? Didn't he/she/it create everything? And...	SoapBox	Aug 2012	#3
Can Jebus create a burrito so hot that even he can't eat it?	Tunkamerica	Aug 2012	#12
Connect the dots...Provo....BYU....noted grad of BYU Mitt Romney....	dimbear	Aug 2012	#5
Huh?	harmonicon	Aug 2012	#8
Provo, Spain?	CreekDog	Aug 2012	#6
I'm pretty sure that...	sofa king	Aug 2012	#16
Yup, urine Utah!	Stainless	Aug 2012	#17

Response to Newsjock (Original post)

Thu Aug 9, 2012, 11:26 PM

Ken Burch (31,235 posts)

1. Keeerist! Who knew the Westboro Baptist cult had mad hacking skills?

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Response to Ken Burch (Reply #1)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 06:17 AM

Tunkamerica (4,355 posts)

11. I don't think walking by and retyping the message is "hacking"

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Response to Tunkamerica (Reply #11)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 06:20 AM

Ken Burch (31,235 posts)

13. You can do that with those signs?

What do you need?

I'd put a "NATIONALIZE BANKS" message if I had the chance.

or maybe just "DEPORT SNOOKI!"

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Response to Ken Burch (Reply #13)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 07:00 AM

kentauros (21,803 posts)

14. "KLAATU BARADA NIKTO"

http://www.neatorama.com/2006/05/11/klaatu-barada-nikto-road-sign/

From the website:

This was the first time I had attempted a prank like this, so I expected the control box to be locked, and the programming functions password-protected. I was wrong. First of all, the control cabinet had no lock. Swinging open its door, I found a deliciously inviting handheld keypad, then took a wild guess and pushed a button labeled STOP. The display on the control box flashed ENTER PASSWORD. I was about to give up in disgust when I noticed that someone had written the password in large Sharpie lettering above the box.

With only a few minutes of road sign hacking, I had programmed an homage to the 1951 sci-fi film The Day The Earth Stood Still, the phrase that was used to stop Gort, the robot in the film, from taking over the world.

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Response to kentauros (Reply #14)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 07:28 AM

Ken Burch (31,235 posts)

15. Given that this was Utah, I'd try "BRIGHAM YOUNG LOVED COFFEE!"

or "NEUTER ALL OSMONDS!"

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Response to Ken Burch (Reply #13)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 03:57 PM

petronius (19,657 posts)

18. If the metal box at the front of the trailer isn't locked,

I'm pretty sure that all you need is the ability to type words. If the control box is locked, then you need a bolt cutter (which would be going too far, IMO).

There have been a number of actually funny pranks like this - e.g. "Watch for zombies" - these despicable people are just poor copycats...

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Response to Newsjock (Original post)

Thu Aug 9, 2012, 11:27 PM

dballance (3,748 posts)

2. I guess that cybersecurity bill the GOP blocked in congress....

really had no basis in reality. This time it was just a hate message about our nation's infrastructure. What will it be next time? Perhaps cutting off the water supply to millions of people?

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Response to dballance (Reply #2)

Thu Aug 9, 2012, 11:31 PM

Yeah Its Spin (236 posts)

4. ahh nevermind

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Response to dballance (Reply #2)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 01:00 AM

JoeyT (4,549 posts)

7. I can't tell if you're serious or just

Last edited Fri Aug 10, 2012, 01:01 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

fucking with us, so I'm going to assume you're serious.

"Hacking" one of these boxes requires getting out of your car, opening the box, and typing on the keyboard. It probably wasn't even password protected. If it was, there are default passwords that are set depending on the company that manufactured the sign. Most of the time they don't bother changing them.

Which is a far cry from cutting off water to millions.

I don't know why it's being referred to as "hacking". It's closer to vandalism. No technical ability is required.

Edited to add: I wrote this before I read the whole article. "said the sign was not secured" is relevant. An eight year old could have done it.

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Response to JoeyT (Reply #7)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 02:11 AM

dballance (3,748 posts)

9. I am being very sarcastic.

I appreciate you railing against me. Please feel free to do so.

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Response to dballance (Reply #9)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 05:40 AM

JoeyT (4,549 posts)

10. Then it was damned good sarcasm.

I've got a whole bunch of family and acquaintances that would sound almost exactly like that.

It's hard to spot if it's done well.

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Response to Newsjock (Original post)

Thu Aug 9, 2012, 11:29 PM

SoapBox (5,825 posts)

3. So shouldn't God have created the "gays"? Didn't he/she/it create everything? And...

why would he/she/it create something to hate? Did he/she/it every do that to anyone/anything else?

...'splain it religious nutz.

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Response to SoapBox (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 06:18 AM

Tunkamerica (4,355 posts)

12. Can Jebus create a burrito so hot that even he can't eat it?

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Response to Newsjock (Original post)

Thu Aug 9, 2012, 11:36 PM

dimbear (5,132 posts)

5. Connect the dots...Provo....BYU....noted grad of BYU Mitt Romney....

hijinks? Too easy?

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Response to dimbear (Reply #5)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 01:10 AM

harmonicon (11,938 posts)

8. Huh?

You totally lost me there.

Hawaii? Dog the Bounty Hunter? Obama birth certificate? Too easy?

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Response to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 12:35 AM

CreekDog (37,145 posts)

6. Provo, Spain?

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Response to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 10:00 AM

sofa king (8,707 posts)

16. I'm pretty sure that...

...saying God "hates" anything at all wins one a ticket to Hell.

In fact I'm entirely sure of it. Why? Because I made it up and now I'm saying it like I know it for sure.

Just like church leaders do.

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Response to Newsjock (Original post)

Fri Aug 10, 2012, 10:40 AM

Stainless (220 posts)

17. Yup, urine Utah!

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