Hacking road signs in the name of the FSM

[Dudeman55556]

A while ago me and captain spork hacked a road sign and made it say "FSM bless you" among other things. Admittedly, it wasnt being used at the time (it wasn't facing the road), but it was still fun. Here are some pictures:

[Dudeman55556]

A while ago me and captain spork hacked a road sign and made it say "FSM bless you" among other things. Admittedly, it wasnt being used at the time (it wasn't facing the road), but it was still fun. Here are some pictures:

Edit: We only put "legalize pot" up because a homeless guy requested it. Because, of course, we're angels and don't ever do anything illegal.

[TwistedSister]

That's pretty damn funny that is!!!!

[Roy Hunter]

Forget funny, I want hacking instructions! These damn things are lying all over the highlands. All I need to do is put a yellow beacon light on the roof of my car, put on my fluorescent vest, and I'll look like I'm legitimately programming the thing...

[Dudeman55556]

You don't even need to look ligit by putting a reflective vest on. Nobody calls the cops on you, cause if you do it right, it just looks like youre loitering and sitting on the sign. Just pull the keypad out of the sign, so you dont have your arms in it

It works best on signs with plastic lids. It's usually padlocked, but you can just pry the edge of the plastic up and grab the control panel.

This sign doesnt work very well because it's hard to break into:

But feel free to try.

This sign is what you want to look for:


It has a plastic cover which you can pry up. The keypad is close to one of the wheels. Try not to electrocute yourself. The risk is very low, but there are sometimes a few exposed places with electrical charge. Just don't touch any unpainted metal and you'll be fine.

Anyway, here are the (somewhat skimpy) instructions: http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/274/48/

Also, I reccomend changing the password after hacking it. And, by navigating to the "instant message" menu and pressing the escape key a whole bunch of times, you can freeze the keypad. Do this after changing the password. The only way to unfreeze it is to turn the sign off and on again.


The red circle is where the keypad usually is.
The arrow is pointing to where the power switch is (in case you accidentally freeze your sign in the middle of hacking it).
The red "X" indicates where there is what looks like a power button, but it doesn't seem to do anything, so just ignore it. If youre trying to turn the sign off, use the power switch.


Oops, did I just publically admit to a crime? Was it a crime? The sign wasn't in use, and we didn't damage it in any way, (we didn't even change the password!). So I dunno. Ubi Dubium, or was it Ubi Dubius, or something, aren't you a lawyer? Did I violate any laws?


Edit: Sorry for double posting earlier, I meant to edit the existing post.

[ET, the Extra Terrestrial]

A proper hacker would do it with his cell phone from a car parked several hundred feet down the road.

[Dudeman55556]

A proper hacker would do it with his cell phone from a car parked several hundred feet down the road.

That's simply not possible. These road signs have no way of connecting with your cell phone. No internet, or any kind of wireless receiver. So we're stuck with breaking into it.

It's still just as fun, though. Maybe even more. And actually, I wouldn't really call this hacking. All it is is exploiting a physical design flaw (plastic covers), and guessing/resetting the password.

[Ubi Dubius]

Oops, did I just publically admit to a crime? Was it a crime? The sign wasn't in use, and we didn't damage it in any way, (we didn't even change the password!). So I dunno. Ubi Dubium, or was it Ubi Dubius, or something, aren't you a lawyer? Did I violate any laws?


Edit: Sorry for double posting earlier, I meant to edit the existing post.

Probably. A traffic violation or a misdemeanor. If your "hacking" causes a distraction to drivers, you are creating a hazard. You could be interfering with a government agent in the performance of his duties. I've heard of those violations, but not knowing what jurisdiction you are in and engaging in several hundred dollars of research, I couldn't say for sure.

[Dudeman55556]

Oops, did I just publically admit to a crime? Was it a crime? The sign wasn't in use, and we didn't damage it in any way, (we didn't even change the password!). So I dunno. Ubi Dubium, or was it Ubi Dubius, or something, aren't you a lawyer? Did I violate any laws?


Edit: Sorry for double posting earlier, I meant to edit the existing post.

Probably. A traffic violation or a misdemeanor. If your "hacking" causes a distraction to drivers, you are creating a hazard. You could be interfering with a government agent in the performance of his duties. I've heard of those violations, but not knowing what jurisdiction you are in and engaging in several hundred dollars of research, I couldn't say for sure.

It wasn't causing a distraction to drivers because it wasn't facing the road. None of the drivers could see it, only the people in the park.

[ET, the Extra Terrestrial]

A proper hacker would do it with his cell phone from a car parked several hundred feet down the road.

That's simply not possible. These road signs have no way of connecting with your cell phone. No internet, or any kind of wireless receiver. So we're stuck with breaking into it.

Nonsense. James Bond would do it from his cell phone. He'd make it blow up with his cell phone, too.

[Dudeman55556]

A proper hacker would do it with his cell phone from a car parked several hundred feet down the road.

That's simply not possible. These road signs have no way of connecting with your cell phone. No internet, or any kind of wireless receiver. So we're stuck with breaking into it.

Nonsense. James Bond would do it from his cell phone. He'd make it blow up with his cell phone, too.

Nonsense. James bond has better things to do than blow up petty road signs. And besides, James Bond isn't a "proper hacker". He's a spy.

[ET, the Extra Terrestrial]

Nonsense. James Bond would do it from his cell phone. He'd make it blow up with his cell phone, too.

Nonsense. James bond has better things to do than blow up petty road signs. And besides, James Bond isn't a "proper hacker". He's a spy.

C'mon, he'd do it as part of some hugely convoluted plan to assassinate the King of Malta for issuing a stamp honoring Bob Geldoff in direct violation of international law.

[Dudeman55556]

Nonsense. James Bond would do it from his cell phone. He'd make it blow up with his cell phone, too.

Nonsense. James bond has better things to do than blow up petty road signs. And besides, James Bond isn't a "proper hacker". He's a spy.

C'mon, he'd do it as part of some hugely convoluted plan to assassinate the King of Malta for issuing a stamp honoring Bob Geldoff in direct violation of international law.

Maybe so. But james bond is a movie character, and this is real life. So HA!

[ET, the Extra Terrestrial]

Maybe so. But james bond is a movie character, and this is real life. So HA!

Phooey. Next you'll be trying to convince me that there's no Tooth Fairy or Easter Bunny.

[Dudeman55556]

Maybe so. But james bond is a movie character, and this is real life. So HA!

Phooey. Next you'll be trying to convince me that there's no Tooth Fairy or Easter Bunny.

Er... I think we need to have a little talk...