Road signs warn of 'zombies ahead'

Computer-controlled road signs in the US warned that zombies were ahead after being hacked by pranksters, it has been revealed.

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more: Road signs warn of 'zombies ahead'

Zombie Attack In Texas [LOL]

Hackers convert road traffic signs into undead alert systems.


by Chris Iaquinta
January 29, 2009 - What would you do in the event of a zombie apocalypse? Would you head to the local mall with Ving Rhames or team up with a biker, army vet and cute college girl and try to cure the infection one bullet at a time? Well, motorists driving around the University of Texas got to entertain their undead thoughts a little on Monday morning when two electronic road signs flashed alerts of a impeding zombie attack. Quick, grab the medkits and uzis!

The signs, which were in place to alert drivers to a detour, instead contained messages like "Caution! Zombies Ahead" and "Nazi Zombies! Run!!!" for passersby to see. And you thought regular zombies were bad, but man, those Nazi zombies are a-holes. Traffic controllers reported that the signs generated substantial safety hazards thanks to drivers slowing down to view the messages and take photos. Welcome to the real world of what would really happen if the infected took over the country folks, photo opportunities. Hey mister zombie man, say cheese! "BRAINS!!!". Eh, close enough.

City officials speculate that the units were hacked by a local computer expert who broke into the access panels, changed the passwords and then were rerouted the systems to display five different zombie messages. The sign manufacturing company had to be brought in to override the hacker's work.

The city is happy to report that no zombies have since been seen in the area, but did offer up any advice in case next time the warnings turn out to be real: "Shoot 'em in the head". Ok, that's a line from a movie, but you get the idea. Now pardon us, we have to go shotgun shopping with Bill, Zoey and Francis.

IGN: Zombie Attack In Texas

Romero fans packing shotguns that were driving past would have been thrilled for a few minutes there....

That's one powerful rig you have there Alija

"City officials speculate that the units were hacked by a local computer expert who broke into the access panels, changed the passwords and then were rerouted the systems to display five different zombie messages. The sign manufacturing company had to be brought in to override the hacker's work. "

Err actually I won't call this hacking, they broke the padlocks and changed the wording on a system display, how difficult is that?

But hilarious nonetheless.

City officials speculate that the units were hacked by a local computer expert who broke into the access panels, changed the passwords and then were rerouted the systems to display five different zombie messages. The sign manufacturing company had to be brought in to override the hacker's work.

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I'd say that was hacking, if the city, who usually programs the signs, could not override the prank and get them working normally again.

Although it seems funny at the time, i those signs had been there warning motorists of something dangerous, and someone had gotten hurt or killed, then the prank wouldn't seem as funny - goes to show you how stupid kids can really be.