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street sign hacking

street sign hacking
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//Rustlabs

i took this instructable down for a few months because my sign hacking incident made it into the local paper and i had to lay low for a while, so i guess you have a good example of the riskiness of pulling this off.

DISCLAIMER
if you are able to pull this off, i am entirely responsible. feel free to include my name in your court case.
but honestly, I'm just sharing this for scientific purposes not vandalism.

i was inspired to do this because of the i-hacked article but this turned out to be totally different to the device i encountered, so after getting it to work i felt compelled to share how i got it to work.

so, lets get started shall we!

packing.
if you are going to attempt this you are going to want some tools capable of "conquering" a padlock.
might i recommend a crowbar. but pack lightly as some evasive running may be in order if someone should come to investigate the scene.

 
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Step 1

Locating a sign

these signs aren't hard to locate, just search for areas like traffic zones or roadworks areas. once found it would be best to park some distance form the scene to keep your getaway vehicle less obvious.
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54 comments
1-40 of 54next »
Apr 8, 2012. 4:09 PMilpug says:
Oh wow. This is amazing. I wouldn't do it personally due to the overall risk, but still amazing.
Sep 1, 2011. 2:18 AMlarchey says:
its really not hacking tho if yuh are useing the keypad but still good and funny as hell
Aug 11, 2011. 12:01 AMXOIIO says:
You are badass! I probably wouldn't rip out the transmitter, and I was hoping for a more thourough guide.
Jun 12, 2010. 6:56 PMM4industries says:
I saw this done as a boycott effort against BP. I don't want to go to jail or have a felony record. So I probably won't try it.
Oct 1, 2009. 2:21 PMcris1133 says:
If its on the road thats a federal offence ( US )
Jul 31, 2009. 1:20 PMmiiwii3 says:
you are the first guy to say and i quote: DISCLAIMER if you are able to pull this off, i am entirely responsible. feel free to include my name in your court case. but honestly, I'm just sharing this for scientific purposes not vandalism. dude that is stinkin awesome though my dad is like the boss of the bosses who put out these signs sooooo.... yea that is out of the picture to me but still great instructable. next time u should hack into a lage billboard like the ones on the freeway that would rock follow me on twitter twitter.com/XXXXXX that would be cool or instructables.com subscribe to me instructables.com/user/XXXXX u know what i am sayin? overall stinkin awsome 'ible -miiwii3
Jul 27, 2009. 1:41 AMmacwhiz says:
Use a lock gun to break the lock. They are around $30-$40.
Jul 12, 2009. 9:16 PMEragonShadeslayer says:
ive found somewhere else that the password is DOTS as a default, and if it's not, Hold Control and Shift and while holding, enter DIPY. this should work.
Jul 10, 2009. 8:47 PMJKibs95 says:
This is awesome! you are my new hero...
Jan 28, 2009. 5:22 PMgoeon says:
That is simply AWSOME 5 stars+faved what is the limit of characters you can put ?
Feb 1, 2009. 6:55 PMbounty1012 says:
7 characters on each row. and there are 3 rows... so 21 in all or maybe it scales down the letters when you add more than that.
Feb 1, 2009. 7:48 PMgoeon says:
cool thanks
Feb 1, 2009. 7:59 PMbounty1012 says:
np.
Jan 28, 2009. 7:19 PMsensoryhouse says:
Do you have to drop the f-bomb in your thumbnail.
Feb 1, 2009. 7:18 PMbounty1012 says:
yeah the F-Bomb is a serious word...
Feb 1, 2009. 6:57 PMbounty1012 says:
hmm... Something really funny to do on one of these is to advertise porn or something on a busy highway or near a school that would be freaking hilarious.
Feb 1, 2009. 6:56 PMbounty1012 says:
XD I just realised what the retra-vision thing was LOL! that earns 5*
Feb 1, 2009. 6:46 PMbounty1012 says:
Rofl After I saw this happen on the news Ive been wanting to do it. the sign said: "Caution! Nazi zombies ahead!, THE END IS NEAR!!!" LOL.
Jan 30, 2009. 1:15 PMjoe57005 says:
I saw this on the news this morning (in orlando). the sign said "caution zombies, run!" Obviously a copycat of the article on i-hacked.
Jan 30, 2009. 1:11 PMqwerty29 says:
everyone shut up this is awesome!!
Jan 30, 2009. 8:55 AMshikaku says:
Dude. Epic. Thanks man. But are you sure you can't help a little more on the name and password? Or did you just get lucky?
Jan 29, 2009. 2:51 PMNinjjutsumaster says:
ur gonna have to take some of the blame for this
http://news.aol.com/article/zombies-road-signs-attack-austin-texas/322482
LOL! Zombies!
"When i seez a zombie down da road i go like BOOM BOOM HEADSHOT BOOM"
Jan 29, 2009. 9:35 PMWard_Nox says:
Jan 29, 2009. 7:23 AMjhvh.one says:
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/Road_signs_warn_of_zombies

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."
Jan 28, 2009. 7:53 AMshooby says:
Vandalism? Nothing is damaged, in fact many of these messages encourage slow driving!
Jan 28, 2009. 5:08 PMFather Christmas says:
Step 2; "rip it out or with it with your crowbar." sounds awfully vandalizing to me :D
Jan 28, 2009. 5:30 PMshooby says:
Ok ok, I didn't read the whole thing! : )
Jan 28, 2009. 6:12 PMFather Christmas says:
hahahahaha fair enough
Jan 28, 2009. 4:51 PMwupme says:
Or may cause an accident.... both is possible. I don't think either will happen ;-)
Jan 28, 2009. 12:26 PMbuirv says:
I'd love to put my Ex-Wife's name and phone number up on one of these things... Just to get even. Like: "For Free Bxxxx & Lxxx Call: xxx-xxx-xxxx for a good time,"
Jan 28, 2009. 5:34 PMshooby says:
If that's all it would take to get even, what did she do that was so bad? Throw water balloons at you? Pee on your birthday cake?
Jan 28, 2009. 5:13 PMrickyd! says:
defiantly very nice
Jan 28, 2009. 9:23 AMbumpus says:
I'm glad you did get to posting this! I saw the thread on 4chan this morning! You sir, are awesome. Massive screen-cap below.
Jan 28, 2009. 3:24 PMhiggrobot says:
You massive screen-cap is a tiny unreadable 13KB image!
Jan 28, 2009. 5:12 PMbumpus says:
Sorry about that!
Here is the link to the full sized one.
Jan 28, 2009. 7:39 AMmrmath says:
Flagged as inappropriate as it encourages vandalism and other illegal activities.
Jan 28, 2009. 4:49 PMwupme says:
I gotta say, that also was one of the first things that came to my mind. Breaking that "Reciever" or whatever it is, or just removing it is vandalism (if you keept it.. you also stole it, thats probably even worse). Hacking that sign and opening the lock is also illegal. Could be different it wasn't locked at all, but don't hold me for that.
Jan 28, 2009. 8:04 AMhcold says:
Vandalism implies destruction of property. Err, wrong. Illegal activities? "haxoring" huh? I'd get that pole check as soon as possible, it seems to have ruptured your sense of humour along with your lower intestines.
1-40 of 54next »

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