street sign hacking

 by rustlabs
//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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instructamaker says: Feb 22, 2013. 6:43 PM
Epic awsomeness im gonna put on salutations multicellular bycloptic deoxyriboneucleic acid based highly evolved erect standing homo sapien sapien
ilpug says: Apr 8, 2012. 4:09 PM
Oh wow. This is amazing. I wouldn't do it personally due to the overall risk, but still amazing.
larchey says: Sep 1, 2011. 2:18 AM
its really not hacking tho if yuh are useing the keypad but still good and funny as hell
XOIIO says: Aug 11, 2011. 12:01 AM
You are badass! I probably wouldn't rip out the transmitter, and I was hoping for a more thourough guide.
M4industries says: Jun 12, 2010. 6:56 PM
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.
cris1133 says: Oct 1, 2009. 2:21 PM
If its on the road thats a federal offence ( US )
miiwii3 says: Jul 31, 2009. 1:20 PM
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
macwhiz says: Jul 27, 2009. 1:41 AM
Use a lock gun to break the lock. They are around $30-$40.
EragonShadeslayer says: Jul 12, 2009. 9:16 PM
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.
JKibs95 says: Jul 10, 2009. 8:47 PM
This is awesome! you are my new hero...
goeon says: Jan 28, 2009. 5:22 PM
That is simply AWSOME 5 stars+faved what is the limit of characters you can put ?
bounty1012 in reply to goeonFeb 1, 2009. 6:55 PM
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.
goeon in reply to bounty1012Feb 1, 2009. 7:48 PM
cool thanks
bounty1012 in reply to goeonFeb 1, 2009. 7:59 PM
np.
sensoryhouse says: Jan 28, 2009. 7:19 PM
Do you have to drop the f-bomb in your thumbnail.
bounty1012 in reply to sensoryhouseFeb 1, 2009. 7:18 PM
yeah the F-Bomb is a serious word...
bounty1012 says: Feb 1, 2009. 6:57 PM
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.
bounty1012 says: Feb 1, 2009. 6:56 PM
XD I just realised what the retra-vision thing was LOL! that earns 5*
bounty1012 says: Feb 1, 2009. 6:46 PM
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.
S1L3N7 SWAT says: Jan 31, 2009. 7:35 PM
joe57005 says: Jan 30, 2009. 1:15 PM
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.
qwerty29 says: Jan 30, 2009. 1:11 PM
everyone shut up this is awesome!!
shikaku says: Jan 30, 2009. 8:55 AM
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?
Ninjjutsumaster says: Jan 29, 2009. 2:51 PM
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"
Ward_Nox in reply to NinjjutsumasterJan 29, 2009. 9:35 PM
jhvh.one says: Jan 29, 2009. 7:23 AM
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."
shooby says: Jan 28, 2009. 7:53 AM
Vandalism? Nothing is damaged, in fact many of these messages encourage slow driving!
Father Christmas in reply to shoobyJan 28, 2009. 5:08 PM
Step 2; "rip it out or with it with your crowbar." sounds awfully vandalizing to me :D
shooby in reply to Father ChristmasJan 28, 2009. 5:30 PM
Ok ok, I didn't read the whole thing! : )
Father Christmas in reply to shoobyJan 28, 2009. 6:12 PM
hahahahaha fair enough
wupme in reply to shoobyJan 28, 2009. 4:51 PM
Or may cause an accident.... both is possible. I don't think either will happen ;-)
rustlabs (author) says: Jan 28, 2009. 6:10 PM
just so you know, i didn't actualy break the (transmitter/reciever/whatever it was) i just unplugged it.
buirv says: Jan 28, 2009. 12:26 PM
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,"
shooby in reply to buirvJan 28, 2009. 5:34 PM
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?
rickyd! says: Jan 28, 2009. 5:13 PM
defiantly very nice
bumpus says: Jan 28, 2009. 9:23 AM
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.
Epic RoadSign.JPG
higgrobot in reply to bumpusJan 28, 2009. 3:24 PM
You massive screen-cap is a tiny unreadable 13KB image!
bumpus in reply to higgrobotJan 28, 2009. 5:12 PM
Sorry about that!
Here is the link to the full sized one.
mrmath says: Jan 28, 2009. 7:39 AM
Flagged as inappropriate as it encourages vandalism and other illegal activities.
wupme in reply to mrmathJan 28, 2009. 4:49 PM
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.
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