Breach, Data Security

Electronic road signs hacked in Illinois

Electronic road signs in St. Charles, Ill. were hacked on Thursday, displaying messages that had nothing to do with a pipeline project taking place nearby, according to a report in St. Charles Patch.

Rather than warning drivers heading northbound and southbound on Route 25 of construction in the area, they instead displayed the messages: “RISE AGAIN,” “THE PANT SNAKES” and “B*TCH!”

Jae Miller, chief communications officer at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), said compromising electronic devices that could put public safety in jeopardy is against the law.

Miller said incidents similar to this are “extremely rare,” despite the attention the hack received.

"IDOT will continue to utilize the security methods currently in place to prevent them from happening," Miller said.

It's unclear how the intruders were able to remotely access the road signs.

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