Road Rage: Hackers Say 'No Latinos' on Highway Sign

Techies alter sign on Palmetto

By BRIAN HAMACHER and CAROLYN RYAN
Updated 2:00 PM EDT, Tue, May 25, 2010

[img]http://media.nbcmiami.com/images/600*450/052510+no+latinos+no+tacos+sign.jpg[/img]

Officials said the signs are password protected, but that generally does little to stop hackers intent on changing them.

Last year, a string of road sign hacks were made in three separate states.

In Austin, Texas, a sign cautioned drivers to the "ZOMBIES IN AREA! RUN." Another in Collinsville, Illinois said "Daily LANE CLOSURES DUE TO ZOMBIES." And another in rural Indiana read "RAPTORS AHEAD - CAUTION."

Reaction to the sign, posted on the "Today in South Florida" Facebook page was mixed.

"Wow someone has a lot of time on their hands to think up of how they can belittle and disrespect a group of people who help keep this country going," said Luly Cueto-Belot.

"Greatest thing I ever saw...let's take this country back dammit!!!..south will rise again mother---er!!" said David Pines.

The sign is owned by a company called, Highway Technologies, based out of Illinois. Gil Joseph, a spokesman for the company told NBC Miami that it is using all its resources to investigate how the sign was tampered with and who is beind it. "The hacked message was offensive and vandalistic. We had nothing to do with the message and we find the message both appalling and discriminatory," said Joseph.

Highway Technologies is renting the digital roadway sign to a construction company that is working on a nearby project.

Joseph says they have filed a police report for vandalism of the company's electronic sign.

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