Michael A Haber PA Criminal DUI Defense Litigation Miami Blog

Hackers change Los Angeles road sign at construction site to say "Read a F*cking Book"

First it was Sony Pictures then the XBox and Playstation networks and then the U.S. Central Command but as of Friday, January 9th, 2015 it seems that hackers have now turned their sights to smaller targets after a downtown LA digital street sign placed next to road work was altered to read "Read a F*cking Book".

Traffic Management Inc., the company which contracts LA County to post and maintain street signs confirmed that the sign in question, which was supposed to have contained a message about possible traffic delays due to roadwork had in fact been hacked.  The company spokesman indicated that the hack could have happened over WiFi by a laptop or even a smartphone, but also that the changes could have been made at the sign manually.  The comp[any also confirmed that another sign further down the same road had also been hacked and contained the same message,

While the LA roadside hack was offensive to some (and quite reasonable to others) is significantly less nefarious than any of its recent cousins.  North Korean cyber-spies effectively shut Sony's computer network down as the company was about to release "The Interview", a comedy about assassinating the N.Kor leader, in protest to the satire.  A group called the "Lizard Squad" knocked out Xbox and Playstations online for several days around Christmas "to teach people the value of spending time with their families during the holiday season".  Then Islamic State affiliated jihadists broke into the social media accounts of U.S. Central Command changing images to radical Islam black flags, posting videos sympathetic to ISIS and leaking addresses of serving U.S. soldiers.

In Florida the Computer Related Crimes Act - found at Chapter 815 Florida Statutes,sets the prosecution of an offense against computer users as a third degree felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to five (5) years, a fine in an amount up to $5,000, or both. If the offense causes over $5,000 in damage, carries out a scheme to commit fraud or theft, interrupts governmental operations, or disrupts public services, then state laws increase the offense to a second degree felony. punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to fifteen (15) years, a fine in an amount up to $10,000, or both. If the offense endangers human life then the offense becomes a first degree felony, which may result in a term of imprisonment for up to thirty (30) years, a fine in an amount up to $10,000, or both.

For more than 23 years Michael A. Haber, P.A. has been providing creative, effective and zealous advocacy and counsel in cases ranging from DUI to drug trafficking and from misdemeanors to first degree murder.  

At Michael A. Haber, P.A. "Its all about reasonable doubt"!

Michael A. Haber, Esq. is prepared to speak with you about your case!