Clear Channel digital billboards in SoCal hax0r3d

We've gotten pretty used to seeing crashed digital billboards and signage dot the landscape, but just like regular billboards, what's really interesting is when the graffiti artists manage to get their own messages up on the big (big) screen. Looks like Clear Channel is the latest victim - 10 LA-area billboards owned by the media giant started displaying the logo of 18-year-old graffiti artist Skullphone last Thursday, slotted innocuously within the regular ad rotation. Sure, it's not quite at the anarcho-political level of the Billboard Liberation Front and their ilk, but every great leap begins with just a small step, no? Hit the read link for tons more photos.

[Via Textually.org]

[the steven Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:48PM]

ID-10-T

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2008 11:50PM]

I dont get it, I LOVE THAT SONG

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2008 7:58PM]

but will it play doom :)

[weirdo557 Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:01PM]

no, but it might protect against the hundreds of knife weilding engadgeters who are now after you

[weirdo557 Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:02PM]

oops, was supposed to be a reply on the slash proof shirt article, edit feature, why have your forsaken meeeeeee!

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2008 8:05PM]

Is there proof they were hacked and the guy didn't just buy ads? His site does have a store after all.

[yankees368 Posted Mar 25th 2008 8:52PM]

When I was in delaware, I noticed how secure one of these signs were. The support pole had a steel ring around it so no one could climb up and damage the screen. It also had something else that I have never seen before...a long pole that sticks out with a camera on the end that is focused on the screen. Pretty funny way to check out if your own billboard is hacked.

[jeremyjwebstudioscom Posted Mar 25th 2008 9:30PM]

It's not necessarily to check if it's hacked, it's just to make sure that it's running properly.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2008 9:36PM]

The 'skullphone' myspace page claims an age of 18. The images are from skullphone.com.
But aren't myspace pages vetted as vigourously as wikipedia?

And Mr Phone, or may I call you Skull, index.html would be a good idea for those image directories ;)

[hikanae Posted Mar 25th 2008 9:58PM]

Showing 2 girls 1 cup (esp. the orifice letting loose & blasting into the cup shot...ugh!!) on a billboard will cause simultaneous vomiting on the freeway LOL!!

[(Unverified) Posted May 30th 2008 4:05PM]

So you know it well enough to refer to scenes huh? Wow.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:05PM]

oh, how do i know this? i waste my time on dorkgadget stating false facts for my pleasure, wanker.
i know this because i know this and you are an idiot.

[decypher44 Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:12PM]

I'd love to see Anonymous do this.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:14PM]

I totally forgot! I took a picture of this a few days ago! For those local, this one is on the corner of Olympic and Westwood.

http://flickr.com/photos/michaelgross/2363042890/sizes/o/

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:15PM]

I've always wanted to know how to hack one of these.. They've been popping up all around me and I really want to know how! Are they all web based? I've heard a rumor that they use compactflash cards and stuff.

[chainofcommand02 Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:31PM]

This is beautiful. Taking down Clear Channel and all that it stands for is just... I'm in awe.

[the steven Posted Mar 25th 2008 10:51PM]

We've got the same signs on I-95 in Philly, I'd love to see a complete "How-to".

[derwin Posted Mar 25th 2008 11:48PM]

This is absolutely incredible. Street art at its finest.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 26th 2008 12:01AM]

Skeletor prefers Meizu miniOne.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 26th 2008 8:30AM]

I wonder if this will become a new trend for all the other states...

[Nehemoth Posted Mar 26th 2008 9:15AM]

Nice

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 26th 2008 11:03AM]

blaktornado, i got even a better one

2GIRLS 1 FINGER!!!

;)

MUAHAHHAHAHAHA

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 26th 2008 11:04AM]

i wouldn't even know where to start to hack a billboard

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 26th 2008 11:50AM]

This was not a hack! It was a Clear Channel Outdoor PR stunt!

[Shane Posted Mar 26th 2008 1:07PM]

That sounds far more likely. I used to work for CC. Their WAN is fairly secure although I was able to see EVERYTHING across the entire country from my location (and gain access in some cases).

In order for a hack like this to happen it would most likely have been an inside job or the guy somehow gained physical access to the sign controller.

It is always possible, however, that some CC location had an unsecured WiFi network which allowed an outside attacker on their WAN. I assume they would catch that fairly quickly though...

[Shane Posted Mar 26th 2008 1:09PM]

That sounds far more likely. I used to work for CC. Their WAN is fairly secure although I was able to see EVERYTHING across the entire country from my location (and gain access in some cases).

In order for a hack like this to happen it would most likely have been an inside job or the guy somehow gained physical access to the sign controller.

It is always possible, however, that some CC location had an unsecured WiFi network which allowed an outside attacker on their WAN. I assume they would catch that fairly quickly though...

[sugargookie Posted Mar 26th 2008 2:54PM]

the billboards were paid for, not hacked

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/03/clear-channel-d.html

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 27th 2008 12:52AM]

dudes, check this out: http://fffff.at/major-times-square-hack