vandalism
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Wikipedia vandal adds swastikas to 53,000 pages
Admins swiftly fixed the issue and banned the user behind the attack.
Bird's latest rideshare scooter is designed to thwart vandals
Rideshare scooters are designed to be a quick and convenient way to get around town, but because we're not allowed to have nice things, many are falling foul of damage and vandalism -- there's even an entire Instagram account dedicated to trashing them. But Bird is taking a stand, and has unveiled its next generation e-scooter that boasts an arsenal of anti-vandalism features.
Scoot will add locks to its scooters to combat theft and vandalism
In August, San Francisco's Municipal Transportation Agency awarded two companies, Scoot and Skip, permits to operate their scooters in the city. The scooter pilot program has now been running for a month and Scoot says it has learned a few things during that time, including that its Kick scooters are a lot easier to steal and vandalize than it once thought. Because of that, the company will start adding locks to its scooters come December.
Vandal renames NYC 'Jewtropolis' on Snapchat and other apps
An instance of anti-semitic digital vandalism appears to be affecting platforms such as Snapchat, CitiBike, Jump Bike, Zillow and StreetEasy, with New York City showing up as "Jewtropolis" on their maps. Gizmodo reports that zooming in and out on Snapchat's Snap Map can make the city switch between New York City and "Jewtropolis," but that not all users of these platforms are seeing the vandalized name. The problem appears to be not with the platforms themselves but with Mapbox, a mapping software used by the companies.
Google reopens Map Maker edits after digital vandalism
Google is ever so slowly reintroducing Map Maker, the service that allows anyone to contribute to Google Maps. The company was left a little red-faced in May when a prank submission was discovered depicting an Android mascot urinating on the Apple logo. Google eventually took it down and suspended auto-approved edits while it figured out a new moderation system. The answer, it hopes, is to increase its reliance on the community. Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, India, Ukraine and the Philippines are now open for editing again, but this time Google has appointed "regional leads" to double-check the submissions in each area. Google only has so many employees dedicated to Map Maker, so it's praying the passion of its fans will be enough to avoid any further mishaps.
Anti-graffiti device nabs taggers by sniffing their fumes
Australian taxpayers spent a whopping $34 million last year to remove graffiti from Sydney's commuter trains. To combat this urban blight, the Australian Department of Transport is rolling out an electronic "nose" that alerts authorities in real-time. This device, dubbed "the mousetrap", activates when it detects paint marker and spray-can aerosols. It then immediately engages a closed circuit recording of the crime before alerting the police, who pick up the perp at the next stop. The program has already undergone viability testing and, according to CBC News, has caught 30 vandals red-handed. Sydney Trains, the government-owned rail company that operates the region's commuter lines, hasn't disclosed how many of the devices will be deployed, only that they'll be swapped between service lines at random intervals. [Image credit: New South Wales Police Force/Australia Broadcasting Corporation]
Graffiti artist sloppily vandalizes massive billboard via drone
Drones, yeah, are now like, so cheap, you know, that you can just, like, use them to do vandalism that's also an artistic statement, right? That's what graffiti artist, hacker and, er, vandal Katsu does with a modified drone that's capable of carrying and using a can of spray paint. The anonymous figure's latest stunt was to attack the new Calvin Klein billboard in New York City, a six-story installation featuring Kendall Jenner. Unfortunately, Katsu's control of the drone wasn't strong enough to do any actual drawing, so the artist had to settle for haphazardly spraying some red lines. But, guys, you have to understand, okay, that it's a statement, right? A statement.
EVE monument vandals catch the wrath of CCP's banhammer
Mere days after CCP Games unveiled an imposing stone monument to the legions of players who've navigated virtual deep space in EVE Online, the structure was defaced. Now, CCP claims to have found the perpetrators. Though those responsible remain anonymous, CCP community manager "Falcon" has revealed that three people have been permanently banned from EVE Online. A fourth person also reportedly involved in the vandalism received a six-month ban. All of these people are now blacklisted from future EVE events, most notably CCP's annual EVE Fanfest. Falcon also notes that many in the EVE Online community have called for far harsher treatment for the alleged vandals, but refuses to outline any punitive steps CCP might be taking outside of its cult-favorite space simulation. "[W]e now consider this issue resolved within the EVE Universe, and any further action taken outside the virtual world relating to criminal damage or recovery of costs for repairs to the EVE Universe Monument will remain confidential between CCP Games, the authorities, and those involved," he wrote. [Image: CCP Games]
EVE Online's player monument is the target of vandalism, CCP responds
So how long did you expect EVE Online's big player monument to be up before people began screwing with it? As it turns out, the correct answer was "four days." A player took to Twitter announcing that he had vandalized the monument over the weekend, scratching out the name of player Xenuria. Whether or not this is a good thing depends largely on what rumors regarding Xenuria you believe. The alleged vandalism, which apparently took place during this weekend's EVE Fanfest. It certainly sets an unpleasant precedent and opens the door for further vandalism within the game's historically contentious playerbase; one can only hope that this is addressed and corrected. CCP Falcon has addressed the situation on the official forums; we've included the relevant bits below.
Uber taxi vandalized in France despite new law favoring regular cab drivers
Though a new French law gives cabs there a 15-minute head start against private companies like Uber and LeCab, taxi drivers are far from done protesting. Things may have just taken a violent turn, as an Uber car with a pair of Eventbrite execs aboard was just attacked on its way from a Paris airport. The culprits slashed two tires, dumped glue on the car and broke windows, which cut the hands of CTO Kat Borlongan, according to her tweet. She added that the Uber driver managed to maneuver out of harm's way before the attackers could enter the vehicle. There's no proof that taxi drivers were behind the attack, but Uber believes they're responsible, and there have been vehement protests in France by traditional cabbies who have paid enormous sums for their official permits and now feel that their livelihoods are being threatened by new car services. Meanwhile, there's a good chance the new "15-minute" law will be struck down anyway, according to Rude Baguette. That's because the legislation was passed by presidential decree, meaning it's held to a higher anti-competition standard -- which it seems unlikely to meet. Update: Uber has confirmed and "strongly condemned" the attack in a statement to Venture Beat (after the break). [Image credit: Rude Baguette]
Windows logo planted on upcoming Apple Store in Germany (video)
A quick glance at the above photo might have you believing that's the site of a Microsoft Store being constructed; actually, it's an Apple Store. Yesterday, in the Jungfernstieg section of Hamburg, Germany, a group going by the name of ".WAV Collective" apparently vandalized the soon-to-be Apple retail location. They casually went up to the building posing as a team of construction workers, cordoned off a work site, and proceeded to screw pre-made panels, forming a Windows logo, to the side of the store's black veil -- all in broad daylight. Looks like the old question of Mac vs. PC just got a bit more confusing over in Europe. Don't believe us? Have a look at the collective's own video recap of the events posted after the break. [Thanks, Toni]
Robo-Rainbow, all the way (video)
Paul Vasquez, meet your mech god... if god rode a bicycle and illegally tagged decrepit streetscapes with happy bands of color. Watch this complicated technical solution assist with a simple act of vandalism art urban renovation in the video after the break. [Image credit: Donna Zoll]
Thieves damage South African traffic lights, reach for the juicy SIM card innards
Johannesburg, South Africa had six hundred high-tech traffic signals, each with a cellular modem and GPS chip. The idea was, if one malfunctioned, they'd call home immediately. Well, that plan isn't working out so well, because only two hundred are still in working order -- vandals ripped apart the rest to get at their SIM cards, causing traffic jams and accidents. Apparently, the government-provided cards are a ticket to unlimited free phone calls for the thieves -- at least until the individual devices are identified and their permissions revoked. The Johannesburg Roads Agency told the Mail & Guardian that the crime looks like an inside job, because only the SIM-equipped signals seem to have been targeted so far, despite looking visually identical. The damages are piling up, with the agency figuring it will require ZAR 8.8 million (roughly $1.26 million) to repair the four hundred signals currently out of order. Needless to say, the agency is looking at ways to better secure the traffic lights. We're guessing that switching to CDMA is probably off the table. Embedded SIMs, perhaps?
Google fanboys egg the homes of those who opt out of being shown on Street View
You might have heard by now that some German folks didn't much fancy having their homes displayed on Google's Street View service and consequently opted to have their domiciles blurred out. Only trouble with their plan, it seems, was that they didn't account for some Google-loving zealots over in Essen, who were so outraged by the action that they ended up bombarding the offensively blurry homes with eggs and some eloquent signs. What did those placards have to say? "Google's cool." Pithy. A spokesperson from Mountain View has been quick to distance Google from the silly behavior, while also noting that it has been an isolated incident... so far, anyway. [Thanks, Milind]
Greenpeace takes a break from issuing reports to vandalize HP corporate HQ
As readers of this site know, Greenpeace has quite an active sideline in rating (and berating) technology companies that generate excessive toxic landfill. In fact, we've seen so many of these reports that we almost forgot what the organization does best: chasing down whaling vessels, trespassing, hanging banners, and generally bedeviling polluters in the name of Mother Earth. And now, after repeatedly calling out HP for using PVC and hazardous chemicals in its devices, the group has taken matters into its own hands -- specifically, by slipping into the company's Palo Alto headquarters and painting "hazardous products" on the roof, in really big letters, with non-toxic children's paint. Congratulations to the activist group for finally finding a way to spread their message to low-flying pilots in the San Francisco Bay area! One more pic after the break.[Via Switched]
Vandals take down Internet, emergency, and voice services in California
Feeling vulnerable? Maybe you should. Apparently, taking down the Internet, ATMs, and landline and wireless phone services is as easy as crawling down a few strategically located manholes and hacking through some fiber optic cables. Police in California suspect exactly that after "vandals" cut a total of 10 fiber optic cables (each containing between 48 and 360 fibers) at 4 locations on Thursday morning. The AT&T and Sprint cables knocked "tens of thousands" of San Francisco, Bay Area residents off the grid including an additional 52,000 Verizon landline and wireless customers. San Jose spokesman, Sgt. Ronnie Lopez, says that Vandals somehow managed to thwart the safeguards securing this important element of the US infrastructure. "The manhole covers are heavy," he said, "and would take quite an effort to lift, perhaps even requiring a tool." Amazing. There's been plenty of speculation that disgruntled members of the Communication Workers of America union are to blame after its contract with AT&T expired amid "strike-threatened contract negotiations" over the weekend -- something CWA officials adamantly deny. And they should... everyone knows that kidnapping corporate bosses is the hot new trend for curing the gruntles. AT&T is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the vandals.[Via SFGate]Update: Seems that reward is now up to $250,000. Tempting, no?
360 display boxes vandalized, Wii evangelized
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Xbox_360_display_boxes_vandalized_Wii_evangelized'; If we're to believe Dustin Wilson's assurances, the mischief above wasn't a product of Photoshop or any other methods of internet chicanery. He actually scribbled the Wii endorsement onto the Xbox 360 display boxes with a white paint marker while one of the game shop's employees was distracted. This episode of When Keeping it Wii Goes Wrong was created as an entry for the EvWiiwhere Challenge hosted by N+, a MyOpera community for Nintendo fans. The contest called for readers to take pictures of the word "Wii" spelled out in unconventional ways, but we're sure this wasn't what the site had in mind. We might have our gripes with all the Electronics Boutiques and GameStops out there, but vandalizing other people's property just isn't cool, especially when it's at the expense of a worker who's just doing her job. But who knows, maybe this sort of joke will catch on with other retailers? If you think about it, this would be a great way to promote the Xbox 360 to customers inside the shop, while at the same time catching the interest of people outside who see the storefront's Wii wisecrack. It's genius!
North Carolina cops offering cash and console to stop vandalism
We've heard of the Federales handing out aging Xbox consoles in return for random pieces of weaponry, but a modern day case of Jet Grind Radio has Garner, North Carolina officials miffed. In a peculiar bout with vandals who are littering the town with "Ghost" graffiti tags, the local police are actually offering up some handsome rewards to informants that lead the boys in blue to any rightful arrests. Of course, the $1,000 cash prize looks tempting enough, but if the "miscreant is a juvenile," police are offering $500 or their choice of a Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 (the 20GB flavor, we presume), or Nintendo Wii on top of the cool thousand just for participating. Here's to hoping the bandits are kids, eh?[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]
Bitter fanboys shred Nintendo's Wikipedia entry
Rumor has it that yesterday, some angry non-Nintendo fans (i.e. crazy people) randomly decided to attack the Ninty Wikipedia page for ... well, we won't call it massive damage. More like laughable damage. "nintendo sucks!!!!!!!!1111?" Wow! That's very convincing. Let's sell those DS games and cancel those Wii preorders, guys. Is that the urge to go play PSP or is it just a case of the giggles? It's so hard to tell the difference ....Yes, we know, this is a very silly story about a very silly person, but it's just so funny that we couldn't resist it.
