Hacking into traffic control systems

[davewiecking]

DC (and other) traffic control systems vulnerable to hackers (from WTOP.com): http://wtop.com/dc/2015/06/dc-traffic-system-vulnerable-to-hackers/.

WASHINGTON – Traffic lights in the District and other major cities have been hacked by security researchers, in an attempt to point out vulnerabilities in infrastructures that support daily commutes.

Cesar Cerrudo, an Argentine security researcher at IOActive Labs, realized he could turn red lights green and green lights red, during a trip to Washington last year.

[jeffandnicole]

Next someone may get some wacky idea and post a Zombie alert on a VMS. (/sarcasm)

[cpzilliacus]

N.Y. Times: Traffic Hacking: Caution Light Is On

[andrewkbrown]

Cerrudo told The New York Times he could have paralyzed emergency responders, or shut down all roads to the Capitol.

You don't have to hack traffic lights for that. Twice a day rush hour and drivers who have no idea what to do when an emergency vehicle comes up behind them paralyze us every day just fine.

[SteveG1988]

Also done in the 1960s movie.

[tradephoric]

Also done in the 1960s movie.

A hacker would physically have to gain access to the controller box and rewire the load switches (or disable the malfunction management unit) to be able to pull this off.  About the worst a remote hacker could do is push a signal into conflict flash.