4 ms·

Protesters a few generations ago figured out that you can grab a nearby dumpster and set it on fire to cause even more disruption to an intersection. The fact t

Protesters a few generations ago figured out that you can grab a nearby dumpster and set it on fire to cause even more disruption to an intersection. The fact that it still doesn’t happen very often demonstrates that not every threat is worth worrying about. There is also no security around the systems that change traffic lights for emergency vehicles. In fact most of them can be defeated using a handheld flashlight. Yet we don’t see problems with that either.

kajecounterhack 2y ago
> The fact that it still doesn’t happen very often demonstrates that not every threat is worth worrying about. This. Chopping down a stop sign with an angle grinder is an easy terrorist feat but not one you hear about because nobody stands to gain anything.
- ceejayoz 2y ago
  The stuff you have to do in person one at a time will probably always be limited. Risk/reward just doesn't make sense. When you can push a software payload that does the equivalent of cutting down tens of thousands of stop signs at once from an extradition-free jurisdiction, the calculus changes. We're getting plenty of tastes of this with healthcare companies and hospitals being targeted with ransomware.
  - popcalc 2y ago
    >extradition-free jurisdiction In an operation like this, you're most likely a government employee for a foreign power. Extradition is not one of your worries.
    - ceejayoz 2y ago
      I would define that as especially extradition-free.
autoexec 2y ago
It takes a lot of time, effort, and risk to drag a dumpster into the street and set it on fire. Someone using a laptop doesn't even have to stand up to push a button that infects a car with a virus that spreads to other cars. The risk of getting caught is basically zero.
- smegsicle 2y ago
  if you have a virus that infects cars and spreads to other cars you can cause a lot more targeted damage than confusing an intersection, and a lot more widespread damage than confusing many intersections
Aurornis 2y ago
> you can grab a nearby dumpster and set it on fire The kind of dumpster you see behind a restaurant weights 1000-2000 lbs empty, and another 1000-2000 lbs full. The effort and risk profile of pushing one of those over to an intersection is completely different than wireless interfering with a system. This comparison isn't logical at all.
- bombcar 2y ago
  I don’t know what dumpsters you have but around here they’re on wheels and weigh about 500 pounds empty and can be rolled relatively easily with a few guys (the man who dumps them rolls the full ones into the alley to line up with the truck). https://www.roughriderindustries.com/products/dumpsters/ https://www.roughriderindustries.com/products/dumpsters/
- darby_eight 2y ago
  ok, use a flaming trash can instead. Same result.
JKCalhoun 2y ago
> There is also no security around the systems that change traffic lights for emergency vehicles. Yeah, when I saw the article I assumed it was about Chrome Boxes [1]. Pretty sure I was behind a guy once in San Jose that had one. [1] http://www.textfiles.com/phreak/BOXES/chrome http://www.textfiles.com/phreak/BOXES/chrome
lamontcg 2y ago
Another weakness in traffic signalling devices that is actually under active exploitation is that you can just take a vehicle and spin donuts in the middle of the intersection.

kajecounterhack 2y ago

> The fact that it still doesn’t happen very often demonstrates that not every threat is worth worrying about. This. Chopping down a stop sign with an angle grinder is an easy terrorist feat but not one you hear about because nobody stands to gain anything.

ceejayoz 2y ago
The stuff you have to do in person one at a time will probably always be limited. Risk/reward just doesn't make sense. When you can push a software payload that does the equivalent of cutting down tens of thousands of stop signs at once from an extradition-free jurisdiction, the calculus changes. We're getting plenty of tastes of this with healthcare companies and hospitals being targeted with ransomware.
- popcalc 2y ago
  >extradition-free jurisdiction In an operation like this, you're most likely a government employee for a foreign power. Extradition is not one of your worries.
  - ceejayoz 2y ago
    I would define that as especially extradition-free.

autoexec 2y ago

It takes a lot of time, effort, and risk to drag a dumpster into the street and set it on fire. Someone using a laptop doesn't even have to stand up to push a button that infects a car with a virus that spreads to other cars. The risk of getting caught is basically zero.

smegsicle 2y ago
if you have a virus that infects cars and spreads to other cars you can cause a lot more targeted damage than confusing an intersection, and a lot more widespread damage than confusing many intersections

Aurornis 2y ago

> you can grab a nearby dumpster and set it on fire The kind of dumpster you see behind a restaurant weights 1000-2000 lbs empty, and another 1000-2000 lbs full. The effort and risk profile of pushing one of those over to an intersection is completely different than wireless interfering with a system. This comparison isn't logical at all.

bombcar 2y ago
I don’t know what dumpsters you have but around here they’re on wheels and weigh about 500 pounds empty and can be rolled relatively easily with a few guys (the man who dumps them rolls the full ones into the alley to line up with the truck). https://www.roughriderindustries.com/products/dumpsters/ https://www.roughriderindustries.com/products/dumpsters/
darby_eight 2y ago
ok, use a flaming trash can instead. Same result.

JKCalhoun 2y ago

> There is also no security around the systems that change traffic lights for emergency vehicles. Yeah, when I saw the article I assumed it was about Chrome Boxes [1]. Pretty sure I was behind a guy once in San Jose that had one. [1] http://www.textfiles.com/phreak/BOXES/chrome http://www.textfiles.com/phreak/BOXES/chrome

lamontcg 2y ago

Another weakness in traffic signalling devices that is actually under active exploitation is that you can just take a vehicle and spin donuts in the middle of the intersection.