“Zombies in area! …run.” That was the message that drivers in Austin, Texas saw on an electronic construction sign on the side of the road early last year. According to news reports, “hackers” had broken into the sign (which are rarely ever locked), and then “hacked” the password of the computer inside to reset the message. You can see the news report below.

The reality is that tampering with the computer inside is way too easy. In order to change the text on most electronic road signs, all you need to know is the default password (DOTS), which is rarely ever changed. To make matters worse, if the default password has been changed, holding “shift” and “control” while typing “DIPY” will reset the password to DOTS. A simple Internet search will turn up step-by-step guides like these.

While many of you will find this funny, we warn you against tampering with any signs. You should never tamper with a road sign. It’s a misdemeanor crime in most states, and can create potential public safety issues.