The message appeared on all similar signs around Crawley at about 6.45am.
Thousands of motorists travelling into the town would have been subjected to the unsavoury advice.
The signs normally display the number of spaces available in the town's car parks and were installed about four years ago.
A spokeswoman for Crawley Borough Council said the authority had received no complaints from the public, just calls advising them what had happened.
She said: "It is disappointing someone would do this.
"The car park information system was hacked into.
"Crawley Borough Council officers took immediate action to remove the offensive words when this was brought to their attention.
"The system and network are not the council's and are maintained by a contractor. Measures have now been put in place to prevent any further attacks.
"Our apologies for any offence or distress caused.
"Nowhere is foolproof - if hackers can get into Pentagon computers then I am sure they would have no problem with ours."
[full local newspaper story here]
Comments (1)
Ah, the miracles of modern technology. And I can remember the good old days when vandals just used spray cans!
I guess the hacker(s) concerned will let the dust settle for a bit whilst the keen-as-mustard local plods stuff their faces with fish and chips. Then in a few weeks time, the same signs will doubtlessly read: "copperz iz useless!"
I noticed that the digital traffic info signs in our town have a little aerial on top - so presumably can be hacked wirelessly. I guess all you need is a mobile phone, a laptop, a bit of know-how and more time on your hands than you know what to do with.
Happy days!
Posted by Mr. Goose | November 1, 2006 4:50 PM
Posted on November 1, 2006 16:50