Comments on: Official zombie warning was a hack, say officials http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 13:24:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1656937 IronEdithKidd Fri, 15 Feb 2013 16:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1656937 Indeed.  Tornadoes like to sneak up on us, thus the need for speedy and widely broadcast warnings.   Indeed.  Tornadoes like to sneak up on us, thus the need for speedy and widely broadcast warnings.  

]]> By: Devin Jones http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1656650 Devin Jones Fri, 15 Feb 2013 03:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1656650 Of course they'll say it was fake. Can't risk widespread panic.  Of course they’ll say it was fake. Can’t risk widespread panic. 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1656508 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1656508 We never had the EBS used for real emergencies in New England. Hurricanes and blizzards give plenty of notice. We never had the EBS used for real emergencies in New England. Hurricanes and blizzards give plenty of notice.

]]> By: Sirkowski http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1656480 Sirkowski Thu, 14 Feb 2013 23:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1656480 IT'S HAPPENING! IT’S HAPPENING!

]]> By: deaduncledave http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1656370 deaduncledave Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1656370 Bril. Bril.

]]> By: Aaron Gilliland http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1656043 Aaron Gilliland Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1656043 Yow.  I assumed this was just an overlay on the station's feed with an old EAS header, something that would only need access to a mixer.  Wouldn't a zombie invasion rate a full screen warning instead of a ticker and a voiceover? How easy is it to decode the header?   Yow.  I assumed this was just an overlay on the station’s feed with an old EAS header, something that would only need access to a mixer.  Wouldn’t a zombie invasion rate a full screen warning instead of a ticker and a voiceover?

How easy is it to decode the header?  

]]> By: Gerald Mander http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1656027 Gerald Mander Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1656027 Wow, for a moment I thought I had a reasonable explanation for the LAPD shooting the shit out of everything that moves in the last few days. Wow, for a moment I thought I had a reasonable explanation for the LAPD shooting the shit out of everything that moves in the last few days.

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1656020 Boundegar Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1656020 All this time I was so smug about not having a TV and now this.  Why did I have to miss this?  Whyyyyyyy? All this time I was so smug about not having a TV and now this.  Why did I have to miss this?  Whyyyyyyy?

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1656014 IronEdithKidd Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1656014 That's odd.  The first time I recall having a real emergncy warning broadcast through EBS was in about 1979 for a tornado warning.  Do you not have violent weather where you live? That’s odd.  The first time I recall having a real emergncy warning broadcast through EBS was in about 1979 for a tornado warning.  Do you not have violent weather where you live?

]]> By: Christina Ward http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655891 Christina Ward Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655891 Yup, you set your own EAS pwords.  BUT the only people with govt. clearance have access to the system.  It's considered a serious responsibility.....but again but...not too difficult to access if you're naughty. Yup, you set your own EAS pwords.  BUT the only people with govt. clearance have access to the system.  It’s considered a serious responsibility…..but again but…not too difficult to access if you’re naughty.

]]> By: That_Anonymous_Coward http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655863 That_Anonymous_Coward Thu, 14 Feb 2013 17:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655863 Vital to keeping the nation "secure" and this was their best effort... Throw money at it and it'll be fine until something goes wrong then we just call it a cyberattack and get more power... I'm also really saddened they needed to confirm the broadcast was bogus... Vital to keeping the nation “secure” and this was their best effort…
Throw money at it and it’ll be fine until something goes wrong then we just call it a cyberattack and get more power…

I’m also really saddened they needed to confirm the broadcast was bogus…

]]> By: BillStewart2012 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655849 BillStewart2012 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655849 More seriously, I remember the first time I heard an Emergency Broadcast System message that was Not A Drill.  It was probably about 1990, and they'd decided to start using the system for normal emergencies and not just nuclear war, so they were announcing flood warnings near the local river.  More seriously, I remember the first time I heard an Emergency Broadcast System message that was Not A Drill.  It was probably about 1990, and they’d decided to start using the system for normal emergencies and not just nuclear war, so they were announcing flood warnings near the local river. 

]]> By: BillStewart2012 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655840 BillStewart2012 Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655840 The announcement about zombies was <i>FAKE?</i>  So I don't actually need all those weapons I stockpiled?  I blame the Liberal Media! The announcement about zombies was FAKE?  So I don’t actually need all those weapons I stockpiled?  I blame the Liberal Media!

]]> By: deaduncledave http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655811 deaduncledave Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655811 It almost seems like EBS was more secure, with it's sealed onetime pads. Is FEMA /really/ allowing primary broadcasters the right to choose their own passwords? Or am I misunderstanding the situation? It almost seems like EBS was more secure, with it’s sealed onetime pads. Is FEMA /really/ allowing primary broadcasters the right to choose their own passwords? Or am I misunderstanding the situation?

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655806 Dan Hibiki Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655806 no worries, Canada is ready:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ueBZuZAoglE#! no worries, Canada is ready:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ueBZuZAoglE#!

]]> By: Rob http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655805 Rob Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655805 The final line of that bothers me a little. If you have questions on something that basic, should you really be a provider of infrastructure like this? The final line of that bothers me a little.

If you have questions on something that basic, should you really be a provider of infrastructure like this?

]]> By: PhosPhorious http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655733 PhosPhorious Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655733 In other news the Shoggoth attack on the U.S. continues unabated. I, for one, welcome our new Shoggoth overlords. . . In other news the Shoggoth attack on the U.S. continues unabated.

I, for one, welcome our new Shoggoth overlords. . .

]]> By: Dan Hibiki http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655715 Dan Hibiki Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655715 Send... more...paramedics... Send… more…paramedics…

]]> By: Christina Ward http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655704 Christina Ward Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655704 Because of work I do at a local community radio station, I received this FCC alert yesterday morning.  The CAP EAS is the system that in the simplest explanation, makes the emergency alerts happen. (EAS is FCC speak for Emergency Address System.) FCC is not happy. From the FCC, February 12, 2013.Urgent Advisory:  Immediate actions to be taken regarding CAP EAS device security.All EAS Participants are required to take immediate action to secure their CAP EAS equipment, including resetting passwords, and ensuring CAP EAS equipment is secured behind properly configured firewalls and other defensive measures.  All CAP EAS equipment manufacturer models are included in this advisory.All Broadcast and Cable EAS Participants are urged to take the following actions immediately1.      EAS Participants must change all passwords on their CAP EAS equipment from default factory settings, including administrator and user accounts.2.      EAS Participants are also urged to ensure that their firewalls and other solutions are properly configured and up-to-date.3.      EAS Participants are further advised to examine their CAP EAS equipment to ensure that no unauthorized alerts or messages have been set (queued) for future transmission.4.      If you are unable to reset the default passwords on your equipment, you may consider disconnecting your device’s Ethernet connection until those settings have been updated.5.      EAS Participants that have questions about securing their equipment should consult their equipment manufacturer. Because of work I do at a local community radio station, I received this FCC alert yesterday morning.  The CAP EAS is the system that in the simplest explanation, makes the emergency alerts happen. (EAS is FCC speak for Emergency Address System.)

FCC is not happy.

From the FCC, February 12, 2013.Urgent Advisory:  Immediate actions to be taken regarding CAP EAS device security.All EAS Participants are required to take immediate action to secure their CAP EAS equipment, including resetting passwords, and ensuring CAP EAS equipment is secured behind properly configured firewalls and other defensive measures.  All CAP EAS equipment manufacturer models are included in this advisory.All Broadcast and Cable EAS Participants are urged to take the following actions immediately1.      EAS Participants must change all passwords on their CAP EAS equipment from default factory settings, including administrator and user accounts.2.      EAS Participants are also urged to ensure that their firewalls and other solutions are properly configured and up-to-date.3.      EAS Participants are further advised to examine their CAP EAS equipment to ensure that no unauthorized alerts or messages have been set (queued) for future transmission.4.      If you are unable to reset the default passwords on your equipment, you may consider disconnecting your device’s Ethernet connection until those settings have been updated.5.      EAS Participants that have questions about securing their equipment should consult their equipment manufacturer.

]]> By: peregrinus http://boingboing.net/2013/02/14/official-zombie-warning-was-a.html#comment-1655682 peregrinus Thu, 14 Feb 2013 15:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212907#comment-1655682 Did they say this over radio?  Ever so slowly?  Can we hear anything in the background? ss ... brrr ....  aaaiiiin ....  sss Did they say this over radio?  Ever so slowly?  Can we hear anything in the background?

ss … brrr ….  aaaiiiin ….  sss

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