Radio used to "hack" Dallas alert sirens

[noway2]

Article from Arstechnica.

Alert sirens, especially older ones like those used in Dallas, are usually controlled by tone combinations used by the Emergency Alert System broadcast over the National Weather Service's weather radio. Alternatively, they can also be controlled by Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) or Audio Frequency Shift Keying (AFSK) encoded commands from a dispatcher or command center terminal sent over UHF radio frequencies that were set aside for emergency agencies' use by the FCC in 2004 (these are typically in the 700 MHz range).

Those who are familiar with Ham radio operation, especially repeaters, will have an intimate understanding of these implications and know how easy it would be to hack such a system.

It's also an example of how inept some of our "government" institutions can be, relying on things like security through obscurity and it shows just how vulnerable much of the nations infrastructure, public and private, really is.

 

[htperry]

IMO, all Internet connected systems are vulnerable, even the new refrigerators, thermostats and home security systems. These systems have become so complex that developers have a hard time ferreting out all the exploits and it becomes a fast-fix process as flaws are exposed.

 

[JohnFreeman]

While I'm in no way endorsing the action, I'm impressed by the hack itself. While it has all the hallmarks of a very clever teenager, it should serve as a wake up call (Get it?)

I'd also be surprised if the perp wasn't a ham...