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Hackers get access to EAS at pair of Upper Peninsula TV stations, send out zombie hoax
Hackers yesterday gained access to the Emergency Alert System at two Marquette television stations, sending out a scrolling Civil Emergency warning with audio claiming that bodies of the dead were rising from their graves and attacking the living. The hoax aired during the afternoon on PBS affiliate WNMU-TV Ch. 13 and in prime time on ABC affiliate WBUP-TV Ch. 10.
WBUP Station Manager and News Director Cynthia Thompson confirmed the EAS hijacking on WBUP's web site, "On behalf of ABC 10, please know that our personnel are working diligently to close any gaps in our security systems that could allow this to reoccur and to lock out any further intrusions. We've made contact with state cyber crime authorities who will help us investigate this incident. Again, our apologies to those of you who were scared, shocked or confused."
WNMU-TV station manager Eric Smith has also confirmed the intrusion and stated that the Northern Michigan University Public Safety Department, the Michigan State Police, and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters are involved in the investigation that this morning identified the origin of the hacking overseas.
The alert on WBUP was captured and posted to YouTube:
A similar hacking incident was reported yesterday at a TV station in the state of Montana.
The (Marquette) Mining Journal:
The message about dead rising from their graves has created a great deal of buzz on social networking sites and many zombie jokes. While authorities believe the perpetrator in this incident has been found, the hacking of two local television stations' Emergency Alert System Monday could have chilling implications.
Full story: TV's Emergency Alert System hacked (Tue, 2/12)
