Hackers replaced Silicon Valley crosswalks messages with Elon Musk's voice after exposing 'weak password,' report says
Source: The Independent
Wednesday 31 December 2025 17:31 EST
More details have emerged about how anonymous hackers in Silicon Valley were able to reprogram crosswalk signals in various locations to say prank messages in the voices of tech billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
An investigation by the Palo Alto Daily Post, revealed that the Caltrans system was hacked because the company did not change the passwords on the crosswalk system, despite being advised to by the manufacturers.
Video circulated online in April showed the tongue-in-cheek, and apparently AI-generated prank messages being played after pedestrians pushed the buttons to cross the road in Redwood City, Menlo Park and Palo Alto, in the Bay Area.
“Hi, this is Mark Zuckerberg, but real ones call me the Zuck,” one crosswalk message said. The voice then added: “You know, it's normal to feel uncomfortable or even violated, as we forcefully insert AI into every facet of your conscious experience, and I just want to assure you, you don't need to worry, because there's absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. Anyway, see ya.”
Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/musk-ai-hackers-crosswalk-details-b2892941.html
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