WASHINGTON, Nov 26 (Reuters) – Hackers are hijacking U.S. radio transmission equipment to broadcast bogus emergency messages and obscene language, the Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a public notice, opens new tab<\/u><\/a>, the FCC said a “recent string of cyber intrusions against various radio broadcasters” had occurred, resulting in the issuance of the U.S. Emergency Alert System’s “Attention Signal.” The signal is an attention-grabbing sound that is meant to precede official announcements related to tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and other emergencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FCC said the hackers appeared to have compromised improperly secured equipment made by the Swiss network audio company Barix and reconfigured it “to receive attacker-controlled audio in lieu of station programming.” The agency said affected stations “broadcast to the public an attacker-inserted audio stream that includes an actual or simulated Attention Signal and EAS alert tones, as well as obscene language, and other inappropriate material.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FCC notice cited reporting from the last few days about radio streams in Texas, opens new tab<\/u><\/a> and Virginia, opens new tab<\/u><\/a> being hijacked to broadcast bigoted or offensive material. The agency urged broadcasters to take basic security precautions, such as changing default passwords and regularly installing updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Barix did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. However, in a 2016 statement, opens new tab<\/u><\/a> issued in the wake of a similar spate of hijackings, opens new tab<\/u><\/a>, the company said: “Barix would like to emphasize that its devices are secure for Broadcast use when set up correctly and protected with a strong password.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n