Cyber Incident Victim: Outfront Media
Date:
Sep 2019
Location:
United States of America
Summary
Two individuals breached a secured facility housing control systems for a highway advertisement billboard, forcibly entering the premises and manipulating equipment to display pornographic content on the digital display visible to interstate traffic. The unauthorized broadcast caused significant driver distraction, resulting in reported collisions, and persisted for approximately 15-20 minutes before the billboard operator, Outfront Media, intervened to halt it. Law enforcement recovered surveillance footage showing the suspects concealing their identities but have not yet identified them, prompting a public appeal for information. The perpetrators face potential criminal charges including dissemination of obscene material and burglary.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 2 techniques |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On the evening of September 28, 2019, two unidentified individuals breached a secured facility housing electronic billboard equipment near the intersection of Interstate 75 and Michigan Highway 59 in Auburn Hills. The suspects scaled a six-foot perimeter fence and forcibly entered a building beneath the digital display, which contained the computer systems controlling advertisement content. Surveillance footage captured both perpetrators wearing hooded sweatshirts with their faces partially obscured and glasses, with one individual carrying a mobile phone that may have been used to photograph equipment. The intrusion occurred at approximately 10:49 PM local time, though investigators noted discrepancies in the timestamp accuracy of the recorded footage. During their 15-minute occupation of the facility, the intruders manipulated the control systems to override standard advertising content.
By 11:00 PM, multiple drivers reported witnessing explicit pornographic material displayed simultaneously on both the northbound and southbound-facing panels of the billboard, operated by Triple Communications under parent company Triple Investment Group. The illicit content persisted for 15-20 minutes, causing sufficient distraction to contribute to at least one vehicular collision according to witness accounts. Law enforcement officers arriving at the scene confirmed the ongoing broadcast before contacting Triple Communications through emergency protocols to terminate the transmission. Auburn Hills Police Department subsequently released surveillance footage showing the suspects adjusting the camera angle upon detection and requested public assistance in identifying the individuals, who face potential charges including dissemination of obscene material (punishable by up to 90 days imprisonment and/or $500 fines) and burglary. The incident resulted in operational disruption to standard advertising services until system control was restored by the operators.