Devon road signs effected by cyber-attack

Some road signs in Devon have been out of action since a cyber-attack hit the county council last year – prompting one councillor to say he has been expecting a morning greeting from Vladimir Putin ever since.

Councillor Alan Connett, leader of the Liberal Democrats, told a cabinet meeting that there around 30 variable message signs in Devon that have not been working since a cyber-attack in 2017.

He said that every morning on his way to work he drives past one of these signs outside the BP garage in Exminster, and asked Devon County Council

While discussing the highway maintenance revenue budget and on-street parking account for 2018/19, Cllr Connett questioned the £10,000 that was due to be spent on variable message signs.

He said: “In October last year, I shared my concerns with the council about the variable message sign on the A379 near the BP station in Exminster which didn’t work. I was told that around 30 in the county weren’t working and this was because they run on Windows XP and had been subject to a cyber-attack.

“Ever since then I have been waiting for my morning greeting from President Putin as I drive to work. Obviously not concerned with affecting Amercian Elections and European referendums, a morning greeting from Russia as I drive from the People’s Republic was something I was looking forward to.

“But there has not been a sign from Putin and not even a message from Devon County Council as they have been blank every morning as I arrived. I brought it up on October 2, 2017, and followed it up with the council asking for when there would be good news about this. I was told that the council don’t know when there will good news and when it will be fixed – maybe when Putin is in the White House?

“But if we are going to spend £10,000 on signs, can we get these 30 fixed? People like seeing messages from the Devon County Council telling them to drive carefully or safely or warning that Bridge Road is closed, and it really matters to people. Before we go spending and splash out on new signs, can we get the old stock sorted and soon?”