CSI: Cyber

The new CBS show CSI: Cyber is doing a show about a hacker making roller coasters crashes. To me the coaster controls is closed circuit I think no way a hacker can get in. Show time is 10/9c Wednesday March 11.

Yeah but its a show so they can make that happen. Its not hooked up to somthing that can be hacked. If someone knows more about this though please reply.

I don't know if it would be possible or not, I would like to think that the brakes are backed up by a simple non software system that would stop the trains independent of the software...but I don't know.

The computer hacker must work for Intamin.

Intamin doesn't require the interference of a hacker to make something like that happen.

Block systems on coasters are maintained by sensors that are run through a processor of some sort or another and there's often a pc in the computer room to provide information about errors on the ride to technicians. (or at least that was the case when I worked at a park 17 years ago) I'm sure those computers are networked to some degree these days and, thus, I would assume it's possible they could be hacked. Could a hacker access anything that would allow he/she to override the block system? Probably not, but the beauty of a fictional tv show is that anything is possible.

I worked with someone that had been a part of Hard Rock Park and she told me that Premier had network access to their rides at HRP for support purposes. She alleged that, when HRP stopped being able to pay vendors, Premier remotely locked down their rides so that they could no longer operate. Not sure if that is true, but it makes for a fun story.

The assorted CSI shows take dramatic liberties (you have to when solving multiple murders in 48 minutes*) but have always been pretty careful about scientific and technological accuracy. If they're doing a story on a hacker making roller coasters crash, I'll trust that they determined it would be possible to do so.

*Or however long "hour long" shows last these days.

That depends.
Remember that hilarious theme park disaster movie that was shot at Santa Cruz? (I can't remember the name of it) Lines sounded like "The coaster! It's going faster and faster!" and stupid stuff happened like riders being thrown from the flume when the logs stacked up.

Not to say that CSI hasn't taken better care, but that remains to be seen. Will we see that a hacker is causing trains to ignore their assigned block thus causing an accident? Or will we be asked to believe he can make a ride jump the track and crash to the ground? Because that would be ridiculous, and sadly, only a few viewers will know that.

I'll be watching this one for sure.

I haven't watched CSI: Cyber, but I'll try to catch this episode (as long as it doesn't conflict with any of my favorite Food Network shows, of course). I will confess to be a sucker for CSI. I have to avoid WE TV on Sundays and Mondays, when they do CSI: Miami marathons, because I will sit there and watch one episode after another.

RCMAC - Ha! That would be 'Thrill' - which was anything but! I'm sure the entire movie was on youtube as I posted a link a while back, in response to a similarly (possibly deliberate) moment of forgetfulness by someone on here. I've got it somewhere on a hard drive but I've never watched it again- once was (once more than) enough :)

Ride controls use PLC's and are not usually networked to the outside.

slithernoggin said:

*Or however long "hour long" shows last these days.

Sadly, it's closer to 42 minutes these days.

Does anyone under 50 watch CBS?

Yes I do, on Thursday nights when The Big Bang Theory is on.

Lord Gonchar said:

Sadly, it's closer to 42 minutes these days.

Damn.

Thanks to DVR, I mostly fast forward through commercials and boring parts, had no idea we were under 3/4 of an hour....

(Except for the CSI Miami marathons, where I go see what's on Food Network during commercial breaks.)

Jeff said:
Does anyone under 50 watch CBS?

No. And that's exactly what saved the network.
I heard just the other day that CBS was at one time in such serious, fourth place deadly trouble that a move was made to consciously go after the over 50 demographic, which the other networks were giving away. We still watch T.V. in a disproportionate way. We have newfound disposable income. Advertisers are finding a group of people that will actually watch their ads. So while Big Bang is popular with the youngsters and oldsters alike, CSI, Amazing Race, NCIS, Mom, Mike and Molly, and Madam Secretary appeal to the older crowd.

I've heard since that story that CBS is conscious of their Geezer Network status, and with shows like Supergirl, Scorpion, and yes, CSI: Cyber they hope to pull in a young, hipper crowd. Good luck to them. Tonight I'll be in my jammies in front of the tv with my pepsi and popcorn eagerly waiting the newest episode of The Good Wife on CBS. I'll catch up with Walking Dead tomorrow sometime.

Yes, CBS has actively pursued older demographics. They may not be cool or popular, but they have money to spend and they spend it.

Nothing should be watched instead of The Walking Dead on Sunday's.

HEY! I'm cool! I'm popular!
Sheesh.

And Thabto, no. It can wait til after Good Wife or Monday afternoon if my judge shows are reruns.

Metamucil, She Drank.