Remember a simpler time when really a clever prank involved little more than a carefully placed whoopee cushion?

We at InventHelp love a good gag, but some high-tech jokesters have been pushing the limits lately. Just this week, a Taco Bell in Missouri fell victim to a hacker who commandeered the drive-through radio system. Hungry customers looking for their nacho fix were instead berated with obscenities.

Authorities say the pranksters must have been nearby in order to interfere with the drive-through frequency. We all know Taco Bell has a sense of humor (or at least its Chihuahua spokesman did), but the execs are not amused. The pranksters will surely face charges if they are caught.

Another high-profile prank made headlines recently when techies hacked an electronic road sign system in the Midwest. Imagine driving down the road and seeing a sign that reads, “DAILY LANE CLOSURES DUE TO ZOMBIES” or “CAUTION! ZOMBIES AHEAD!”

I’ll be the first to admit that the thought makes me chuckle, but this dangerous stunt could have ended badly. Drivers who are distracted are more likely to cause an accident or endanger road crews. Officials in several states are involved in the hunt for those responsible.

I guess that squirting flowers, fake mustaches and itch powder just don’t cut it in this age of high-tech stunts. InventHelp and Invention Girl hope you’ll use technology for good instead of evil!

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2. Swiss Army Knives Go High Tech with New Invention
3. Job Hunting in Today’s Tech-Savvy Work Force
4. Book Worms Enjoy Tech Geek Benefits
5. KFC’s Top Secret Recipe Invention Transferred Under High Security