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/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/ /-/ /-/ /-/ Phreaker's /-/ /-/ PhunHouse /-/ /-/ /-/ /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/ /-/ By: /-/ /-/ The Traveler /-/ /-/ /-/ /-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/ The long awaited prequil to Phreaker's Guide has finally arrived. Conceived from the boredom and loneliness that could only be derived from: The Traveler! But now, he has returned in full strength (after a small vacation) and is here to 'World Premiere' the new files everywhere. Stay cool. This is the prequil to the first one, so just relax. This is not made to be an exclusive ultra elite file, so kinda calm down and watch in the background if you are too cool for it. /-/ Phreak Dictionary /-/ Here you will find some of the basic but necessary terms that should be known by any phreak who wants to be respected at all. Phreak : 1. The action of using mischevious and mostly illegal ways in order to not pay for some sort of tele- communications bill, order, transfer, or other service. It often involves usage of highly illegal boxes and machines in order to defeat the security that is set up to avoid this sort of happening. [fr'eaking]. v. 2. A person who uses the above methods of destruction and chaos in order to make a better life for all. A true phreaker will not not go against his fellows or narc on people who have ragged on him or do anything termed to be dishonorable to phreaks. [fr'eek]. n. 3. A certain code or dialup useful in the action of being a phreak. (Example: "I hacked a new metro phreak last night.") Switching System : 1. There are 3 main switching systems currently employed in the US, and a few other systems will be mentioned as background. A) SxS: This system was invented in 1918 and was employed in over half of the country until 1978. It is a very basic system that is a general waste of energy and hard work on the linesman. A good way to identify this is that it requires a coin in the phone booth before it will give you a dial tone, or that no call waiting, call forwarding, or any other such service is available. Stands for: Step by Step B) XB: This switching system was first employed in 1978 in order to take care of most of the faults of SxS switching. Not only is it more efficient, but it also can support different services in various forms. XB1 is Crossbar Version 1. That is very limited and is hard to distinguish from SxS except by direct view of the wiring involved. Next up was XB4, Crossbar Version 4. With this system, some of the basic things like DTMF that were not available with SxS can be accomplished. For the final stroke of XB, XB5 was created. This is a service that can allow DTMF plus most 800 type services (which were not always available.) Stands for: Crossbar. C) ESS: A nightmare in telecom. In vivid color, ESS is a pretty bad thing to have to stand up to. It is quite simple to identify. Dialing 911 for emergencies, and ANI [see ANI below] are the most common facets of the dread system. ESS has the capability to list in a person's caller log what number was called, how long the call took, and even the status of the conversation (modem or otherwise.) Since ESS has been employed, which has been very recently, it has gone through many kinds of revisions. The latest system to date is ESS 11a, that is employed in Washington D.C. for security reasons. ESS is truly trouble for any phreak, because it is 'smarter' than the other systems. For instance, if on your caller log they saw 50 calls to 1-800-421-9438, they would be able to do a CN/A [see Loopholes below] on your number and determine whether you are subscribed to that service or not. This makes most calls a hazard, because although 800 numbers appear to be free, they are recorded on your caller log and then right before you receive your bill it deletes the billings for them. But before that the are open to inspection, which is one reason why extended use of any code is dangerous under ESS. Some of the boxes [see Boxing below] are unable to function in ESS. It is generally a menace to the true phreak. Stands For: Electronic Switching System. Because they could appear on a filter somewhere or maybe it is just nice to know them anyways. A) SSS: Strowger Switching System. First non-operator system available. B) WES: Western Electronics Switching. Used about 40 years ago with some minor places out west. Boxing: 1) The use of personally designed boxes that emit or cancel electronical impulses that allow simpler acting while phreaking. Through the use of separate boxes, you can accomplish most feats possible with or without the control of an operator. 2) Some boxes and their functions are listed below. Ones marked with '*' indicate that they are not operatable in ESS. *Black Box: Makes it seem to the phone company that the phone was never picked up. Blue Box : Emits a 2600hz tone that allows you to do such things as stack a trunk line, kick the operator off line, and others. Red Box : Simulates the noise of a quarter, nickel, or dime being dropped into a payphone. Cheese Box : Turns your home phone into a pay phone to throw off traces (a red box is usually needed in order to call out.) *Clear Box : Gives you a dial tone on some of the old SxS payphones without putting in a coin. Beige Box : A simpler produced linesman's handset that allows you to tap into phone lines and extract by eavesdropping, or crossing wires, etc. Purple Box : Makes all calls made out from your house seem to be local calls. ANI [ANI]: 1) Automatic Number Identification. A service available on ESS that allows a phone service [see Dialups below] to record the number that any certain code was dialed from along with the number that was called and print both of these on the customer bill. 950 dialups [see Dialups below] are all designed just to use ANI. Some of the services do not have the proper equipment to read the ANI impulses yet, but it is impossible to see which is which without being busted or not busted first. Dialups [dy'l'ups]: 1) Any local or 800 extended outlet that allows instant access to any service such as MCI, Sprint, or AT&T that from there can be used by handpicking or using a program to reveal other peoples codes which can then be used moderately until they find out about it and you must switch to another code (preferrably before they find out about it.) 2) Dialups are extremely common on both senses. Some dialups reveal the company that operates them as soon as you hear the tone. Others are much harder and some you may never be able to identify. A small list of dialups: 1-800-421-9438 (5 digit codes) 1-800-547-6754 (6 digit codes) 1-800-345-0008 (6 digit codes) 1-800-734-3478 (6 digit codes) 1-800-222-2255 (5 digit codes) 3) Codes: Codes are very easily accessed procedures when you call a dialup. They will give you some sort of tone. If the tone does not end in 3 seconds, then punch in the code and immediately following the code, the number you are dialing but strike the '1' in the beginning out first. If the tone does end, then punch in the code when the tone ends. Then, it will give you another tone. Punch in the number you are dialing, or a '9'. If you punch in a '9' and the tone stops, then you messed up a little. If you punch in a tone and the tone continues, then simply dial then number you are calling without the '1'. 4) All codes are not universal. The only type that I know of that is truly universal is Metrophone. Almost every major city has a local Metro dialup (for Philadelphia, (215)351-0100/0126) and since the codes are universal, almost every phreak has used them once or twice. They do not employ ANI in any outlets that I know of, so feel free to check through your books and call 555-1212 or, as a more devious manor, subscribe yourself. Then, never use your own code. That way, if they check up on you due to your caller log, they can usually find out that you are subscribed. Not only that but you could set a phreak hacker around that area and just let it hack away, since they usually group them, and, as a bonus, you will have their local dialup. 5) 950's. They seem like a perfectly cool phreakers dream. They are free from your house, from payphones, from everywhere, and they host all of the major long distance companies (950-1044 <MCI>, 950-1077 <Sprint>, 950-1088 <Skylines>, 950-1033 <Us Telecom>.) Well, they aren't. They were designed for ANI. That is the point, end of discussion. A phreak dictionary. If you remember all of the things contained on that fileup there, you may have a better chance of doing whatever it is you do. This next section is maybe a little more interesting... Blue Box Plans: --------------- These are some blue box plans, but first, be warned, there have been 2600hz tone detectors out on operator trunk lines since XB4. The idea behind it is to use a 2600hz tone for a few very naughty functions that can really make your day lighten up. But first, here are the plans, or the heart of the file: 700 : 1 : 2 : 4 : 7 : 11 : 900 : + : 3 : 5 : 8 : 12 : 1100 : + : + : 6 : 9 : KP : 1300 : + : + : + : 10 : KP2 : 1500 : + : + : + : + : ST : : 700 : 900 :1100 :1300 :1500 : Stop! Before you diehard users start piecing those little tone tidbits together, there is a simpler method. If you have an Apple-Cat with a program like Cat's Meow IV, then you can generate the necessary tones, the 2600hz tone, the KP tone, the KP2 tone, and the ST tone through the dial section. So if you have that I will assume you can boot it up and it works, and I'll do you the favor of telling you and the other users what to do with the blue box now that you have somehow constructed it. The connection to an operator is one of the most well known and used ways of having fun with your blue box. You simply dial a TSPS (Traffic Service Positioning Station, or the operator you get when you dial '0') and blow a 2600hz tone through the line. Watch out! Do not dial this direct! After you have done that, it is quite simple to have fun with it. Blow a KP tone to start a call, a ST tone to stop it, and a 2600hz tone to hang up. Once you have connected to it, here are some fun numbers to call with it: 0-700-456-1000 Teleconference (free, because you are the operator!) (Area code)-101 Toll Switching (Area code)-121 Local Operator (hehe) (Area code)-131 Information (Area code)-141 Rate & Route (Area code)-181 Coin Refund Operator (Area code)-11511 Conference operator (when you dial 800-544-6363) Well, those were the tone matrix controllers for the blue box and some other helpful stuff to help you to start out with. But those are only the functions with the operator. There are other k-fun things you can do with it. More advanced Blue Box Stuff: Oops. Small mistake up there. I forgot tone lengths. Um, you blow a tone pair out for up to 1/10 of a second with another 1/10 second for silence between the digits. KP tones should be sent for 2/10 of a second. One way to confuse the 2600hz traps is to send pink noise over the channel (for all of you that have decent BSR equalizers, there is major pink noise in there.) Using the operator functions is the use of the 'inward' trunk line. Thatis working it from the inside. From the 'outward' trunk, you can do such things as make emergency breakthrough calls, tap into lines, busy all of the lines in any trunk (called 'stacking'), enable or disable the TSPS's, and for some 4a systems you can even re-route calls to anywhere. All right. The one thing that every complete phreak guide should be without is blue box plans, since they were once a vital part of phreaking. Another thing that every complete file needs is a complete listing of all of the 800 numbers around so you can have some more Fun /-/ 800 Dialup Listings /-/ 1-800-345-0008 (6) 1-800-547-6754 (6) 1-800-245-4890 (4) 1-800-327-9136 (4) 1-800-526-5305 (8) 1-800-858-9000 (3) 1-800-437-9895 (7) 1-800-245-7508 (5) 1-800-343-1844 (4) 1-800-322-1415 (6) 1-800-437-3478 (6) 1-800-325-7222 (6) All right, set Cat Hacker 1.0 on those numbers and have a fuck of a day. That is enough with 800 codes, by the time this gets around to you I dunno what state those codes will be in, but try them all out anyways and see what you get. On some 800 services now, they have an operator who will answer and ask you for your code, and then your name. Some will switch back and forth between voice and tone verification, you can never be quite sure which you will be upagainst. Armed with this knowledge you should be having a pretty good time phreaking now. But class isn't over yet, there are still a couple important rules that you should know. If you hear continual clicking on the line, then you should assume that an operator is messing with something, maybe even listening in on you. It is a good idea to call someone back when the phone starts doing that. If you were using a code, use a different code and/or service to call him back. A good way to detect if a code has gone bad or not is to listen when the number has been dialed. If the code is bad you will probably hear the phone ringing more clearly and more quickly than if you were using a different code. If someone answers voice to it then you can immediately assume that it is an operative for whatever company you are using. The famed '311311' code for Metro is one of those. You would have to be quite stupid to actually respond, because whoever you ask for the operator will always say 'He's not in right now, can I have him call you back?' and then they will ask for your name and phone number. Some of the more sophisticated companies will actually give you a carrier on a line that is supposed to give you a carrier and then just have garbage flow across the screen like it would with a bad connection. That is a feeble effort to make you think that the code is still working and maybe get you to dial someone's voice, a good test for the carrier trick is to dial anumber that will give you a carrier that you have never dialed with that code before, that will allow you to determine whether the code is good or not. For our next section, a lighter look at some of the things that a phreak should not be without. A vocabulary. A few months ago, it was a quite strange world for the modem people out there. But now, a phreaker's vocabulary is essential if you wanna make a good impression on people when you post what you know about certain subjects. /-/ Vocabulary /-/ - Do not misspell except certain exceptions: phone -> fone freak -> phreak - Never substitute 'z's for 's's. (i.e. codez -> codes) - Never leave many characters after a post (i.e. Hey Dudes!#!@#@!#!@) - NEVER use the 'k' prefix (k-kool, k-rad, k-whatever) - Do not abbreviate. (I got lotsa wares w/ docs) - Never substitute '0' for 'o' (r0dent, l0zer). - Forget about ye old upper case, it looks ruggyish. All right, that was to relieve the tension of what is being drilled into your minds at the moment. Now, however, back to the teaching course. Here are somethings you should know about phones and billings for phones, etc. LATA: Local Access Transference Area. Some people who live in large cities or areas may be plagued by this problem. For instance, let's say you live in the 215 area code under the 542 prefix (Ambler, Fort Washington). If you went to dial in a basic Metro code from that area, for instance, 351-0100, that might not be counted under unlimited local calling because it is out of your LATA. For some LATA's, you have to dial a '1' without the area code before you can dial the phone number. That could prove a hassle for us all if you didn't realize you would be billed for that sort of call. In that way, sometimes, it is better to be safe than sorry and phreak. The Caller Log: In ESS regions, for every household around, the phone company has something on you called a Caller Log. This shows every single number that you dialed, and things can be arranged so it showed every number that was calling to you. That's one main disadvantage of ESS, it is mostly computerized so a number scan could be done like that quite easily. Using a dialup is an easy way to screw that, and is something worth remembering. Anyways, with the caller log, they check up and see what you dialed. Hmm... you dialed 15 different 800 numbers that month. Soon they find that you are subscribed to none of those companies. But that is not the only thing. Most people would imagine "But wait! 800 numbers don't show up on my phone bill!". To those people, it is a nice thought, but 800 numbers are picked up on the caller log until right before they are sent off to you. So they can check right up on you before they send it away and can note the fact that you fucked up slightly and called one too many 800 lines. Right now, after all of that, you should have a pretty good idea of how to grow up as a good phreak. Follow these guidelines, don't show off, and don't take unnecessary risks when phreaking or hacking. File Level:5 /-/ Credits /-/ To The Videosmith - for setting me straight on some shit. To The Linesman - for telling me to upload it to his AE line. To Modern Mutant - for making me into a phreaking freak. To Jack the Nibbler- for the basis of the blue box plans. /---------------------------------\ | Bulletin Board List | | --------------------- | | Sirius Cybernetic's BBSystem | | 808-521-3306 40megs | \---------------------------------/ Later, The Traveler ******* Agent Berg's course in ****** * * * ========================== * * =BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS= * * ========================== * * PART I * *************************************** PREFACE: In part I, we will explore the various special Bell #'s, such as: CN/A, AT&T Newslines, loops, 99XX #'s, ANI, ringback, and a few others. CN/A: ----- CN/A, which stands for Customer Name and Address, are bureaus that exist so that authorized Bell employees can find out the name and address of any customer in the Bell System. All #'s are maintained on file including unlisted #'s. Here's how it works: 1) You have a # and you want to find out who owns it, e.g. (914) 555-1234. 2) You look up the CN/A # for that NPA in the list below. In the example, the NPA is 914 and the CN/A # is 518-471-8111. 3) You then call up the CN/A # (during business hours) and say something like, "Hi, this is John Jones from the residential service center in Miami. Can I have the customer's name at 914-555-1234. That # is 914-555-1234." Make up your own REAL sounding name, though. 4) If you sound natural & cheery, the operator will ask no questions. Here's the list: NPA CN/A # NPA CN/A # --- ------------ --- ------------ 201 201-676-7070 517 313-232-8690 202 202-384-9620 518 518-471-8111 203 203-789-6800 519 416-487-3641 204 ****N/A***** 601 601-961-0877 205 205-988-7000 602 303-232-2300 206 206-382-8000 603 617-787-2750 207 617-787-2750 604 604-432-2996 208 303-232-2300 605 402-345-0600 209 415-546-1341 606 502-583-2861 212 518-471-8111 607 518-471-8115 213 213-501-4144 608 414-424-5690 214 214-948-5731 609 201-676-7070 215 412-633-5600 612 402-345-0600 216 614-464-2345 613 416-487-3641 217 217-525-7000 614 614-464-2345 218 402-345-0600 615 615-373-5791 219 317-265-7027 616 313-223-8690 301 301-534-1168 617 617-787-2750 302 412-633-5600 618 217-525-7000 303 303-232-2300 701 402-345-0600 304 304-344-8041 702 415-546-1341 305 912-784-9111 703 804-747-1411 306 ****N/A***** 704 912-784-9111 307 303-232-2300 705 416-487-3641 308 402-345-0600 707 415-546-1341 309 217-525-7000 709 ****N/A***** 312 312-769-9600 712 402-345-0600 313 313-223-8690 713 713-658-1793 314 314-436-3321 714 213-995-0221 315 518-471-8111 715 414-424-5690 316 816-275-2782 716 518-471-8111 317 317-265-7027 717 412-633-5600 318 318-227-1551 801 303-232-2300 319 402-345-0600 802 617-787-2750 401 617-787-2750 803 912-784-9111 402 402-345-0600 804 804-747-1411 403 403-425-2652 805 415-546-1341 404 912-784-9111 806 512-828-2502 405 405-236-6121 807 416-487-3641 406 303-232-2300 808 212-226-5487 408 415-546-1341 Bermuda Only 412 412-633-5600 809 212-334-4336 413 617-787-2750 812 317-265-7027 414 414-424-5690 813 813-228-7871 415 415-546-1132 814 412-633-5600 416 416-487-3641 815 217-525-7000 417 314-436-3321 816 816-275-2782 418 514-861-6391 817 214-948-5731 419 614-464-2345 819 514-861-6391 501 405-236-6121 901 615-373-5791 502 502-583-2861 902 902-421-4110 503 503-241-3440 903 ****N/A***** 504 504-245-5330 904 912-784-9111 505 303-232-2300 906 313-223-8690 506 506-657-3855 907 ****N/A***** 507 402-345-0600 912 912-784-9111 509 206-382-8000 913 816-275-2782 512 512-828-2501 914 518-471-8111 513 614-464-2345 915 512-828-2501 514 514-861-6391 916 415-546-1341 515 402-345-0600 918 405-236-6121 516 518-471-8111 919 912-784-9111 Bell uses these #'s mainly to find out who owns a # that a customer claims he never called. NOTE: This is the most complete list of CN/A #'s in my possession (with only 5 #'s not available). This list was copyrighted in 1982 by "Judas Gerard" as it originally appeared in TAP issue #78. (TAP, Room 603, 147 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036-- Subscriptions $10/yr.) AT&T NEWSLINES: --------------- Newslines are recordings that Bell employees call up to find out the latest info on stock, technology, etc. concerning the Bell System. Here are the #'s that are currently known to phreaks (at least me, anyway): 201-483-3800 NJ 513-421-9060 OH 203-771-4920 CT 516-234-9914 NY 212-393-2151 NY 518-471-2272 NY 213-621-4141 CA 617-955-1111 MA 213-829-0111 CA (GTE) 702-789-6711 NV 213-449-8830 CA 713-224-6116 TX 312-368-8000 IL 714-238-1111 CA 313-223-7223 MI 717-255-5555 PA 314-247-5511 MO 717-787-1031 PA 408-493-5000 CA 802-955-1111 VE 412-633-3333 PA 808-533-4426 HI 414-678-3511 WI 813-223-5666 FL 416-929-4323 ONT. 914-948-8100 NY 503-228-6271 OR 916-480-8000 CA ======= =LOOPS= ======= First of all, you must understand the concept of loops. I think that the best way that this is understood is the way that Phred Phreek explained it... "No self-respecting Phone Phreak can go through life without knowing what a loop is, how to use one, and the types that are available. The loop is a great alternative communication medium that has many potential uses that havent't even been tapped yet. In order to explain what a loop is, it would be helpful to visualize two phone numbers (lines) just floating around in the Telco central office (CO). Now, if you (and a friend perhaps) were to call these two numbers at the same time, POOOOFFFF!!!, you are now connected together. I hear what you're saying out there..., "Big deal" or "Why should Ma Bell collect here two MSU'S (message units) for one lousy phone call!?" Well... think again. Haven't you ever wanted someone to call you back but, were reluctant to give out your home phone number (like the last time you tried to get your friend's unlisted # from the business offfice)? Or how about a collect call to your friend waiting on a loop, who will gladly accept the charges? Or better yet, stumbling upon a loop that you discover that has multi-user capability (for those late-night conferences). Best of all is finding a non-supervised loop that doesn't charge any MSU's or tolls to one or both parties. Example: many moons ago, a loop affectionately known as 'the 332 Loop' was non-sup (ie, non-supervised) on the tone side. I had my friend in California dial the free (non-sup) side, (212) 332-9906 and I dialed the side that charged, 332-9900. As you can see, I was charged one MSU, and my friend was charged zilch, for as long as we wished to talk!!!" ***** "Ahhh...have I perked your interest yet? If so, here is how to find a loop of you very own. First, do all of you loop searching at NIGHT! This is because the loops serve a genuine test function which Telco uses during the day. (We don't want to run into an irate lineman now, do we?) To find a loop, having 2 #'s is a definite plus. If not, have a friend to dial #'s at his location. Last resort, try dialing from two adjacent pay phones. Now get your trusty white pages (*), and turn to the page where it lists the # of MSU's from your exchange (or exchanges in your primary calling area) The idea is to find a loop that is within your primary calling area or is only 1 MSU in your area (call area A). This is so you don't go bankrupt trying to find a loop. Write down all of these exchanges and do a 99XX scan of those exchanges (99XX scanning will be discussed shortly). Before we get up to 99XX scanning, we will look at some other loop info: Loops are found pairs which are usually close to each other. For example, in NPA 212, where the infamous loops are found, there is a standard loop format: Manhattan & Bronx-------NNX-9977/9979 Brooklyn & Queens-------NNX-9900/9906 NNX is the exchange to be scanned. Here are some loops that have been found in NYC. These are used mostly by Phreaks and call-in lines for pirate radio stations: 212-220-9900/9906 212-283-9977/9979 212-352-9900/9906 212-365-9977/9979 212-529-9900/9906 212-562-9977/9979 212-982-9977/9979 212-986-9977/9979 The lower # is the tone side (singing switch). The higher # is always silent. The tone disappears on the lower # when somebody dials in the other side of the loop. If you are on the higher #, you'll have to listen to the clicks to see if somebody dialed-in. The NYC 982 & 986 loops are different from others. Usually when you park on a loop, you will hear who ever calls in on the other half. When they're done, the next caller (if any) will be queued in, one after another. On the NYC 982 & 986, you sometimes can't get any more callers in after the first. Furthermore, if you park one of these loops and there is nobody on the other end for more than 4 minutes, you may be automatically disconnected. These loops are good for back-up purposes when all other loops are busy. 99XX Scanning: -------------- Most every exchange in the Bell System has a wide variety of test #'s and other "goodies," such as loops. These "goodies" are usually found between 9900 and 9999 in your local exchange. If you have the time and initiative, scan your exchange and you may become lucky! Here are my findings in the 914-268: 9901 - Verification (recording of a/c and exchange) 9936 - Voice # to the Telco CO 9937 - Voice # to the Telco CO 9941 - Carrier 9960 - Osc. Tone (tone side loop) 9963 - Tone (stops: muted) 9966 - Carrier 9968 - Tone that disappears--responds to certain touch-tone keys Most of the #'s between 9900 & 9999 will ring, be busy, go to a special intercept operator ("what #, please?"), or will go to a "the # you have reached..." recording. What you find depends upon the switching equipment in the exchange and the Telco operating company. When searching for loops, you may find one of the following possibilities when you find one: 1. You can hear through the loop (not muted), but there is a 1/2 second click every 10 seconds that interrupts the audio. This type is good for back-up use but the %$#'&" click is super annoying. 2. One side of the loop is busy; try it again later. 3. The tone disappears, but you cannot hear through it (the loop is muted, try again in a month or so) 4. You get "The # you have reached recording." No loop there! Most loops are muted (#3), but their status does changes from time-to-time. It all depends if the Telco maintenance personnel remember to "throw the switch", ie, turn off the loop. Since I have done the above 914-268 99XX scan, Congers (268) has installed new switching equipment (DMS100). Some of the numbers are the same, but I have noticed that on the DMS100, the recordings are also stored in this area. 268- 9903, 9906, 9909, & 9912 are all different recordings. Also, there are 2 fortress fone recordings at 268-9911 (deposit 5 cents or else) and 268- 9913 (deposit 10 cents). None of these recordings supe and alot of other 99XX #'s don't supe either. In some areas (like MD), 9906-7 is ringback. In Washington, there is a sweep tone test at (202) 560-9944. In NYC (212), you'll find the infamous loop lines (as mentioned above). It will be easier to scan your exchange if you make up a chart like the one below: 805-NXX-99XX SCAN -------------------------------------- !99X X>:0 :1 :2 :3 :4 :5 :6 :7 :8 :9 ! -------------------------------------- !990 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- !991 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- !992 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- !993 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- !994 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- !995 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- !996 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- !997 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- !998 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- !999 : : : : : : : : : : ! -------------------------------------- This leaves you with 100 boxes (1 for each # between 9900 & 9999). You should make your boxes big enough so you can write some sort of shorthand in them. For example: B - busy (try again at another time) R - rings (try again at another time) O - intercept operator ("what # you calling?) R1- recording 1 (make a margin note of the types of recordings you get) T - tone ] tone at a lower # + ignore I - ignore ] at a higher # = loop V - voice # to Telco CO - they usually answer with the city name or area. C - carrier There will be others and you should use other characters that you can understand. Now, back to loops! As you may have noticed in my 914-268 scan, I found a muted loop and a tone side. 914-268 failed to come up with the silent side of a loop! Therefore, there is no loop in that exchange. I then scanned another exchange in my primary calling area (914-634) and I found a loop!! (914) 634-9923/9924 So, if at first you don't succeed, move onto another exchange. If you use the box method that I have outlined above, you will see a T & I next to each other for a loop. Some exchanges are special. For example, 914-623 is a testing bureau. In this exchange, not only did I find a loop, but I also found several interesting tones, noises, and other test functions. Also, the more important the exchange is, the more you will find. For example, in 914-623, I found well over 10 voice #'s! Also, loops are usually, but not exclusively, found in the 99XX series. For example: (713) 324-1799/1499 is a loop. The perfect loop? Here is what I would look for: 1. Non-sup on one or both sides. To check for a non-sup loop, go to a tone-first fortress fone and dial the #. If it asks for a dime, it is supervised. If the call goes through, then it is non-suped! 2. 800 loops would be a plus. They are not necessarily found between 9900 & 9999 though. I would check the 1XXX series first. 3. Multi-user loops are also a plus for those late night conferences. Finally, remember it is only a local call to find out what you CO has in store for you. If you find anything interesting, be sure to drop me a line. NOTE: Your local white pages can be a valuable asset. You can also order other fone books from your business office (usually free for books within your operating company's district). A large fone book, such as Manhattan, contains much more info in the first few pages than other books. ===== =ANI= ===== Automatic Number Identification (ANI), is a number that you call up that will tell you what # you are calling from. This has a few uses. First, were you ever somewhere and the fone didn't have a # printed on it? Or perhaps you were fooling around in some cans (those large boxes on fone poles that contain terminals for lineman use--to be discussed in a future chapter.) and you want to know what what the line # is. In NPA 914, the ANI is 990. In NPA's 212 & 516, ANI is 958. This varies from area to area. Here are some other ANI's that I have seen: 890-751-5191 2022222222 1-XXX-1111 (in some 914 areas, esp. under SxS switching equipment, you have to dial 1-990-1111) To find ANI for other areas, check 3 digits #'s first, usually in the 9XX series (excluding 911). In areas under step-by-step (to be discussed in the next part), try 1-9XX-1111. ANI may also be in 99XX. Last resort, try to get friendly with your neighbor who works for the fone company. Ringback: --------- Ringback, as its name implies, calls back the # you are at when you dial the ringback #. Ringback, in NPA 914, is 660. You dial 660+the last 4 digits of the fone. You will then get a tone, hang-up quickly and pick-up in about 2 seconds. You will then get a second tone, hang-up again and the fone will ring. In NYC, it is also 660, but you may have to press 6 or 7 before you hang up for the first time (ie, at the first tone). Other ringback #'s that I have seen are: 26011 - This 5 digit format is used primarily on step-by-step. The last 2 digits (11) are dummy digits. 890-897-XXXX - XXXX are the last 4 digits of the fone #. 119911/11911/1199911 - GTE NNX-9906/9907 - NPA 301, NNX is the exchange The reason you get the tone when you pick-up after it rings is because in some areas, people were using ringback as an in-house intercom. They would dial ringback, and when it stopped ringing, they would pick-up & talk with the person who picked up the other extension. Bell didn't like this since there is usually only 1 piece of equipment in each exchange that does the ringback. When people used this as an intercom, linemen & repairmen couln't get through! In some areas, especially those under step-by-step, ringback can still be used as an intercom. Also, under step-by-step, the ringback procedure is usually simple. For example, in one area you would dial 26011 and hang-up; it would then ringback. Touch-Tone Test: ---------------- In areas that have a Touch-Tone test, you dial the ringback #. At the first tone, you touch-tone digits 1-0. If they are correct it will beep twice. I have also seen a TT test in some areas at: 890-751-5191 Coming Soon: ------------ In the next part, we will look at various switching equipment and The Network. Break up of Bell: ----------------- The operating companies are not going to change all the switching equipment around. While there will be some changes, most of the information provided here will remain pertinent after January 1, 1984. Just substitute the word "fone network" for Bell System. ******BIOC Agent 003's course in******* * * * ========================== * * =BASIC TELECOMMUNCIATIONS= * * ========================== * * PART II * *************************************** PREFACE: -------- Part II will deal with the various types of operators, office hierarchy, & switching equipment. OPERATORS: ---------- There are many types of operators in The Network and the more common ones will be discussed. TSPS Operator: The TSPS (Traffic Service Position System) Operator is probably the bitch (or bastard for the phemale liberationists) that most of us are use to having to deal with. Here are her responsibilities: 1) Obtaining billing information for Calling Card or 3rd number calls. 2) Identifying called customer on person-to-person calls. 3) Obtaining acceptance of charges on collect calls. 4) Identifying calling numbers. This only happens when the calling # is not automatically recorded by CAMA (Centralized Automatic Message Accounting) & forwarded from the local office. This could be caused by equipment failures or if the office is not equipped for CAMA (most are). <I once had an equipment failure happen to me & the TSPS operator came on and said, "What # are you calling FROM?" Out of curiosity, I gave her the # to my CO, she thanked me & then I was connected to a conversion that appeared to be between a frameman & his wife. Then it started ringing the party I originally wanted to call & everyone phreaked out (excuse the pun). I immediately dropped this dual line conference!> You shouldn't mess with the TSPS operator since she KNOWS where you are calling from. She also knows whether or not you are at a fortress fone & she can trace calls quite readily. Out of all the operators, she is one of the MOST DANGEROUS. INWARD Operator: This operator assists your local TSPS ("O") operator in connecting calls. She will never question a call as long as the call is within HER SERVICE AREA. She can only be reached via other operators or by a Blue Box. From a BB, you would dial KP+NPA+121+ST for the INWARD operator that will help you connect any calls within that NPA area only. (Blue Boxing will be discussed in a future part of BASIC TELCOM) DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE Operator: This is the operator that you are connected to when you dial: 411 or NPA-555-1212. She does not readily know where you are calling from. She does not have access to unlisted #'s, but she does know if an unlisted # exists for a certain listing. There is also a directory assistance for deaf people who use Teletypewriters If you modem can transfer BAUDOT (the Apple Cat can), then you can call her up and have an interesting conversation with her. The # is: 800-855-1155. She uses the standard Telex abbreviations such as GA for Go Ahead. They tend to be nicer & will talk longer than your regular operators. Also, they are more vulnerable into being talked out of information through the process of "social engineering" as Cheshire Catalyst would put it. Other operators have access to their own DA by dialing KP+NPA+131+ST (MF). This is a little out of the scope of this tutorial, but many telco's are now charging for calls to dir. asst. You can beat this by: (1) count how many calls you make to directory assistance in a billing period. Go to a fortress fone & dial DA. When the operator comes on, give her a name that you know has an unlisted # or ask for a town that isn't in the NPA. She will then ask for your # so she can credit the call to you. Give her your home #; she doesn't know that you are making a free call from the fortress. Just make sure that you don't credit yourself for more calls than you actually made or you might have a few problems! (2) If you have a BAUDOT terminal, use the 800 #; it's free & there is one # for all requests. C/NA Operators: C/NA operators are operators that do exactly the opposite of what directory assistance operators are for. See part II, for more info on C/NA & #'s. In my experiences, these operators know more than the DA op's do & they are more susceptible to "social engineering." It is possible to bullshit a C/NA operator for the NON-PUB DA # (ie, you give them the name & they give you the unlisted #). This is due to the fact that they assume your are a phellow company employee. INTERCEPT Operator: The intercept operator is the one that you are connected to when there are not enough recordings available to tell you that the # has been disconnected or changed. She usually says, "What # you callin'?" with a foreign accent. This is the lowest operator lifeform. Even though they don't know where you are calling from, it is a waste of your time to try to verbally abuse them since they usually understand very little English. OTHER Operators: And then there are the: Mobile, Ship-to-Shore, Conference, Marine, Verify, "Leave Word & Call Back," Route & Rate (KP+NPA+141+ST), & other special operators who have one purpose or another in the Network. Problems with an Operator? Ask to speak to their supervisor...Which is the equivalent of the Madame in a whorehouse (if you will excuse the analogy). By the way, some CO's that will allow you to dial a 1 or 0 as the 4th digit, will also allow you to call special operators without a blue box. This is very rare though! For example, 212-121-1111 will get you a NY Inward Operator. ================== =OFFICE HIERARCHY= ================== Every switching office office in North America (the NPA system), is assigned an office name & class. There are five classes of offices numbered 1 through 5. Your CO is most likely a class 5 or end office. All Long-Distance (Toll) calls are switched by a toll office which can be a class 4, 3, 2, or 1 office. There is also a 4X office called an intermediate point. The 4X office is a digital one that can have an unattended exchange attached to it (known as a Remote Switching Unit-RSU). The following chart will list the Office #, name, & how many of those offices existed in North America in 1981. Class Name Abb # Existing ----- ---------------- --- ------------ 1 Regional Center RC 12 2 Sectional Center SC 67 3 Primary Center PC 230 4 Toll Center TC 1,300 4P Toll Point TP 4X Intermediate Pt IP 5 End Office EO 19,000 R RSU RSU When connecting a call from one party to another, the switching equipment usually tries to find the shortest route between the Class 5 end office of the caller & the Class 5 end office of the called party. If no inter-office trunks exist between the 2 parties, it will then move upto the next highest office for servicing (Class 4). If the Class 4 office cannot handle the call by sending it to another Class 4 or 5 office, it will be sent to the next office in the hierarchy (3). The switching equipment first uses the high-usage interoffice trunk groups, if they are busy it then goes to the final trunk groups on the next highest level. If the call cannot be connected then, you will probably get a re-order (120IPM busy signal) signal. At this time, the guys at Network Operations are probably shitting in their pants and trying to avoid the dreaded Network Dreadlock (as seen on TV!). It is also interesting to note that 9 connections in tandem is called ring-around-the-rosy and it has never occurred in telephone history. This would case an endless loop connection. [a neat way to really screw-up the Network] The 10 regional centers in the US & the 2 in Canada are all interconnected. They form the foundation of the entire telephone network. Since there are only 12 of them, they are listed below: Class 1 Regional Office Location NPA ---------------------------------- --- Dallas 4 ESS 214 Wayne, PA 215 Denver 4T 303 Regina No.2 SP1-4W [Canada] 306 St. Louis 4T 314 Rockdale, GA 404 Pittsburgh 4E 412 Montreal No.1 4AETS [Canada] 504 Norwich, NY 607 San Bernardino, CA 714 Norway, IL 815 White Plains 4T, NY 914 The following diagram demonstrates how the various offices may be connected: ^----------^----------^ Regional _|_ _|_ _|_Offices -----|1| <----> |1| <----> |1|----- --- --- --- | Others\/ -^-------^-------^------^---------^ _|_ _|_ _|_ _|__ _|_ |2| |3| |4| |4P| |5| --- --- --- -^^- --- | | | | ^----^ | ^----^ | _|_ _|_ | __|_ _|_ | |3| |4| | |4X| |5| ^-----^ --- -^- | ---- --- _|__ _|_ ^ | |4X| |5| __|_ | ---- --- |5R| |-------------^ -^^- /--------|---------\ _|_ _|_ _|_ _|__ |R| |4| |5| |5R| --- --- --- ---- NOTE: The preceding diagram used certain lower case characters that may not be viewed as I intended them if you are not using as lower case terminal. ===================== =SWITCHING EQUIPMENT= ===================== In the Network, there are 3 major types of switching equipment. They are known as: Step-by-Step, Crossbar, & ESS. STEP-BY-STEP (SxS) The Step-By-Step, a/k/a the Strowger switch or two-motion switch, was invented in 1889 by an undertaker named Almon Strowger. He invented this mechanical switching equipment because he felt that the biased operator was routing all requests for an 'undertaker' to her husband's business. Bell started using this system in 1918 & as of 1978, over 53% of the Bell exchanges used this method of switching. Step-by-Step switching is controlled directly by the dial pulses which move a series of switches (called the switch train) in order. When you first pick up the fone under SxS, a linefinder acknowledges the request (sooner or later) by sending a dial tone. If you then dialed 1234, the equipment would first find an idle selector switch. It would then move vertically 1 pulse, it would then move horizontally to find a free second selector, it would then move 2 vertical pulses, step horizontally to find the next selector, etc. Thus the first switch in the train takes no digits, the second switch takes 1 digit, the third switch takes 1 digit, & the last switch in the train (called the connector) takes the last 2 digits & connects your calls. A normal (10,000 line) exchange requires 4 digits (0000-9999) to connect a local call & thus it takes 4 switches to connect every call (linefinder, 1st & 2nd selectors, & the connector) . While it was the first, SxS sucks for the following reasons: [1] The switches often become jammed thus the calls often become blocked. [2] You can't use DTMF (Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency a/k/a Touch-Tone) directly. It is possible that the Telco may have installed a conversion kit but then the calls will go through just as slow as pulse, anyway! [3] They use a lot of electricity & mechanical maintenance. (bad from Telco point of view) [4] Everything is hardwired. They can still hook up pen registers & other shit on the line so it is not exactly a phreak haven. You can identify SxS offices by: (1) Lack of DTMF or pulsing digits after dialing DTMF. (2) If you go near the CO, it will sound like a typewriter testing factory. (3) Lack of speed calling, call forwarding, & other customer services. (4) Fortress fones that want your money first (as opposed to dial tone first ones). The preceding don't necessarily imply that you have SxS but they surely give evidence that it might be. Also, if any of the above characteristics exist, it certainly isn't ESS! Also, SxS have pretty much been eradicated from large metropolitan areas such as NYC (212). CROSSBAR: There are 3 major types of Crossbar systems called: No. 1 Crossbar (1XB), No. 4 Crossbar (4XB), & No. 5 Crossbar (5XB). 5XB has been the primary end office switch of Bell since the 60's and thus it is in wide-use. Crossbar uses a common control switching method. When there is an incoming call, a stored program determines its route through the switching matrix. In Crossbar, the basic operation principle is that a horizontal & a vertical line are energized in a matrix known as the crosspoint matrix. The point where these 2 lines meet in the matrix is the connection. +===+ =ESS= +===+ Electronic Switching System (ESS) The Phreak's Nightmare Come True (or Orwell's Prophecy as 2600 puts it) ESS is Bell's move towards the Airstrip One society depicted in Orwell's 1984. With ESS, EVERY single digit that you dial is recorded--even if it is a mistake. They know who you call, when you call, how long you talked for, & probably what you talked about (in some cases). ESS can (and is) also programmed to print out #'s of people who make excessive calls to 800 #'s or directory assistance. This is called the "800 Exceptional Calling Report." ESS could also be programmed to print out logs of who calls certain #'s--like a bookie, a known Communist, a BBS, etc. The thing to remember with ESS is that it is a series of programs working together. These programs can be very easily changed to do whatever they want it to do. One phreak whom I know has some ESS source code listing which is incredibly complex (as well as documented--Gracias Dios). This system makes the job of Bell Security, the FBI, NSA, & other organizations that like to invade privacy incredibly easy. With ESS, tracing is done in microseconds (Eine Augenblick) & the results are printed at the console of a Bell Gestapo officer. ESS will also pick up any "foreign" tones on the line such as 2600 Hz! Bell predicts that the country will become totally ESS by the 1990's. You can identify ESS by the following which are usually ESS functions: [1] Dialing 911 for help. [2] Dial-Tone-First fortresses. [3] Custom Calling Services such as: Call Forwarding, Speed Dialing, & Call Waiting. (Ask your business office if you can get these.) [4] ANI (Automatic Number Identification) on LD calls. Phreaking does not come to a complete halt under ESS though--just be very careful, though!!! Due to the fact that ESS sends a computer generated "artificial ring", where the voice is not connected directly to the called parties line until he picks up, Black Boxes & Infinity Transmitters will not work! NOTE: Another interesting way to find out what type of equipment you are on is to raid the trash can of you local CO--this art will be discussed in a separate article soon. Coming Soon: In the part V, we will start to take a look at telephone electronics. Further Reading: For more information on the above topics, I suggest the following: Notes on the Network, AT&T, 1980. Understanding Telephone Electronics, Texas Instruments, 1983. And subscriptions to: 2600, Box 752, Middle Island, NY 11953. Subscriptions are $10/year. Back issues are $1 each. The current issue is #4 (April 1984). They are both excellent sources of all sorts of information (primarily phreaking/hacking). ****** Agent Berg's course in ******* * * * ========================== * * =BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS= * * ========================== * * Part VI * *************************************** REVISED: 27-OCT-84 Preface: This article will focus primarily on the standard Western Electric single- slot coin telephone (aka fortress fone) which can be divided into 3 types: - Dial-Tone First (DTF) - Coin-First (CF): (ie, it wants your $ before you receive a dial tone) - Dial Post-Pay Service (PP): you pay after the party answers Depositing Coins (Slugs): ------------------------- Once you have deposited your slug into a fortress, it is subjected to a gamut of tests. The first obstacle for a slug is the magnetic trap. This will stop any light- weight magnetic slugs and coins. If it passes this, the slug is then classified as a nickel, dime, or quarter. Each slug is then checked for appropriate size and weight. If these tests are passed, it will then travel through a nickel, dime, or quarter magnet as appropriate. These magnets set up an eddy current effect which causes coins of the appropriate characteristics to slow down so they will follow the correct trajectory. If all goes well, the coin will follow the correct path (such as bouncing off of the nickel anvil) where it will hopefully fall into the narrow accepted coin channel. The rather elaborate tests that are performed as the coin travels down the coin chute will stop most slugs and other undesirable coins, such as pennies, which must then be retrieved using the coin release lever. If the slug miraculously survives the gamut, it will then strike the appropriate totalizer arm causing a ratchet wheel to rotate once for every 5-cent increment (eg, a quarter will cause it to rotate 5 times). The totalizer then causes the coin signal oscillator to readout a dual- frequency signal indicating the value deposited to ACTS (a computer) or the TSPS operator. These are the same tones used by phreaks in the infamous red boxes. For a quarter, 5 beep tones are outpulsed at 12-17 pulses per second (PPS). A dime causes 2 beep tones at 5 - 8.5 PPS while a nickel causes one beep tone at 5 - 8.5 PPS. A beep consists of 2 tones: 2200 + 1700 Hz. A relay in the fortress called the "B relay" (yes, there is also an "A relay") places a capacitor across the speech circuit during totalizer readout to prevent the "customer" from hearing the red box tones. In older 3 slot phones: one bell (1050-1100 Hz) for a nickel, two bells for a dime, and one gong (800 Hz) for a quarter are used instead of the modern dual-frequency tones. ============= =TSPS & ACTS= ============= While fortresses are connected to the CO of the area, all transactions are handled via the Traffic Service Position System (TSPS). In areas that do not have ACTS, all calls that require operator assistance, such as calling card and collect, are automatically routed to a TSPS operator position. In an effort to automate fortress service, a computer system known as Automated Coin Toll Service (ACTS) has been implemented in many areas. ACTS listens to the red box signals from the fones and takes appropriate action. It is ACTS which says, "Two dollars please (pause) Please deposit two dollars for the next ten seconds" (and other variations). Also, if you talk for more than three minutes and then hang-up, ACTS will call back and demand your money. ACTS is also responsible for Automated Calling Card Service. ACTS also provide trouble diagnosis for craftspeople (repairmen specializing in fortresses). For example, there is a coin test which is great for tuning up red boxes. In many areas this test can be activated by dialing 09591230 at a fortress (thanks to Karl Marx for this information). Once activated it will request that you deposit various coins. It will then identify the coin and outpulse the appropriate red box signal. The coins are usually returned when you hang up. To make sure that there is actually money in the fone, the CO initiates a "ground test" at various times to determine if a coin is actually in the fone. This is why you must deposit at least a nickel in order to use a red box! Green Boxes: ------------ Paying the initial rate in order to use a red box (on certain fortresses) left a sour taste in many red boxer's mouths thus the GREEN BOX was invented. The green box generates useful tones such as COIN COLLECT, COIN RETURN, and RINGBACK. These are the tones that ACTS or the TSPS operator would send to the CO when appropriate. Unfortunately, the green box cannot be used at a fortress station but it must be used by the CALLED party. Here are the tones: COIN COLLECT 700 + 1100 Hz COIN RETURN 1100 + 1700 Hz RINGBACK 700 + 1700 Hz Before the called party sends any of these tones, an operator released signal should be sent to alert the MF detectors at the CO. This can be accomplished by sending 900 + 1500 Hz or a single 2600 Hz wink (90 ms) followed by a 60 ms gap and then the appropriate signal for at least 900 ms. Also, do not forget that the initial rate is collected shortly before the 3 minute period is up. Incidentally, once the above MF tones for collecting and returning coins reach the CO, they are converted into an appropriate DC pulse (-130 volts for return & +130 volts for collect). This pulse is then sent down the tip to the fortress. This causes the coin relay to either return or collect the coins. The alleged "T-Network" takes advantage of this information. When a pulse for COIN COLLECT (+130 VDC) is sent down the line, it must be grounded somewhere. This is usually either the yellow or black wire. Thus, if the wires are exposed, these wires can be cut to prevent the pulse from being grounded. When the three minute initial period is almost up, make sure that the black & yellow wires are severed; then hang up, wait about 15 seconds in case of a second pulse, reconnect the wires, pick up the fone, hang up again, and if all goes well it should be "JACKPOT" time. Physical Attack: ---------------- A typical fortress weighs roughly 50 lbs. with an empty coin box. Most of this is accounted for in the armor plating. Why all the security? Well, Bell contributes it to the following: "Social changes during the 1960's made the multislot coin station a prime target for: vandalism, strong arm robbery, fraud, and theft of service. This brought about the introduction of the more rugged single slot coin station and a new environment for coin service." As for picking the lock, I will quote Mr. Phelps: "We often fantasize about 'picking the lock' or 'getting a master key.' Well, you can forget about it. I don't like to discourage people, but it will save you from wasting a lot of your time--time which can be put to better use (heh, heh)." As for physical attack, the coin plate is secured on all four side by hardened steel bolts which pass through two slots each. These bolts are in turn interlocked by the main lock. One phreak I know did manage to take one of the 'mothers' home (which was attached to a piece of plywood at a construction site; otherwise, the permanent ones are a bitch to detach from the wall!). It took him almost ten hours to open the coin box using a power drill, sledge hammers, and crow bars (which was empty -- perhaps next time, he will deposit a coin first to hear if it slushes down nicely or hits the empty bottom with a clunk.) Taking the fone offers a higher margin of success. Although this may be difficult often requiring brute force and there has been several cases of back axles being lost trying to take down a fone! A quick and dirty way to open the coin box is by using a shotgun. In Detroit, after ecologists cleaned out a municipal pond, they found 168 coin phones rifled. In colder areas, such as Canada, some shrewd people tape up the fones using duct tape, pour in water, and come back the next day when the water will have froze thus expanding and cracking the fone open. In one case, "unauthorized coin collectors" where caught when they brought $6,000 in change to a bank and the bank became suspicious... At any rate, the main lock is an eight level tumbler located on the right side of the coin box. This lock has 390,625 possible positions (5 ^ 8, since there are 8 tumblers each with 5 possible positions) thus it is highly pick resistant! The lock is held in place by 4 screws. If there is sufficient clearance to the right of the fone, it is conceivable to punch out the screws using the drilling pattern below (provided by Alexander Mundy in TAP #32): ==================================== !! ^ !! ! ! 1- 3/16 " !! ! !<--- --->!! 1-1/2" -------------------- ! ! ! !! ! ! ! (+) (+)-! ----------- ---! !! ! ^ ! ! !! ! ! ! ! (Z) !! ! ! ! ! !! ! 2-3/16" ---! !! ! ! ! (+) (+) ! ! ! !! ! ! -------------------- ----------- !! !! (Z) Keyhole (+) Screws !! =================================== After this is accomplished, the lock can be pushed backwards disengaging the lock from the cover plate. The four bolts of the cover plate can then be retracted by turning the boltworks with a simple key in the shape of the hole on the coin plate (see diagram below). Of course, there are other methods and drilling patterns. :-------------------------------------: _ ! ! ( ) !_! [roughly] Diagram of cover plate keyhole :-------------------------------------: The top cover uses a similar (but not as strong) locking method with the keyhole depicted above on the top left side and a regular lock (probably tumbler also) on the top right-hand side. It is interesting to experiment with the coin chute and the fortresses own "red box" (which Bell didn't have the 'balls' to color red). Miscellaneous: -------------- In a few areas (rural & Canada), post-pay service exists. With this type of service, the mouthpiece is cut off until the caller deposits money when the called party answers. This also allows for free calls to weather and other DIAL-IT services! Recently, 2600 magazine announced the CLEAR BOX which consists of a telephone pickup coil and a small amp. It is based on the principle that the receiver is also a weak transmitter and that by amplifying your signal you can talk via the transmitter thus avoiding costly telephone charges! Most fortresses are found in the 9xxx area. Under former Bell areas, they usually start at 98xx (right below the 99xx official series) and move downward. Since the line, not the fone, determines whether or not a deposit must be made, DTF & Charge-A-Call fones make great extensions! Finally, fortress fones allow for a new hobby--instruction plate collecting. All that is required is a flat-head screwdriver and a pair of needle-nose pliers. Simply use the screwdriver to lift underneath the plate so that you can grab it with the pliers and yank downwards. I would suggest covering the tips of the pliers with electrical tape to prevent scratching. Ten cent plates are definitely becoming a "rarity!" Fortress Security: ------------------ While a lonely fortress may seem the perfect target, beware! The Gestapo has been known to stake out fortresses for as long as 6 years according to the Grass Roots Quarterly. To avoid any problems, do not use the same fones repeatedly for boxing, calling cards, & other experiments. The telco knows how much money should be in the coin box and when its not there they tend to get perturbed (read: pissed off). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Disclaimer: ----------- The preceding is intended for "information purposes only" and I do not advocate that you participate in any subversive activities... Coming sooner or later: ----------------------- Part VII will deal with blue boxing. References/Suggested Reading: ----------------------------- Various hard-to-find Bell System publications. "Alternate Method of Opening the Fortress Phone Coin Box," Alexander Mundy, TAP #32. "Build a T-Network for Fun & Profit," TAP #15. "Coiners & Other Thieves," The Phone Book, J. Edgar Hyde, pp 88-91. "Fortress Fun-ding," TAP #66. "The Green & Brown Box," Ted Veil & Nick Haflinger, TAP #68. "Introducing the Clear Box!," 2600, July 1984. "More Fortress Fun," TAP #49. "Notes on the Network," AT&T, 1980. [The definitive technical reference guide!] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 2600: Box 752 Middle Island, NY 11953 Subscriptions: $10/year (published monthly) Last Issue (as of 10/27/84): October 1984 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- TAP: Room 603 147 W 42 Street New York, NY 10036 Subscriptions: $10/10 issues or so (published sporadically since 1971) Last Issue (as of 10/27/84): January/February 1984 [#90] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Acknowledgements: Hertz Tone, Tuc, ******BIOC Agent 003's course in******* * * * ========================== * * =BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS= * * ========================== * * Part VII * *************************************** Preface: After most neophyte phreaks overcome their fascination with Metro codes and WATS extenders, they will usually seek to explore other avenues in the vast phone network. Often they will come across references such as "simply dial KP + 2130801050 + ST for the Alliance teleconferencing system in LA." Numbers such as the one above were intended to be used with a blue box; this article will explain the fundamental principles of the fine art of blue boxing. Genesis: -------- In the beginning, all long distance calls were connected manually by operators who passed on the called number verbally to other operators in series. This is because pulse (aka rotary) digits are created by causing breaks in the DC current (see Basic Telcom V). Since long distance calls require routing through various switching equipment and AC voice amplifiers, pulse dialing cannot be used to send the destination number to the end local office (CO). Eventually, the demand for faster and more efficient long distance (LD) service caused Bell to make a multi-billion dollar decision. They had to create a signaling system that could be used on the LD Network. Basically, they had two options: [1] To send all the signaling and supervisory information (ie, ON & OFF HOOK) over separate data links. This type of signaling is referred to as out-of-band signaling. -or- [2] To send all the signaling information along with the conversation using tones to represent digits. This type of signaling is referred to as in-band signaling. Being the cheap bastard that they naturally are, Bell chose the latter (and cheaper) method -- IN-BAND signaling. They eventually regretted this, though (heh, heh)... IN-BAND SIGNALING PRINCIPLES: ----------------------------- When a subscriber dials a telephone number, whether in rotary or touch-tone (aka DTMF), the equipment in the CO interprets the digits and looks for a convenient trunk line to send the call on its way. In the case of a local call, it will probably be sent via an inter-office trunk; otherwise, it will be sent to a toll office (class 4 or higher -- see Telcom IV) to be processed. When trunks are not being used there is a 2600 Hz tone on the line; thus, to find a free trunk, the CO equipment simply checks for the presence of 2600 Hz. If it doesn't find a free trunk the customer will receive a re-order signal (120 IPM busy signal) or the "all circuits are busy..." message. If it does find a free trunk it "seizes" it -- removing the 2600 Hz. It then sends the called number or a special routing code to the other end or toll office. The tones it uses to send this information are called multi-frequency (MF) tones. An MF tone consists of two tones from a set of six master tones which are combined to produce 12 separate tones. You can sometimes hear these tones in the background when you make a call but they are usually filtered out so your delicate ears cannot hear them. These are NOT the same as touch-tones. To notify the equipment at the far end of the trunk that it is about to receive routing information, the originating end first sends a Key Pulse (KP) tone. At the end of sending the digits, the originating end then sends a STart (ST) tone. Thus to call 914-359-1517, the equipment would send KP + 9143591517 + ST in MF tones. When the customer hangs up, 2600 Hz is once again sent to signify a disconnect to the distant end. History: -------- In the November 1960 issue of The Bell System Technical Journal, an article entitled "Signaling Systems for Control of Telephone Switching" was published. This journal, which was sent to most university libraries, happened to contain the actual MF tones used in signaling. They appeared as follows: Digit Tones ----- ----- 1 700 + 900 Hz 2 700 + 1100 Hz 3 900 + 1100 Hz 4 700 + 1300 Hz 5 900 + 1300 Hz 6 1100 + 1300 Hz 7 700 + 1500 Hz 8 900 + 1500 Hz 9 1100 + 1500 Hz 0 1300 + 1500 Hz KP 1100 + 1700 Hz ST 1500 + 1700 Hz 11 (*) 700 + 1700 Hz 12 (*) 900 + 1700 Hz KP2 (*) 1300 + 1700 Hz (*) Used only on CCITT SYSTEM 5 for special international calling. Bell caught wind of blue boxing in 1961 when it caught a Washington state college student using one. They originally found out about blue boxes through police raids and informants. In 1964, Bell Labs came up with scanning equipment, which recorded all suspicious calls, to detect blue box usage. These units were installed in CO's where major toll fraud existed. AT&T Security would then listen to the tapes to see if any toll fraud was actually committed. Over 200 convictions resulted from the project. Surprisingly enough, blue boxing is not solely limited to the electronics enthusiast; AT&T has caught businessmen, film stars, doctors, lawyers, college students, high school students and even a millionaire financier (Bernard Cornfeld) using the device. AT&T also said that nearly half of those that they catch are businessmen. Of course, phone phreaks have achieved an almost cult status. They have also had their fair share of media. In October 1971, Esquire published the infamous "Secrets of the Little Blue Box" article which featured phreaks such as Cap'n Crunch, who took his name from the cereal which one gave away whistles that produced a perfect 2600 Hz pitch; Joe Engressia, the blind phreak; and Mark Bernay, one of the nation's first and oldest phreaks. Others such as Apple Computer co-founders Steve Wozniak & Steve Jobs have also had blue box backgrounds. 1971 also saw the publication of the first issue of YIPL, the phone phreak newsletter, (now TAP) under the editorship of supreme yippie Abbie Hoffman. Usage: ------ To use a blue box, one would usually make a free call to any 800 number or distant directory assistance (NPA-555-1212). This, of course, is legitimate. When the call is answered, one would then swiftly press the button that would send 2600 Hz down the line. This has the effect of making the distant CO equipment think that the call was terminated and it leaves the trunk hanging. Now, the user has about 10 seconds to enter in the telephone number he wished to dial -- in MF, that is. The CO equipment merely assumes that this came from another office and it will happily process the call. Since there are no records (except on toll fraud detection devices!) of these MF tones, the user is not billed for the call. When the user hangs up, the CO equipment simply records that he hung up on a free call. DETECTION: ---------- Bell has had 20 years to work on detection devices; therefore, in this day and age, they are rather well refined. Basically, the detection device will look for the presence of 2600 Hz where it does not belong. It then records the calling number and all activity after the 2600 Hz. If you happen to be at a fortress fone, though, and you make the call short, your chances of getting caught are significantly reduced (see Telcom VI). Incidentally, there have been rumors of certain test numbers (see Telcom II) that hook directly into trunks thus avoiding the need for 2600 Hz and detection! Another way that Bell catches boxers is to examine the CAMA (Centralized Automatic Message Accounting) tapes. When you make a call, your number, the called number, and time of day are all recorded. The same thing happens when you hang up. This tape is then processed for billing purposes. Normally, all free calls are ignored. But Bell can program the billing equipment to make note of lengthy calls to directory assistance. They can then put a pen register (aka DNR) on the line or an actual full-blown tap. This detection can be avoided by making short-haul (aka local) calls to box off of. It is interesting to note that NPA+555-1212 originally did not return answer supervision. Thus the calls were not recorded on the AMA/CAMA tapes. AT&T changed this though for "traffic studies!" CCIS: ----- Besides detection devices, Bell has begun to gradually redesign the network using out-of-band signaling. This is known as Common Channel Inter-office Signaling (CCIS). Since this signaling method sends all the signaling information over separate data lines, blue boxing is impossible under it. While being implemented gradually, this multi-billion dollar project is still strangling the fine art of blue boxing. Of course until the project is totally complete, boxing will still be possible. It will become progressively harder to find places to box off of, though. In areas with CCIS, one must find a directory assistance office that doesn't have CCIS yet. Area codes in Canada and predominately rural states are the best bets. WATS numbers terminating in non-CCIS cities are also good prospects. Pink Noise: ----------- Another way that may help to avoid detection is too add some "pink noise" to the 2600 Hz tone. Since 2600 Hz tones can be simulated in speech, the detection equipment must be careful not to misinterpret speech as a disconnect signal. Thus a virtually pure 2600 Hz tone is required for disconnect. Keeping this in mind, the 2600 Hz detection equipment is also probably looking for pure 2600 Hz or else is would be triggered every time someone hit that note (highest E on a piano = 2637 Hz). This is also the reason that the 2600 Hz tone must be sent rapidly; sometimes, it won't work when the operator is saying "Hello, hello." It is feasible to send some "pink noise" along with the 2600 Hz. Most of this energy should be above 3000 Hz. The pink noise won't make it into the toll network (where we want our pure 2600 Hz to hit) but it should make it past the local CO and thus the fraud detectors. CONSTRUCTION: ------------- While step-by-step details for the construction of a blue box is beyond the scope of this tutorial, it is worthwhile to mention some of the details. First there are some alternatives but they are not as good as an actual blue box. Many computers are capable of generating MF tones. Thus, your local phriendly software pirate should have a program compatible with your computer. However, it is highly advisable not to box from home as stated in The Ten Commandments (as interpreted for phreaks by Fred Steinbeck -- TAP #86). I. Box thou not over thine home telephone wires, for those who doest must surely bring the full wrath of the Chief Special Agent down upon thy heads. Another alternative that has a moderate success rate involves recording the tones from a phriend with a box or computer onto a cassette tape. They can then be used at a fortress. As for actual construction techniques, TAP has devoted many issues to blue boxing. Basically, a blue box is merely a device capable of generating two different tones simultaneously. There are two basic construction methods that I will outline below for the electronics hobbyist. The first involves the use of two 555 timer chips (or a 556 -- i.e., two 555's in one chip). It offers excellent frequency and voltage stability. Also, it does not need a diode matrix keypad but used double- pole switches instead. Schematics for this type of box can be found in TAP issue #29. The other common box makes use of two Intersil 8038CC Function Generators. It also requires a diode matrix keypad, potentiometers, an LM-100 voltage regulator, a 741 Op-amp, and a handful of other parts. The schematics for this type of blue box can be found in TAP #26. Both designs draw about 20 ma of current. Also, most blue boxes use telephone earpieces (with the varistor removed) for speakers. These can be easily liberated from fortress fones with a small coping saw. Usually, the hardest part about building a blue box is the calibration. A frequency counter is a must and an oscilloscope won't hurt. Some boxes also take timing into account. It is feasible on the ESS systems that they check to see if the digits are of uniform length. If they aren't, they are probably from a blue box and a trouble card may be dropped. With this in mind, the Bell standard for MF pulses and interdigit intervals is around 75 ms. It varies with the equipment used since ESS can handle higher speeds and doesn't need interdigit intervals. APPLICATIONS: ------------- Besides dialing normal calls free, i.e., KP+NPA+NNX+XXXX+ST, blue boxes offer the entire network for exploration. Emergency break-ins, service monitoring (aka taps), stacking tandems (the art of busying out all trunks between two points), re-routing calls, conference calls, and much, much more are all feasible. Although, Bell frequently changes these codes due to phreaks. Here are some standard ones, though: OPERATOR & OTHER CODES: ----------------------- (an optional NPA may proceed all of the numbers; otherwise, you will reach the one local for the area where the call is originated) 001 -- Trunk Access System 009 -- Rate Quote System 101 -- toll office test board 121 -- INWARD Operator This operator assists the local "0" operator in completing calls. (S)he will do virtually anything for you providing it is within her NPA. 131 -- Operator Directory assistance 141 -- Route & Rate (141 defunct -- use KP + 800 + 141 + 1212 + ST) These operators are very useful if you know how to mumble a few cryptic phrases as compiled below (with thanks to Fred Steinbeck): To find out... ...Area Codes For example say , "Miami, Florida, numbers route, please." The R&R operator will tell you "305 plus," meaning that 305 plus the seven digit number will get you Miami. ... Inward Operator City Codes Usually, the INWARD operator for an area is simply KP + NPA + 121 + ST. In some area codes, though, there are several large cities and thus several inwards. To find the inward for a specific city, you would say "916 756, operator route, please" to the R&R operator who will then tell you "916 plus 001 plus." This means that KP + 916 + 001 + 121 + ST will get you an inward for Sacramento, CA (916-756). ... City names If you want to know the city that corresponds to an area code and exchange, you simply tell the R&R, "Place name, 914 390, please." In this example, the R&R operator will respond with "White Plains, NY." ... International Directory Assistance If you need a directory route for London, you could say "International, London, England. TSPS directory route, please." The R&R operator will respond with "Directory to London, England. Country code 44 plus 1 plus 986 plus 3611." Therefore to get a DA operator in London, you would route yourself to an international sender and KP + 04419863611 + ST. ... Country & City codes If you need to know the country and city code for an international number you can say "International, Sydney, Australia, TSPS numbers route, please" and get "Country code 61 plus 2." ... International Inwards Routes To get routing codes for international inwards say "International, London, England, TSPS inward route, please." The R&R Operator will respond with "Country code 44 plus 121." Finally, to get language assistance for completing a foreign call you can tell the foreign inward, "United States calling. Language assistance in completing a call to (called party) at (called number)." 151 -- overseas incoming (212 + & 914 +) 160-XX0 -- Various Overseas Operators 161 -- trouble reporting operator (defunct) 181 -- Coin Refund Operator 18X -- Overseas senders To make an international call, one would KP + 011 + 0CC + ST where CC is the country code. This will route you to the appropriate overseas sender. You will then receive a 480 Hz dial tone. Here you enter KP + 0CC + city code + local number + ST and the call is on its way. Country codes can be either 1, 2, or 3 digits but they must be padded for three digits to create a pseudo-country code with extra zero's if necessary. For example, England, country code 44, becomes 044. To see which international sender a certain country (lets use French Guiana, country code 594, for example) goes through, you can dial KP + 011 + 594 + ST, wait for the Proceed to Send tone then KP + 000 + 0000 + ST and you will receive a recording saying which ISC (International Switching Center) it is. For the example it will say, "This is the international switching center in Pittsburg, PA -- This is a recording - 4121." You can actually route calls to certain senders yourself (KP + NPA + 18X + ST) but it is better off not to since it may look suspicious if a call is sent through a sender that it shouldn't go through. Here are the senders: 182 -- White Plains, NY 183 -- New York, NY 184 -- Pittsburg, PA 185 -- Orlando, FL 186 -- Oakland, CA 187 -- Denver, CO 188 -- New York, NY Also, there tends to be alot of talk about the Code 11, Code 12, KP2, STP, ST3P, & ST2P keys. While they do exist the blue boxer need not concern himself with them. The first three are used on CCITT System 5. This is the signaling system that the International Senders use to send information to other countries. These codes are usually added automatically just like the language assistance digit [which distinguishes operator (or blue box) dialed calls from customer dialed calls]. The STP, ST3P, & ST2P tones are used when equipment is communicating with the TSPS. These also are automatically added when needed in most cases. [see Telcom III for more on International Switching Centers (ISC)] 11XXX -- miscellaneous operators 11501 -- universal cordboard operator 11511 -- conference operator 11521 -- mobile operator 11531 -- marine operator 11541 -- LD incoming switchboard 11551 -- leave word for time & charges (neat stuff) 11561 -- same as 11551 but for hotel/motels 11571 -- overseas operators -- language assistance The 11XXX series is interesting scanning material. Miscellaneous Routing Codes : ----------------------------- Alliance Teleconferencing has several numbers, a few of which are listed below: KP + 213 080 XXXX + ST KP + 305 025 XXXX + ST KP + 312 001 XXXX + ST XXXX = 1050, 1100, or a few others Also, at KP + 317 009 + ST there is a MF tone checker. After the beep-kerclunk, dial in KP + 999 1234567 890 + ST and it will repeat the digits that you pulsed if they are of the right frequency. Tandem Scanning: ---------------- To find all e sold on a "cash and carry" basis. Instead each sale would require all the face-to-face contact appropriate to purchasing a car or life insurance. The legal contract would then be properly reviewed and SIGNED by the customer. Sound Preposterous? Now realch-tone, send it 2600 Hz, rip it apart. You never know, you may run into something phun, like a computer that checks CC numbers. Incidentally, in some exchange you can dial inwards and other box codes directly! For example, 914-121-1111 will get you a NY inward. The only problem is that a 0 or 1 as the first digit of the exchange is usually prohibited in customer dialing. Somebody may have "accidentally" changed this screening code on your ESS's computer, though -- you never know and it can't hurt to try. WATS translation numbers also take up some of the 0XX & 1XX codes. Finally, certain tones on the blue box can also be used for other purposes. An MF "2" corresponds to COIN COLLECT while "KP" corresponds to COIN RETURN. Thus every blue box is also a green box (see Telcom VI). ------------------------------------------------------------------ The preceding was intended for informational purposes only. The implementation of some of the above mentioned information may be a violation of state and/or federal laws. ------------------------------------------------------------------ PPS Any and all threats, comments, suggestions, and/or subpoenas are welcome.