3884 lines
187 KiB
Groff
3884 lines
187 KiB
Groff
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Private Sector Bust: By - Shooting Shark :
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The following article appeared in the August, 1985
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On July 12, 1985, law enforcement officials seized the Private
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Sector BBS, the official computer bulletin board of 2600 magazine,
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for "complicity in computer theft," under the newly passed, and yet
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untested, New Jersey Statute 2C:20-25. Police had uncovered in
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April a credit carding ring operated around a Middlesex County
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electronic bulletin board, and from there investigated other North
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Jersey bulletin boards. Not understanding subject matter of the
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Private Sector BBS, police assumed that the sysop was involved in
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illegal activities. Six other computers were also seized in this
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investigation, including those of Store Manager [perhaps they mean
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Swap Shop Manager? - Shark] who ran a BBS of his own, Beowolf, Red
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Barchetta, the Vampire, NJ Hack Shack, sysop of the NJ Hack Shack
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BBS, and that of the sysop of the Treasure Chest BBS. Immediately
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after this action, members of 2600 contacted the media, who were
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completely unaware of any of the raids. They began to bombard the
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Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office with questions and a press
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conference was announced for July 16. The system operator of the
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Private Sector BBS attempted to attend along with reporters from
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2600. They were effectively thrown off the premises. Threats
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were made to charge them with trespassing and other crimes. An
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officer who had at first received them civilly was threatened with
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the loss of his job if he didn't get them removed promptly. Then
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the car was chased out of the parking lot. Perhaps prosecutor Alan
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Rockoff was afraid that he presence of some technically literate
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reporters would ruin the effect of his press release on the public.
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As it happens, he didn't need our help. The next day the details of
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the press conference were reported to the public by the press. As
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Rockoff intended, paranoia about hackers ran rampant. Headlines got
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as ridiculous as hackers ordering tank parts by telephone from TRW
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and moving satellites with their home computers in order to make
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free phone calls. These and even more exotic stories were reported
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by otherwise respectable media sources. The news conference
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understandably made the front page of most of the major newspapers
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in the US, and was a major news item as far away as Australia and in
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the United Kingdom due to the sensationalism of the claims. We will
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try to explain why these claims may have been made in this issue. On
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July 18 the operator of The Private Sector was formally charged with
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"computer conspiracy" under the above law, and released in the
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custody of his parents. The next day the American Civil Liberties
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Union took over his defense. The ACLU commented that it would be
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very hard for Rockoff to prove a conspiracy just "because the same
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information, construed by the prosecutor to be illegal, appears on
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two bulletin boards." especially as Rockoff admitted that "he did
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not believe any of the defendants knew each other." The ACLU believes
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that the system operator's rights were violated, as he was assumed
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to be involved in an illegal activity just because of other people
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- 70 -
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under investigation who happened to have posted messages on his
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board. In another statement which seems to confirm Rockoff's belief
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in guilt by association, he announced the next day that "630
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people were being investigated to determine if any used their
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computer equipment fraudulently." We believe this is only the user
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list of the NJ Hack Shack, so the actual list of those to be
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investigated may turn out to be almost 5 times that. The sheer
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overwhelming difficulty of this task may kill this investigation,
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especially as they find that many hackers simply leave false
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information. Computer hobbyists all across the country have
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already been called by the Bound Brook, New Jersey office of the
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FBI. They reported that the FBI agents used scare tactics in order
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to force confessions or to provoke them into turning in others. We
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would like to remind those who get called that there is nothing
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inherently wrong or illegal in calling any ANY BBS, nor in talking
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about ANY activity. The FBI would not comment on the case as it is
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an "ongoing investigation" and in the hands of the local prosecutor.
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They will soon find that many on the Private Sector BBS's user list
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are data processing managers, telecommunications security people,
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and others who are interested in the subject of the BBS, hardly the
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underground community of computer criminals depicted at the news
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conference. The Private Sector BBS was a completely open BBS, and
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police and security people were even invited on in order to participate.
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The BBS was far from the "elite" type of underground telecom boards
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that Rockoff attempted to portray. Within two days, Rockoff took
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back almost all of the statements he had made at the news
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conference, as AT&T and the DoD [Department of Defense - Shark]
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discounted the claims he had made. He was understandably unable to
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find real proof of Private Sector's alleged illegal activity, and
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was faced with having to return the computer equipment with nothing
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to show for his effort. Rockoff panicked, and on July 31, the
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system operator had a new charge against him, "wiring up his
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computer as a blue box." Apparently this was referring to his
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Novation Applecat modem which is capable of generating any hertz
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tone over the phone line. By this stretch of imagination an
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Applecat could produce a 2600 hertz tone as well as the MF which is
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necessary for "blue boxing." However, each and every other owner of
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an Applecat or any other modem that can generate its own tones
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therefore has also "wired up his computer as a blue box" by merely
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installing the modem. This charge is so ridiculous that Rockoff
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probably will never bother to press it. However, the wording of
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WIRING UP THE COMPUTER gives rockoff an excuse to continue to hold
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onto the computer longer in his futile search for illegal activity.
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"We have requested that the prosecutors give us more specific
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information," said Arthur Miller, the lawyer for The Private
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Sector. "The charges are so vague that we can't really present a
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case at this point." Miller will appear in court on August 16 to
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obtain this information. He is also issuing a demand for the
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return of the equipment and, if the prosecutors don't cooperate,
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will commence court proceedings against them. "They haven't
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been particularly cooperative," he said.
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- 71 -
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Rockoff probably will soon reconsider taking Private Sector's
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case to court, as he will have to admit he just didn't know what he
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was doing when he seized the BBS. The arrest warrant listed only
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"computer conspiracy" against Private Sector, which is much more
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difficult to prosecute than the multitude of charges against some
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of the other defendants, which include credit card fraud, toll
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fraud, the unauthorized entry into computers, and numerous others.
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Both Rockoff and the ACLU mentioned the Supreme Court in their
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press releases, but he will assuredly take one of his stronger
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cases to test the new New Jersey computer crime law. by seizing
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the BBS just because of supposed activities discussed on it,
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Rockoff raises constitutional questions. Darrell Paster, a
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lawyer who centers much of his work on computer crime, says
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the New Jersey case is "just another example of local law
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enforcement getting on the bandwagon of crime that has come into
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vogue to prosecute, and they have proceeded with very little
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technical understanding, and in the process they have abused many
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people's constitutional rights. What we have developing is a mini
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witch hunt which is analogous to some of the arrests at day care
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centers, where they sweep in and arrest everybody, ruin reputations,
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and then find that there is only one or two guilty parties." We feel
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that law enforcement, not understanding the information on the BBS,
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decided to strike first and ask questions later. 2600 magazine and
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the sysops of the Private Sector BBS stand fully behind the system
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operator. As soon as the equipment is returned, the BBS will go
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back up. We ask all our readers to do their utmost to support us
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in our efforts, and to educate as many of the public as possible
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that a hacker is not a computer criminal. We are all
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convinced of our sysop's innocence, and await Rockoff's dropping of
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the charges.
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NOTE: Readers will notice that our reporting of the events are
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quite different than those presented in the media and by the
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Middlesex County Prosecutor. We can only remind you that we are
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much closer to the events at hand than the media is, and that we
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are much more technologically literate than the Middlesex County
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Prosecutor's Office. The Middlesex County Prosecutor has already
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taken back many of his statements, after the contentions were
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disproven by AT&T and the DoD. One problem is that the media and
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the police tend to treat the seven cases as one case, thus the
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charges against and activities of some of the hackers has been
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- 72 -
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Phreaking AT&T Cards: By - Net Runner
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My topic will deal with using an AT&T calling card for
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automated calls. Ok to place a call with an AT&T card, lift the
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handset (PAY PHONE) hit (0) and the desired area code and the
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number to call. Also when calling the same number that the card is
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being billed to you enter the phone number and at the tone only
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enter the last four digits on the card. But we don't want to do
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that now, do we. If additional calls are wanted all you do is hit
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the (#) and you will get a new dial tone! After you hit (#) you do
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not have to re-enter the calling card number simply enter your
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desired number and it will connect you. If the number you called is
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busy just keep hitting (#) and the number to be called until you
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connect! Ok to calL the U.S. of a from another country, you use the
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exact same format as described above! Ok now I will describe the
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procedure for placing calls to a foreign country, such as
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CANADA,RUSSIA,SOUTH AMERICA, etc.. Ok first lift the handset then
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enter (01) + the country code + the city code + the local telephone
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number. Ok after you get the tone enter the AT&T calling card
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number. Ok if you can not dial operator assisted calls from your
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area don't worry just jingle the operator and she will handle your
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call, don't worry she can't see you! The international number on
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the AT&T calling card is used for calling the US of A from places
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like RUSSIA, CHINA you never know when you might get stuck in a
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country like those and you have no money to make a call! The
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international operator will be able to tell you if they honor the
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AT&T calling card. Well I hope that this has straightened out some
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of your problems on the use of an AT&T calling card! All you have
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to remember is that weather you are placing the call or the
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operator, be careful and never use the calling card from your home
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phone!! That is a BIG NO NO.. Also AT&T has came out with a new
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thing called (NEW CARD CALLER SERVICE) they say that it was
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designed to meet the public's needs! These phones will be popping
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up in many place such as airport terminals, hotels, etc... What the
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new card caller service is, is a new type of phone that has a
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(CRT) screen that will talk to you in a language of your choice.
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The service works something like this, when you find a (NEW CARD
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CALLER PHONE), all you do is follow the instructions on the (CRT)
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screen, then you insert the (NEW CARD CALLER CARD) and there is a
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strip of magnetic tape on the card which reads the number, thus no
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one can hear you saying your number or if there were a bug in the
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phone,no touch tones will be heard!! You can also bill the call to
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a third party. that is one that I am not totally clear on yet! The
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phone is supposed to tell you how it can be done. That is after you
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have inserted your card and lifted the receiver!
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- 73 -
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BASIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS: By - < Net Runner >
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CN/A:
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CN/A, WHICH STANDS FOR CUSTOMER NAME AND ADDRESS, ARE BUREAUS
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THAT EXIST SO THAT AUTHORIZED BELL EMPLOYEES CAN FIND OUT THE NAME
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AND ADDRESS OF ANY CUSTOMER IN THE BELL SYSTEM. ALL #'S ARE
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MAINTAINED ON FILE INCLUDING UNLISTED #'S.
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HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
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1) YOU HAVE A # AND YOU WANT TO FIND OUT WHO OWNS IT, E.G. (914)
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555-1234.
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2) YOU LOOK UP THE CN/A # FOR THAT NPA IN THE LIST BELOW. IN THE
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EXAMPLE, THE NPA IS 914 AND THE CN/A# IS 518-471-8111.
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3) YOU THEN CALL UP THE CN/A # (DURING BUSINESS HOURS) AND SAY
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SOMETHING LIKE, "HI, THIS IS JOHN JONES FROM THE RESIDENTIAL
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SERVICE CENTER IN MIAMI. CAN I HAVE THE CUSTOMER'S NAME AT
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914-555-1234. THAT # IS 914-555-1234." MAKE UP YOUR OWN REAL
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SOUNDING NAME, THOUGH.
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4) IF YOU SOUND NATURAL & CHEERY, THE OPERATOR WILL ASK NO
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QUESTIONS.
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HERE'S THE LIST:
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NPA CN/A # NPA CN/A #
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--- ------------ --- ------------
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201 201-676-7070 517 313-232-8690
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202 202-384-9620 518 518-471-8111
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203 203-789-6800 519 416-487-3641
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204 ****N/A***** 601 601-961-0877
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205 205-988-7000 602 303-232-2300
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206 206-382-8000 603 617-787-2750
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207 617-787-2750 604 604-432-2996
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208 303-232-2300 605 402-345-0600
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209 415-546-1341 606 502-583-2861
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212 518-471-8111 607 518-471-8111
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213 213-501-4144 608 414-424-5690
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214 214-948-5731 609 201-676-7070
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215 412-633-5600 612 402-345-0600
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216 614-464-2345 613 416-487-3641
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217 217-525-7000 614 614-464-2345
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218 402-345-0600 615 615-373-5791
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219 317-265-7027 616 313-223-8690
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301 301-534-11?? 617 617-787-2750
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302 412-633-5600 618 217-525-7000
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303 303-232-2300 701 402-345-0600
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- 74 -
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304 304-344-8041 702 415-546-1341
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305 912-784-9111 703 804-747-1411
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306 ****N/A***** 704 912-784-9111
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307 303-232-2300 705 416-487-3641
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308 402-345-0600 707 415-546-1341
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309 217-525-7000 709 ****N/A*****
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312 312-769-9600 712 402-345-0600
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313 313-223-8690 713 713-658-1793
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314 314-436-3321 714 213-995-0221
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315 518-471-8111 715 414-424-5690
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316 816-275-2782 716 518-471-8111
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317 317-265-7027 717 412-633-5600
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318 318-227-1551 801 303-232-2300
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319 402-345-0600 802 617-787-2750
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401 617-787-2750 803 912-784-9111
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402 402-345-0600 804 804-747-1411
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403 403-425-2652 805 415-546-1341
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404 912-784-9111 806 512-828-2502
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405 405-236-6121 807 416-487-3641
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406 303-232-2300 808 212-226-5487
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408 415-546-1341 BERMUDA ONLY
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412 412-633-5600 809 212-334-4336
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413 617-787-2750 812 317-265-7027
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414 414-424-5690 813 813-228-7871
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415 415-546-1132 814 412-633-5600
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416 416-487-3641 815 217-525-7000
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417 314-436-3321 816 816-275-2782
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|||
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418 514-861-6391 817 214-948-5731
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|||
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419 614-464-2345 819 514-861-6391
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501 405-236-6121 901 615-373-5791
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502 502-583-2861 902 902-421-4110
|
|||
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503 503-241-3440 903 ****N/A*****
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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
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 75 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A little something about Your phone company: By Col. Hogan
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ever get an operator who gave you a hard time, and you didn't
|
|||
|
|
know what to do? Well if the operator hears you use a little Bell
|
|||
|
|
jargon, she might wise up. Here is a little diagram (excuse the
|
|||
|
|
artwork) of the structure of operators
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
/--------\ /------\ /-----\ /-------------\
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
!Operator!-- > ! S.A. ! --->! BOS ! ! Group Cheif !
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
\--------/ \------/ \-----/ \-------------/
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Now most of the operators are not bugged, so they can curse at
|
|||
|
|
you, if they do ask INSTANTLY for the "S.A." or the Service
|
|||
|
|
Assistant. The operator does not report to her (95% of them are
|
|||
|
|
hers) but they will solve most of your problems. She MUST give you
|
|||
|
|
her name as she connects & all of these calls are bugged. If the SA
|
|||
|
|
gives you a rough time get her BOS (Business Office Supervisor) on
|
|||
|
|
the line. S/He will almost always back her girls up, but sometimes
|
|||
|
|
the SA will get tarred and feathered. The operator reports to the
|
|||
|
|
Group Chief, and S/He will solve 100% of your problems, but the
|
|||
|
|
chances of getting S/He on the line are nill. If a lineman (the guy
|
|||
|
|
who works out on the poles) or an Installation man gives you the
|
|||
|
|
works ask to speak to the Instal- lation Foreman, that works
|
|||
|
|
wonders. Here is some other bell Jar- gon, that might come in handy
|
|||
|
|
if you are having trouble with the line. Or they can be used to lie
|
|||
|
|
your way out of situations. An Erling is a line busy for 1 hour,
|
|||
|
|
used mostly in traffic studies A Permanent Signal is that terrible
|
|||
|
|
howling you get if you disc- connect, but don't hang up. Everyone
|
|||
|
|
knows what a busy signal is, but some idiots think that is the
|
|||
|
|
*Actual* ringing of the phone, when it just is a tone "beeps" when
|
|||
|
|
the phone is ringing, woul- ldn't bet on this though, it can (and
|
|||
|
|
does) get out of sync. When you get a busy signal that is 2 times
|
|||
|
|
as fast as the normal one, the person you are trying to reach isn't
|
|||
|
|
really on the phone, (he might be), it is actually the signal that
|
|||
|
|
a trunk line somewhere is busy and they haven't or can't reroute
|
|||
|
|
your call. Sometimes you will get a Recording, or if you get
|
|||
|
|
nothing at all (Left High & Dry in fone terms) all the recordings
|
|||
|
|
are being used and the system is really overused, will probably go
|
|||
|
|
down in a little while. This happened when Kennedy was shot, the
|
|||
|
|
system just couldn't handle the calls. By the way this is called
|
|||
|
|
the "reorder signal" and the trunk line is "blocked". One more
|
|||
|
|
thing, if an overseas call isn't completed and doesn't generate any
|
|||
|
|
money for AT&T, is is called an "Air & Water Call".
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 76 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Files By Al.P.H.A
|
|||
|
|
<20>Ŀ ڿ <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>¿ ڿ ڿ <20>Ŀ
|
|||
|
|
ڳ <20><> <20><> <20><> <20><><EFBFBD> <20><> <20><> ڳ <20><>
|
|||
|
|
ڳ<><DAB3><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> <20><> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>Ĵ<EFBFBD> ڳ<><DAB3><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>
|
|||
|
|
ڳ<> <20><><EFBFBD> <20><>ڿ <20><>ڿ <20><> <20><>ڿڳ<DABF> <20><><EFBFBD>
|
|||
|
|
<20><> <20><> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> <20><> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> <20><>
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
|||
|
|
- Jesters Guide to.... -
|
|||
|
|
- -
|
|||
|
|
- {- 950-0266's for the new Phreaker -} -
|
|||
|
|
- -
|
|||
|
|
- {- 11\6\89 -} -
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is a file I just decided to write, right after a guy that
|
|||
|
|
lives near me, who runs a bbs complained about his outrageously
|
|||
|
|
high phone bill, and being that I use 0266's I decided that I would
|
|||
|
|
TRY to write a text file on how to use the 0266's as a simple way
|
|||
|
|
of phreaking. I am not an expert on the subject and I don't claim
|
|||
|
|
to be, I am just writing this file to try to help out others that
|
|||
|
|
are in the same experiance level as the guy that I was talking
|
|||
|
|
about previouly in the file.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
There are many different types of 950's, but the type I use is
|
|||
|
|
the 950-0266 and I use these because that is what I was taught with
|
|||
|
|
and they seem like a fairly good, and easy way to phreak. 950-0266s
|
|||
|
|
are known to have VERY clean lines, so they are perfect to use with
|
|||
|
|
modems.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The basic format for these codes are:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(1) Dial 950-0266
|
|||
|
|
(2) Wait for tone then dial your 7 digit Code
|
|||
|
|
(3) Right after dialing your Code dial your ACN (Area Code
|
|||
|
|
Number)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I.E. if I were to call my friend Joe in Utah, I would do
|
|||
|
|
this... 950-0266 (tone) XXXXXXX8015551234 The X's stand for
|
|||
|
|
the 7 digit code
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
950's have known to be dangerouse, they are on ESS (electronic
|
|||
|
|
switching service) which is a phreaks nightmare. Being that 950's
|
|||
|
|
are on the ESS they can, and have been known to trace. The type of
|
|||
|
|
tracing service on 950's can trace in a heart beat, so there is
|
|||
|
|
somewhat a great risk in using these. Some precautions about using
|
|||
|
|
950s - Do NOT use the same code for more then 3 days. Try to use
|
|||
|
|
different codes if you have them i.e. call one board with a code
|
|||
|
|
like 2314211 , and then call the next board with a totally
|
|||
|
|
different code. Use these codes during prime time, to cut the risk
|
|||
|
|
of getting caught down. And use these in moderation, do not get
|
|||
|
|
crazy with them.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 77 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I hope this file hasnt been to much of a waste of time, I hope
|
|||
|
|
it has offered some help to you in using 950-0266's. I would like
|
|||
|
|
to have suggestions and comments on what you think of my file. If
|
|||
|
|
you have valid Input, please let me know your opinion on
|
|||
|
|
Al.P.H.A.'s home Board (801)!!!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Copyright (C) 1989 by -NecroiDaemon
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 78 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Files By Al.P.H.A
|
|||
|
|
<20>Ŀ ڿ <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>¿ ڿ ڿ <20>Ŀ
|
|||
|
|
ڳ <20><> <20><> <20><> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> <20><> ڳ <20><>
|
|||
|
|
ڳ<><DAB3><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> <20><> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>ٳ<EFBFBD><D9B3><EFBFBD>Ĵ<EFBFBD> ڳ<><DAB3><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>
|
|||
|
|
ڳ<> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD>ڿ<EFBFBD><DABF>ڿ <20><> <20><>ڿڳ<DABF> <20><><EFBFBD>
|
|||
|
|
<20><> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> <20><> <20><><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD><EFBFBD> <20><>
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
|||
|
|
-= Code Hacking - Done Right 7/17-90 =-
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Code Hacking falls into both the hacking and phreaking category.
|
|||
|
|
Think about it. You have to HACK in order to get codez and then you
|
|||
|
|
PHREAK when you get the codez. I'm not going to go into great
|
|||
|
|
detail on code phreaking, this text file is going to deal mainly
|
|||
|
|
with "CODE HACKING". I get asked all the time where and how to get
|
|||
|
|
codez. I'm hoping this file will clear up this question for a lot
|
|||
|
|
of people. This is not my first text file, but I don't make a
|
|||
|
|
habbit out of them yet!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Code Hacking, What is it:
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
|||
|
|
Simply enough it's where you get a dial up (IE. 1-800's or
|
|||
|
|
950's) and set up a code hacking program and config it to the code
|
|||
|
|
you're about to hack and let it run. Now there are hundrends of
|
|||
|
|
dial ups for us pkreakers/hackers to play with (I will list a few
|
|||
|
|
at the end of this phile), and the code lenght and formats also
|
|||
|
|
very a great deal. Now you can get your hacker set up and let it
|
|||
|
|
run all night and if Gh0d's willing you might get lucky
|
|||
|
|
and get a code by the next day.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ok the best way to go about Code hacking is to get a format or
|
|||
|
|
template if you perfer to call it that. Now they look like this.
|
|||
|
|
801XX, where you know the first 3 digits of the code is 801, but
|
|||
|
|
the last 2 digits are unknown and you have to hack out the last 2
|
|||
|
|
digits. If you know all but 2 digits then you have a 1 in 100 shot
|
|||
|
|
in getting a code each time your hacker trys to hack a code, of
|
|||
|
|
course the longer the code or the less digits you know the less
|
|||
|
|
chance you have in hacking a code. But belive me
|
|||
|
|
it's never a lost cause. You can have zero digits and still get
|
|||
|
|
codez.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A Lesson in Formats #1:
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
|||
|
|
Ok say your going to hack 1-800-635-9135, Code lenght is 5
|
|||
|
|
digits, and already have the following codez!
|
|||
|
|
22199
|
|||
|
|
22723
|
|||
|
|
22857
|
|||
|
|
22832
|
|||
|
|
21099
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 79 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ok, think about it for a second, we have 5 codez all staring with
|
|||
|
|
the # 2 and all but the last one has a 2 as the 2nd number, and the
|
|||
|
|
3rd and 4th both have a 8 as the 3rd number and the 1st and 5th end
|
|||
|
|
with a 99, so you could user some different formats for this code
|
|||
|
|
and here the are:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
22XXX
|
|||
|
|
2XX99
|
|||
|
|
228XX
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ok now there are a few formats for a 5 digit code. I think you
|
|||
|
|
can apply this same system to 6,7 or even 8 digit codez.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Well, I hope you can understand formats or templates a little
|
|||
|
|
better. Code hacking can be a long drug out process, but the way I
|
|||
|
|
look at it if you spend a night letting your hacker run and get a
|
|||
|
|
code and spend 5 hours or so of FREE ld calling then it's worth it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A lesson in Formats #2:
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
|||
|
|
Another probelem with code hacking is figure out or know what comes
|
|||
|
|
first the CODE or ACN (Area Code Number). On 950-0488's it's ACN +
|
|||
|
|
code, but on most 800's it's ACN + Code. There is really no way to
|
|||
|
|
know for sure. Just make sure when you get your starter codez (The
|
|||
|
|
ones you'll get your formats from) you know how to use them. If you
|
|||
|
|
know this it'll save you a lot of time. The Codes I gave above are
|
|||
|
|
CODE + ACN, but most 800's are ACN + Code. BTW as of the release
|
|||
|
|
date of this file the 800 number listed above works, but the codez
|
|||
|
|
are dead. Well thats the end of the FORMAT LESSONS.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
What Code Hacker to Use:
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|||
|
|
Well there are several hackers on the market, but your best
|
|||
|
|
bet is on one of two. Code Thief Deluxe by Phortune 500 and Brew
|
|||
|
|
Associates or Fucking Hacker by 2AF and Hypnacosm. I myself have
|
|||
|
|
played with both but Code Thief Deluxe v 4.0 is the best on the
|
|||
|
|
market. It's very user friendly and even the beginner can figure it
|
|||
|
|
out, but if you have a different hacker then fell free to use it.
|
|||
|
|
The Hacker you use should be the one you fell the best about. I
|
|||
|
|
like Theif 4.0 and I would recommend this to any and all hackers.
|
|||
|
|
The way I look at it, you can't go wrong with Phortune 500.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Dial up's and Code Lenths:
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|||
|
|
1-800-222-4333 Code 6 Digits (Code + ACN)
|
|||
|
|
1-800-657-9600 Code 7 Digits (Code + ACN)
|
|||
|
|
1-800-327-9488 Code 13 Digits (Code + ACN)
|
|||
|
|
1-800-476-4646 Code 6 Digits (Code + ACN)
|
|||
|
|
1-800-234-5095 Code 6 Digits (Code + ACN)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 80 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
950-0266 Code 7 Digits (ACN + Code)
|
|||
|
|
950-0488 Code 13 Digits (ACN + Code)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Closing Notes.
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|||
|
|
Well I hope the first text file from Al.P.H.A helps a few of
|
|||
|
|
you out. I was sitting arond (at work of all places) when it dawned
|
|||
|
|
on me I have never seen a file on code hacking, so I decided to do
|
|||
|
|
one up. This file is for the beginner not the Expert, but I have
|
|||
|
|
read a number of text files for beginners and have learned
|
|||
|
|
something from them. So enjoy.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Speical Thanks go out to:
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|
|||
|
|
Doc Silicon - (My Partiner in Crime) for talking me into
|
|||
|
|
starting this Awesome H&P group.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Oxidizer - If it wasn't for your board, I'd of had to
|
|||
|
|
spent a lot more time Code Hacking.
|
|||
|
|
__________________
|
|||
|
|
|Brew Associates | - For the Awesome programming work that went
|
|||
|
|
into Theif
|
|||
|
|
|<<<< P500 >>>>> | 3.5 and 4.0.
|
|||
|
|
|Professor Falken| - For the Awesome work you did on your Phreak Tools
|
|||
|
|
------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A Little About Al.P.H.A!
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|||
|
|
We are a small group that plans on Hacking/Passing and Using codez.
|
|||
|
|
We started Al.P.H.A because we were tired of all the want-a-be
|
|||
|
|
groups we were a part of. I'm not going to state names of the
|
|||
|
|
Groups, I don't want a fucking war with any of them.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Al.P.H.A is:
|
|||
|
|
-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|||
|
|
Captain Kidd - Doc Silicon - Techno Cyberdaeemon - Black Beard
|
|||
|
|
Cristifer Columbus - Jester - Falcon
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 81 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Files By Al.P.H.A
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Surviving at Night: By Falcon
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I am writing this file with the knowledge that night survival
|
|||
|
|
is a lot of common sense. I do however feel I can share some added
|
|||
|
|
information that can help make the anarchists favorite time of the
|
|||
|
|
day (night) a little safer and easier to work with. **note some of
|
|||
|
|
the information I am writing I have taken from a article from
|
|||
|
|
Combat Tactics magazine were as the rest is common sense and stuff
|
|||
|
|
I've picked up though personal night missions.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The first part of surviving at night is to dress accordingly.
|
|||
|
|
Common sense tell us a person in black clothing with a black mask
|
|||
|
|
is harder to spot then a person in white clothing. This of course
|
|||
|
|
is true, but one must also consider the fact that black is a
|
|||
|
|
stereotype for burglars, the devil and trouble its self. Not to
|
|||
|
|
mention a mask or painted face. That is why for most situations I
|
|||
|
|
recommend wearing modern, casual clothing that does not even need
|
|||
|
|
to be black. Dark blue or green etc. can accomplish the same over
|
|||
|
|
all effect at night. For summer try and have shorts, and dress
|
|||
|
|
accordingly to the season. Were black or dark socks and shoes. If
|
|||
|
|
you are running white shoes REALLY stand out. Also as I said
|
|||
|
|
before try to get around wearing a mask or face paint until the
|
|||
|
|
last minute possible.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
You then need your equipment. I personally have a nice black
|
|||
|
|
pouch and belt I got from army navy surplus stores. I use the belt
|
|||
|
|
and pouch to hold all of my equipment, so if I have to I can drop
|
|||
|
|
the belt in a shadow, and look like a causal modern dressed dude
|
|||
|
|
walking to a friends house. We are talking innocent!!! In my ouch
|
|||
|
|
and belt I include: wire cutters, gloves black of, course to hide
|
|||
|
|
my little white hands and their fingerprints. A mask so I can hide
|
|||
|
|
my identity, a flashlight for seeing and destroying people's night
|
|||
|
|
vision- be careful not to shine it around windows etc. The same
|
|||
|
|
goes for matches, lighters because at night it is very obvious. A
|
|||
|
|
few bombs (CO2 etc.) to act as diversions and blow up stuff like
|
|||
|
|
mailboxes... A scope off a rifle. You would be surprise at how
|
|||
|
|
well you can see using on of them in the night, especially if you
|
|||
|
|
are looking toward light and your night vision is good. I do not
|
|||
|
|
recommend binoculars due to they take up both eyes and if you look
|
|||
|
|
into light you loose both eyes night vision.....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Also I take what ever else The situation requires. I try to
|
|||
|
|
not over-do-it. For example if you are only going on a scouting
|
|||
|
|
mission why danger yourself with a full load up. It is just more
|
|||
|
|
trouble you can get in, if caught. But also don't be under
|
|||
|
|
equipped or you could miss out on some killer opportunities. A
|
|||
|
|
favorite saying of mine (a quote from my hero the legendary
|
|||
|
|
assassin Jason Bourne: "opportunities will present themselves.
|
|||
|
|
When they do you better be ready to use them."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 82 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Night vision is important. To explain how it works one can
|
|||
|
|
compare the eye to a camera. The lens of an eye is like the lens
|
|||
|
|
of a camera focusing light as it enters. The iris of an eye is
|
|||
|
|
like the diaphragm of a camera opening and closing to allow the
|
|||
|
|
correct amount of light in for the situation. The retina is like
|
|||
|
|
film, light image is recorded and sent to the brain as light images
|
|||
|
|
thus producing pictures. We use two kinds of cells in seeing: Cone
|
|||
|
|
and Rod cells. (named due to their size).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Day vision comes from the cone cells. They enable you to see
|
|||
|
|
color, sharp contrast, and shape. The cone cells cannot function
|
|||
|
|
in low light levels, thus why we cannot see color at night.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The rod cells produce a substance called visual purple. This
|
|||
|
|
substance allows us to see at night. If we stare at something to
|
|||
|
|
long (a few seconds) all the visual purple in that spot of the eye
|
|||
|
|
is used up. This cause blank outs in what we're are starting at.
|
|||
|
|
To get around this problem scanning is used. Scanning is basically
|
|||
|
|
moving ones eyes back and forth never focusing on one spot. This
|
|||
|
|
allows the visual purple to evenly resupply itself so no black outs
|
|||
|
|
occur. When scanning never move your head back and forth (I will
|
|||
|
|
explain later) just your eyes.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The reason you should not move your whole head while scanning
|
|||
|
|
is because the human eye is very good at detecting movement. If
|
|||
|
|
you are being followed from a distance, or someone is looking for
|
|||
|
|
you just freeze. If you can lay prone, or get in a nice shadow,
|
|||
|
|
but in most situations you can be lost by anyone trying to find
|
|||
|
|
you. However if they have already located you, or they are very
|
|||
|
|
close you need to get away from them, then hide. If you are dressed
|
|||
|
|
correctly and freeze you can really be hard to spot. Also keep
|
|||
|
|
scanning so you don't get surprised by someone. If you must move do
|
|||
|
|
it slowly (including your head to scan behind you).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A very important fact in night vision is letting your eyes
|
|||
|
|
adjust to the dark. 30 minutes in the dark are required to
|
|||
|
|
completely adjust and get the best night vision. (you can spend 20
|
|||
|
|
of the 30 minutes in red light and get the same effect, this can
|
|||
|
|
save time but who has a red lighted room?) Be careful with your
|
|||
|
|
night vision. It can be lost by looking into lights, a fire, etc.
|
|||
|
|
If you must go into light or look into it using a scope only use one
|
|||
|
|
eye. Cover the other eye so you at least have one good night eye at
|
|||
|
|
all times.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Practice these night sight tactics and become confident with
|
|||
|
|
the night. It is your friend!!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
At night, our sound and movement become more trustworthy.
|
|||
|
|
That is why it is important to stay silent and well hidden. If you
|
|||
|
|
must talk do it in whispers and try to have a sign language
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 83 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
you can use to keep from having to talk. Certain areas are very
|
|||
|
|
dangerous at night. Areas like fences, rivers, roads, yards with
|
|||
|
|
dogs, open areas etc. If you must cross them make sure to stake
|
|||
|
|
the area out so you know it is secure, then cross the danger area
|
|||
|
|
as fast as you can (don't become reckless but go fast.) Certain
|
|||
|
|
danger areas like dogs can be fixed. For example you could kill
|
|||
|
|
the dogs if give them meat to keep quiet.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Weapons of the night should try and be silent so they don't
|
|||
|
|
give away your position. Darts, air-guns, knives, silenced weapons
|
|||
|
|
etc. are best. However noise can be a great diversion. A timed
|
|||
|
|
fuse on a bomb can be used to attract attention to the wrong place
|
|||
|
|
allowing you to escape. Also say you are in a house and the owners
|
|||
|
|
come home and you are trapped in a room. Without killing them to
|
|||
|
|
get away unidentified you could beat them up with a mask on, but
|
|||
|
|
what if they were bigger then you? That's when a flashlight burst
|
|||
|
|
in a un-expecting face followed by a slam with your shoulders and
|
|||
|
|
your quick escape come in handy. Also you could buy a tear gas gun.
|
|||
|
|
I got mine for like 10-15 bucks and they are handy! You could pop
|
|||
|
|
some poor sucker in the face from a few feet away, slam him then run.
|
|||
|
|
The poor dude would be wondering if he had died and gone to hell as
|
|||
|
|
you ran for a safe place.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
An important thing at night is to know your territory. Know
|
|||
|
|
were you can run and hide or get away. If you are in a new place
|
|||
|
|
scout it out. Also be good about keeping plans and sticking to
|
|||
|
|
them. Work in the buddy system so you aren't responsible for
|
|||
|
|
looking everyplace, and lugging all the supplies etc.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Well That is all I can think of at the time, I'm sure to
|
|||
|
|
remember more later.... I hope this file helps.....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 84 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Files By Al.P.H.A
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
BASIC CARDING (BY Al.P.H.A)
|
|||
|
|
---------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I would like to emphasize two facts:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Fact Number 1 ] Carding is dangerous, by reading this file, you
|
|||
|
|
are subjecting yourself to highly illegal information
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Fact Number 2 ] Due to the fact of the illegality, I take NO
|
|||
|
|
responsibility for what actions might take place due to this file.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(Phew! now that that's over with...)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In this file we will discuss:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter --> 1 Obtaining Cards
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
There are MANY ways to obtain cards, through Trashing (the art of
|
|||
|
|
scrounging through Garbage cans, and dumpsters and any other places
|
|||
|
|
that would be a good source of cut cards or carbons from receipts.)
|
|||
|
|
But that will be discussed in Trashing files available anywhere on
|
|||
|
|
your Average Phreak/Hack/Anarchy BBS/AE. You may also obtain them
|
|||
|
|
off a bbs with a Carding section, but to ensure best validity, get
|
|||
|
|
them yourself, as the motto goes,"If you want it done right the
|
|||
|
|
first time, do it yourself."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter --> 2 Identifying/Checking the card
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Checking the card is very simple, and even the novice carder can do
|
|||
|
|
it the first time. First, there are two ways (As far as i'm
|
|||
|
|
concerned) to check the card.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1] Using Tymnet, call your local dialup, and enter "TSDCOMPSUPP"
|
|||
|
|
for login. Then for the password, "HARRYHINES" will get you in.
|
|||
|
|
After your in, hit "?" for help, most likely you'll be using the
|
|||
|
|
option "B", remember using UPPERCASE. Where "B" is Mastercard /
|
|||
|
|
Visa transaction, but if you stumble across a Carta Blanche card,
|
|||
|
|
call me (Just kidding), then enter the letter for the transaction
|
|||
|
|
and you're off. It'll ask you for your card number, w/o the
|
|||
|
|
hyphens, then the experiation date, and amount you want to check
|
|||
|
|
the card for, a reasonable amount is 500.00, but you can experiment
|
|||
|
|
once you get more acquainted w/ it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2] Using a computer voice driven checker, pevhaps a little faster,
|
|||
|
|
but a little more tricky. In order to use it, you must do the
|
|||
|
|
following:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Dial up the 800 watts, which is 1-800-554-2265, after you dial
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 85 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
it, it should ring and pick up, then a computer voice will say
|
|||
|
|
"Enter type" and then you respond with either:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
10 for Mastercard
|
|||
|
|
20 for Visa
|
|||
|
|
Followed by a number sign will then ask for identification, hit
|
|||
|
|
"1067" preceeded by a number sign (always follow an entry w/ a
|
|||
|
|
number sign). It will say some bullshit and then ask you for your
|
|||
|
|
Merchant number in which you type 24 or 52 (whatever makes you
|
|||
|
|
happy) and then enter the card, after done it will ask for exp.
|
|||
|
|
date , then amount. Now, this is the tricky part, cuz if you fuck
|
|||
|
|
up here, it's gonna Decline you and you have to start
|
|||
|
|
ALL over. If your code is infact Valid, it will be followed by a
|
|||
|
|
Please Wait for 30-60 seconds and a Approved and a long number,
|
|||
|
|
don't worry about writing it down, just make sure to keep what you
|
|||
|
|
card to the limit the card can hold, or some calls might be made.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter --> 3 Using the card for purchasing
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
You might think everything is pretty much a snap from here, but
|
|||
|
|
really this is where it gets difficult. Always order from a
|
|||
|
|
Mail-Order warehouse (OF course) If you're going to order from a
|
|||
|
|
Watts line, make sure you go through adleast Blue Boxing or
|
|||
|
|
Diverters before connecting w/ the company, for protection on Watts
|
|||
|
|
tracing.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
After that, you must select an address (preferrably empty or
|
|||
|
|
abandoned) to ship the cargo to. And A) you also must make an
|
|||
|
|
awesomely authentic note with the card bearer's name on it saying
|
|||
|
|
you are out of town, and to leave it on the doorstep or B) be bold
|
|||
|
|
and face the UPS man and sign for it, but I suggest the note would
|
|||
|
|
be safer in more than one way. Then, order the merchandise, and if
|
|||
|
|
you don't sound old enough, get a friend or whoever to do the
|
|||
|
|
talking. Another warning is that evidence has proved that
|
|||
|
|
purchasing relatively small priced items takes alot of worry from
|
|||
|
|
the company, thus, not resorting to do various checks on the card
|
|||
|
|
and the bearer's address.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Chapter --> 4 After the order, then what...
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Well, after the package has arrived, casually pick it up
|
|||
|
|
(preferrably at night) and brisk it to your house. After that, I
|
|||
|
|
recommend that you don't just "HAPPEN" to pass by the house and
|
|||
|
|
stare it, that attracts attention, and believe me, that's the least
|
|||
|
|
thing you want. Try and stay far from the location, and NEVER use
|
|||
|
|
the same house twice.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I hope this file has helped you understand the BASIC principles of
|
|||
|
|
Carding, there is a lot more to learn, and there are a LOT more
|
|||
|
|
files like this to learn from. Stay cool... Take NOTE: The Watts
|
|||
|
|
dialups for the Credit Card verification # are in effect as
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 86 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
of this date, disonnections or changes in numbers I will try to
|
|||
|
|
handle. Same goes for the Tymnet verification ID & PASSWORD.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Carding:
|
|||
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is one that you can get in some major shit over. Well,
|
|||
|
|
although it is a major crime, it is really cool!!!! This is the
|
|||
|
|
process in which you find the card number of someone and use it to
|
|||
|
|
purchase things. In order to card, there are a few things that
|
|||
|
|
you must have or it will not work. You will need to
|
|||
|
|
have........
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1. The Card Number
|
|||
|
|
2. The Experation date
|
|||
|
|
3. Card type (Master Card, Visa, etc...)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Those are main things tha you will need. Having the name of the
|
|||
|
|
owner is very helpfull but it is not a must. You can get by
|
|||
|
|
without it. You have to order everything you want by mail. A
|
|||
|
|
couple of "Beginner" carder that I talked to didn't understand how
|
|||
|
|
you would do it, but thats when they had the misconception that you
|
|||
|
|
actually go to the store and purchase things. That is a complete
|
|||
|
|
No, no. You do everything from a phone ordering service. When you
|
|||
|
|
call make sure that you are at a pay phone. Don't do it your house
|
|||
|
|
or anywhere where it can come back to you. When you order the
|
|||
|
|
merchandice, once again do send it to anywhere that it can come
|
|||
|
|
back to you like your home, work, etc. Find a vacant house or
|
|||
|
|
building or anywhere else that you can send it to. Also, don't
|
|||
|
|
send it to a P.O. box that you have, just as dangerous. When you
|
|||
|
|
do order it and you think its around the time that you will be
|
|||
|
|
reciving it, check the mailbox frequently. But do it during odd
|
|||
|
|
hours. I mean, hows it going to look you taking a package from a
|
|||
|
|
vacant house?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Most bills are sent at the end of the month or at the biginning, so
|
|||
|
|
try to time it to where the bill won't come to the person untill a
|
|||
|
|
couple of days after you have recived the package. Ok heres how to
|
|||
|
|
figure it. I have found out that the bills are sent out up around
|
|||
|
|
the 26-30th of the month, so they will actually recive the bill
|
|||
|
|
around the 31-4th. Have it sent right after you think the bill has
|
|||
|
|
been sent. Find what you want, but try to order it from the place
|
|||
|
|
that guarentees the fastest delivery. When you order the item,
|
|||
|
|
make sure they have it in stock and don't have to get the item in
|
|||
|
|
first. Order the highest class of delivery but not COD or next day
|
|||
|
|
service. Thats cutting it too close. It should take around 2-4
|
|||
|
|
weeks before you get it and if you timed it right, then it sound
|
|||
|
|
get there right before the person gets the bill. You need to have
|
|||
|
|
it in your possesion before the bill gets to the person because if
|
|||
|
|
they complain, they can keep it from being sent, or watch who
|
|||
|
|
actually gets it even while its going throught the mail process.
|
|||
|
|
Don't order more than a couple of things or overcharge the card,
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 87 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
if the people at the Credit card office, see irregular charging on
|
|||
|
|
the card, they will follow up on it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
To actually order the item you will call up the place that you will
|
|||
|
|
be ordering from, and when the operator answers let her know what
|
|||
|
|
you need to as far as what you are purchasing, etc. When she ask
|
|||
|
|
how you will be paying just tell her "Charge" and the the type of
|
|||
|
|
card like Master Card, Visa, ect. Then Tell them your name, if you
|
|||
|
|
don't know the name of the actuall owner of the card, Make up a
|
|||
|
|
false name that has NO relation to your name, not the same first,
|
|||
|
|
last middle what ever, nothing relating to your real name. Then
|
|||
|
|
continue answering all the operators questions, address (Not your
|
|||
|
|
own remember!) state, area code etc. They will also ask for your
|
|||
|
|
phone number. Make one up, not your own. If something happens to
|
|||
|
|
go wrong as far as delivery or if they are checking if you are who
|
|||
|
|
you say, then your screwed, unless of course, hehehe, the number is
|
|||
|
|
ALWAYS busy. Find the busiest number there is and leave them that.
|
|||
|
|
When they ask for the card number and experation, just tell them and
|
|||
|
|
do what all else you need. Wish them a good day, and hope you get
|
|||
|
|
it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ok heres how you check if the card is good, and how much money can
|
|||
|
|
be charged on the card....... 1. Dail 1-800-554-2265 2. it will
|
|||
|
|
ask for the type of the card. you must put in 10 for Master Card
|
|||
|
|
and 20 for Visa, I am not sure about the others. 3. Next it will
|
|||
|
|
ask for the Identification. You will need to enter 1067 4. After
|
|||
|
|
all that you will have to enter the Mecrchant number, which you
|
|||
|
|
will either need to put in 24 or 52. One of them should work. 5.
|
|||
|
|
You will then have to enter (When Prompted) the card number itself.
|
|||
|
|
6. Next, the experation date of the card. 7. Last but not least the
|
|||
|
|
amount you want to try to get on the card. The procedure for this is
|
|||
|
|
enter dollars, astricks, then cents.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(Example:)
|
|||
|
|
100*30 = One hundred dollars and thirty cents.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
One thing I do need to mention, after you type in everything
|
|||
|
|
you must press pound (#). Like when it asks you for the type of
|
|||
|
|
card, if you had a Master Card you would put: 10#. when it asked
|
|||
|
|
for identification you would enter 1067#. If it says invalid, that
|
|||
|
|
either means that the card is no good or you can't charge that
|
|||
|
|
amount on the card. Try it again, but try a lower amount. If you
|
|||
|
|
get down to $1 and it still doesn't work, hehehe,
|
|||
|
|
you can probably guess that the card is no good.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
You might not be ordering just merchandice you might be
|
|||
|
|
ordering accounts and things like that and if you are, fine, but
|
|||
|
|
you have to remember, the accounts do not stay good for very long,
|
|||
|
|
the owner of the card gets the bill, complains and its no longer
|
|||
|
|
any good. And when you card and account, Nine out of ten times,
|
|||
|
|
they won't kill the account, they will trace in and that is when
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 88 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
you butts really in a sling. So carding accounts and
|
|||
|
|
hins, isn't the safest way to go, of course. nothing we have
|
|||
|
|
alked about it, right?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Introduction
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
carding is, in layman's terms, the use of someone elses credit card
|
|||
|
|
umber to obtain free merchandise. It can be used for things that
|
|||
|
|
re valuable to the BBS world like a USRobotics HST modem, or a
|
|||
|
|
rand new SCSI hard drive. The reason I am writing this article is
|
|||
|
|
because I, and the other notorious members of P/HARM have a
|
|||
|
|
multitude of wealth that some may deem useful. When I was a wee
|
|||
|
|
little mite, there was nothing to help me on my way..... So here
|
|||
|
|
goes....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Obtaining #s
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
There are many ways to obtain a credit card number. But the thing
|
|||
|
|
to remember is that there are three essentials that you need in
|
|||
|
|
order to use your number. 1) The name as it appears on the card, 2)
|
|||
|
|
The Card number, and 3) The actual date of expiration. These three
|
|||
|
|
things are not only essential, but if you get one of them wrong, it
|
|||
|
|
could send the FEDS huntin'. Okay, with that out of the way, now
|
|||
|
|
comes places to find the numbers. My most favorite, but the most
|
|||
|
|
time tested method is Trash bin hunting.... Nowadays with the
|
|||
|
|
invention of carbonless receipts and carbons that tear in half, the
|
|||
|
|
carder is less likely to find a good number in a trash can (you can
|
|||
|
|
bet on getting dirty). But some stores make the fatal mistake of
|
|||
|
|
not ripping up their fuck ups. A fuck up is when they run the card
|
|||
|
|
number thru with the wrong amount or the lady (it's always a lady)
|
|||
|
|
decides to pay cash. The clerk throws the credit voucher into the
|
|||
|
|
trash, and that makes its way out to the bin where we find a
|
|||
|
|
plethora of "fuck ups". The best way to get a number is off of
|
|||
|
|
an actual card. If you are at a store where they take credit cards,
|
|||
|
|
watch someone pay, and copy his/her number down on a business card
|
|||
|
|
you just happen to have. This may seem risky, but trust me, IT'S
|
|||
|
|
NOT!! A third way that is not always as effective is to hunt
|
|||
|
|
mailboxes at night, Sometimes people forget to get their mail, and
|
|||
|
|
inside there will be a bill from Visa or Bank of America (don't
|
|||
|
|
forget that banks offer credit cards now). If you're real lucky,
|
|||
|
|
you'll get an actual card. Okay, now you've got your card:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
CARDING!!!!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Find a little shit mail order company that has put out a small add
|
|||
|
|
in crumby production like Nuts & Volts magazine. Call this number
|
|||
|
|
up and say "I'd like some information on XXXXXXXXXX", where
|
|||
|
|
XXXXXXXXXX is the item you wish to get for free. Continue to ask
|
|||
|
|
questions and TRY TO BARGAIN. This is important because people who
|
|||
|
|
are spending their own money try to get the best deal POSSIBLE.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 89 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Finish the conversation by saying "Okay, let me look around and try
|
|||
|
|
to find the best price." The salesperson will give you their name
|
|||
|
|
and ask you to call back. Call back the next day, and continue to
|
|||
|
|
BS before ordering. Once you have ordered, they will ask you for:
|
|||
|
|
The card number, the name, the expiration, the mailing address
|
|||
|
|
(always use a drop site, and when they say "Is this the address as
|
|||
|
|
it appears on the card?" Say yes even if it isn't), and a phone
|
|||
|
|
number. The best phone number to give is one that is always busy or
|
|||
|
|
that of a hacked VMB. Ask for next day delivery on all packages.
|
|||
|
|
Now you need to send it somewhere.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
DROP SITES
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A drop site is the address you want your package sent to. The best
|
|||
|
|
type of drop site is that of a vacant house, or where your neighbor
|
|||
|
|
is outta town. Some say to leave a note on the doorstep asking the
|
|||
|
|
UPS dude to leave the package, but some companies require a
|
|||
|
|
signature. Here's my plan: Stay close to the house you pick for a
|
|||
|
|
drop. When you see the van pull up, walk non-chalantly over to the
|
|||
|
|
delivery man and say "My neighbor asked me to pick this up for
|
|||
|
|
him". Sign a fake name and walk away. Now you have your package!!!!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
P/HARM Conquests:
|
|||
|
|
Dual Standard HST
|
|||
|
|
661 megabyte hard drive (SCSI)
|
|||
|
|
330 megabyte hard drive (SCSI)
|
|||
|
|
Laptop computer (Pending)
|
|||
|
|
330 megger SCSI (Pending)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
*********************************
|
|||
|
|
* DISCLAIMER!!!!!!!! *
|
|||
|
|
*********************************
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This file is written as a means of information interchange only. If
|
|||
|
|
you choose to try the methods described above, well that is by your
|
|||
|
|
own choice, and I nor P/HARM will be held responsible for any
|
|||
|
|
trouble you get yourself into. **REMEMBER carding is ILLEGAL!!!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
*********************************
|
|||
|
|
* DISCLAIMER!!!!!!!! *
|
|||
|
|
*********************************
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Information on how to card!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
First of all, you need a good drop site. A drop site is a place
|
|||
|
|
where you are going to have the package shipped to. The best
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 90 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
places are usally private homes where people work during the day.
|
|||
|
|
A easy to way to get one, walk out your house and look around. Find
|
|||
|
|
any house,write down the street address. Open up a yellow
|
|||
|
|
pages,look for the fone #. Then call up the house, usally during
|
|||
|
|
morning time. If there is no answer,well you got a drop site.
|
|||
|
|
Next,you need a card. Humm, usally the best way to get cards is
|
|||
|
|
trough CBI or TRW. I used to use a program called checksum. Its a
|
|||
|
|
program that makes CC's. Then I would call 800 # card checker. Put
|
|||
|
|
a $150 ammount on the card,if it was aproved then you got a real
|
|||
|
|
card. I am not going to tell ya how to get cards. Next, open up any
|
|||
|
|
computer realated magazine. Look for small ads, preferbly in the
|
|||
|
|
west coast. Call 'em up, see if you sound like chinks, if they do
|
|||
|
|
then you may have found a good place. Once you have the neccesery
|
|||
|
|
items you are ready to CARD.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The following things are needed to get away with carding.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1. A good unused card.
|
|||
|
|
2. Drop site.
|
|||
|
|
3. Cheap copmany to order from.
|
|||
|
|
4. A code to call them with.
|
|||
|
|
5. A loop for reciving fone calls.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ok. you call up the fuckers. And you talk to some rep.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I am going to help ya all get 14.4's. When you talk to the rep. use
|
|||
|
|
the following lines to why you need a 14.4
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1. My modem was fried by lighting,and I am in need of very
|
|||
|
|
importent docs. 2. I am looking to upgrade the modem at the
|
|||
|
|
office,I only have a 1200 baud.
|
|||
|
|
3. Its a holiday,birthday whatever. You want to get a gift for you
|
|||
|
|
son.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ok. Next, make sure you ask for the price,any discounts on it,what
|
|||
|
|
does it come with. Also make sure you tell them that you want to
|
|||
|
|
know what you can do incase the modem doesnt work. Ok,Then say "Ok,
|
|||
|
|
I will order this now". Then she starts asking questions. Usally
|
|||
|
|
they ask for the name first. Now, I never ONCE had a real name for
|
|||
|
|
all my cards. Thats why I told you to order from small companies.
|
|||
|
|
Make up any name in the fuckin world. But write it down to remember
|
|||
|
|
it later on. Then they will ask you for a shipping address. Give
|
|||
|
|
them the address of the drop site. Say thats were you live and you
|
|||
|
|
are sending it to your house. Next, they will ask for the card #.
|
|||
|
|
Geeeeee, Give them the card #. Now, they will want an experation
|
|||
|
|
date. People tell me that need a experation date. BULLSHIT!!. You
|
|||
|
|
do not need an exp. date at all. Give them, any thing. But make
|
|||
|
|
sure its with in a year or two. Not 1/96. use like 1/91 1/92 etc..
|
|||
|
|
OH yeah. When they ask for the card #. I allwayes say "Hold on,
|
|||
|
|
lemme get my wallet out". That makes it look like you are getting
|
|||
|
|
the card out from your wallet, GEEE. Humm,Now they want a phone #
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 91 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is a bitch. Up untill a few months ago, I used to give them
|
|||
|
|
a BBS thats allwayes busy. That works sometimes , but the best is
|
|||
|
|
to use the following methood. Get a LOOP.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
And say you are currently at a hotel in the loops area code. Then
|
|||
|
|
say you want to go out and play raquetball or something at the
|
|||
|
|
hotel. So you are not going to be around. Then ask them when are
|
|||
|
|
they going to call back and shit. Sometimes if you are sure the
|
|||
|
|
card is going to work, you can say if everything is ok, then ship
|
|||
|
|
it. I sometimes use this; I say "My wife got a hold of my card and
|
|||
|
|
went shopping, so I am not sure if the limit on the card can hold
|
|||
|
|
it." then I say "Can you check to see if it gets approved
|
|||
|
|
while I'll wait online". Most of the time they will "OK, hold on".
|
|||
|
|
Sometimes they can say it takes a while. Who cares, just say "I am
|
|||
|
|
stepping out to lunch now, can I give you a call back to check if
|
|||
|
|
every-thing is ok". And they say thats fine. Make sure you dont
|
|||
|
|
fuck up. And dont try to card if you have the voice of a 13 year
|
|||
|
|
old. My friend has the voice of a kid and he got caught HIS FIRST
|
|||
|
|
TIME CARDING BY THE FEDZ!!!!. So do not card if you are a little
|
|||
|
|
kid. After you are done giving the bitch all the info. Ask to have
|
|||
|
|
it shipped NEXT DAY SERVICE (RED LABEL). That way you dont have to
|
|||
|
|
wait a week or so. And then you have more time hidding and shit.
|
|||
|
|
Its a little bit more,but who gives a fuck. Make sure you ask how
|
|||
|
|
much is for everything!!!. And when you are about to hang up. Make
|
|||
|
|
sure you say thank you, Have a good day. it makes a good impresion
|
|||
|
|
of them. And remember try NOT to order from 800's. Allwayes CALL
|
|||
|
|
WITH A CODE. That way if you get fucked, they cant prove you called
|
|||
|
|
the place and shit. Well, I am done for now. I think, I dunno.
|
|||
|
|
Remember if you use this file and get shit, lemme know. I want to
|
|||
|
|
know if I helped people card shit. Hehehehehhe. Me personaly have
|
|||
|
|
carded more shit then your parents make in a year and shit. And
|
|||
|
|
still do. I dident get caught yet. But I am going to be 18 so,
|
|||
|
|
and then I will be of probation (Not for carding). So , if you
|
|||
|
|
are under 16 card card card! they cant do shit to you....
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Advanced Carding Techniques
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
CARBONS:
|
|||
|
|
-------
|
|||
|
|
Remember trash-picking the department store to find those little
|
|||
|
|
black pieces of paper that "told all" for the CC number? Well, kiss
|
|||
|
|
that old technique goodbye, the newest thing on the market that
|
|||
|
|
will soon be widespread is SELF CARBONING RECIEPTS. Those do just
|
|||
|
|
what they say. The "carbon" is part of the paper itself. You then
|
|||
|
|
have the customer copy, and the store copy, and thats it, nothing
|
|||
|
|
else. The best way to get numbers anymore is to get them from the
|
|||
|
|
place you work at.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 92 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
DROPS:
|
|||
|
|
-----
|
|||
|
|
Drops are as easy as they ever were, but with a few changes.
|
|||
|
|
Remember how the place you call would ask you "What number can we
|
|||
|
|
reach you at?" You would just give them the phone number of a
|
|||
|
|
payphone that you were at, and maybe they would call you in a few
|
|||
|
|
minutes to verify the order. Now they always ask this "What is your
|
|||
|
|
home telephone number?" To have a successful shipment, you *MUST*
|
|||
|
|
give them the correct phone number to the house that you are having
|
|||
|
|
the stuff sent to. This *MUST* corrispond! What they do is this,
|
|||
|
|
lets say that you give them this info:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Jim R. Jnes
|
|||
|
|
132 S. Alexander
|
|||
|
|
Arlington Hts, IL 60002
|
|||
|
|
Home: 312-962-3342
|
|||
|
|
Work: 312-564-1233 (Don't worry about this, give 'em a carrier #)
|
|||
|
|
Visa: 4432-432-223-032 6/86
|
|||
|
|
Bank: Second National Bank
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
They will then call the 312 Directory Assistance (312/555-1212) and
|
|||
|
|
say something like this: "I would like the number for the JONES
|
|||
|
|
residence on South Alexander-" and then the operator would either
|
|||
|
|
say the number, or that she can't give it out. If the operator says
|
|||
|
|
something to the effect of "I'm sorry, but I have no listing of a
|
|||
|
|
JONES at this number, then your fucked, cause the store will figure
|
|||
|
|
that its a fraud order, and sometimes will call VISA. Make sure
|
|||
|
|
that the phone corrisponds with the drop!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
CHECKING CC'S:
|
|||
|
|
-------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Go to about any store that uses credit cards, and look at the thing
|
|||
|
|
that they run the credit cards through to make the carbons. On
|
|||
|
|
that thing there will be an 800 number and some special numbers.
|
|||
|
|
Write all these down! Ever have it where you use a card number and
|
|||
|
|
it doesn't work out, and you want to check to see if the card
|
|||
|
|
number is still good? Well, this is how you use those beloved
|
|||
|
|
numbers you have!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Call th 800 number, a lot use this numbers:
|
|||
|
|
800-221-1122 and along with those numbers you sould have found a 4
|
|||
|
|
digit number and one that is long as all hell, sometimes over 10
|
|||
|
|
digits long. The first number (the short one) is the BANK number,
|
|||
|
|
and the other long one is the MERCHANT NUMBER. Call the 800 number
|
|||
|
|
and they will usually answer with something like:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"National Data"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Say: "Bank number 1122" <==or whatever # it was
|
|||
|
|
(pause, let the bitch type)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 93 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Say: "erchant # 541837265355" <==whatever #
|
|||
|
|
(pause)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Say: "Crd number 44312-223-433-221 exp 6/86"
|
|||
|
|
(pause)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Say: "Amount is $12.31"
|
|||
|
|
Note: Always try to keep this number low, for
|
|||
|
|
credit sake!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
If the card number is still good she will say something like: "ok,
|
|||
|
|
that is authorization #4423B" (or something like that) Don't worry
|
|||
|
|
about this number, all you need to know is that the number is still
|
|||
|
|
valid. Sometimes is the number is bad, you'll hear: "Let me repeat
|
|||
|
|
that number" (and she does) then she says: "That card is a pick up"
|
|||
|
|
This means that they know it is a stolen card number and if you can
|
|||
|
|
get ahold of the original card, a storeowner can get $50. All this
|
|||
|
|
means to you is that you can cross that number off your list.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
THINGS TO CARD-THINGS *NOT* TO CARD:
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I have carded at great number of things on my life, and I have
|
|||
|
|
found that computer equipment is one of the hardest things to card,
|
|||
|
|
'cause think about it, almost everyone who cards, will card a new
|
|||
|
|
Apple Cat, or something like that. Stay away from the computer
|
|||
|
|
stuff as much as possible, these are checked *VERY* well! Jewrey is
|
|||
|
|
also hard to get because its so easy to resell! I once orderd a
|
|||
|
|
Rolex watch on my own American Express Gold Card, and it took a
|
|||
|
|
WEEK for them just to preform the credit check to make sure it was
|
|||
|
|
really my card! They laughed when I said that I wanted to pay for
|
|||
|
|
it by credit card, they only had 1 CC order in the past 8 months!
|
|||
|
|
This was a high volume store, too! Anyways, hold of on the
|
|||
|
|
diamonds, Gucci or Saks stuff, they check too much!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Airlinetickets are the easiest to card by far, and stereo equipment
|
|||
|
|
too! I not to long ago got a Nakamichi Dragon cassete deck, which
|
|||
|
|
is one of the best cassete decks in the world, and cost in excess
|
|||
|
|
of $1000! I ordered it on a Monday, and it came on Thursday! Try to
|
|||
|
|
make friends with the guys your order from, say bullshit like:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"I'll cll you when I get it and tell you how it works out!!!"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I have been really successful with this, and these tips should help
|
|||
|
|
you!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 94 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Airlines:
|
|||
|
|
--------
|
|||
|
|
Everybody travels, and flying is the only way to go, but lets face
|
|||
|
|
it, nobody ever has enough money to fly quite as often as we would
|
|||
|
|
like. This is where carding can save you money and let you do the
|
|||
|
|
things that you really want to do!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Getting Tickets:
|
|||
|
|
---------------
|
|||
|
|
I am assuming that you already know how to get carbons, etc. OK,
|
|||
|
|
you have this stack of carbons w/ good card numbers. Next grab the
|
|||
|
|
phone (and phone book). Look up AIRLINES. Call your favopite
|
|||
|
|
airline and schedual yourself (under a John Doe name, of course.)
|
|||
|
|
You could do this actually long in advance, to "save" Visa some
|
|||
|
|
money, and maybe make it look a little more ordinary. Fdw people
|
|||
|
|
take off to Rio, Brazil without planning ahead! A few days (I'm
|
|||
|
|
talking 2 or 3 days AT THE MOST) before your flight is going to
|
|||
|
|
leave, call up a local travel agency, but CALL THEM THROUGH AN 800
|
|||
|
|
EXTENDER! Find one with the WORST connections possible, a PBX might
|
|||
|
|
work great. You want the agency to think that you are not calling
|
|||
|
|
local, but from across the country. Tell the lady at the agency
|
|||
|
|
that your son goes to college (or something) is flying down, and
|
|||
|
|
that you have made reservations for him to fly back. ONLY BUY
|
|||
|
|
ONE-WAY TI CKETS! Tell them that you already have reservations. The
|
|||
|
|
agency will be cool about it all, and will take your card number
|
|||
|
|
and all the usual info. Tell them that your son is supposed to call
|
|||
|
|
you a little later, and that you will tell him to go down and pick
|
|||
|
|
up his ticket.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The key to the whole deal is that 800 extender. This makes the
|
|||
|
|
agency think that there really is a father in New Jersey that wants
|
|||
|
|
his son to be flown from Bakersfield to Chicago to see his brother.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
It really is that easy to do, but as I said, do not get round trip
|
|||
|
|
tickets. Let's say that you do and fly to wherever, and while you
|
|||
|
|
are there, the guy's Visa bill comes. The airport may have some
|
|||
|
|
people waiting for you when you get on! The best bet is to take a
|
|||
|
|
stack of carbons and extenders with you and do the same thing to
|
|||
|
|
get back.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is the way I have flown and I have never had any problems,
|
|||
|
|
whatsoever.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Basic Information About Credit Cards
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
There are at least three types of security devices on credit cards
|
|||
|
|
that you aren't supposed to know about. They are the account
|
|||
|
|
number, the signature panel, and the magnetic strip.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 95 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Account Number
|
|||
|
|
------------------
|
|||
|
|
A Social Security card has nine digits. So do two-part Zip
|
|||
|
|
codes. A domestic phone number, including area code, has ten
|
|||
|
|
digits. Yet a complete MasterCard number has twenty digits. Why
|
|||
|
|
so many? It is not mathematically necessary for any credit-card
|
|||
|
|
account number to have more than eight digits. Each cardholder
|
|||
|
|
must, of course, have a unique number. Visa and MasterCard are
|
|||
|
|
estimated to have about sixty-five million cardholders each. Thus
|
|||
|
|
their numbering systems must have at least sixty-five million
|
|||
|
|
available numbers. There are one hundred million possible
|
|||
|
|
conbinations of eight digits-- 00000000, 00000001, 00000002,
|
|||
|
|
00000003, all the way up to 99999999. So eight digits would be
|
|||
|
|
enough. To allow for future growth, an issuer the size of Visa
|
|||
|
|
of MaserCard could opt for nine digits---enough for a billion
|
|||
|
|
differnt numbers. In fact, a Visa card has thirteen digits and
|
|||
|
|
sometimes more. An American Express card has fifteen digits.
|
|||
|
|
Diners Club cards have fourteen. Carte Blanche has ten. Obviously,
|
|||
|
|
the card issuers are not projecting that they will have billions
|
|||
|
|
and billions of cardholders and need those digits to ensure a
|
|||
|
|
different number for each. The extra digits are actually a
|
|||
|
|
security device. Say your Visa number is 4211 503 417 268. Each
|
|||
|
|
purchase must be entered into a computer from a sales slip. The
|
|||
|
|
account number tags the purchase to your account. The persons who
|
|||
|
|
enter account numbers into computers get bored and sometimes make
|
|||
|
|
mistakes. They might enter 4211 503 471 268 or 4211 703 417 268
|
|||
|
|
instead. The advantage of the thirteen-digit numbering system is
|
|||
|
|
that it is unlikely any Visa cardholder has 4211 503 471 268 or
|
|||
|
|
4211 703 417 268 for an account number. There are 10 trillion
|
|||
|
|
possible thirteen-digit Visa numbers (0000 000 000 000;0000 000 000
|
|||
|
|
0001;... 9999 999 999 999). Only about sixty-five million of those
|
|||
|
|
numbers are numbers of actual active accounts. The odds that an
|
|||
|
|
incorrectly entered number would correspond to a real number are
|
|||
|
|
something like sixty-five million in ten trillion, or about one in
|
|||
|
|
one hundred and fifty thousand. Those are slim odds. You could
|
|||
|
|
fill up a book the size of this one {note, book is 228 pgs long}
|
|||
|
|
with random thirteen-digit numbers such as these:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
3901 160 943 791
|
|||
|
|
1090 734 231 410
|
|||
|
|
1783 205 995 561
|
|||
|
|
9542 425 195 969
|
|||
|
|
2358 862 307 845
|
|||
|
|
9940 880 814 778
|
|||
|
|
8421 456 150 662
|
|||
|
|
9910 441 036 483
|
|||
|
|
3167 186 869 267
|
|||
|
|
6081 132 670 781
|
|||
|
|
1228 190 300 350
|
|||
|
|
4563 351 105 207
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 96 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Still you would not duplicate a Visa account number. Whenever an
|
|||
|
|
account number is entered incorrectly, iw will almose certainly
|
|||
|
|
fail to match up with any of the other account nubmers in the
|
|||
|
|
computer's memory. The computer can then request that the number
|
|||
|
|
be entered again. Other card-numbering systems are even more
|
|||
|
|
secure. Of the quadrillion possible fifteen-digit American Express
|
|||
|
|
card numbers, only about 11 million are assigned. The chance of a
|
|||
|
|
random number happening to correspond to an existing account number
|
|||
|
|
is about one in ninety million. Taking into account all twenty
|
|||
|
|
digits on a MasterCard, there are one hundred quintillion
|
|||
|
|
(100,000,000,000,000,000,000) possible numvers for sixy-five
|
|||
|
|
million card-holders. The chance of a random string of
|
|||
|
|
digits matching a real MasterCard number is about one in one and a
|
|||
|
|
half trillion. Among other things, this makes possible those
|
|||
|
|
television ads inviting holders of credit cards to phone in to
|
|||
|
|
order merchandise. The operators who take the calls never see the
|
|||
|
|
callers' cards nor their signatures. How can they be sure the
|
|||
|
|
callers even have credit cards? They base their confidence on the
|
|||
|
|
security of the credit-card numbering systems. If someone calls in
|
|||
|
|
and makes up a creditcard number--even being careful to get the
|
|||
|
|
right number of digits--the number surely will not be an existing
|
|||
|
|
real credit-card number. The deception can be spotted instantly by
|
|||
|
|
plugging into the credit-card company's computers. For all
|
|||
|
|
practical purposes, the only way to come up with a genuine
|
|||
|
|
credit-card number is to read it off a credit card. The
|
|||
|
|
number, not the piece of plastic, is enough.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Neiman-Marcus' Garbage Can
|
|||
|
|
--------------------------
|
|||
|
|
The converse of this is the fact that anyone who knows someone
|
|||
|
|
else's card number can charge to that person's account. Police
|
|||
|
|
sources say this is a major problem, but card issuers, by and
|
|||
|
|
large, do their best to keep these crimes a secret. The fear is
|
|||
|
|
that publicizing the crimes may tempt more people to commit them.
|
|||
|
|
Worse yet, there is alomost nothing the average person can do to
|
|||
|
|
prevent being victimized {muhaha} -- short of giving up credit
|
|||
|
|
cards entirely. Lots of strangers know your credit-card numbers.
|
|||
|
|
Everyone you hand a card to--waiters, sales clerks, ticket agents,
|
|||
|
|
hairdressers, gas station attendants, hotel cashiers--sees the
|
|||
|
|
account number. Every time a card is put in an imprinter, three
|
|||
|
|
copies are made, and two are left with the clerk. If you charge
|
|||
|
|
anything by phone or mail order, someone somewhere sees the number.
|
|||
|
|
Crooks don't have to be in a job with normal access to creditcard
|
|||
|
|
numbers. Occasional operations have discovered that the garbage
|
|||
|
|
cans outside prestige department or specialty stores are sources
|
|||
|
|
of high-credit-limit account numbers. The crooks look for the
|
|||
|
|
discarded carbon paper from sales slips. The account number is
|
|||
|
|
usually legible--as are the expiration date, name, and signature.
|
|||
|
|
(A 1981 operation used carbons from Koontz Hardware, a West Hollywood,
|
|||
|
|
California, store frequented by many celebrities.) Converting a number
|
|||
|
|
into cash is less risky than using a stolen credit card. The crook
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 97 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
need only call an airline, posing as the cardholder, and make a
|
|||
|
|
reservation on a heavily traveled flight. He usually requests that
|
|||
|
|
tickets be issued in someone else's name for pickup at the airport
|
|||
|
|
(airlines don't always ask for ID on ticket pickups, but the crook
|
|||
|
|
has it if needed) and is set. The tickets can be sold at a
|
|||
|
|
discount on the hot-ticket market operating in every major
|
|||
|
|
airport. There are other methods as well. Anyone with a Visa or
|
|||
|
|
MasterCard merchant account can fill out invoices for nonexistent
|
|||
|
|
sales and submit them to the bank. As long as the account numbers
|
|||
|
|
and names are genuine, the bank will pay the merchant immediately.
|
|||
|
|
For an investment of about a thousand dollars, an organized
|
|||
|
|
criminal operation can get the pressing machines needed to make
|
|||
|
|
counterfeit credit cards. Counterfeiting credit cards in
|
|||
|
|
relatively simple. There are no fancy scrolls and filigree work,
|
|||
|
|
just blocky logos in primary colors. From the criminal's
|
|||
|
|
standpoint, the main advantage of a counterfeit card is that it
|
|||
|
|
allows him to get cash advances. For maximum plundering of a line
|
|||
|
|
of credit, the crook must know the credit limit as well as the
|
|||
|
|
account number. To learn both, he often calls an intended victim,
|
|||
|
|
posing as the victim's bank:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
CROOK: This is Bank of America. We're calling to tell you
|
|||
|
|
that the credit limit on your Visa card has been
|
|||
|
|
raised to twelve hundred dollars.
|
|||
|
|
VICTIM: But my limit has always been ten thousand dollars.
|
|||
|
|
CROOK: There must be some problem with the computers. Do
|
|||
|
|
you have your card handy? Could you read off the
|
|||
|
|
embossed number?
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
On a smaller scale, many struggling rock groups have
|
|||
|
|
discovered the knack of using someone else's telephone company
|
|||
|
|
credit card. When a cardholder wants to make a long-distance call
|
|||
|
|
from a hotel or pay phone, he or she reads the card number to the
|
|||
|
|
operator. The call is then billed to the cardholder's home phone.
|
|||
|
|
Musicians on tour sometimes wait by the special credit-card-and-
|
|||
|
|
collect-calls-only booths at airports and jot down a few credit
|
|||
|
|
card numbers. In this way, unsuspecting businesspeople finance
|
|||
|
|
a touring act's calls to friends at home. If the musicians call
|
|||
|
|
from public phones, use a given card number only once, and don't
|
|||
|
|
stay in one city long, the phone company seems helpless to stop
|
|||
|
|
them. What makes all of these scams so hard to combat is the lead
|
|||
|
|
time afforded the criminal. Theft of a credit card--a crime that
|
|||
|
|
card issuers will talk about--is generally reported immediately.
|
|||
|
|
Within twenty-four hours, a stolen card's number is on the issuer's
|
|||
|
|
"hot list" and can no longer be used. But when only a card number
|
|||
|
|
is being used illicitly, the crime is not discovered until the
|
|||
|
|
cardholder recieves his first inflated bill. That's at least two
|
|||
|
|
weeks later; it could be as much as six weeks later. As long as
|
|||
|
|
the illicit user isn't too greedy, he has at least two weeks to
|
|||
|
|
tap into a credit line with little risk.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 98 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Signature Panel
|
|||
|
|
-------------------
|
|||
|
|
You're now supposed to erase the signature panel, of course. Card
|
|||
|
|
issuers fear that crooks might erase the signature on a stolen
|
|||
|
|
credit card and replace it with their own. To make alteration more
|
|||
|
|
difficult, many card signature panels have a background design that
|
|||
|
|
rubs off if anyone tries to erase. There's the "fingerprint"
|
|||
|
|
design on the American Express panel, repeated Visa or MasterCard
|
|||
|
|
logos on some bank cards, and the "Safesig" desgn on others. The
|
|||
|
|
principle is the same as with the security paper used for checks.
|
|||
|
|
If you try to earse a check on security paper, the wavy-line
|
|||
|
|
pattern erases, leaving a white area-- and it is obvious that
|
|||
|
|
the check has been altered. Rumors hint of a more elaborate
|
|||
|
|
gimmick in credit-card panels. It is said that if you erase the
|
|||
|
|
panel, a secret word--VOID--appears to prevent use of the card.
|
|||
|
|
To test this rumor, fifteen common credit cards were sacrificed.
|
|||
|
|
An ordinary pen eraser will erase credit-card signature panels,
|
|||
|
|
if slowly. The panels are more easily removed with a cloth and a
|
|||
|
|
dry-cleaning fluid such as Energine. This method dissolves the
|
|||
|
|
panels cleanly. Of the fifteen cards tested, six had nothing under
|
|||
|
|
the panel(other than a continuation of the card back design, where
|
|||
|
|
there was one). Nine cards tested had the word "VOID" under the panel.
|
|||
|
|
In all cases, the VOIDs were printeed small and repeated many times
|
|||
|
|
under the panel. The breakdown:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Void Device Nothing
|
|||
|
|
--------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
Bloomingdale's American Express Gold Card
|
|||
|
|
Bonwit Teller Broadway
|
|||
|
|
Bullock's MasterCard(Citibank)
|
|||
|
|
Chase Convenience B.C. Neiman-Marcus
|
|||
|
|
I. Magnin Robinson's
|
|||
|
|
Joseph Magnin Saks Fifth Avenue
|
|||
|
|
First Interstate B.C.
|
|||
|
|
Montgomery Ward
|
|||
|
|
Visa (Chase Manhattan)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
When held to a strond light, the VOIDs were visible through the
|
|||
|
|
Blooming-dales's card even without removing the panel. The VOID
|
|||
|
|
device isn't foolproof. Any crimianl who learns the secret will
|
|||
|
|
simply refrain from trying to earse the signature. Most
|
|||
|
|
salesclerks don't bother to check signatures anyway. Moreover, it
|
|||
|
|
is possible to paint the signature panel back in, over the
|
|||
|
|
VOIDs--at least on those cards that do not have a design on the
|
|||
|
|
panel. (Saks' panel is a greenish-tan khaki coler that would be
|
|||
|
|
difficult to match with paint.) The panel is first removed with
|
|||
|
|
dry-cleaning fluid. The back of the card is covered with masking
|
|||
|
|
tape, leaving a window where the replacement panel is to go. A
|
|||
|
|
thin coat of flat white spray paint simulates the original panel.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 99 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Magnetic Strip
|
|||
|
|
------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The other security device on the back of the card, the brown
|
|||
|
|
magnetic strip, is more difficult to analyze. Some people think
|
|||
|
|
there are sundry personal details about the cardholder stored in
|
|||
|
|
the strip. But the strip has no more information capacitythan a
|
|||
|
|
similar snippet of recording tape. For the most part banks are
|
|||
|
|
reticent about the strip. The strip need not contain any
|
|||
|
|
information other than the account number or similar
|
|||
|
|
indentification. Any futher information needed to complete an
|
|||
|
|
automatic-teller transaction-- such as current account
|
|||
|
|
balances--can be called up from bank computers and need not be
|
|||
|
|
encoded in the strip. Evidently, the card expiration date is in
|
|||
|
|
the strip. Expired cards are "eaten" by automatic-teller machines
|
|||
|
|
even when the expired card has the same account number and name as
|
|||
|
|
its valid replacement card. Credit limit, address, phone number,
|
|||
|
|
employer, etc, must not be indicated in this strip, for banks do
|
|||
|
|
not issue new cards just because this info changes. It is not clear
|
|||
|
|
if the personal identification number is in the strip or called up
|
|||
|
|
from the bank computer. Many automatic-teller machines have a secret
|
|||
|
|
limit of three attempts for provideing the correct personal
|
|||
|
|
identification nubmer. After three wround attempts, the "customer"
|
|||
|
|
is assumed to be a crook with a stolen card, going through all
|
|||
|
|
possible permutations--and the card is eaten. It is possible to
|
|||
|
|
scramble the information in the strip by rubbing a pocket magnet
|
|||
|
|
over it. Workers in hspitals or research facilites with large
|
|||
|
|
electromagnets sometimes find that their cards no longer work in
|
|||
|
|
automatic-teller machines. (If you try to use a magnetically doctored
|
|||
|
|
card, you usually get a message to the effect, "Your card may be
|
|||
|
|
inserted incorrectly. Please remove and insert according to the
|
|||
|
|
diagram.")
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The Bloomingdale's Color Code
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------
|
|||
|
|
Only in a few cases does the color of a credit card mean anything.
|
|||
|
|
There are, of course, the American Express, Visa, and MasterCard
|
|||
|
|
gold cards for preferred customers. The Air Travel Card comes in
|
|||
|
|
red and green, of which green is better. (With red, you can charge
|
|||
|
|
tickets for travel within North America only.) The most elaborate
|
|||
|
|
color scheme, and a source of some confusion to status-conscious
|
|||
|
|
queues, is that of Bloomingdale's credit department, here is how
|
|||
|
|
it works: Low color in the pecking order is blue, issued to
|
|||
|
|
Bloomingdale employees as a perk in their compensation packages.
|
|||
|
|
The basic Bloomingdale card is yellow. Like most department store
|
|||
|
|
cards, it can be used to spread payments over several months with
|
|||
|
|
the payment of a finance charge. The red card gives holders three
|
|||
|
|
months' free interest and is issued to customers who regularly make
|
|||
|
|
large purchases. The silver card is good for unlimited spending,
|
|||
|
|
but as with a travel and entertainment card, all charges must be paid
|
|||
|
|
in thirty days. The gold card offers the same payment options as the
|
|||
|
|
yellow card but is reserved for the store's biggest spenders.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 100 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Card Formats and Bank Numbers
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I. PREFACE
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is my first infofile as a N.A.R.C. member. For those of you
|
|||
|
|
who have read "Getting Serious about Carding by Optical Illusion",
|
|||
|
|
this is a somewhat a con-tinuation of things you need to know about
|
|||
|
|
carding which Optical Illusion did not cover. In this file, we'll
|
|||
|
|
try to cover the aspects of the use (or shall we say misuse) of a
|
|||
|
|
credit card, strategies mail order companies keep us from getting
|
|||
|
|
away with carding, and a list of bank id numbers with their banks.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
II. CREDIT CARDS versus CHARGE CARDS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Many people have the misconception that all cards are credit cards.
|
|||
|
|
This is of course not true. For example, American Express is a
|
|||
|
|
charge card and not a credit card. American Express is a charge
|
|||
|
|
card since the owner of the card must pay off the whole amount when
|
|||
|
|
his bill comes. If the owner doesn't, he or she is in serious shit.
|
|||
|
|
One thing good about the American Express is that it has no limit
|
|||
|
|
on how much the person can spend as long as the person can pay off
|
|||
|
|
the bill when it comes. Basically, the card is based on the person's
|
|||
|
|
good judgement on how much money the person have. Why is there
|
|||
|
|
American Express Gold and regular American Express cards then? It
|
|||
|
|
still has a hidden limit which you cannot buy a Corvette ZR-1 with
|
|||
|
|
a regular American Express. You could however do it with a American
|
|||
|
|
Express Platinum (if you can find one to abuse). This means you can
|
|||
|
|
buy more expensive things at one time with a Gold or Platinum card.
|
|||
|
|
Credit cards have a set limit after you you apply for the card.
|
|||
|
|
Usually a Classic Visa has about $700 plus or minus $100. Mastercard
|
|||
|
|
on the other hand has about $1000 limit on it.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
III. TYPES OF CARDS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Credit Cards Charge Cards
|
|||
|
|
VISA American Express
|
|||
|
|
Mastercard American Express
|
|||
|
|
Optima
|
|||
|
|
Discover
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Here's a couple type of cards I do not know what category they fall
|
|||
|
|
into since they are never accepted by mail order companies. One of
|
|||
|
|
them is Diner's Club International and the other is Carte Blanche.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 101 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Bank name Bank name
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
_______________________________--------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
| | || | |
|
|||
|
|
| BANK of N A R C | V I S A||BANK of N A R C | V I S A||
|
|||
|
|
|________|| |________|
|
|||
|
|
| | | | |
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
| 4000 123 456 789 |hologram| | 4000 0123 4567 8910
|
|||
|
|
|hologram|
|
|||
|
|
| |________| |
|
|||
|
|
|________|
|
|||
|
|
| 00/00 00/00 CV | ___ | | 00/00/00 00/00/00 PV|
|
|||
|
|
___ |
|
|||
|
|
| | // | | |
|
|||
|
|
// |
|
|||
|
|
| John Doe | \\__ | | John Doe Jr. |
|
|||
|
|
\\__ |
|
|||
|
|
--------------------------------- --------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
VISAs are grouped either |
|
|||
|
|
in 4XXX XXX XXX XXX or |
|
|||
|
|
4XXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. This is either a C or a P.
|
|||
|
|
The 2 groupings used are different for C for Classic
|
|||
|
|
(regular) each bank. There are banks' P for
|
|||
|
|
Preferred (better, much better)
|
|||
|
|
preferred cards that are group in 4 3 3 3.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
_______________________________
|
|||
|
|
| |
|
|||
|
|
| |
|
|||
|
|
| B A N K of N. A. R. C.| All Mastercards are 12
|
|||
|
|
digits grouped
|
|||
|
|
|_______________________________| in blocks of four digits each.
|
|||
|
|
| ___ |
|
|||
|
|
| 5000 1234 4567 8910 / \|
|
|||
|
|
| |M C||
|
|||
|
|
| 1234 00/00 00/00 BN | || Hologram
|
|||
|
|
| |M C||
|
|||
|
|
| Joe Card Alot \___/|
|
|||
|
|
---------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
BN is the Bank initials
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1234 is the bank id number.
|
|||
|
|
The bank may have more than one id number for
|
|||
|
|
their 5000 XXXX XXXX XXXX series cards.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 102 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
IV. MAIL ORDER COMPANIES
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Most of the mail order companies will accept Visa or Mastercard.
|
|||
|
|
Some will also accept American Express and Discover. These mail
|
|||
|
|
order companies check the card by either calling into a TRW center
|
|||
|
|
to check if the amount of the order will exceed the limit. In
|
|||
|
|
either case of a approval or declining, the mail order companies
|
|||
|
|
will call you back to check with you the order you have placed.
|
|||
|
|
Anyways, a way of finding a valid card is to call a credit approval
|
|||
|
|
system yourself. Here's some ways of checking:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(1) 1-800-554-2265 for check Mastercard or Visa
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
for Visa 20#1067#24#CARD#EXP#XX*XX#
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 10 and 20 are for the type of cards
|
|||
|
|
- 1067 is the bank id number
|
|||
|
|
- 24 is the merchant number (52 will also work)
|
|||
|
|
- EXPiration must be in the form of 0291 for feb
|
|||
|
|
of 1991
|
|||
|
|
- XX*XX is the amount. Use a small number like
|
|||
|
|
11*04 for $11.04.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Another way mail order companies verifying cards is to call the
|
|||
|
|
bank of the card and verify the name of the person and the billing
|
|||
|
|
address versus the name you gave the mail order companies and the
|
|||
|
|
address (drop site). So the only way of getting pass this is to
|
|||
|
|
have the stuff sent to the person's address or getting the waybill
|
|||
|
|
number from the mail order houses and intercept the package at the
|
|||
|
|
UPS or Federal Express office before the package arrive's at the
|
|||
|
|
card owner's address.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
V. VISA BANK Numbers
|
|||
|
|
4428 Bank of Hoven
|
|||
|
|
4128 Citibank CV
|
|||
|
|
4271 Citibank PV
|
|||
|
|
4929 Barclay Card CV (from England)
|
|||
|
|
4040 Wells Fargo CV
|
|||
|
|
4019 Bank of America CV
|
|||
|
|
4024 Bank of America PV
|
|||
|
|
4019 Bank of America Gold (This card looks like a CV but
|
|||
|
|
without a CV afterthe expiration date)
|
|||
|
|
4678 Home Federal
|
|||
|
|
4726 Wells Fargo CV
|
|||
|
|
4036 4561 4443 4833 4070 4735 4673 4044 4050 4226 4605 4923 4820
|
|||
|
|
4048 CV 4121
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 103 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
VI. Mastercard
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A. BANK NUMBERS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
5419 Bank of Hoven
|
|||
|
|
5410 Wells Fargo
|
|||
|
|
5412 Wells Fargo
|
|||
|
|
5273 Bank of America Gold
|
|||
|
|
5273 Bank of America
|
|||
|
|
5254 Bank of America
|
|||
|
|
5286 Home Federal
|
|||
|
|
5031 Maryland of North America
|
|||
|
|
5326 5424 5250 5417 5215 5204 5411 5421 5329 5308 5217 5415
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
B. BANK ID NUMBERS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
5410 Wells Fargo -- 1037
|
|||
|
|
5410 Wells Fargo -- 6785
|
|||
|
|
5419 Bank of Hoven -- 1933
|
|||
|
|
5410 Wells Fargo -- 6037
|
|||
|
|
5204 -- 1006
|
|||
|
|
5250 -- 1260
|
|||
|
|
5215 -- 6207
|
|||
|
|
5424 -- 1065
|
|||
|
|
5411 -- 1169
|
|||
|
|
5421 -- 2143
|
|||
|
|
5417 -- 1786
|
|||
|
|
5417 -- 1711
|
|||
|
|
5415 -- 1530
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
VII. AMERICAN EXPRESS
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
3728 GOLD
|
|||
|
|
3713 Regular
|
|||
|
|
3732 Regular
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
3737 3782 3731 3724 3742 3727 3787 3726 3766 3734 3749 3763 3710
|
|||
|
|
3718 3720 3739
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Carding For Benfit And Profit
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
First off, there are many types of credit cards. But the main ones
|
|||
|
|
we will be discussing are American Express, Discover, Mastercard,
|
|||
|
|
and Visa. These four are the largest and most widely used types. My
|
|||
|
|
personal favorite is the Discover card, since the company is a real
|
|||
|
|
loser. It is best for the beginner to start out with Discover, then
|
|||
|
|
move to American Express, then to Mastercard, and finally visa,
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 104 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The first thing you have to do is to find a credit card number
|
|||
|
|
(we will be refering to them as CCNs). There are several different
|
|||
|
|
ways of going about this, which will be discussed later in this file.
|
|||
|
|
The way you can tell the cards apart are the first digit of the CCN.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Digit Type of Card
|
|||
|
|
------- ------------
|
|||
|
|
3 American Express
|
|||
|
|
4 Visa
|
|||
|
|
5 Mastercard
|
|||
|
|
6 Discover
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Now that you know the first digit of the card you want you need the
|
|||
|
|
different CCN formats. They are listed below.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
American Express
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
3xxx-xxxxxx-xxxxx
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Visa
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
4xxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
or
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
4xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Citibank Visa, which is by far the most popular is
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
4128-xxx-xxx-xxx
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Mastercard
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
5xxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The type of Mastercard I use is Citibank which is
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
5424-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Discover
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
6xxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
There are a number of ways through which you can get CCNs. They are
|
|||
|
|
listed below in order of easiest method to hardest method.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1) Go for a little swim. That is, in a big dumpster. This is called
|
|||
|
|
trashing. Go in back of department store or anywhere that accepts
|
|||
|
|
credit cards and jump in. But make sure it's not at a mall, or
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 105 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
someone might see you and contact the police. When you've
|
|||
|
|
found the perfect dumpster, just dive right in. Just look around
|
|||
|
|
for carbons. You know, the things that the salesperson throws away
|
|||
|
|
after a credit card purchase. If anyone sees you, just pretend
|
|||
|
|
you're a bum. Or if that won't work, pretend you're looking for
|
|||
|
|
your baseball that flew in. Once you find these, (and making sure
|
|||
|
|
you don't rip them) put them in your cap, or somewhere where they
|
|||
|
|
won't fall out, and just calmly go home. Now comes the easy part.
|
|||
|
|
You just copy down everything important. The CCN, Expiration date,
|
|||
|
|
and Name. Then you rip it up into shreds and burn them. Now there is
|
|||
|
|
no way you can get caught unless you're a REAL idiot. 2) If you have
|
|||
|
|
a friend (it's better if it's a fellow pirate) that works in a store
|
|||
|
|
which performs credit card transactions, you might save yourself the
|
|||
|
|
trouble of trashing and ask him if he doesn't mind slipping some
|
|||
|
|
carbons into a bag after they ring up a sale. If he won't, bribe
|
|||
|
|
by saying you'll get him something too.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Carbons
|
|||
|
|
______________________________________
|
|||
|
|
| (1) (2) |
|
|||
|
|
| (3) (4) |
|
|||
|
|
| (5) |
|
|||
|
|
| |
|
|||
|
|
|____________________________________|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
(1) The Account Number. This is the most important thing on a
|
|||
|
|
Credit Card. (2) The Expiration date for Visa or Mastercard (3) The
|
|||
|
|
Expiration date for Visa or Mastercard (4) The Expiration date for
|
|||
|
|
American Express (5) The Card Holder's name. The name is not very
|
|||
|
|
important but it is good to have. 3) If are really advanced, you
|
|||
|
|
can use a credit card formula, several do exist. If you're good at
|
|||
|
|
math and patterns, you should be able to figure out at least one
|
|||
|
|
formula. Once you have a newly formulated or newly found Credit
|
|||
|
|
Card, you have to first check to see if it is still valid before
|
|||
|
|
you try to use it. The easiest way I know of, is 1-800-554-2265.
|
|||
|
|
But after you enter something you must enter a pound. Just look at
|
|||
|
|
the example if you're confused. You must first, of course, dial
|
|||
|
|
1-800-554-2265. Then it should say "Enter type".
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Number Card Type
|
|||
|
|
------ ---------
|
|||
|
|
10# Mastercard
|
|||
|
|
20# Visa
|
|||
|
|
30# American Express
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Then it will ask you for "Bank identification". Just enter 1067#.
|
|||
|
|
Now it will request a Merchant Number. Enter either 24# or 52#.
|
|||
|
|
Either one should work. Now it will ask you for the card number.
|
|||
|
|
Enter it in with a # sign following it. Then it will ask for the
|
|||
|
|
expiration date. Enter it with a # sign following it. And last,
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 106 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
but not least, it will ask for the amount. This is a little
|
|||
|
|
rickier. Look at the examples. If you still don't understand it,
|
|||
|
|
hen you're dumb, and you shouldn't be trying to card. For $100.25
|
|||
|
|
ou enter 100*25#. For $1,532.67 you enter 1532*67#. Got it? Good.
|
|||
|
|
ow the moment of truth comes. In the next few seconds the computer
|
|||
|
|
will say Approved or Declined. Yes or No. Light or Dark. If it's
|
|||
|
|
approved, pat yourself on the back. If not, too bad. Go look for
|
|||
|
|
another one.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
* SPECIAL NOTE *
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In Canada dial 416-785-3222 for Visa credit checks or dial
|
|||
|
|
1-800-268-2439 for Mastercard credit checks. For a Visa credit
|
|||
|
|
check in Canada, you first dial the authorization center and a
|
|||
|
|
operator will answer. Then you will be ask for the card number,
|
|||
|
|
amount of purchase, merchant # and expiry date. If the card is good
|
|||
|
|
then she'll tell you the authorization number. If the card is
|
|||
|
|
invalid then she'll say that the number was invalid. For a
|
|||
|
|
Mastercard credit check in Canada, you first dial the authorization
|
|||
|
|
center and a automated computer will answer. It will ask you if you
|
|||
|
|
want it in French or English, so if you want English punch in 1, or
|
|||
|
|
if you want French punch in 2. Next it will ask you for the "Credit
|
|||
|
|
Card Number". Just punch in the Mastercard number and the press the
|
|||
|
|
# sign following the number. Next it will ask you for the "Amount In
|
|||
|
|
Dollars Only", so press in the amount and then the # sign following
|
|||
|
|
it. Next it will ask for a "Merchant #", this can be skipped by
|
|||
|
|
just pressing the # sign. After that it will ask for a "Expiry
|
|||
|
|
Number". Punch the expiry number in and press a # sign following it,
|
|||
|
|
if you made a mistake punching in the amount, then from here you press
|
|||
|
|
2 and change the amount of the purachse. After all that it will come
|
|||
|
|
back and if it's valid, it will tell you an authorization number,
|
|||
|
|
otherwise it will say that the number was invalid. If the amount is
|
|||
|
|
too high, then it will tell you to hold on for an operator. And
|
|||
|
|
then the operator will verify the card for you.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
*****************************************************************
|
|||
|
|
ONE NOTE: IF A CARD HAS $5000 AND YOU VERIFY IT FOR $3000 DOLLARS,
|
|||
|
|
YOU CAN ONLY VERIFY IT FOR $2000 MORE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS IF THE
|
|||
|
|
CARD HAS $3000 AND YOU VERIFY IT FOR $1250, THE CARD CAN BE
|
|||
|
|
VERIFIED $1750 MORE BEFORE IT WILL SAY DECLINED.
|
|||
|
|
*****************************************************************
|
|||
|
|
Now for the hardest part of all, purchasing merchandise with your
|
|||
|
|
newly verified CCN. You will probably want some computer equipment,
|
|||
|
|
knowing that that's what most people want. And be sure to read this
|
|||
|
|
entire file before attempting to card something. If you don't, you
|
|||
|
|
might get caught and spend ten years in jail and never be able to
|
|||
|
|
get another decent job again, just because you didn't listen to me
|
|||
|
|
and read this entire file. Now that I have your attention, we must
|
|||
|
|
lay down some rules for ordering merchandise to insure your safety.
|
|||
|
|
1) Always go to a pay phone.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 107 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2) Never give out your real name. 3) Or your address and telephone
|
|||
|
|
number. 4) Plan out the drop site and the fake number. I use the
|
|||
|
|
busiest PD board there is. 5) Sound calm. Remember, they can't do
|
|||
|
|
anything to you. 6) If they get suspicious, just keep sticking to
|
|||
|
|
the same story. A consistent lie is better than a inconsistent
|
|||
|
|
truth. Where should I ask them to ship it to? This is a common
|
|||
|
|
question. The best place to have the merchandise shipped to is an
|
|||
|
|
abandoned house. The sites where you want them shipped are called
|
|||
|
|
drop sites. Jot down this address. Now that we have set those rules,
|
|||
|
|
we now have to call a store. Make sure it is a small store, for they
|
|||
|
|
don't have the card checking techniques the bigger ones do. Now when
|
|||
|
|
they ask you your name and stuff like that, just give them the fake
|
|||
|
|
ones, without hesitation!! If you hesitate then they might get
|
|||
|
|
suspicious. Even spell it out for them. And try to be friendly. Don't
|
|||
|
|
sound nervous or anything. Now if they are online to credit bureaus
|
|||
|
|
suck as CBI or TRW then make up an excuse, like have your friend
|
|||
|
|
threaten you in the background (or something). If they are online
|
|||
|
|
with CBI or TRW they can verify everything in just a couple of
|
|||
|
|
minutes. Now if they aren't then you're in luck. Now when they ask
|
|||
|
|
for a number, give them the number you have ready. Bullshit your
|
|||
|
|
way through. If they aren't online, they can't verify really
|
|||
|
|
anything but that the CCN is valid and there is enough credit to
|
|||
|
|
pay for the merchandise. I wouldn't suggest making a business out
|
|||
|
|
of this, either. Sure, if you want to get a few dollars for things
|
|||
|
|
you order (and that you don't want anymore) sell it and keep the
|
|||
|
|
money. It wouldn't be all that great to go to jail for ten years
|
|||
|
|
and never get another decent job in your whole entire stinking life,
|
|||
|
|
just because someone you don't even know, wanted a bigger hard drive
|
|||
|
|
for $100? Yeah, you know I have a good point there. Well, the truth
|
|||
|
|
is that the only people that should really even make deals are the
|
|||
|
|
people with lots of experience.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
And now how to card Travelers Checks. These are alot easier
|
|||
|
|
than what I just talked about. All you gotta do is call
|
|||
|
|
1-800-777-7337 and use an American Express card and ship it to your
|
|||
|
|
drop site. Now just go to another country and spend away. Have fun.
|
|||
|
|
Now for the most dangerous way of carding, by far. In person
|
|||
|
|
carding. But you get the stuff really quick. Now you need a fake
|
|||
|
|
name again. This time you need two. Your dad and a son. Lets say
|
|||
|
|
your name is Robert Armstrong. Look at the example.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Hello, Computers for less, how may I help you?"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Yes, this is Robert Armstrong calling from California (or
|
|||
|
|
somewhere across the country). My son, Mike, needs an Apple II. It
|
|||
|
|
says here in your ad that you sell them for such and such. I would
|
|||
|
|
like to place an order for one."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"OK. And how will you be paying for this?"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Visa."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 108 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"OK. Number?"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"4xxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"OK, thank you. Now how do you want this shipped?"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Well, since my son is going to college right next to you, I
|
|||
|
|
thought I could send him to go pick it up."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Oh, OK. Sure. Do you want us to call your son to notify him?"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"No, that's ok. He's supposed to call in a couple of minutes. He
|
|||
|
|
always calls me at 5:00PM every Friday. I can't wait to hear what
|
|||
|
|
he says when he hears what I got him. When can he go pick it up?"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Anytime."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Ok, thank you.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Thank you for ordering from Computers for Less."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
<CLICK>
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Now comes the most dangerous part. Go to the store, park your
|
|||
|
|
car where none of the employees can see it. Now go in and state
|
|||
|
|
your fake name and what you are there to pick up. In Mike's case...
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Hello. I'm here to pick up an Apple II my dad bought for me."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"OK, sure. Mike Armstrong?"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Yes, that's me."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Ok, wait. We'll bring it up right now."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Thank you."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Well, here you are."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
<TAKE>
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"OK, Thank you."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"No problem. Thank you for ordering from Computers for Less."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Now just walk over to your car and drive off. I wouldn't really
|
|||
|
|
recommend this method, but if you're desperate, try it. Now if they
|
|||
|
|
get suspisious, don't get nervous. Just start complaining. Say like
|
|||
|
|
"My dad paid good money for this system and now you won't give it
|
|||
|
|
to me?" If they still won't give it to you, then say, "Ok, I'll
|
|||
|
|
come tommorrow. But if it isn't ready tommorow I'm going to tell
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 109 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
my dad to get a refund." Then walk out really pissed looking
|
|||
|
|
and never go back. They were probably setting up a trap for
|
|||
|
|
you. Better safe than sorry. Now I'll explain what happens to the
|
|||
|
|
unlucky guy. The guy's CCN you used of course. Now let's pretend
|
|||
|
|
this unfortunate soul's name is John Doe. At the end of the month,
|
|||
|
|
John Doe gets his Visa bill from the bank's credit card department.
|
|||
|
|
Among the things on his bill he notices a VGA card and monitor.
|
|||
|
|
John Doe then calls his bank and starts cussing them out and
|
|||
|
|
asking where the fuck did they get the VGA card and monitor from.
|
|||
|
|
Then the bank should send him a xerox copy of the original reciept,
|
|||
|
|
showing when it was bought and where it was sent to, and the second
|
|||
|
|
is an affidiate. This is a formal document saying that you did not
|
|||
|
|
make the purchase, you do not know who did, and did not authorize
|
|||
|
|
this purchase. It must be signed by him and then brought to the bank
|
|||
|
|
and signed by a notary public and have the bank's stamp on it. From
|
|||
|
|
there the bank can either go to their insurance agent or Visa,
|
|||
|
|
depending on who they have a deal with, and be paid for the carded
|
|||
|
|
stuff. Then John Doe must cut his cards in half and send them to the
|
|||
|
|
bank. After he has done that, he is re-issued new cards with a new CCN.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
How to Find Credit Cards: carbons or other methods
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
II. Trash Digging
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Although not the most fun method of getting CCs it is the safest by
|
|||
|
|
far. It does not take much intelligence to go through a dumpster
|
|||
|
|
and look for credit card carbons... But I assure you even the most
|
|||
|
|
experienced carders use this method. The way this is done is to
|
|||
|
|
find a store that people always or almost always use credit cards.
|
|||
|
|
It must also have a dumpster or trashcan where its garbage is
|
|||
|
|
dumped that is out of plain sight. Wait for the store to close or
|
|||
|
|
go when few people are around and search for ripped up carbons.
|
|||
|
|
Then piece them together and you should get full or partial
|
|||
|
|
information.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
III. Slight of Hand
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Another method which I myself often use is this trick on
|
|||
|
|
ususpecting customers...If you work as a cashier at a store that
|
|||
|
|
accepts credit cards you have an excellent opportunity to get card
|
|||
|
|
numbers and full info. What you need to do is when someone comes in
|
|||
|
|
and buys something via credit card, you wait for him/her to rip up
|
|||
|
|
the carbon and throw it out, if he/she throws it out in the stores
|
|||
|
|
trashcan, pick up the cardbon right away. Or sometimes the person
|
|||
|
|
will not even ask for his/her carbon, although this is somewhat rare.
|
|||
|
|
But I have even had someone leave their actuall credit card behind,
|
|||
|
|
then I just copy the name and number down, and give it back.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 110 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
IV. Mailbox Searching
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is basically a very lame way to get credit cards due to the
|
|||
|
|
danger and in order to get CCs this way you get the actuall card.
|
|||
|
|
What you do is have a bunch of pointless flyers made up, and goto
|
|||
|
|
a decent neighborhood away from your area of residence that has
|
|||
|
|
homes with accesable mail boxes. Wear sunglasses and a baseball
|
|||
|
|
hat if possible, although don't wear the shades on a cloudy day.
|
|||
|
|
Do this during school time if possible so you are not seen. What
|
|||
|
|
you do is go by each persons mail box and put a flyer in it (Which
|
|||
|
|
in itself is illegal, but few people know this) and while you are
|
|||
|
|
doing so search the mail for envelope from banks. If you happen
|
|||
|
|
to find one from a bank slip it into your pile of flyers and sneak
|
|||
|
|
off to open it. If it has a CC in it then you are in luck. Go
|
|||
|
|
home and prepare to card, because you don't have much time until
|
|||
|
|
the card will go bad probably. This method is not a very good one,
|
|||
|
|
use only if you are desperate.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
V. TRW
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
I will keep this short because this uses more hacking than
|
|||
|
|
carding... But one method is to hack the local TRW system and you
|
|||
|
|
can get full info on a card with name and number. What you do is
|
|||
|
|
find a carbon with partial info some other way (Must be name and
|
|||
|
|
number) and check TRW for it, then you will get full info.
|
|||
|
|
Personnally, I never hacked TRW on my own although it can be done.
|
|||
|
|
Also, you may know some big time hacker through bbsing,
|
|||
|
|
have him hack TRW for you and get the info in exchange for carding
|
|||
|
|
him something.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
VI. Trading info
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Another way to get credit card numbers is to just trade information
|
|||
|
|
of some sort to someone who has a steady supply of credit cards.
|
|||
|
|
Maybe this would be phreaking codes, or dialups, or maybe some
|
|||
|
|
bank numbers, or even money I suppose(This would make you a lamer
|
|||
|
|
in my book) . There are many people out there who have connections
|
|||
|
|
you don't, and some may even give you the numbers and such for free.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
VII. VMB's and Carding Subs
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This is basically self explanitory. There are many Voice Mail
|
|||
|
|
Boxes or VMBs that have cards with full info on them, and they are
|
|||
|
|
not that hard to get the number to, just e-mail some people you
|
|||
|
|
know, maybe they know of one. Just, once in a while put in a
|
|||
|
|
valid card and then all will go well. Also many elite systems have
|
|||
|
|
their own carding sub, there will be valid cards on these subs for
|
|||
|
|
the taking. Don't be shy, although if the card number is really
|
|||
|
|
old don't bother, you are just asking to get caught.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 111 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
VIII. Connections
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Maybe you know someone who can do one of the above methods. Don't
|
|||
|
|
be afraid to ask for his help. Maybe this person is a cashier that
|
|||
|
|
can get you a steady supply of credit card numbers with names.
|
|||
|
|
Then get those to someone who hacks TRW and then you will get the
|
|||
|
|
full info on several cards and be able to take you pick and return
|
|||
|
|
the favor to some VMBs you leeched card numbers off of...It all
|
|||
|
|
works out very nicely...
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|||
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|||
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
|||
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|
|||
|
|
- 112 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
THE BAUDY WORLD OF THE BYTE BANDIT: A POSTMODERNIST INTERPRETATION
|
|||
|
|
OF THE COMPUTER UNDERGROUND
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
An earlier version of this paper was presented at the American
|
|||
|
|
Society of Criminology annual meetings, Reno (November 9, 1989).
|
|||
|
|
Authors are listed in alphabetical order. Address correspondence
|
|||
|
|
to Jim Thomas. We are indebted to the numerous anonymous computer
|
|||
|
|
underground participants who provided information. Special
|
|||
|
|
acknowledgement goes to Hatchet Molly, Jedi, The Mentor,
|
|||
|
|
Knight Lightning, and tran King.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
ABSTRACT
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The criminalization of "deviant acts" transforms social meanings
|
|||
|
|
into legal ones. Yet, legal meanings are not necessarily social
|
|||
|
|
meanings. The legitimacy of statutory social control generally
|
|||
|
|
requires that one accept the realist textual readings of those
|
|||
|
|
with the power to interpret and stigmatize behaviors as
|
|||
|
|
inappropriate. "Moral crusades" that lead to definitions of
|
|||
|
|
criminalized deviance tend to reduce the meanings of polysemic
|
|||
|
|
acts to unidimensional ones that limit understanding of both the
|
|||
|
|
nature of the acts and their broader relationship to the culture
|
|||
|
|
in which they occur. This has occured with the criminalization of
|
|||
|
|
computer phreaking and hacking. In this paper, we examine the
|
|||
|
|
computer underground as a cultural, rather than a deviant,
|
|||
|
|
phenomenon. Our data reveal the computer underground as an
|
|||
|
|
invisible community with a complex and interconnected culture,
|
|||
|
|
dependent for survival on information sharing, norms of
|
|||
|
|
reciprocity, sophisticated socialization rituals, and an explicit
|
|||
|
|
value system. We suggest that the dominant image of the computer
|
|||
|
|
underground as one of criminal deviance results in a failure to
|
|||
|
|
appreciate cultural meaning. We conclude by arguing that there
|
|||
|
|
are characteristics of underground activity that embrace a
|
|||
|
|
postmodernist rejection of conventional culture. Hackers are
|
|||
|
|
"nothing more than high-tech street gangs" (Federal Prosecutor,
|
|||
|
|
Chicago). Transgression is not immoral. Quite to the contrary, it
|
|||
|
|
reconciles the law with what it forbids; it is the dialectical game
|
|||
|
|
of good and evil (Baudrillard, 1987: 81). There ain't no sin
|
|||
|
|
and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do. It's
|
|||
|
|
all part of the nice, but that's as far as any man got a right to
|
|||
|
|
say (Steinbeck, 1939:31-32).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The criminalization of "deviant acts" transforms and reduces social
|
|||
|
|
meanings to legal ones. Legal meanings are not necessarily social
|
|||
|
|
meanings. Most deviancy research tends to reproduce conventional
|
|||
|
|
social ideology and operative definitions of normality within its
|
|||
|
|
concepts and theories. On occasion, these meanings represent a
|
|||
|
|
form of "class politics" that protect the power and privilege of
|
|||
|
|
one group from the challenge of another: Divorcing moral crusades
|
|||
|
|
from status group competition while denying that cultures are
|
|||
|
|
linked to social classes has undermined attempts to link lifestyle
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 113 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
politics to group struggles (Beisel, 1990: 45). Once a category of
|
|||
|
|
behaviors has become defined by statute as sanctionably deviant,
|
|||
|
|
the behaviors so-defined assume a new set of meanings that may obscure
|
|||
|
|
ones possessed by those who engage in such behaviors. "Computer
|
|||
|
|
deviants" provide one example of a criminalized type of "lifestyle
|
|||
|
|
politics."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The proliferation of computer technology has been a accompanied by
|
|||
|
|
the growth of a computer underground (CU), often mistakenly
|
|||
|
|
labeled "hackers," that is perceived as criminally deviant by the
|
|||
|
|
media, law enforcement officials, and researchers. Drawing from
|
|||
|
|
ethnographic data, we offer a cultural rather than a
|
|||
|
|
criminological analysis of the underground by suggesting that it
|
|||
|
|
reflects an attempt to recast, re-appropriate, and reconstruct
|
|||
|
|
the power-knowledge relationship that increasingly dominates the
|
|||
|
|
ideology and actions of modern society. Our data reveal the
|
|||
|
|
computer underground as an invisible community with a complex and
|
|||
|
|
interconnected cultural lifestyle, an inchoate anti-authoritarian
|
|||
|
|
political consciousness, and dependent on norms of reciprocity,
|
|||
|
|
sophisticated socialization rituals, networks of information
|
|||
|
|
shaand an explicit value system. We interpret the CU culture as
|
|||
|
|
a challenge to and parody of conventional culture, as a playful
|
|||
|
|
attempt to reject the seriousness of technocracy, and as an ironic
|
|||
|
|
substitution of rational technological control of the present for
|
|||
|
|
an anarchic and playful future. Stigmatizing the Computer Underground
|
|||
|
|
The computer underground refers to persons engaged in one or more of
|
|||
|
|
several activities, including pirating, anarchy, hacking, and
|
|||
|
|
phreaking[1]. Because computer underground participants freely
|
|||
|
|
share information and often are involved collectively in a single
|
|||
|
|
incident, media definitions invoke the generalized metaphors of
|
|||
|
|
"conspiracies" and "criminal rings," (e.g., Camper, 1989; Zablit,
|
|||
|
|
1989), "modem macho" evil-doers (Bloombecker, 1988), moral bankruptcy
|
|||
|
|
(Schwartz, 1988), "electronic trespassers" (Parker: 1983), "crazy
|
|||
|
|
kids dedicated to making mischief" (Sandza, 1984: 17), "electronic
|
|||
|
|
vandals" (Bequai: 1987), a new "threat" (Van, 1989), saboteurs
|
|||
|
|
("Computer Sabateur," 1988), secret societies of criminals (WMAQ,
|
|||
|
|
1990), and "high-tech street gangs" ("Hacker, 18," 1989). These
|
|||
|
|
images have prompted calls for community and law enforcement vigilance
|
|||
|
|
(Conly and McEwen, 1990: 2) and for application of the Racketeer
|
|||
|
|
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to prosecute and
|
|||
|
|
control the "criminals" (Cooley, 1984). These images fail to
|
|||
|
|
distinguish underground "hobbyists," who may infringe on legal norms
|
|||
|
|
but have no intention of pillaging, from felonious predators, who
|
|||
|
|
use technology to loot[2]. Such terminology provides a common stock
|
|||
|
|
ofknowledge that formats interpretations of CU activity in ways
|
|||
|
|
pre-patterned as requiring social control to protect the common
|
|||
|
|
weal (e.g., Altheide, 1985). As Hollinger and Lanza-Kaduce (1988:
|
|||
|
|
119), Kane (1989), and Pfuhl (1987) observed, the stigmatization
|
|||
|
|
of hackers has emerged primarily through value-laden nedia
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 114 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
depictions. When in 1990 a Cornell University graduate student
|
|||
|
|
inadvertently infected an in ternational computer network by
|
|||
|
|
planting a self-reproducing "virus," or "rogue program," the news
|
|||
|
|
media followed the story with considerable detail about the dangers
|
|||
|
|
of computer abuse (e.g., Allman, 1990; Winter, 1988). Five years
|
|||
|
|
earlier, in May of 1983, a group of hackers known as "The 414's"
|
|||
|
|
received equal media attention when they broke into the computer
|
|||
|
|
system of the Sloan Kettering Cancer research center. Between
|
|||
|
|
these dramatic and a typical events, the media have dramatized the
|
|||
|
|
dangers of computer renegades, and media anecdotes presented
|
|||
|
|
during Congressional legislative debates to curtail "computer
|
|||
|
|
abuse" dramatized the "computer hacking problem" (Hollinger
|
|||
|
|
and Lanza-Kaduce, 1988: 107). Although the accuracy and
|
|||
|
|
objectivity of the evidence has since been challenged (Hollinger
|
|||
|
|
and lnza-Kaduce 1988: 105), the media continue to format CU activity
|
|||
|
|
by suggesting that any computer-related felony can be attributed to
|
|||
|
|
hacking. Additionally, media stories are taken from the accounts of
|
|||
|
|
police blotters, security personnel, and apprehended hackers, each of
|
|||
|
|
whom have different perspectives and definitions. This creates a
|
|||
|
|
self-rein-forcing imagery in which extreme examples and cursively
|
|||
|
|
circulated data are discretely adduced to substantiate the claim of
|
|||
|
|
criminality by those with a vested interest in creating and
|
|||
|
|
maintaining such definitions. For example, Conly and McEwen (1990)
|
|||
|
|
list examples of law enforcement jurisdictions in which special units
|
|||
|
|
to fight "computer crime," very broadly defined, have been created.
|
|||
|
|
These broad definitions serve to expand the scope of authority and
|
|||
|
|
resources of the units. Nonetheless, despite criminalization, there
|
|||
|
|
is little evidence to support the contention that computer hacking
|
|||
|
|
has been sufficiently abusive or pervasive to warrant prosecution
|
|||
|
|
(Michalowski and Pfuhl, forth-coming). As an antidote to the
|
|||
|
|
conventional meanings of CU activity as simply one of deviance,
|
|||
|
|
we shift the social meaning of CU behavior from one of stigma to
|
|||
|
|
one of culture creation and meaning. Our work is tentative, in
|
|||
|
|
part because of the lack of previous substantive literature and in
|
|||
|
|
part because of the complexity of the data, which indicate a
|
|||
|
|
multiplicity of subcultures within the CU. This paper examines
|
|||
|
|
of two distinct CU subcultures, phreaks and hackers, and
|
|||
|
|
challenges the Manichean view that hackers can be understood simply
|
|||
|
|
as profaners of a sacred moral and economic order. The Computer
|
|||
|
|
Underground and Postmodernism: The computer underground is a culture
|
|||
|
|
of persons who call computer bulletin board systems (BBSs, or just
|
|||
|
|
"boards"), and share the interests fostered by the BBS. In
|
|||
|
|
conceptualizing the computer underground as a distinct culture,
|
|||
|
|
we draw from Geertz's (1973: 5) definition of culture as a system
|
|||
|
|
of meanings that give significance to shared behaviors that must
|
|||
|
|
be interpreted from the perspective of those engaged in them. A
|
|||
|
|
culture provides not only the "systems of standards for perceiving,
|
|||
|
|
believing, evaluating, and acting" (Goodenough, 1981: 110), but
|
|||
|
|
includes the rules and symbols of interpretation and discourse for
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 115 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
partici-pants: Incrude relief, culture can be understood as a set
|
|||
|
|
of solutions devised by a group of people to meet specific problems
|
|||
|
|
posed by situations they face in common. . . This notion of culture
|
|||
|
|
as a living, historical product of group problem solving allows an
|
|||
|
|
approach to cultural study that is applicable to any group, be it
|
|||
|
|
a society, a neighborhood, a family, a dance band, or an
|
|||
|
|
organization and its segments (Van Maanen and Barley, 1985: 33).
|
|||
|
|
Creating and maintaining a culture requires continuous individual
|
|||
|
|
or group processes of sustaining an identity through the coherence
|
|||
|
|
gained by a consistent aesthetic point of view, a moral conception
|
|||
|
|
of self, and a lifestyle that expresses those conceptions in one's
|
|||
|
|
immediate existence and tastes (Bell, 1976: 36). These behavioral
|
|||
|
|
expressions signify a variety of meanings, and as signifiers they
|
|||
|
|
reflect a type of code that can be interpreted semiotically, or as
|
|||
|
|
a sign system amenable to readings independent of either
|
|||
|
|
participants or of those imposed by the super-or-dinate culture:
|
|||
|
|
All aspects of culture possess a semiotic value, and the most
|
|||
|
|
taken-for-granted phenomena can function as signs: as elements
|
|||
|
|
in communication systems governed by semantic rules and codes
|
|||
|
|
which are not themselves directly apprehended in experience.
|
|||
|
|
These signs are, then, as opaque as the social relations which
|
|||
|
|
produce them and which they re-present (Hebdige, 1982: 13). It is
|
|||
|
|
this symbolic cultural ethos, by which we mean the style, world
|
|||
|
|
view, and mood (Hebdige, 1979), that reflects the postmodernist
|
|||
|
|
elements of the CU and separates it from modernism. Modernist
|
|||
|
|
culture is characterized especially by rationality, technological
|
|||
|
|
enhancement, deference to centralized control, and mass
|
|||
|
|
communication. The emergence of computer technology has created
|
|||
|
|
dramatic changes in social communication, economic transactions,
|
|||
|
|
and information processing and sharing, while simultaneously
|
|||
|
|
introducing new forms of surveillance, social control, and
|
|||
|
|
intrusions on privacy (Marx, 1988a: 208-211; Marx and
|
|||
|
|
Reichman, 1985). This has contributed to a: richly confused
|
|||
|
|
and hugely verbal age, energized by a multitude of competing
|
|||
|
|
discourses, the very proliferation and plasticity of which
|
|||
|
|
increasingly deter mine what we defensively refer to as our
|
|||
|
|
reality (New- man, 1985: 15). By Postmodernism we mean a reaction
|
|||
|
|
against "cultural moder- nity" and a destruction of the constraints
|
|||
|
|
of the present "maximum security society" (Marx, 1988b) that reflect
|
|||
|
|
an attempt to gain control of an alternative future. In the CU world,
|
|||
|
|
this constitutes a conscious resistance to the domination of but not
|
|||
|
|
the fact of technological encroachment into all realms of our social
|
|||
|
|
existence. The CU represents a reaction against modernism by
|
|||
|
|
offering an ironic response to the primacy of a master technocratic
|
|||
|
|
language, the incursion of computers into realms once considered
|
|||
|
|
private, the politics of techno-society, and the sanctity of
|
|||
|
|
established civil and state authority. Postmodernism is
|
|||
|
|
characterized not so much by a single definition as by a number of
|
|||
|
|
interrelated characteristics, including, but not limited to:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 116 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1. Dissent for dissent's sake (Lyotard, 1988).
|
|||
|
|
2. The collapse of the hierarchical distinction
|
|||
|
|
between mass and popular culture (Featherstone,
|
|||
|
|
1988: 203).
|
|||
|
|
3. A stylistic promiscuity favoring eclecticism and
|
|||
|
|
the mixing of codes (Featherstone, 1988: 203).
|
|||
|
|
4. Parody, pastiche, irony, playfulness and the
|
|||
|
|
celebration of the surface "depthlessness" of
|
|||
|
|
culture (Featherstone, 1988: 203).
|
|||
|
|
5. The decline of the originality/genius of the
|
|||
|
|
artistic producer and the assumption that art
|
|||
|
|
can only be repetitious (Featherstone 1988: 203).
|
|||
|
|
6. The stripping away of social and perceptual
|
|||
|
|
coordinates that let one "know where one is"
|
|||
|
|
(Latimer, 1984: 121).
|
|||
|
|
7. A search for new ways to make the unpresentable
|
|||
|
|
presentable, and break down the barriers that
|
|||
|
|
keep the profane out of everyday life (Denzin,
|
|||
|
|
1988: 471).
|
|||
|
|
8. The introduction of new moves into old games or
|
|||
|
|
inventing new games that are evaluated
|
|||
|
|
pragmatically rather than from some uniform
|
|||
|
|
stand point of "truth" or philosophical
|
|||
|
|
discourse (Callinicos, 1985: 86).
|
|||
|
|
9. Emphasis on the visual over the literary
|
|||
|
|
(Lash, 1988: 314).
|
|||
|
|
10. Devaluation of formalism and juxtaposition of
|
|||
|
|
signifiers taken from the banalities of everyday
|
|||
|
|
life (Lash, 1988: 314).
|
|||
|
|
11. Contesting of rationalist and/or didactive views
|
|||
|
|
of culture (Lash, 1988: 314).
|
|||
|
|
12. Asking not what a cultural text means, but what
|
|||
|
|
it does (Lash, 1988: 314).
|
|||
|
|
13. Operation through the spectator's immersion, the
|
|||
|
|
relatively unmediated investment of his/her
|
|||
|
|
desire in the cultural object (Lash, 1988: 314).
|
|||
|
|
14. Acknowledgement of the decenteredness of modern
|
|||
|
|
life and "plays with the apparent emptiness of
|
|||
|
|
modern life as well as the lack of coherence in
|
|||
|
|
modern symbol systems" (Manning, 1989: 8).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
"Post-Modernism" in its positive form constitutes an intellectual
|
|||
|
|
attack upon the atomized, passive and indifferent mass culture
|
|||
|
|
which, through the saturation of electronic technology, has
|
|||
|
|
reached its zenith in Post-War American (Newman, 1985: 5). It is
|
|||
|
|
this style of playful rebellion, irreverent subversion, and
|
|||
|
|
juxtaposition of fantasy with high-tech reality that impels us to
|
|||
|
|
interpret the computer underground as a postmodernist culture.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Data and Method: Obtaining data from any underground culture
|
|||
|
|
requires tact. BBS operators protect the privacy of users and
|
|||
|
|
access to elite boards, or at least to their relevant security
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 117 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
levels, virtually always requires completion of a preliminary
|
|||
|
|
questionnaire, a screening process, and occasional voice
|
|||
|
|
verification. Researchers generally do not themselves violate laws
|
|||
|
|
or dominant norms, so they depend on their informants for
|
|||
|
|
potentially "dirty information" (Thomas and Marquart, 1988). Our
|
|||
|
|
own data are no exception and derive from several sources. First,
|
|||
|
|
the bulk of our data come from computer bulletin board systems.
|
|||
|
|
BBSs are personal computers (PCs) that have been equipped with a
|
|||
|
|
telephone modem and special software that connects users to other
|
|||
|
|
PCs by telephone. After "logging in" by supplying a valid user
|
|||
|
|
name and password, the user can receive and leave messages to
|
|||
|
|
other users of the system. These messages are rarely private and
|
|||
|
|
anyone calling the BBS can freely read and respond to them. There
|
|||
|
|
is usually the capacity to receive (download) or send (upload) text
|
|||
|
|
files ("G-philes") or software programs between the caller and
|
|||
|
|
host system. We logged the message section of CU BBSs to compile
|
|||
|
|
documentary evidence of the issues deemed important for
|
|||
|
|
discussion by participants. Logs are "captured" (recorded using
|
|||
|
|
the computer buffer) messages left on the board by users.
|
|||
|
|
Calculating the quantity of logged data is difficult because of
|
|||
|
|
formatting variance, but we estimate that our logs exceed 10,000
|
|||
|
|
printed pages. The logs cited here are verbatim with the
|
|||
|
|
exception of minor editing changes in format and extreme
|
|||
|
|
typographical errors. Identifying underground BBSs can be
|
|||
|
|
difficult, and to the uninitiated they may appear to be licit
|
|||
|
|
chat or shareware boards. For callers with sufficient access,
|
|||
|
|
however, there exist back-stage realms in which "cracking"
|
|||
|
|
information is exchanged and private text or software files
|
|||
|
|
made available. With current technology, establishing a BBS
|
|||
|
|
requires little initial skill. Most boards are short-lived and
|
|||
|
|
serve only local or regional callers. Because of the generally
|
|||
|
|
poor quality and amateur nature of these systems, we focused on
|
|||
|
|
national elite boards. We considered a board "elite" if it met
|
|||
|
|
all of the following characteristics: At least one quarter of the
|
|||
|
|
users were registered out side the state of the board called; the
|
|||
|
|
phone line were exclusively for BBS use and available 24 hours a
|
|||
|
|
day; and the information and files, warez were current "state of
|
|||
|
|
the field." Elite CU members argue that there are less than ten
|
|||
|
|
"truly elite" p/hacker boards nationally. We obtained the names
|
|||
|
|
and numbers of BBSs from the first boards we called, and used a
|
|||
|
|
snowball technique to supplement the list. We obtained additional
|
|||
|
|
numbers from CU periodicals,and, as we became more familiar with t
|
|||
|
|
he culture, users also added to the list. Our aggregate data
|
|||
|
|
include no less than 300 Bulletin board systems, of which at least
|
|||
|
|
50 attract phreaks and hackers, and voice or on-line interviews with
|
|||
|
|
no less than 45 sysops (operators of BBS systems) and other active
|
|||
|
|
CU participants. A second data source included open-ended voice and
|
|||
|
|
on-line interviews with hackers, phreaks and pirates. The data
|
|||
|
|
include no less than 25 face-to-face, 25 telephone, and 60 on-line
|
|||
|
|
interviews obtained as we became familiar with our informants. Third,
|
|||
|
|
data acquisition included as much participation as legally possible in
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 118 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
CU activities[3]. This served to justify our presence in the culture
|
|||
|
|
and provided information about the mundane activity of the CU.
|
|||
|
|
Finally, we obtained back and current issues of the primary
|
|||
|
|
underground computerized magazines, which are distributed on national
|
|||
|
|
BBSs as text files. These contain information relevant to the
|
|||
|
|
particular subculture, and included PHRACK, Activist Times
|
|||
|
|
Incorporated (ATI), P/Hun, 2600 Magazine, PIRATE, TAP, Al.P.H.A
|
|||
|
|
and Legion of Doom (LoD/H). We also draw data from national and
|
|||
|
|
international electronic mail (e-mail) systems on which an active
|
|||
|
|
information-sharing CU network has developed and spread. Assessing
|
|||
|
|
the validity and reliability of data obtained in this manner
|
|||
|
|
creates special problems. One is that of sampling. The number of
|
|||
|
|
boards, their often ephemeral existence, and the problem of
|
|||
|
|
obtaining access makes conventional sampling impossible. We
|
|||
|
|
focused on national boards and engaged in theoretical sampling
|
|||
|
|
(Glaser and Strauss, 1967: 45-77). We consider our sample
|
|||
|
|
representative, and accept Bordieu's observation that: If,
|
|||
|
|
following the canon dictated by orthodox methodology, you take a
|
|||
|
|
random sample, you mutilate the very object you have set out to
|
|||
|
|
construct. If, in a study of the field of lawyers, for instance,
|
|||
|
|
you do not draw the President of the Supreme Court, or if, in an
|
|||
|
|
inquiry into the French intellectual field of the 1950s, you
|
|||
|
|
leave out Jean-Paul Sartre, or Princeton University in a study of
|
|||
|
|
American academics, your field is destroyed, insofar as these
|
|||
|
|
personas or institutions alone mark a crucial position--there are
|
|||
|
|
positions in a field which command the whole structure (Bordieu,
|
|||
|
|
interviewed in Wacquant, 1989: 38). We judge our sample of
|
|||
|
|
participants adequate for several reasons. First, we presume
|
|||
|
|
that the members with whom we have had contact comprise the elite
|
|||
|
|
members of the culture, as determined by the nature of the boards
|
|||
|
|
they were on, references to them on national boards, the level of
|
|||
|
|
expertise displayed in their messages, and their appearance in the
|
|||
|
|
"user lists" of elite boards. We consider the BBSs to be "typical
|
|||
|
|
exemplars" because of their status in the
|
|||
|
|
culture, because of the level of sophistication both of users and
|
|||
|
|
of message content, and because of references to these boards as
|
|||
|
|
"elite" in CU periodicals.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The computer underground is both a life style and a social
|
|||
|
|
network. As a lifestyle, it provides identity and roles, an
|
|||
|
|
operational ideology, and guides daily routine. As a social
|
|||
|
|
net-work, it functions as a communications channel between
|
|||
|
|
persons engaged in one of three basic activities: Hacking,
|
|||
|
|
phreaking, and pirating[4]. Each subgroup possesses an explicit
|
|||
|
|
style that includes an ethic and "code of honor," cohesive norms,
|
|||
|
|
career paths, and other characteristics that typify a culture
|
|||
|
|
(Meyer, 1989a, 1989b;; Meyer and Thomas, 1989). Hebdige (1982:
|
|||
|
|
113-117) used the concept of homology to describe the structural
|
|||
|
|
unity that binds participants and provides the "symbolic fit
|
|||
|
|
between the values and life-styles of a group" and
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 119 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
how it expresses or reinforces its focal concerns. Homology refers
|
|||
|
|
to the affinity and similarities members of a group share that
|
|||
|
|
give it the particular cultural identity. These shared
|
|||
|
|
alternative values and actions connect CU members to each other
|
|||
|
|
and their culture, and create a celebration of "otherness" from
|
|||
|
|
the broader culture. Hackers (Tune: "Put Another Nickel in")
|
|||
|
|
Put another password in, Bomb it out, and try again, Try to get
|
|||
|
|
past logging in, Were hacking, hacking, hacking. Try his first
|
|||
|
|
wife's maiden name, This is more than just a game, It's real fun,
|
|||
|
|
but just the same It's hacking, hacking, hacking. Sys-call, let's
|
|||
|
|
try sys-call. Remember, that great bug from Version 3, Of R S X,
|
|||
|
|
It's here! Whoopee! Put another sys-call in, Run those passwords
|
|||
|
|
out and then, Dial back up, we're logging on, We're hacking,
|
|||
|
|
hacking, hacking. (The Hacker Anthem, by Chesire Catalyst)
|
|||
|
|
Hacking broadly refers to attempts to gain access to computers to
|
|||
|
|
which one does not possess authorization. The term "hackers" first
|
|||
|
|
came into use in the early 1960's when it was applied to a group
|
|||
|
|
of pioneering computer aficionados at MIT (Levy, 1984). Through
|
|||
|
|
the 1970s, a hacker was viewed as someone obsessed with
|
|||
|
|
understanding and mastering computer systems (Levy 1984). But, in
|
|||
|
|
the early 1980's, stimulated by the release of the movie
|
|||
|
|
"War Games" and the much publicized arrest of a "hacker gang"
|
|||
|
|
known as "The 414s", hackers were seen as young whiz-kids capable
|
|||
|
|
of breaking into corporate and government computer systems
|
|||
|
|
(Landreth 1985:34). The imprecise media definition and the lack
|
|||
|
|
of any clear understanding of what it means to be a
|
|||
|
|
hacker results in the mis-application of the label to all forms of
|
|||
|
|
computer malfeasance. Despite the inter-relationship between
|
|||
|
|
phreaks and hackers, the label of "hacker" is generally reserved
|
|||
|
|
for those engaged in computer system trespassing. For CU
|
|||
|
|
participants, hacking can mean either attempting to gain access
|
|||
|
|
to a computer system, or the more refined goals of exploring in,
|
|||
|
|
experimenting with, or testing a computer system. In the first
|
|||
|
|
connotation, hacking re quires skills to obtain valid user
|
|||
|
|
accounts on computer systems that would otherwise be unavailable,
|
|||
|
|
and the term connotes the repetitive nature of break-in attempts.
|
|||
|
|
Once successful entry is made, the illicit accounts are often
|
|||
|
|
shared among associates and described as being "freshly (or
|
|||
|
|
newly) hacked." The second connotation refers to someone
|
|||
|
|
possessing the knowledge, ability, and desire to fully explore a
|
|||
|
|
computer system. The elite hackers, the mere act of gaining entry
|
|||
|
|
is not enough to warrant the "hacker" label; there must be a
|
|||
|
|
desire to master and skill to use the system after access has
|
|||
|
|
been achieved: It's Sunday night, and I'm in my room, deep into
|
|||
|
|
a hack. My eyes are on the monitor, and my hands are on the
|
|||
|
|
keyboard, but my mind is really on the operating system of a
|
|||
|
|
super-minicomputer a thousand miles away - a super-mini with an
|
|||
|
|
operating systems that does a good job of tracking users, and that
|
|||
|
|
will show my activities in its user logs, unless I can outwit it
|
|||
|
|
in the few hours before the Monday morning staff arrives for
|
|||
|
|
work.....Eighteen hours ago, I managed to hack a pass-word for the
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 120 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
PDP 11/44. Now, I have only an hour or so left to alter the user
|
|||
|
|
logs. If I don't the logs will lead the system operators to my
|
|||
|
|
secret account, and the hours of work it took me to get this
|
|||
|
|
account will be wasted (Landreth, 1985: 57-58). An elite hacker
|
|||
|
|
must experiment with command structures and explore the many
|
|||
|
|
files available in order to understand and effectively use the
|
|||
|
|
system. This is sometimes called "hacking around" or simply
|
|||
|
|
"hacking a system". This distinction is necessary because
|
|||
|
|
not all trespassers are necessarily skilled at hacking out
|
|||
|
|
passwords, and not all hackers retain interest in a system once
|
|||
|
|
the challenge of gaining entry has been surmounted. Further,
|
|||
|
|
passwords and accounts are often traded, allowing even an
|
|||
|
|
unskilled intruder to erroneously claim the title of "hacker." Our
|
|||
|
|
data indicate that, contrary to their media image, hackers avoid
|
|||
|
|
deliberately destroying data or otherwise damaging the
|
|||
|
|
system. Doing so would conflict with their instrumental goal of
|
|||
|
|
blending in with the average user to conceal their presence and
|
|||
|
|
prevent the deletion of the account. After spending what may be
|
|||
|
|
a substantial amount of time obtaining a high access account,
|
|||
|
|
the hacker places a high priority on not being discovered using
|
|||
|
|
it, and hackers share considerable contempt for media stories
|
|||
|
|
that portray them as "criminals." The leading CU periodicals
|
|||
|
|
(e.g., PHRACK, PIRATE) and several CU "home boards" reprint and
|
|||
|
|
disseminate media stories, adding ironic commentary. The
|
|||
|
|
perception of media distortion also provides grist for message
|
|||
|
|
sections: A1: I myself hate newspaper reporters who do stories on
|
|||
|
|
hackers, piraters, phreaks, etc...because they always make us
|
|||
|
|
sound like these incred. %sic% smart people (which isn't too
|
|||
|
|
bad) who are the biggest threat to to-days community. Shit...the
|
|||
|
|
BEST hackers/phreaks/etc will tell you that they only do it to
|
|||
|
|
gain information on those systems, etc...(Freedom - That's what
|
|||
|
|
they call it...right?) (grin) A2: Good point...never met a "real
|
|||
|
|
p/h type yet who was into ripping off. To rip of a line from the
|
|||
|
|
Steve Good-man song (loosely), the game's the thing. Even those
|
|||
|
|
who allegedly fly the jolly rodger %pirates%, the true ones, don't
|
|||
|
|
do it for the rip-off, but, like monopoly, to see if they can get
|
|||
|
|
Boardwalk and Park Place without losing any railroads. Fun of the
|
|||
|
|
latter is to start on a board with a single good game or util
|
|||
|
|
%software utility% and see what it can be turned into, so I'm
|
|||
|
|
told. Fuck the press (DS message log, 1989). One elite hacker,
|
|||
|
|
a member of a loose-knit organization recently in the national
|
|||
|
|
news when some participants were indicted for hacking, responded
|
|||
|
|
to media distortions of the group by issueing an underground press
|
|||
|
|
release: My name is %deleted%, but to the computer world, I am
|
|||
|
|
%deleted%. I have been a member of the group known as Legion of
|
|||
|
|
Doom since its creation, and admittedly I have not been the most
|
|||
|
|
legitimate computer user around, but when people start hinting at
|
|||
|
|
my supposed Communist-backed actions, and say that I am involved
|
|||
|
|
in a world- wide conspiracy to destroy the nation's computer and/or
|
|||
|
|
911 network, I have to speak up and hope that people will take
|
|||
|
|
what I have to say seriously. . . . People just can't seem to grasp
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 121 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
the fact that a group of 20 year old kids just might know a little
|
|||
|
|
more than they do, and rather than make good use of us, they
|
|||
|
|
would rather just lock us away and keep on letting things pass
|
|||
|
|
by them. I've said this before, you can't stop burglars
|
|||
|
|
from robbing you when you leave the doors unlocked and merely bash
|
|||
|
|
them in the head with baseball bats when they walk in. You need
|
|||
|
|
to lock the door. But when you leave the doors open, but lock up
|
|||
|
|
the people who can close them for you another burglar will just
|
|||
|
|
walk right in ("EB," 1990). Although skirting the law, hackers
|
|||
|
|
possess an explicit ethic and their primary goal is knowledge
|
|||
|
|
acquisition. Levy (1984: 26-36) identifies six "planks" of the
|
|||
|
|
original hacker ethic, and these continue to guide modern hackers:
|
|||
|
|
1. First, access to computers should be unlimited and total:
|
|||
|
|
"Always yield to the Hands-On Imperative!" 2. Second, all
|
|||
|
|
information should be free. 3. Third, mistrust authority
|
|||
|
|
and promote decentralization. 4. Fourth, hackers should be
|
|||
|
|
judged by their prowess as hackers rather than by formal
|
|||
|
|
organizational or other irrelevant criteria. 5. Fifth, one can
|
|||
|
|
create art and beauty on a computer. 6. Finally, computers can
|
|||
|
|
change lives for the better. PHRACK, recognized as the
|
|||
|
|
"official" p/hacker newsletter, expanded on this creed with a
|
|||
|
|
rationale that can be summarized in three principles ("Doctor
|
|||
|
|
Crash," 1986). First, hackers reject the notion that "businesses"
|
|||
|
|
are the only groups entitled to access and use of modern
|
|||
|
|
technology. Second, hacking is a major Weapon in the fight
|
|||
|
|
against encroaching computer technology. Finally, the high cost
|
|||
|
|
of equipment is beyond the means of most hackers, which results in
|
|||
|
|
the perception that hacking and phreaking are the only recourse to
|
|||
|
|
spreading computer literacy to the masses: Hacking. It is a full
|
|||
|
|
time hobby, taking countless hours per week to learn, experiment,
|
|||
|
|
and execute the art of penetrating multi-user computers: Why do
|
|||
|
|
hackers spend a good portion of their time hacking? Some might
|
|||
|
|
say it is scientific curiosity, others that it is for mental
|
|||
|
|
stimulation. But the true roots of hacker motives run much
|
|||
|
|
deeper than that. In this file I will describe the underlying
|
|||
|
|
motives of the aware hackers, make known the connections
|
|||
|
|
between Hacking, Phreaking, Carding, & Anarchy, and make known
|
|||
|
|
the "techno-revolution" which is laying seeds in the mind of
|
|||
|
|
every hacker. . . .If you need a tutorial on how to perform any
|
|||
|
|
of the above stated methods %of hacking%, please read a %PHRACK%
|
|||
|
|
file on it. And whatever you do, continue the fight. Whether you
|
|||
|
|
know it or not, if you are a hacker, you are a revolutionary.
|
|||
|
|
Don't worry, you're on the right side ("Doctor Crash," 1986).
|
|||
|
|
Computer software, such as auto-dialers popularized in the film
|
|||
|
|
War Games, provides a means for inexperienced hackers to search
|
|||
|
|
out other computers. Auto-dialers randomly dial numbers and save
|
|||
|
|
the "hits" for manual testing later. Some users self-i-dentify has
|
|||
|
|
hackers simply on the basis of successfully collecting computer
|
|||
|
|
numbers or passwords, but these users are considered lamerz,"
|
|||
|
|
because they do not possess sufficient knowledge to obtain access
|
|||
|
|
or move about in the system once access is obtained. Lamerz are
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 122 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
readily identified by their message content: Sub ->numbers From ->
|
|||
|
|
(#538) To ->all Date ->02/21/xx 06:10:00 PM: Does anyone know any
|
|||
|
|
numbers for hotels, schools, businesses, etc..and passwords if you
|
|||
|
|
do please leave a bulletin with the number and the password and/or
|
|||
|
|
logon id. Sub ->phun From -> (#138) To ->all Date ->02/22/xx
|
|||
|
|
12:21:00 AM Anyone out there got some good 800 dial up that are
|
|||
|
|
fairly safe to hack? If so could ya leave me em in e-mail or post
|
|||
|
|
em with the formats.....any help would%be apreciated......
|
|||
|
|
thanx
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Although hackers freely acknowledge that their activities may be
|
|||
|
|
occasionally illegal, considerable emphasis is placed on limiting
|
|||
|
|
violations only to those required to obtain access and learn a
|
|||
|
|
system, and they display hostility toward those who transgress
|
|||
|
|
beyond beyond these limits. Most experienced CU members are
|
|||
|
|
suspicious of young novices who are often entranced with what they
|
|||
|
|
perceive to be the "romance" of hacking. Elite hackers complain
|
|||
|
|
continuously that novices are at an increased risk of apprehension
|
|||
|
|
and also can "trash" accounts on which experienced hackers have gained
|
|||
|
|
and hidden their access. Nonetheless, experienced hackers take pride
|
|||
|
|
in their ethic of mentoring promising newcomers, both through their
|
|||
|
|
BBSs and newsletters: As %my% reputation grew, answering such requests
|
|||
|
|
[from novice hackers wanting help] became a matter of pride. No
|
|||
|
|
matter how difficult the question happened to be, I would sit at
|
|||
|
|
the terminal for five, ten, twenty hours at a time, until I had
|
|||
|
|
the answer (Landreth, 1985: 16). The nation's top elite p/hacker
|
|||
|
|
board was particularly nurturing of promising novices before it
|
|||
|
|
voluntarily closed in early 1990, and its sysop's handle means
|
|||
|
|
"teacher." PHRACK, begun in 1985, normally contained 10-12
|
|||
|
|
educational articles (or "philes"), most of which provided
|
|||
|
|
explicit sophisticated technical information about computer
|
|||
|
|
networks and telecommunications systems[5]. Boundary
|
|||
|
|
socialization occurs in message bases and newsletters that either
|
|||
|
|
discourage such activity or provide guidelines for concealing
|
|||
|
|
access once obtained: Welcome to the world of hacking! We, the
|
|||
|
|
people who live outside of the normal rules, and have been scorned
|
|||
|
|
and even arrested by those from the 'civilized world', are
|
|||
|
|
becoming scarcer every day. This is due to the greater fear of
|
|||
|
|
what a good hacker (skill wise, no moral judgements here) can do
|
|||
|
|
nowadays, thus causing anti-hacker sentiment in the masses. Also,
|
|||
|
|
few hackers seem to actually know about the computer systems they
|
|||
|
|
hack, or what equipment they will run into on the front end, or
|
|||
|
|
what they could do wrong on a system to alert the 'higher'
|
|||
|
|
authorities who monitor the system. This article is intended to
|
|||
|
|
tell you about some things not to do, even before you get on the
|
|||
|
|
system. We will tell you about the new wave of front end security
|
|||
|
|
devices that are beginning to be used on computers. We will attempt
|
|||
|
|
to instill in you a second identity, to be brought up at time of
|
|||
|
|
great need, to pull you out of trouble. (p/hacker newsletter, 1987).
|
|||
|
|
Elite hacking requires highly sophisticated technical skills to enter
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 123 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
the maze of protective barriers, recognize the computer type, and move
|
|||
|
|
about at the highest system levels. As a consequence, information
|
|||
|
|
sharing becomes the sine qua non of the hacker culture. "Main
|
|||
|
|
message" sections are generally open to all users, but only
|
|||
|
|
general information, gossip, and casual commentary is posted.
|
|||
|
|
Elite users, those with higher security privileges and access to
|
|||
|
|
the "backstage" regions, share technical information and problems,
|
|||
|
|
of which the following is typical:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
89Mar11
|
|||
|
|
From ***** ** * ***>
|
|||
|
|
Help! Anyone familiar with a system that responds:
|
|||
|
|
A2: SELECT : DISPLAY:
|
|||
|
|
1=TRUNK,2=SXS;INPUT:3=TRUNK,4=SXS,5=DELETE;7=MSG <and
|
|||
|
|
then it gives you a prompt> If you chose 1... ENTER
|
|||
|
|
OLD#,(R=RETURN)
|
|||
|
|
At this point I know you can enter 7 digits, the 8th
|
|||
|
|
ill give you an INVALID ENTRY type message. Some num-
|
|||
|
|
bers don't work however. (1,2,7,8 I know will) Anybody?
|
|||
|
|
89Mar10
|
|||
|
|
From *********>
|
|||
|
|
I was hacking around on telenet (415 area code) and got
|
|||
|
|
a few things that I am stuck-o on if ya can help, I'd
|
|||
|
|
be greatly happy. First of all, I got one that is
|
|||
|
|
called RCC PALO ALTO and I can't figure it out. Second
|
|||
|
|
(and this looks pretty fun) is the ESPRIT COMMAIL and
|
|||
|
|
I know that a user name is SYSTEM because it asked for
|
|||
|
|
a password on ONLY that account (pretty obvious eh?) a
|
|||
|
|
few primnet and geonet nodes and a bunch of TELENET
|
|||
|
|
ASYYNC to 3270 SERVICE. It asks for TERMINAL TYPE, my
|
|||
|
|
LU NUMBER and on numbers higher than 0 and lower that
|
|||
|
|
22 it asks for a password. Is it an outdial? What are
|
|||
|
|
some common passwords? then I got a sushi-primnet
|
|||
|
|
system. And a dELUT system. And at 206174 there is
|
|||
|
|
JUST a : prompt. help! (P/h message log, 1988).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Rebelliousness also permeates the hacker culture and is reflected
|
|||
|
|
in actions, messages, and symbolic identities. Like other CU
|
|||
|
|
participants, hackers employ handles (aliases) intended to display
|
|||
|
|
an aspect of one's personality and interests, and a handle can
|
|||
|
|
often reveal whether its owner is a "lamer" (an incompetent) or
|
|||
|
|
sophisticated. Hackers take pride in their assumed names, and
|
|||
|
|
one of the greatest taboos is to use the handle of an other or to
|
|||
|
|
use multiple handles. Handles are borrowed liberally from the
|
|||
|
|
anti-heros of science fiction, adventure fantasy, and heavy metal
|
|||
|
|
rock lyrics, particularly among younger users, and from word plays
|
|||
|
|
on technology, nihilism, and violence. The CU handle reflects a
|
|||
|
|
stylistic identity heavily influenced by metaphors reflecting color
|
|||
|
|
(especially red and black), supernatural power (e.g., "Ultimate
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 124 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Warrior, "Dragon Lord"), and chaos ("Death Stalker," "Black
|
|||
|
|
Avenger"), or ironic twists on technology, fantasy, or symbols of
|
|||
|
|
mass culture (e.g., Epeios, Phelix the Hack, Ellis Dea, Rambo
|
|||
|
|
Pacifist, Hitch Hacker).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
This anti-establishment ethos also provides an ideological unity
|
|||
|
|
for collective action. Hackers have been known to use their
|
|||
|
|
collective skills in retaliation for acts against the culture that
|
|||
|
|
the perceive as unfair by, for example, changing credit data or
|
|||
|
|
"revoking" driver's licenses (Sandza, 1984; "Yes, you Sound very
|
|||
|
|
Sexy," 1989). Following a bust of a national hacker group, the
|
|||
|
|
message section of the "home board" contained a lively
|
|||
|
|
debate on the desireability of a retaliatory response, and the
|
|||
|
|
moderates prevailed. Influenced especially by such science
|
|||
|
|
fantasy as William Gibson's Neuromancer (1984), John Brunner's The
|
|||
|
|
Shockwave Rider (1975), and cyber-punk, which is a fusion of
|
|||
|
|
elements of electronic communication technology and the "punk"
|
|||
|
|
subculture, the hacker ethic promotes resistance to the very forms
|
|||
|
|
that create it. Suggestive of Frazer's (1922) The Golden Bough,
|
|||
|
|
power is challenged and supplanted by rituals combining both
|
|||
|
|
destruction and rejuvenation. From this emerges a shared ethos of
|
|||
|
|
opposition against perceived Orwellian domination by an
|
|||
|
|
information-controlling elite:(Hackers will) always be necessary,
|
|||
|
|
especially in the technological oppression of the future. Just
|
|||
|
|
imagine an information system that systematically filters out
|
|||
|
|
certain obscene words. Then it will move on to phrases, and then
|
|||
|
|
entire ideas will be replaced by computers! Anyway, there will
|
|||
|
|
always be people tripping out on paper and trying to keep it to
|
|||
|
|
themselves, and it's up to us to at least loosen their grasp (P.A.
|
|||
|
|
Message Log 1988).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Another hacker summarized the near-anarchist ethic characterized
|
|||
|
|
the CU style: Lookit, we're here as criminal hobbyists, peeping
|
|||
|
|
toms, and looters. I am in it for the fun. Not providing the
|
|||
|
|
public what it has a right to know, or keeping big brother in
|
|||
|
|
check. I couldn't care less. I am sick of the old journalistic
|
|||
|
|
hackers nonsense about or (oops! OUR) computerized ego...I make
|
|||
|
|
no attempt to justify what I am doing. Because it doesn't matter.
|
|||
|
|
As long as we live in this goddamn welfare state I might as well
|
|||
|
|
have some fun taking what isn't mine, and I am better off than
|
|||
|
|
those welfare-assholes who justify their stealing. At least I
|
|||
|
|
am smart enough to know that the free lunch can't go on forever
|
|||
|
|
(U.U. message log 1988).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In sum, the hacker style reflects well-defined goals, communication
|
|||
|
|
networks, values, and an ethos of resistance to authority. Because
|
|||
|
|
hacking requires a broader range of knowledge than does phreaking,
|
|||
|
|
and because such knowledge can be acquired only through experience,
|
|||
|
|
hackers tend to be both older and more knowledgeable than phreaks.
|
|||
|
|
In addition, despite some overlap, the goals of the two are somewhat
|
|||
|
|
dissimilar. As a consequence, each group constitutes a separate analytic
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 125 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
category. Phreaks. Running numbers is not only fun; it's a moral
|
|||
|
|
imperative! (Phreak credo). Phreaking broadly refers to the
|
|||
|
|
practice of using either technology or telephone credit card
|
|||
|
|
numbers (called "codez") to avoid long distance charges.
|
|||
|
|
Phreaking attained public visibilily with the revelation of the
|
|||
|
|
exploits of John "Cap'n Crunch" Draper, the "father of phreaking"
|
|||
|
|
(Rosenbaum, 1971). Although phreaking and hacking each require
|
|||
|
|
different skills, phreaks and hackers tend to associate on same
|
|||
|
|
boards. Unlike hackers, who attempt to master a computer system
|
|||
|
|
and its command and security structure, phreaks struggle to
|
|||
|
|
master telecom (tele-communications) technology: The phone system
|
|||
|
|
is the most interesting, fascinating thing that I know of. There is
|
|||
|
|
so much to know. Even phreaks have their own areas of knowledge.
|
|||
|
|
There is so much to know that one phreak could know something
|
|||
|
|
fairly important and the next phreak not. The next phreak might
|
|||
|
|
know 10 things that the first phreak doesn't though. It all
|
|||
|
|
depends upon where and how they get their info. I myself would
|
|||
|
|
like to work for the telco, doing something interesting, like
|
|||
|
|
programming a switch. Something that isn't slave labor bullshit.
|
|||
|
|
Something that you enjoy, but have to take risks in order to
|
|||
|
|
participate unless you are lucky enough to work for Bell/AT&T/any
|
|||
|
|
telco. To have legal access to telco things, manuals, etc. would be
|
|||
|
|
great (message log, 1988). Early phreaking methods involved
|
|||
|
|
electro-mechanical devices that generated key tones or altered phone
|
|||
|
|
line voltages to trick the mechanical switches of the phone company
|
|||
|
|
into connecting calls without charging, but the advent of computerized
|
|||
|
|
telephone-switching systems largely made these devices obsolete.
|
|||
|
|
In order to continue their practice, phreaks have had to learn
|
|||
|
|
hacking skills in order to obtain access to telephone company
|
|||
|
|
computers and software.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Access to telecom information takes several forms, and the
|
|||
|
|
possesion of numbers for "loops" and "bridges," while lying in a
|
|||
|
|
grey area of law, further enhances the reputation and status of a
|
|||
|
|
phreak. P/hackers can utilize "loop lines" to limit the number of
|
|||
|
|
eavesdroppers on their conversations. Unlike bridges, which
|
|||
|
|
connect an unlimited number of callers simultaneously, loops
|
|||
|
|
are limited to just two people at a time[6]. A "bridge" is a
|
|||
|
|
technical name for what is commonly known as a "chat line" or
|
|||
|
|
"conference system." Bridges are familiar to the public as the
|
|||
|
|
pay-per-minute group conversation systems advertised on late
|
|||
|
|
night television. Many bridge systems are owned by large
|
|||
|
|
corporations that maintain them for business use during the day.
|
|||
|
|
While the numbers to these systems are not public knowledge, many
|
|||
|
|
of them have been discovered by phreaks who then utilize the
|
|||
|
|
systems at night. Phreaks are skilled at arranging for a
|
|||
|
|
temporary, private bridge to be created via ATT's conference
|
|||
|
|
calling facilities. This provides a helpful information sharing
|
|||
|
|
technique among a self-selected group of phreak/hackers: Bridges
|
|||
|
|
can be extremely useful means of distributing information as long
|
|||
|
|
as the %phone% number is not known, and you don't have a
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 126 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
bunch of children online testing out their DTMF. The last great
|
|||
|
|
discussion I participated with over a bridge occurred about 2
|
|||
|
|
months ago on an AT&T Quorum where all we did was engineer
|
|||
|
|
3/way %calls% and restrict ourselves to purely technical
|
|||
|
|
information. We could have convinced the Quorum operators that we
|
|||
|
|
were AT&T technicians had the need occurred. Don't let the kids
|
|||
|
|
ruin all the fun and convenience of bridges. Lameness is one
|
|||
|
|
thing, practicality is an other (DC, message log, 1988). Phreaks
|
|||
|
|
recognize their precarious legal position, but see no other way to
|
|||
|
|
"play the game:" Phreaking involves having the dedication to
|
|||
|
|
commit yourself to learning as much about the phone system/
|
|||
|
|
network as possible. Since most of this information is not made
|
|||
|
|
public, phreaks have to resort to legally questionable means to
|
|||
|
|
obtain the knowledge they want (TP2, message log, 1988). Little
|
|||
|
|
sympathy exists among experienced phreaks for "teleco ripoff."
|
|||
|
|
"Carding," or the use of fraudulent credit cards, is anathema to
|
|||
|
|
phreaks, and not only violates the phreaking ethic, but is simply
|
|||
|
|
not the goal of phreaking: Credit card fraud truly gives hacking
|
|||
|
|
a bad name. Snooping around a VAX is just electronic voyeurism.
|
|||
|
|
carding a new modem is just flat out blue-collar-crime. It's
|
|||
|
|
just as bad as breaking into a house or kicking a puppy! %This
|
|||
|
|
phreak% does everything he can (even up to turning off a number)
|
|||
|
|
to get credit information taken off a BBS. %This phreak% also tries
|
|||
|
|
to remove codes from BBSes. He doesn't see code abuse in the same
|
|||
|
|
light as credit card fraud, (although the law does), but posted
|
|||
|
|
codes are the quickest way to get your board busted, and your
|
|||
|
|
computer confiscated. People should just find a local outdial to
|
|||
|
|
wherever they want to call and use that. If you only make local
|
|||
|
|
calls from an outdial, it will never die, you will keep out of
|
|||
|
|
trouble, and everyone will be happy (PHRACK, 3(28): Phile 2).
|
|||
|
|
Experienced phreaks become easily angered at novices and "lamerz"
|
|||
|
|
who engage in fraud or are interested only in "leeching" (obtaining
|
|||
|
|
something for nothing):
|
|||
|
|
Sub ->Carding
|
|||
|
|
From ->JB (#208)
|
|||
|
|
To ->ALL
|
|||
|
|
Date ->02/10/xx 02:22:00 PM
|
|||
|
|
what do you people think about using a parents card number for
|
|||
|
|
carding? For instance, if I had a friend order and receive via
|
|||
|
|
next day air on my parents card, and receive it at my parents
|
|||
|
|
house while we were on vacation. Do you think that would work?
|
|||
|
|
Cuz then, all that we have to do is to leave the note, and have
|
|||
|
|
the bud pick up the packages, and when the bill came for over
|
|||
|
|
$1500, then we just say... 'Fuck you! We were on vacation! Look
|
|||
|
|
at our airline tickets!' I hope it does... Its such a great plan!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sub ->Reply to: Carding
|
|||
|
|
From -> (xxx)
|
|||
|
|
To -> X
|
|||
|
|
Date ->02/11xx 03: 16:00 AM
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 127 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
NO IT'S NOT A GREAT IDEA! WHERE'S YOUR SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO
|
|||
|
|
YOUR FAMILY? ARE THEY ALL IN AGREEMENT WITH YOU? WOULD YOU WANT
|
|||
|
|
ANYONE TO USE YOUR PRIVATE STUFF IN ILLEGAL (AND IMMORAL)
|
|||
|
|
ACTIVITIES WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE? DIDJA EVER HEAR ABOUT TRUST
|
|||
|
|
BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS? IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE A THIEF (AND THAT'S
|
|||
|
|
NOT NEAT LIKE JAMES BOND IN THE MOVIES), TAKE THE RISKS ONLY UPON
|
|||
|
|
YOURSELF!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sub ->Carding
|
|||
|
|
From -> (#208)
|
|||
|
|
To -> (#47)
|
|||
|
|
Date ->02/12/xx 11: 18:00 AM
|
|||
|
|
Why not? We have a law that says that we have the right to refuse
|
|||
|
|
payment to credit cards if there are fraudulent charges. All we
|
|||
|
|
do and it is settled.... what is so bad about it? I'm going for
|
|||
|
|
it!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Sub ->Reply to: Carding
|
|||
|
|
From -> (xxx)
|
|||
|
|
To ->J.B.
|
|||
|
|
Date ->02/13/xx 02:08:00 AM
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
APPARENTLY YOU MISSED THE MAIN POINTS I TRIED TO MAKE TO YOU . .
|
|||
|
|
YOU'RE A THIEF AND A LIAR, AND ARE BETRAYING THE TRUST OF YOUR
|
|||
|
|
FAMILY AS WELL AS INVOLVING THEM IN YOUR RISK WITHOUT THEIR
|
|||
|
|
KNOWLEDGE. THAT MEANS YOU ARE A FAIRLY SCUMMY INDIVIDUAL IF YOU
|
|||
|
|
GO THROUGH WITH IT! NOW AS TO YOUR "DEFENCE" ABOUT $50 MAXIMUMS
|
|||
|
|
AND ERRONEOUS BILLINGS.. LAW MAKES A CLEAR DISTINCTION
|
|||
|
|
ABOUT THEFT BY FRAUD (OF WHICH YOU WOULD BE GUILTY). AND IN A
|
|||
|
|
LARGER SENSE, YOUR THEFT JUST MAKES IT MORE COSTLY FOR YOU YOU
|
|||
|
|
AND EVERYBODY ELSE TO GET CREDIT, AND DO BUSINESS WITH CREDIT
|
|||
|
|
CARDS. YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHATEVER YOU DO ANYWAY.....DON'T LOOK
|
|||
|
|
FOR ANY APPROVAL IN THIS DIRECTION.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Ironically, experienced phreaks are not only offended by such
|
|||
|
|
disregard of law, but also feel that "rip-off artists" have no
|
|||
|
|
information to share and only increase the risk for the
|
|||
|
|
"tech-no-junkies." Message boards reflect hostility toward
|
|||
|
|
apprehended "lamerz" with such comments as "I hope they burn
|
|||
|
|
him," or "the lamer probably narked %turned informant% to the
|
|||
|
|
pheds %law enforcement agents%." Experienced phreaks also post
|
|||
|
|
continual reminders that some actions, because of their illegality,
|
|||
|
|
are simply unacceptable: It should be pointed out however, that
|
|||
|
|
should any of you crack any WATS EXTENDER access codes and attempt
|
|||
|
|
to use them, you are guilty of Theft of communications services
|
|||
|
|
from the company who owns it, and Bell is very willing and able to
|
|||
|
|
help nail you! WATS EXTENDERS can get you in every bit as much
|
|||
|
|
trouble as a Blue Box should you be caught. Ex-phreaks,
|
|||
|
|
especially those who are no longer defined by law as juveniles,
|
|||
|
|
often attempt to caution younger phreaks from pursuing phreaking:
|
|||
|
|
ZA1: One thing to consider, also, is that the phone co. knows where
|
|||
|
|
the junction box is for all of the lines that you are messing with
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 128 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
and if they get enough complaints about the bills, they may start to
|
|||
|
|
check things out (I hope your work is neat). I would guess that the
|
|||
|
|
odds are probably against this from happening though, because when
|
|||
|
|
each of the people call to complain, they'll probably get a different
|
|||
|
|
person from the others. This means that someone at Ma Bell has to
|
|||
|
|
notice that all of the complaints are coming from the same area...I
|
|||
|
|
don't think anybody there really cares that much about their job
|
|||
|
|
to really start noticing things like that. anyway, enjoy!!! My
|
|||
|
|
guess is that you're under-age. Anyway, so if they catch you, they
|
|||
|
|
won't do anything to you anyway. ZB1: Yeah I am a minor (17 years
|
|||
|
|
old) I just hope that they don't cause I would like to not have a
|
|||
|
|
criminal or juvenile record when I apply to college. Also if they
|
|||
|
|
do come as I said in the other message if there are no wires they
|
|||
|
|
can't prove shit. Also as I said I only hook up after 6 p.m. The
|
|||
|
|
phone company doesn't service people after 6 p.m. Just recently
|
|||
|
|
(today) I hooked up to an empty line. No wires were leading from
|
|||
|
|
the two plugs to somebody house but I got a dial tone. How great.
|
|||
|
|
Don't have to worry about billing somebody else. But I still have to
|
|||
|
|
disconnect cause the phone bills should be coming to the other
|
|||
|
|
people pretty soon. HEHEHEHE ZX1: Be cool on that, especially if
|
|||
|
|
you're calling other boards. Easiest way for telecom security to
|
|||
|
|
catch you is match the number called to the time called, call the
|
|||
|
|
board, look at users log or messages for hints of identity,
|
|||
|
|
then work from there. If you do it too much to a pirate board,
|
|||
|
|
they can (and have successfully) pressured the sysop to reveal the
|
|||
|
|
identity under threat of prosecution. They may or may not be able
|
|||
|
|
to always trace it back, but remember: Yesterday's phreaks are
|
|||
|
|
today's telecom security folk. AND: IT'S NOT COOL TO PHREAK TO
|
|||
|
|
A PIRATE BOARD...draws attention to that board and
|
|||
|
|
screws it up for everybody. So, be cool phreaking....there's
|
|||
|
|
safer ways. ZC2: Be cool, Wormburger. They can use all sorts of
|
|||
|
|
stuff for evidence. Here's what they'd do in Ill. If they
|
|||
|
|
suspected you, they'd flag the phone lines, send somebody out
|
|||
|
|
during the time you're on (or they suspect you're on) and nail you.
|
|||
|
|
Don't want to squelch a budding phreak, but you're really
|
|||
|
|
taking an unnecessary chance. Most of us have been doing stuff
|
|||
|
|
for some time, and just don't want to see you get nailed for
|
|||
|
|
something. There's some good boards with tips on how to phreak, and
|
|||
|
|
if you want the numbers, let me know. We've survived to warn you
|
|||
|
|
because we know the dangers. If you don't know what ESS is, best
|
|||
|
|
do some quick research (P/h message log, 1988).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
In sum, the attraction of phreaking and its attendant life-style
|
|||
|
|
appear to center on three fundamental characteristics: The quest
|
|||
|
|
for knowledge, the belief in a higher ideological purpose of
|
|||
|
|
opposition to potentially dangerous technological control, and the
|
|||
|
|
enjoyment of risk-taking. In a sense, CU participants consciously
|
|||
|
|
create dissonance as a means of creating social meaning in what is
|
|||
|
|
perceived as an increasingly meaningless world (Milo-vanovic and
|
|||
|
|
Thomas, 1989). Together, phreaks and hackers have created an
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 129 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
overlapping culture that, whatever the legality, is seen by
|
|||
|
|
participants as a legitimate enterprise in the new "tech-no-society."
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Conclusion: The transition to an information-oriented society
|
|||
|
|
dependent on computer technology brings with it new symbolic
|
|||
|
|
metaphors and behaviors. Baudrillard (1987: 15) observed that our
|
|||
|
|
private sphere now ceases to be the stage where the drama of
|
|||
|
|
subjects at odds with their objects and with their image is played
|
|||
|
|
out, and we no longer exist as playwrites or actors, but as
|
|||
|
|
terminals of multiple networks. The public space of the social
|
|||
|
|
arena is reduced to the private space of the computer desk,
|
|||
|
|
which in turn creates a new semi-public, but restricted, public
|
|||
|
|
realm to which dissonance seekers retreat. To participate in the
|
|||
|
|
computer underground is to engage in what Baudrillard (1987: 15)
|
|||
|
|
describes as private telematics, in which individuals, to extend
|
|||
|
|
Baudrillard's fantasy metaphor, are transported from their mundane
|
|||
|
|
computer system to the controls of a hypothetical machine, isolated
|
|||
|
|
in a position of perfect sovereignty, at an infinite distance from
|
|||
|
|
the original universe. There, identity is created through symbolic
|
|||
|
|
strategies and collective beliefs (Bordieu, cited in Wacquant,
|
|||
|
|
1989: 35). We have argued that the symbolic identity of the computer
|
|||
|
|
underground creates a rich and diverse culture comprised of
|
|||
|
|
justifications, highly specialized skills, information-sharing
|
|||
|
|
net-works, norms, status hierarchies, language, and unifying
|
|||
|
|
symbolic meanings. The stylistic elements of CU identity and
|
|||
|
|
activity serve what Denzin (1988: 471) sees as the primary
|
|||
|
|
characteristic of postmodern behavior, which is to make fun of
|
|||
|
|
the past while keeping it alive and the search for new ways to
|
|||
|
|
present the unpresentable in order to break down the barriers
|
|||
|
|
that keep theprofane out of the everyday.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The risks entailed by acting on the fringes of legality and
|
|||
|
|
substituting definitions of acceptable behavior with their own,
|
|||
|
|
the playful parodying of mass culture, and the challenge to
|
|||
|
|
authority constitute an exploration of the limits of techno-culture
|
|||
|
|
hile resisting the legal meanings that would control such
|
|||
|
|
actions. The celebration of anti-heros, re-enacted through forays
|
|||
|
|
into the world of computer programs and software, reflects the
|
|||
|
|
stylistic promiscuity, eclecticism and code-mixing that typifies
|
|||
|
|
the postmodern experience (Featherstone, 1988: 202). Rather than
|
|||
|
|
attempt to fit within modern culture and adapt to values and
|
|||
|
|
definitions imposed on them, CU participants mediate it by mixing
|
|||
|
|
art, science, and resistance to create a culture with an
|
|||
|
|
alternative meaning both to the dominant one and to those that
|
|||
|
|
observers would impose on them and on their enterprise. Pfuhl
|
|||
|
|
(1987) cogently argued that criminalization of computer abuse tends
|
|||
|
|
to polarize definitions of behavior. As a conseuence, To view the
|
|||
|
|
CU as simply another form of deviance, or as little more than
|
|||
|
|
"high-tech street gangs" obscures the ironic, mythic, and
|
|||
|
|
subversive element, the Nieztschean "will to power," refleccted in
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 130 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
the attempt to master technology while challenging those forces
|
|||
|
|
that control it. The "new society" spawned by computer technology
|
|||
|
|
is in its infancy, and, as Sennet (1970: xvii) observed, the passage
|
|||
|
|
of societies through adolescence to maturity requires acceptance of
|
|||
|
|
disorder and painful dislocation.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Instead of embracing the dominant culture, the CU has created an
|
|||
|
|
irreducible cultural alternative, one that cannot be understood
|
|||
|
|
without locating its place within the dialectic of social change.
|
|||
|
|
Especially in counter-cultures, as Hebdige (1983: 3) observes,
|
|||
|
|
"objects are made to mean and mean again," often
|
|||
|
|
ending: in the construction of a style, in a gesture of defiance or
|
|||
|
|
contempt, in a smile or a sneer. It signals a Refusal. I would
|
|||
|
|
like to think that this Reusal is worth making, that these
|
|||
|
|
gestures have a meaning, that the smiles and the sneers have some
|
|||
|
|
subversive value. . . (Hebdige, 1982: 3).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Footnotes
|
|||
|
|
[1] Participants in the computer underground engage in considerable
|
|||
|
|
word play that includes juxtaposition of letters. For example,
|
|||
|
|
commonly used words beginning with "f" are customarily spelled
|
|||
|
|
with a "ph." The CU spelling conventions are retained
|
|||
|
|
throughout this paper.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[2] Conly and McEwen (1990: 3) classify "software piracy" in the
|
|||
|
|
same category as theft of computers and trade secrets, and
|
|||
|
|
grossly confuse both the concept and definition of computer
|
|||
|
|
crime by conflating any illicit activity involving computers
|
|||
|
|
under a definition so broad that embezzlement and bulletin
|
|||
|
|
boards all fall within it. However, the label of "computer
|
|||
|
|
criminal" should be reserved for those who manipulate
|
|||
|
|
computerized records in order to defraud or damage, a point
|
|||
|
|
implied by Bequai (1978: 4) and Parker (1983: 106).
|
|||
|
|
[3] One author has been active in the computer underground
|
|||
|
|
since 1984 and participated in Summercon-88 in St. Louis, a
|
|||
|
|
national conference of elite hackers. The other began
|
|||
|
|
researching p/hackers and pirates in 1988. Both authors
|
|||
|
|
have had sysop experience with national CU boards. As do
|
|||
|
|
virtually all CU participants, we used pseudonyms but, as we
|
|||
|
|
became more fully immersed in the culture, our true identities
|
|||
|
|
were sometimes revealed.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[4] Although we consider software pirates an integral part of the
|
|||
|
|
computer underground, we have excluded them from this analysis
|
|||
|
|
both for parsimony and because their actions are sufficiently
|
|||
|
|
different to warrant separate analysis (Thomas and Meyer,
|
|||
|
|
1990). We also have excluded anarchist boards, which tend to be
|
|||
|
|
utilized by teenagers who use BBSs to exchange information
|
|||
|
|
relating to social disruption, such as making homemade explosives,
|
|||
|
|
sabotaging equipment, and other less dramatic pranks.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 131 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
These boards are largely symbolic, and despite the name, are
|
|||
|
|
devoid of political intent. However, our data suggest that many
|
|||
|
|
hackers began their careers because of the anarchist influence.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[5] In January, 1990, the co-editor of the magazine was indicted
|
|||
|
|
for allegedly "transporting" stolen property across state lines.
|
|||
|
|
According to the Secret Service agent in charge of the case in
|
|||
|
|
Atlanta (personal communication), theoffender was apprehended
|
|||
|
|
for receiving copies of E911 ("enhanced" 911 emergency system)
|
|||
|
|
documents by electronic mail, but added that there was no
|
|||
|
|
evidence that those involved were motivated by, or received,
|
|||
|
|
material gain.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[6] "Loop lines" are
|
|||
|
|
telephone company test lines installed for two separate
|
|||
|
|
telephone numbers that connect only to each other. Each end
|
|||
|
|
has a separate phone number, and when each person calls one end,
|
|||
|
|
they are connected to each other automatically. A loop consists
|
|||
|
|
of "Dual Tone Multi-Frequency," which is the touch tone sounds
|
|||
|
|
used to dial phone numbers. These test lines are discovered by
|
|||
|
|
phreaks and hackers by programming their home computer to dial
|
|||
|
|
numbers at random and "listen" for the distinctive tone that an
|
|||
|
|
answering loop makes, by asking sympathetic telephone company
|
|||
|
|
employees, or through inormation contained on internal company
|
|||
|
|
computers.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 132 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Introduction to PBXs by < Grim Reaper >
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
his file is a personal continuation of the PBX entry in the MCI
|
|||
|
|
telecommunications Glossary. A telephone exchange serving an
|
|||
|
|
individual organization and having connections to a public
|
|||
|
|
telephone exchange is called a Private Branch Exchange (PBX). The
|
|||
|
|
PBX performs a switching function by connecting any extension in
|
|||
|
|
the private organization to an outside line. A PBX is actually a
|
|||
|
|
private switch that connects a group of telephones within an
|
|||
|
|
individual organization. Calls placed outside this individual group
|
|||
|
|
are connected to a telephone company's central office switch
|
|||
|
|
through trunks. A PBX may be operated by an attendant from the
|
|||
|
|
private organization or the switching system may be done
|
|||
|
|
automatically. Other terms that are commonly used
|
|||
|
|
interchangeably with PBX are: Private Automatic Branch Exchange
|
|||
|
|
(PABX), Private Automatic Exchange (PAX), and Computerized Branch
|
|||
|
|
Exchange (CBX). Although these terms were originally used to
|
|||
|
|
identify specific switch structures, today they are often used as
|
|||
|
|
synonyms.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
PBXs can use any of three basic switching methods: step-by-step
|
|||
|
|
(SxS), Cross-bar (X-bar), and computer controlled, to perform the
|
|||
|
|
basic function of switching. However, in addition to detecting
|
|||
|
|
calls and establishing a transmission link between two telephones,
|
|||
|
|
PBXs can do much more.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The common control, often called a central processing unit (CPU),
|
|||
|
|
controls the switching matrix that connects the stat ons and
|
|||
|
|
trunks. The switching matrix of a PBX performs the same job as
|
|||
|
|
does an operator at a manual switchboard or a common control
|
|||
|
|
central office switch. The CPU, however, gets its instructions
|
|||
|
|
from the "stored program", which contains directions for
|
|||
|
|
activities, such as detecting calls, sending them over the best
|
|||
|
|
available route, and recording billing information. These
|
|||
|
|
computerized electronic switches are used to perform routine, as
|
|||
|
|
well as unique, functions that simply weren't practical or even
|
|||
|
|
possible with electromechanical switches.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Just as in the public switched network, PBX switches make
|
|||
|
|
connection between instruments, or "key telephone sets". We're all
|
|||
|
|
familiar with key telephone sets, whether we know them by name or
|
|||
|
|
not. They're the business telephones that have six push-button
|
|||
|
|
keys lined up below the dial--a red button marked "hold" and five
|
|||
|
|
buttons or lines with flashing lights.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Systems with PBXs and key sets have a great deal of flexability
|
|||
|
|
in planning for their needs because they can set up their codes to
|
|||
|
|
accomplish the functions needed in their particular situations. In
|
|||
|
|
fact, the PBX can be programmed so that each individual extension
|
|||
|
|
within a system can take advantage of features applicable to its
|
|||
|
|
own business needs.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 133 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Some of the features that are availiable with PBXs and key
|
|||
|
|
systems are: call transfer, which allows internal or external
|
|||
|
|
calls to be transferred from one telephone to any other phone in
|
|||
|
|
the system; automatic push-button signaling, which indicates the
|
|||
|
|
status of all phones in the system with display lights and buttons;
|
|||
|
|
one-way voice paging, which can be answered by dialing the operator
|
|||
|
|
from the nearest telephone in the system; camp-on, in which a call
|
|||
|
|
made to a busy phone automatically waits until the line is idle;
|
|||
|
|
and internal and external conference capabilities, which enables
|
|||
|
|
outside callers to conference with several inside users.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Some features automatically handle incoming telephone calls.
|
|||
|
|
Automatic call waiting not only holds calls made to a busy
|
|||
|
|
extension until the extension is free, but also signals the person
|
|||
|
|
being called that a call is waiting and informs the caller that he
|
|||
|
|
is on hold. Automatic call forwarding will send calls to employees
|
|||
|
|
who are temporarily in locations other than their offices, provided
|
|||
|
|
they "inform" the PBX where they can be found. Automatic call
|
|||
|
|
distribution automatically send an incoming call to the first
|
|||
|
|
extension that's not busy--a useful feature for situations in which
|
|||
|
|
any one of a group of persons in the organization can adequately
|
|||
|
|
respond to incoming calls. Another example is automatic call back,
|
|||
|
|
which allows a caller who reaches a busy line to ask the PBX to return
|
|||
|
|
his or her call when the line is free.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Still other features provide services such as night telelphone
|
|||
|
|
answering, telephone traffic monitoring, and network or hot-line
|
|||
|
|
connection. These examples are but a sample from the features
|
|||
|
|
possible with computerized PBXs. This is a very brief description
|
|||
|
|
of how to use and what to expect on a PBX.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Basically, you call the PBX and you will have to enter a code that
|
|||
|
|
can be anywhere from 4 to 6 digits (Note: some PBXs do not require
|
|||
|
|
codes). Then you will hear a dial tone. From here you would under
|
|||
|
|
normal circumstances dial: 9 + 1 (or 0) + NPA-PRE-SUFF, for long
|
|||
|
|
distance dialing or dial 8 for local
|
|||
|
|
dialing.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
The most common use of the PBX is to call Alliance Teleconferencing,
|
|||
|
|
a teleconference service offered by AT&T. To do this dial:
|
|||
|
|
0700-456-1000,1002,1003,2000,2001,2002.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Note: PBX codes are usually very simple and usually 4 digits.
|
|||
|
|
EX: 0000, 1111, 1234, etc
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 134 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Introduction To Phreaking by Cat-Trax
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[ Definitions ]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Phreak ["free"k] Verb-1. The act of "Phreaking" 2. The act of
|
|||
|
|
making telephone calls without paying money [Slang]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Phreaker ["free"-k-er] Noun-1. One who engages in the act of
|
|||
|
|
"Phreaking"
|
|||
|
|
2. One who makes telephone calls without paying money
|
|||
|
|
[Slang]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
--------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
[ Introduction ]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Phreaking is a method used by most intelligent people {most
|
|||
|
|
often those who use a computer and a Modulator-Demodulator
|
|||
|
|
(MoDem)}. If you happen to resemble the major mass of people who
|
|||
|
|
do not have the income to afford large phone bills then phreaking
|
|||
|
|
is for you. If you live in an area with an Electronic Switching
|
|||
|
|
System [ESS] then phreaking is something which should be done in
|
|||
|
|
moderate amounts.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
[Switching Systems ]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Three types of switching systems are present in the United States
|
|||
|
|
today:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[1] Step by Step
|
|||
|
|
[2] Crossbar
|
|||
|
|
[3] ESS {Electronic Switching System}
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
<] Step by Step [>
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
First switching system used in America, adopted in 1918 and until
|
|||
|
|
1978 Bell had over 53% of all exchanges using Step by Step [SxS].
|
|||
|
|
A long, and confusing train of switches is used for SxS switching.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[> Disadvantages <]
|
|||
|
|
[A] The switch train may become jammed : Blocking call.
|
|||
|
|
[B] No DTMF [Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency]["Touch-tone"].
|
|||
|
|
[C] Much maintanance and much electricity.
|
|||
|
|
[D] Everything is hardwired
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
+> Identification <+
|
|||
|
|
[A] No pulsing digits ater dialing or DTMF.
|
|||
|
|
[B] Phone Company sounds like many typewriters.
|
|||
|
|
[C] No: Speed calling, Call forwarding, and other services.
|
|||
|
|
[D] Pay-phone wants money first before dial-tone.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 135 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
<] Crossbar [>
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Crossbar has been Bell's primary switcher after 1960. Three types
|
|||
|
|
of Crossbar switching exist: Number 1 Crossbar [1XB], Number 4
|
|||
|
|
Crossbar [4XB], and Number 5 Crossbar [5XB]. A switching matrix is
|
|||
|
|
used for all the phones in an area. When someone calls, the route is
|
|||
|
|
determined and is met up with the othr phone. The matrix is set-up
|
|||
|
|
in horizontal and vertical paths. There are no definite
|
|||
|
|
distinguishing features of Crossbar switching.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
<] ESS [>
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
You probably were hoping I wouldn't talk about this nightmare,
|
|||
|
|
if you did you will know why everyone doesn't want to be reminded
|
|||
|
|
about Bell's holocaust on America. With ESS Bell knows: every
|
|||
|
|
digwho make excessive calls to WATS numbers [Wide Area Telephone
|
|||
|
|
Service][1-800 numbers] or directory assistance. This deadly trap
|
|||
|
|
is called "800 Exceptional Calling Report." ESS can be programmed
|
|||
|
|
to print logs of who called certain numbers. Electronic Switching
|
|||
|
|
System makes the job of the FBI, Bell Security {The Gestapo in
|
|||
|
|
phreakin' tongue}, NSA, and other organizations which like to
|
|||
|
|
invade our privacy, extremely easy! Tracing is done in
|
|||
|
|
microseconds, and the results are printed out on the monitor of a
|
|||
|
|
Gestapo officer. ESS can also pick up
|
|||
|
|
foreign tones on the line, like 2600 Hz. {used in blue boxes,
|
|||
|
|
discussed later}. Bell claims that the entire country will be
|
|||
|
|
plagued by ESS by the 1990's!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
+> Identification <+
|
|||
|
|
[A] Dialing 911 for emergencies.
|
|||
|
|
[B] Dial-tone first for pay-phones.
|
|||
|
|
[C] Calling services, like: Call forwarding, Speed dialing,
|
|||
|
|
Call waiting.
|
|||
|
|
[D] ANI [Automatic Number Identification] for long-distance
|
|||
|
|
calls.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[[[Note]]] Of the above identifications of the three switching
|
|||
|
|
systems, do not solely rely on these descriptions, the best way to
|
|||
|
|
find out is to [no!] call your local telephone company.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
[Long-Distance Services ]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
To attempt to help the community {and for private business}
|
|||
|
|
companies developed ways to lessen the costs of long-distance
|
|||
|
|
calling charges. The companies own their own switching systems and
|
|||
|
|
use extenders for callers to call. The way extenders operate:
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 136 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
1] Customer calls service
|
|||
|
|
2] He/she hears a low tone which sounds like a dial-tone
|
|||
|
|
3] She/He either dials the access code then the phone number, or
|
|||
|
|
dials the phone number then the access code
|
|||
|
|
4] Is connected to whatever he/she calls.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Aside from Ma Bells collection, the customer recieves a bill for
|
|||
|
|
calls made with his/her long-distance company {a supposedly cheaper
|
|||
|
|
bill than Ma Bell's}. Thought: Hey, I could randomly pick access
|
|||
|
|
codes and use them to call whatever area the company services!
|
|||
|
|
Righto, that's what basic phreaking is! A wise idea, though, is to
|
|||
|
|
have many access codes and many service numbers to rotate
|
|||
|
|
throughout your average life as a phreaker. To aid in your quest
|
|||
|
|
to beat the system I have provided many 1-800 numbers which anyone
|
|||
|
|
can call, aside from local numbers, such as Sprint, or MCI. The
|
|||
|
|
reason for providing you with WATS numbers is because all of us
|
|||
|
|
aren't in a big city where Sprint or MCI even exist, this way
|
|||
|
|
everyone can pheak! A way to find more access codes is by using
|
|||
|
|
your old modem. Yes, your modem can imitate
|
|||
|
|
DTMF tones!
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
{>Procedure: 1) dial 1-800 + service number
|
|||
|
|
2) dial access code->area code->phone number, or
|
|||
|
|
3) dial area code->phone number->access code
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::\/
|
|||
|
|
-=+>Cat-Trax' list of WATS [1-800] numbers:<+=-
|
|||
|
|
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
|
|||
|
|
Number---Code Length : Number---Code Length : Number---Code
|
|||
|
|
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
|
|||
|
|
127-6754 6 245-4890 4 327-6713 4
|
|||
|
|
243-7650 6 328-7112 4 654-8494 6
|
|||
|
|
327-9895 7 327-9136 4 227-3414 4
|
|||
|
|
682-4000 6 343-1844 4 858-9000 3
|
|||
|
|
462-6471 5 322-1415 6 521-1674 4
|
|||
|
|
527-3511 8 321-0327 4 321-0845 6
|
|||
|
|
843-0698 9 221-8190 4 543-7168 8
|
|||
|
|
521-8400 8 327-2731 6 252-5879 8
|
|||
|
|
345-0008 7 245-7508 5 526-5305 8
|
|||
|
|
323-3027 6 242-1122 ? 621-1506 ?
|
|||
|
|
621-4611 ? 325-3075 ? 336-6000 ?
|
|||
|
|
221-1950 ? 323-8126 ? 325-7222 6
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[[[Note]]] remember to dial 1-800-above number, also remember to
|
|||
|
|
rotate numbers and access codes.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 137 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
[ Colored Boxes ]
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
A more shrewd, technological, safer {without ESS} way to phreak is
|
|||
|
|
with a piece of hardware known as a ________ Box. Boxes are many
|
|||
|
|
different colors {I don't know ALL the colors because it seems like
|
|||
|
|
every time I turn around there's some new color out!}. Colors I
|
|||
|
|
have heard of: Blue, Black, Red, White, Silver, Clear, and MANY,
|
|||
|
|
MANY more... Plans for making these boxes can be obtained by
|
|||
|
|
calling different boards [BBS's], AE lines, or whatever. But!, if
|
|||
|
|
you have an Apple Cat modem then do I have good news for ->you<-!!
|
|||
|
|
The Apple Cat modem can emulate the frequencies {usually 2600 Hz.}
|
|||
|
|
made by ________ Boxes with the help of a handy little program
|
|||
|
|
called "Cat's Meow!"
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
::Warning!:: Phreak at your own risk! Stiff laws are starting to
|
|||
|
|
pop-up now days. But, if you're careful then don't worry! I
|
|||
|
|
haven't been busted yet! Heck [Hack!], what would life be without
|
|||
|
|
risks?
|
|||
|
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 138 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
SOME NOTES ON LINE NOISE by Captain KIdd
|
|||
|
|
=================================================================
|
|||
|
|
Well since that's my field let me elucidate abit.... Most of what
|
|||
|
|
you refer to as line noise isn't really noise per-se on the line,
|
|||
|
|
but uneven response to tones (and that's what we use in our
|
|||
|
|
modems). This can be caused by any number of factors. If you call
|
|||
|
|
up good old NONEX and tell them that you have "line noise" your
|
|||
|
|
asking for a service bill and no remedy. You will find that the
|
|||
|
|
average lineman they send out, has the IQ of his shoe size. Case in
|
|||
|
|
point-the old number I used to run my bbs at. I had phantom rings
|
|||
|
|
on the line, so did my neighbor across the street. When it was very
|
|||
|
|
damp or had rained for a while (several days) the "line noise"
|
|||
|
|
would appear, and cause me grief. Well,with the similar problem and
|
|||
|
|
a moisture related one at that across the street, it seems like the
|
|||
|
|
problem is out around the pole in front of my place. Well,after
|
|||
|
|
three visits, and three phantom excuses for repairing it needless
|
|||
|
|
to say I was pissed.(The CO will often blast the phone line with
|
|||
|
|
what it calls cable test voltage. Its around 600 volts and will
|
|||
|
|
vaporize the MOV surge protector in your modem or answering
|
|||
|
|
machine) MOV= Metal Oxide Varistor for you non-techies. But it will
|
|||
|
|
clear many of their "bad lines". Now one fine day, they finally send
|
|||
|
|
out a guy from the "Cable department" and I talk to him, I explain
|
|||
|
|
the past problems and suggest he check past my place and for some
|
|||
|
|
reason during wet times, we have inter-cable leakage. He found a
|
|||
|
|
spot down the street that had been zapped by lightning some time
|
|||
|
|
before, and all the wire ends were charred and black. He showed me
|
|||
|
|
a ball of burnt wire that could very well been the cause. Well it was,
|
|||
|
|
as the problem is lessened about 95%. I say 95% because I still have
|
|||
|
|
a bit of the same problem, possibly due to another charred spot or a
|
|||
|
|
more recent lightning strike. But this problem seems to respond to
|
|||
|
|
my calling my number and letting it ring for say a half hour, this
|
|||
|
|
drys out the line enough that it stops acting screwy. Well on to the
|
|||
|
|
noises that can be heard over the line that really do have influence
|
|||
|
|
over transmission quality. The most prevalent is a crackling or a
|
|||
|
|
dial tone drawn intermittently. (Listen to the line with a hi-z butset)
|
|||
|
|
Ringing voltage is usually about 90 volts and20-30 hz, so there's
|
|||
|
|
usually no problem in ringing the phone, but when you pick up, the
|
|||
|
|
phone voltage drops to 30-50 volts and the smallest problem will
|
|||
|
|
surface. The phone company has this habit of checking the line to
|
|||
|
|
ground (it should never be connected in a regular home phone line)
|
|||
|
|
and they will clear off water, insects, and other crap with a 600
|
|||
|
|
volt blast as mentioned earlier. This applied across the line to
|
|||
|
|
ground sure does away with the water, but in caes where spike
|
|||
|
|
protection or impulse protection from lightning is present, WATCH
|
|||
|
|
OUT! the MOV's are typically manufactured to short at around 130-
|
|||
|
|
150 volts, and are connected to the third pin (Ground) of a three
|
|||
|
|
wire plug on your answering machine, your cordless phone, and some
|
|||
|
|
modems. The MOV will explode as it shorts itself to ground to do
|
|||
|
|
its job of surge protection, leaving a short on the line which is
|
|||
|
|
readily detectable by the CO. IF THIS HAPPENS, inform
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 139 -
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
them immediately that you have a problem, and they will make
|
|||
|
|
restitution for repairs in CASH! I got $75 for repairing a $1.98
|
|||
|
|
MOV (available at Radio Slack)
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Now more on the noises....
|
|||
|
|
==========================
|
|||
|
|
After the infamous popping, the next most bothersome to the modemer
|
|||
|
|
is a low level whine, muchlike some of the shitty MCI ports,sounding
|
|||
|
|
like a jet engine varying in rpm, it is particularly evident behind
|
|||
|
|
dialtone, and if you drop the dialtone, its still evident. This is
|
|||
|
|
digital whine caused by some circuit in the path not exactly in phase.
|
|||
|
|
This is particularly annoying because the digital equipment tries to
|
|||
|
|
compensate by stuffing or removing bits from the digital path to attempt
|
|||
|
|
phase lock, and thus, data is occasionally lost or garbled. I have two
|
|||
|
|
lines at home that are heavily used and have this problem, its not
|
|||
|
|
apparent to modem traffic until you hit 2400 baud, then the time
|
|||
|
|
frame of the modem kinda gets jitters from the digital whine.
|
|||
|
|
Lastly, of importance, is signal level. In analog, as the signal
|
|||
|
|
goes down, the signal tends to corrupt on the lowest levels while
|
|||
|
|
some will pass fine during peaks. If this is the problem, you see
|
|||
|
|
multiple errors on x-modem, then good blocks.. this problem can have
|
|||
|
|
numerous causes, fading of a microwave path, followed by a switching
|
|||
|
|
of diversity receivers, bringing the signal backup to par temporarily.
|
|||
|
|
Also in this category are bad amps at either the CO or in your own
|
|||
|
|
equipment, that won't limit gain till noise actually takes the
|
|||
|
|
place of the signal, This is a "slow attack" increase of noise
|
|||
|
|
followed by a quick quieting as the redundant amp takes over (In
|
|||
|
|
your CO).
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Crosstalk:
|
|||
|
|
----------
|
|||
|
|
If you have ever picked up the phone and swore you could hear
|
|||
|
|
someone else talking or in some cases, actually been able to talk
|
|||
|
|
to the other party, you have been exposed to crosstalk. This
|
|||
|
|
obviously will knock the shit outa a modem conversation due to the
|
|||
|
|
fact the voice is mixing non-linearly with the data or in some
|
|||
|
|
cases, overpowering the data signal itself. This is a fairly common
|
|||
|
|
problem, common to analog FDM multiplex equipment. This equipment
|
|||
|
|
tries to keep the conversations apart using SSB channels arranged
|
|||
|
|
throughout a radio's baseband (IF) frequency. Because the channels
|
|||
|
|
are without carrier which would enable the equipment to check
|
|||
|
|
signal level, frequencies called "pilots" are inserted into the
|
|||
|
|
clusters of channels allowing their levels to be monitored and
|
|||
|
|
controlled.If there is a "Hot" pilot or a "Hot" channel in the group,
|
|||
|
|
it will bleed over into the other channel's passband and crosstalk
|
|||
|
|
will be heard. In the cases of two-way communications via crosstalk,
|
|||
|
|
the group pilot is usually so hot, everybody in both directions is
|
|||
|
|
splashing over and both directions are being heard. Basically the
|
|||
|
|
solution to line noise problems is to know about them, and being
|
|||
|
|
able to pinpoint the exact type of problem will make it easier for
|
|||
|
|
the Telco to service it quickly.
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
- 140 -
|