Subj: Phreaking What: Description of Blue and Red boxes Who: Rich Holland - posting to comp.sys.hp48 When: 6/92 Description: The following is a post describing Blue and Red Boxes -------------------------------------------------- From: holland@matt.ksu.ksu.edu (Rich Holland) Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48 Subject: Re: Phone number dialing with the hp48 ? Date: 26 Jun 92 02:10:12 GMT Organization: Kansas State University bio_zwbb@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Dr. William B. Busa) writes: > Forgive me if this issue has already been raised (I didn't see it >if it was), but all this discussion about phone dialers has reminded me of >something worrisome. I recall that, back in the '70s when phone phreaks >were building "black boxes" to generate control tones (not available on >touch-tone phones) which enabled them to take control of Ma Bell's >switching and billing computers (or were they called "*blue* boxes?), a They're blue boxes. They generated normal (0-9,#,*) touchtones as well as the "control" tones the phone company's computers used. With a blue box, you could (and still can) seize trunk lines as if you were an operator. This meant that you could effectively call world-wide (stacking trunks one after another even) for FREE! There are several problems with this now... The phone companies' computers automatically detect "foreign" 2100 hz tones (the "seize trunk" tone) and several other "box" freqs. The computer automatically records the rest of the "call" -- any other tones you use, which would include the dialed party's phone number, and it records (perhaps even worse) YOUR number. Then you get a visit from some guys in suits. :-) >Federal law was passed making it a criminal offense to even possess a >device capable of generating such tones. If this law is still on the >books, and if I am correct in recalling that mere *possession* was >illegal, it might be very wise to purposely cripple any HP-48-based dialer Nope. It's illegal to *use* a devise that generates these tones. Check out your local Radio Shack sometime...They've got phone dialers for about $25. (And interestingly enough, with some *slight* modification, you can make a red-box out of them!) A red box generates COCOTS tones. Basically, you go to a pay-phone, dial someone long distance, and when it asks for your money, you drop in a nickel (first coin MUST be real), then start playing the tones from the red box to simulate nickels, dimes, or quarters. The computer thinks you're actually dropping money into the box! :-) -- Rich Holland | INTERNET: holland@matt.ksu.ksu.edu 419 Marlatt Hall | BITNET : holland@ksuvm Manhattan, KS 66506 | UUCP : ...rutgers!matt.ksu.ksu.edu!holland "Jesus saves...but Gretzky gets the rebound! He shoots! He scores!!"