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The primary thing that hackers (hackers who exploit the phone network are called phreakers) could do to your phone, is charge long distance and partyline calls to your bill. Hackers meet others of their kind from around the world through mediums such as IRC (Internet Relay Chat). Like any friends, they like to have the ability to call one another and talk (reach out and touch someone, you know). However, like most of us, these phreakers don't want to have a large bill at the end of the month (Their parents would kill them!). So how do phreakers charge their calls to your bill? Here are some of the more common methods, and some ways that you can protect yourself:
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Beige Boxing
Have you ever seen a lineman's handset? The type of thing that your friendly neighborhood telco man carries with him. He can attach "gator clips" to it, and then just clip right on to your phone line in order to check tone, place calls to the office, etc. Well, phreakers use similar devices too. One of the favorite past times of many phreakers is "beige boxing". This involves carrying a lineman's like device into your back yard, and connecting it right to your NID (Network Interface Device, it's that little grey box on the side of your house.). Then, they can directly place calls to anyone they like, on your bill. How can you protect yourself from this? We have two simple suggestions. First, use a padlock on your NID (You'll see a spot for one if you go outside and look). Second, and most importantly, keep the exterior of your house well lit at night (As a side benefit, this will also help to deter burglars, heh).
Social Engineering
There are two different people that phreakers will try to social engineer. You, and the telephone operator (for more information on what social engineering is, see How Could A Hacker Social Engineer My Password). A phreaker will commonly try to call their victims posing as a representative of the phone company. They'll then attempt to get their victim to do a series of things which would open them up to abuse (such as tricking them to re-program their call forwarding to go to something like an AT&T Conference). The second thing they'll try, is calling a representative of the phone company and try to convince them that they're you! They'll try to get the operator to bill calls, calling cards, and conferences, to your number. The main thing you can do to protect yourself, is to use common sense. If you get a call from the "phone company" that you think is suspicious, tell then that you'll call them back at the number listed in the phone book. You can also call the operator and request that they block all third-party and operator assisted billing. While these are not sure-fire methods, they can help.
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