TAP YIPL/TAP_and_YIPL_Collection_CD.iso/PHREAK/BOXES/ORANGE3.TXT

Text File | 1998-08-30 | 6KB | 101 lines

Orange Box Update

by -Cyber Thief-

 7/19/98

 For those uninformed the Orange Box aka Caller ID Box, aka Killer Box aka
Mirror Box is a device that displays the caller's CLID information upon the
receipt of a phone call. Unlike other forms of ANI such as Caller ID, the
Orange Box supposedly works without a subscription. It is even reputed to
work in places not serviced by Caller ID.

 The following article was taken verbatim from the newest release of the
book "Beyond Phone Color Boxes" published by Consumertronics. The article
you read in my previous post was taken from the 1994 edition. The article
you're about to read is from the latest 1997 edition.

 Since 99% of the information in this and other Consumertronics publications
is stolen from text files, and other sources considered public domain, I
declare the copyright by Consumertronics to be null and void. Besides this
shit should be free in the first place. On with it...

The ORANGE (or CALLER ID or KILLER) BOX
---------------------------------------

 In recent years, telcos have installed new signaling equipment that can
instantaneously and automatically pass on to the receiver of a call the
phone number of the caller. This service is called, "Caller ID". The hacker
equivalent to Caller ID (ICLID) is called the Orange Box. Caller ID is a
form of ANI. ANI has forms other than Caller ID. For example, many large
businesses and financial institutions have a comprehensive business service
(ISDN) that permits them to automatically display your name and address and
your customer report when you call them. And this capability is available
for a one-time fee of about $50 for anyone with a 1-800 number. And of
course, this capability is fully available to law enforcement entities such
as Enhanced-911. Not only can such a subscribing business determine whether
or not you are a legit customer, but the optimum to use to maximize the sale
thru info about you that it has garnered thru your previous contacts with it
and from credit reporting entities - even whether or not to answer your call
in the first place.

 Just because a telco does not offer Caller ID, don't assume that it is
impossible to obtain the caller's phone number either thru one of the other
services telcos sell to big-shots, or thru an Orange Box (if they actually
exists).

 In The FAX Guide's section that describes fax features, it states that,
"...you can program some (fax) models so that they can only communicate
with designated fax numbers. This is known as a closed user group feature..."
Sounding a lot like Caller ID, we (Consumertronics) called the publisher
and several large fax makers. We were told that "closed user group" refers
to screening by passwords and special networks - not by phone numbers. Darn,
foiled again! Incidentally, "The FAX Guide" is an excellent source on faxes
published by WHAT TO BUY FOR BUSINESS, 350 Theodore Fremd Ave, Rye, NY 10580.

 The Orange Box displays or records automatically the caller's phone number.
This legendary box is rumored to be copied from a similar device used in a
special SONY answering machine. We (Consumertronics) have been unable to
verify whether or not such a device actually exists in any off-the-shelf
form - including in SONY equipment. If you have any info - schematics -,
etc. - please write us immediately! We have long ago lost count of the
number of promises from phreakers about sending us Orange Boxes. One more
promise and I'll scream louder than a contortionist in a velcro jock strap!
We have yet to see one or verify that even one exists. Not even functional
plans!

 This low ball ANI feature is NOT supposed to be available anywhere without
first subscribing to Caller ID, and it is NOT available everywhere that
Caller ID is available. The implication is that only after subscribing to
Caller ID is the CO computer enabled for it for your line.

 We now know from a great amount of experimentation that there is a unique
set of digital signals that can be sent down the line between the first and
second rings to elicit a response from the CO computer that is unique to the
calling phone number. Apparently we fell through a Ma Bell trapdoor. We
discovered that the response can be elicited on any phone line in any area
served by any CLASS service (ex. Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding
etc), even if Caller ID and ANI are not offered in the area or subscribed
to for that particular phone line. The problem is that the returned signal
is in an encrypted form, and since we are short of manpower and a tremendous
amount of experimentation is probably required, we can't move forward on
this project.

 If you truly have a functioning Orange Box that works on all lines that have
CLASS - regardless of whether or not Caller ID is offered in the area or
subscribed to for that particular line - please send it to us right away.
We know of at least 100 people who will buy it from you in a flash! We can
make you a lot of $$$$$!

End of Article


 Even after reading the most recent findings I still believe the Orange Box,
Killer Box, Caller ID Box etc. is bull shit. I find it inconceivable that
such a device could still exist without Ma Bell's knowledge. It seems to me
that at least ONE Orange Box would have been confiscated by Bell. Or at
least ONE schematic would have been found circulating on the net. Yet no one
claims to have either of these.