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-
- ===== Phrack Magazine presents Phrack 16 =====
- ===== File 6 of 12 =====
-
- ******************************************************************************
- * *
- * Tapping Telephone Lines *
- * *
- * Voice or Data *
- * *
- * For Phun, Money, and Passwords *
- * *
- * Or How to Go to Jail for a Long Time. *
- * *
- ******************************************************************************
-
- Written by Agent Steal 08/87
-
-
- Included in this file is...
-
- * Equipment needed
-
- * Where to buy it
-
- * How to connect it
-
- * How to read recorded data
-
-
- But wait!! There's more!!
-
- * How I found a Tymnet node
-
- * How I got in
-
-
-
- *************
- THE EQUIPMENT
- *************
-
- First thing you need is an audio tape recorder. What you will be
- recording, whether it be voice or data, will be in an analog audio format.
- >From now on, most references will be towards data recording. Most standard
- cassette recorders will work just fine. However, you are limited to 1 hour
- recording time per side. This can present a problem in some situations. A
- reel to reel can also be used. The limitations here are size and availability
- of A.C. Also, some reel to reels lack a remote jack that will be used to
- start and stop the recorder while the line is being used. This may not
- present a problem. More later. The two types of recorders I would advise
- staying away from (for data) are the micro cassette recorders and the standard
- cassette recorders that have been modified for 8 to 10 hour record time. The
- speed of these units is too unstable. The next item you need, oddly enough,
- is sold by Radio Shack under the name "Telephone recording control" part
- # 43-236 $24.95. See page 153 of the 1987 Radio Shack catalog.
-
-
-
- *****************
- HOW TO CONNECT IT
- *****************
-
- The Telephone recording control (TRC) has 3 wires coming out of it.
-
- #1 Telco wire with modular jack. Cut this and replace with alligator clips.
-
- #2 Audio wire with miniature phone jack (not telephone). This plugs
- into the microphone level input jack of the tape recorder.
-
- #3 Audio wire with sub miniature phone jack. This plugs into the "REM"
- or remote control jack of the tape recorder.
-
- Now all you need to do is find the telephone line, connect the alligator
- clips, turn the recorder on, and come back later. Whenever the line goes off
- hook, the recorder starts. It's that simple.
-
-
-
- ****************
- READING THE DATA
- ****************
-
- This is the tricky part. Different modems and different software respond
- differently but there are basics. The modem should be connected as usual to
- the telco line and computer. Now connect the speaker output of the tape
- player directly to the telephone line. Pick up the phone and dial the high
- side of a loop so your line doesn't make a lot of noise and garble up your
- data. Now, command your modem into the answer mode and press play. The tape
- should be lined up at the beginning of the recorded phone call, naturally, so
- you can see the login. Only one side of the transmission between the host and
- terminal can be monitored at a time. Going to the originate mode you will see
- what the host transmitted. This will include the echoes of the terminal. Of
- course the password will be echoed as ####### for example, but going to the
- answer mode will display exactly what the terminal typed. You'll understand
- when you see it. A couple of problems you might run into will be hum and
- garbage characters on the screen. Try connecting the speaker output to the
- microphone of the hand set in your phone. Use a 1 to 1 coupling transformer
- between the tape player input and the TRC audio output. These problems are
- usually caused when using A.C. powered equipment. The common ground of this
- equipment interferes with the telco ground which is D.C. based.
-
- I was a little reluctant to write this file because I have been
- unsuccessful in reading any of the 1200 baud data I have recorded. I have
- spoke with engineers and techs. Even one of the engineers who designs modems.
- All of them agree that it IS possible, but can't tell me why I am unable to do
- this. I believe that the problems is in my cheap ass modem. One tech told me
- I needed a modem with phase equalization circuitry which is found in most
- expensive 2400 baud modems. Well one of these days I'll find $500 lying on
- the street and I'll have nothing better to spend it on! Ha! Actually, I have
- a plan and that's another file.....
-
- I should point out one way of reading 1200 baud data. This should work in
- theory, however, I have not attempted it.
-
- Any fully Hayes compatible modem has a command that shuts off the carrier
- and allows you to monitor the phone line. The command is ATS10. You would
- then type either answer or originate depending on who you wanted to monitor.
- It would be possible to write a program that records the first 300 or so
- characters then writes it to disk, thus allowing unattended operation.
-
- **************
- HOW CRAZY I AM
- **************
-
- PASSWORDS GALORE!!!!
-
- After numerous calls to several Bell offices, I found the one that handled
- Tymnet's account. Here's a rough transcript:
-
- Op: Pacific Bell priority customer order dept. How may I help you?
- Me: Good Morning, this is Mr. Miller with Tymnet Inc. We're interested in
- adding some service to our x town location.
- Op: I'll be happy to help you Mr. Miller.
- Me: I need to know how many lines we have coming in on our rotary and if we
- have extra pairs on our trunk. We are considering adding ten additional
- lines on that rotary and maybe some FX service.
- Op: Ok....What's the number this is referenced to?
- Me: xxx-xxx-xxxx (local node #)
- Op: Hold on a min....Ok bla, bla, bla.
-
- Well you get the idea. Anyway, after asking her a few more unimportant
- questions I asked her for the address. No problem, she didn't even hesitate.
- Of course this could have been avoided if the CN/A in my area would give out
- addresses, but they don't, just listings. Dressed in my best telco outfit,
- Pac*Bell baseball cap, tool belt and test set, I was out the door. There it
- was, just an office building, even had a computer store in it. After
- exploring the building for awhile, I found it. A large steel door with a push
- button lock. Back to the phone. After finding the number where the service
- techs were I called it and talked to the tech manager.
-
- Mgr: Hello this is Joe Moron.
- Me: Hi this is Mr. Miller (I like that name) with Pacific Bell. I'm down
- here at your x town node and we're having problems locating a gas leak
- in one of our Trunks. I believe our trunk terminates pressurization in
- your room.
- Mgr: I'm not sure...
- Me: Well could you have someone meet me down here or give me the entry code?
- Mgr: Sure the code is 1234.
- Me: Thanks, I'll let you know if there's any trouble.
-
-
- So, I ran home, got my VCR (stereo), and picked up another TRC from Trash
- Shack. I connected the VCR to the first two incoming lines on the rotary.
- One went to each channel (left,right). Since the volume of calls is almost
- consistent, it wasn't necessary to stop the recorder between calls. I just
- let it run. I would come back the next day to change the tape. The VCR was
- placed under the floor in case a tech happened to come by for maintenance.
- These nodes are little computer rooms with air conditioners and raised floors.
- The modems and packet switching equipment are all rack mounted behind glass.
- Also, most of the nodes are unmanned. What did I get? Well a lot of the
- logins were 1200, so I never found out what they were. Still have 'em on tape
- though! Also a large portion of traffic on both Tymnet and Telenet is those
- little credit card verification machines calling up Visa or Amex. The
- transaction takes about 30 secs and there are 100's on my tapes. The rest is
- as follows:
-
- Easylink CompuServe Quantumlink 3Mmail
- PeopleLink Homebanking USPS Chrysler parts order
- Yamaha Ford Dow Jones
-
- And a few other misc. systems of little interest. I'm sure if I was
- persistent, I'd get something a little more interesting. I spent several
- months trying to figure out my 1200 baud problem. When I went back down there
- the code had been changed. Why? Well I didn't want to find out. I was out
- of there! I had told a couple of people who I later found could not be
- trusted. Oh well. Better safe than sorry.
-
-
- **************************************
-
- Well, if you need to reach me,try my VMS at 415-338-7000 box 8130. But no
- telling how long that will last. And of course there's always P-80 systems at
- 304-744-2253. Probably be there forever. Thanks Scan Man, whoever you are.
- Also read my file on telco local loop wiring. It will help you understand how
- to find the line you are looking for. It should be called Telcowiring.Txt
-
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