Bell caught wind of blue boxing in 1961 when it caught a Washington state
college student using one. They originally found out about blue boxes through
police raids and informants. In 1964, Bell Labs came up with scanning
equipment, which recorded all suspicious calls, to detect blue box usage.
These units were installed in CO's where major toll fraud existed. AT&T
Security would then listen to the tapes to see if any toll fraud was actually
committed. Over 200 convictions resulted from the project. Surprisingly
enough, blue boxing is not solely limited to the electronics enthusiast; AT&T
has caught businessmen, film stars, doctors, lawyers, college students, high
school students and even a millionaire financier (Bernard Cornfeld) using the
device. AT&T also said that nearly half of those that they catch are
businessmen.
Of course, phone phreaks have achieved an almost cult status. They have also
had their fair share of media. In October 1971, Esquire published the infamous
"Secrets of the Little Blue Box" article which featured phreaks such as Captain
Crunch, who took his name from the cereal which one gave away whistles that
produced a perfect 2600 Hz pitch; Joe Engressia, the blind phreak; and Mark
Bernay, one of the nation's first and oldest phreaks. Others such as Apple
computer co-founders Steve Wozniak & Steve Jobs have also had blue box
backgrounds. 1971 also saw the publication of the first issue of YIPL, the
phone phreak newsletter, (now TAP) under the editorship of supreme yippie Abbie
Hoffman.
Usage:
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To use a blue box, one would usually make a free call to any 800 number or
distant directory assistance (NPA-555- 1212). This, of course, is legitimate.
When the call is answered, one would then swiftly press the button that would
send 2600 Hz down the line. This has the effect of making the distant CO
equipment think that the call was terminated and it leaves the trunk hanging.
Now, the user has about 10 seconds to enter in the telephone number he wished
to dial -- in MF, that is. The CO equipment merely assumes that this came from
another office and it will happily process the call. Since there are no
records (except on toll fraud detection devices!) of these MF tones, the user
is not billed for the call. When the user hangs up, the CO equipment simply
records that he hung up on a free call.
DETECTION:
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Bell has had 20 years to work on detection devices; therefore, in this day and
age, they are rather well refined. Basically, the detection device will look
for the presence of 2600 Hz where it does not belong. It then records the
calling number and all activity after the 2600 Hz. If you happen to be at a
fortress fone, though, and you make the call short, your chances of getting
caught are significantly reduced (see Telcom VI). Incidentally, there have
been rumors of certain test numbers (see Telcom II) that hook directly into
trunks thus avoiding the need for 2600 Hz and detection!
Another way that Bell catches boxers is to examine the CAMA (Centralized
Automatic Message Accounting) tapes. When you make a call, your number, the
called number, and time of day are all recorded. The same thing happens when
you hang up. This tape is then processed for billing purposes. Normally, all
free calls are ignored. But Bell can program the billing equipment to make
note of lengthy calls to directory assistance. They can then put a pen
register (aka DNR) on the line or an actual full-blown tap. This detection can
be avoided by making short-haul (aka local) calls to box off of.
It is interesting to note that NPA+555- 1212 originally did not return answer
supervision. Thus the calls were not recorded on the AMA/CAMA tapes. AT&T
changed this though for "traffic studies!"
CCIS:
-----
Besides detection devices, Bell has begun to gradually redesign the network
using out-of-band signaling. This is known as Common Channel Inter-office
Signaling (CCIS). Since this signaling method sends all the signaling
information over separate data lines, blue boxing is impossible under it.
While being implemented gradually, this multi-billion dollar project is still
strangling the fine art of blue boxing. Of course until the project is totally
complete, boxing will still be possible. It will become progressively harder
to find places to box off of, though. In areas with CCIS, one must find a
directory assistance office that doesn't have CCIS yet. Area codes in Canada
and predominately rural states are the best bets. WATS numbers terminating in
non-CCIS cities are also good prospects.
Pink Noise:
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Another way that may help to avoid detection is too add some "pink noise" to
the 2600 Hz tone.
Since 2600 Hz tones can be simulated in speech, the detection equipment must be
careful not to misinterpret speech as a disconnect signal. Thus a virtually
pure 2600 Hz tone is required for disconnect.
Keeping this in mind, the 2600 Hz detection equipment is also probably looking
for pure 2600 Hz or else is would be triggered every time someone hit that note
(highest E on a piano = 2637 Hz). This is also the reason that the 2600 Hz
tone must be sent rapidly; sometimes, it won't work when the operator is saying
"Hello, hello." It is feasible to send some "pink noise" along with the 2600
Hz. Most of this energy should be above 3000 Hz. The pink noise won't make it
into the toll network (where we want our pure 2600 Hz to hit) but it should
make it past the local CO and thus the fraud detectors.
CONSTRUCTION:
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While step-by-step details for the construction of a blue box is beyond the
scope of this tutorial, it is worthwhile to mention some of the details.
First there are some alternatives but they are not as good as an actual blue
box. Many computers are capable of generating MF tones. Thus, your local
phriendly software pirate should have a program compatible for your computer.
However, it is highly advisable not to box from home as stated in The Ten
Commandments (as interpreted for phreaks by Fred Steinbeck -- TAP #86).
I. Box thou not over thine home telephone wires, for those who doest must
surely bring the full wrath of the Chief Special Agent down upon thy heads.
Another alternative that has a moderate success rate involves recording the
tones from a phriend with a box or computer onto a cassette tape. They can
then be used at a fortress.
As for actual construction techniques, TAP has devoted many issues to blue
boxing. Basically, a blue box is merely a device capable of generating two
different tones simultaneously. There are two basic construction methods that
I will outline below for the electronics hobbyist.
The first involves the use of two 555 timer chips (or a 556 -- i.e., two 555's
in one chip). It offers excellent frequency and voltage stability. Also, it
does not need a diode matrix keypad but used double- pole switches instead.
Schematics for this type of box can be found in TAP issue #29.
The other common box makes use of two Intersil 8038CC Function Generators. It
also requires a diode matrix keypad, potentiometers, an LM-100 voltage
regulator, a 741 Op-amp, and a handful of other parts. The schematics for this
type of blue box can be found in TAP #26.
Both designs draw about 20 ma of current.
Also, most blue boxes use telephone earpieces (with the varistor removed) for
speakers. These can be easily liberated from fortress fones with a small
coping saw.
Usually, the hardest part about building a blue box is the calibration. A
frequency counter is a must and an oscilloscope won't hurt.
Some boxes also take timing into account. It is feasible on the ESS systems
that they check to see if the digits are of uniform length. If they aren't,
they are probably from a blue box and a trouble card may be dropped. With this
in mind, the Bell standard for MF pulses and interdigit intervals is around 75
ms. It varies with the equipment used since ESS can handle higher speeds and
doesn't need interdigit intervals.
APPLICATIONS:
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Besides dialing normal calls free, i.e., KP+NPA+NNX+XXXX+ST, blue boxes offer
the entire network for exploration. Emergency break-ins, service monitoring
(aka taps), stacking tandems (the art of busying out all trunks between two
points), re-routing calls, conference calls, and much, much more are all
feasible. Although, Bell frequently changes these codes due to phreaks.
Here are some standard ones, though:
OPERATOR & OTHER CODES:
-----------------------
(an optional NPA may proceed all of the numbers; otherwise, you will reach the
one local for the area where the call is originated)
001 -- Trunk Access System
009 -- Rate Quote System
101 -- toll office test board
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
121 -- INWARD Operator
This operator assists the local "0" operator in completing calls. (S)he will
do virtually anything for you providing it is within her NPA.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
131 -- Operator Directory assistance
141 -- Rout & Rate (141 defunct -- use KP + 800 + 141 + 1212 + ST)
These operators are very useful if you know how to mumble a few cryptic phrases
as compiled below (with thanks to Fred Steinbeck):
To find out...
..Area Codes
For example say , "Miami, Florida, numbers route, please." The R&R operator
will tell you "305 plus," meaning that 305 plus the seven digit number will get
you Miami.
.. Inward Operator City Codes
Usually, the INWARD operator for an area is simply KP + NPA + 121 + ST. In
some area codes, though, there are several large cities and thus several
inwards. To find the inward for a specific city, you would say "916 756,
operator route, please" to the R&R operator who will then tell you "916 plus
001 plus." This means that KP+ 916 + 001 + 121 + ST will get you an inward for
Sacramento, CA (916-756).
.. City names
If you want to know the city that corresponds to an area code and exchange, you
simply tell the R&R, "Place name, 914 390, please." In this example, the R&R
operator will respond with "White Plains, NY."
.. International Directory Assistance
If you need a directory route for London, you could say "International, London,
England. TSPS directory route, please." The R&R operator will respond with
"Directory to London, England. Country code 44 plus 1 plus 986 plus 3611."
Therefore to get a DA operator in London, you would route yourself to an
international sender and KP + 04419863611 + ST.
.. Country & City codes
If you need to know the country and city code for an international number you
can say "International, Sydney, Australia, TSPS numbers route, please" and get
"Country code 61 plus 2."
.. International Inwards Routes
To get routing codes for international inwards say "International, London,
England, TSPS inward route, please." The R&R Operator will respond with
"Country code 44 plus 121."
Finally, to get language assistance for completing a foreign call you can tell
the foreign inward, "United States calling. Language assistance in completing
a call to (called party) at (called number)."
To make an international call, one would KP + 011 + 0CC + ST where CC is the
country code. This will route you to the appropriate overseas sender. You
will then receive a 480 Hz dial tone. Here you enter KP + 0CC + city code +
local number + ST and the call is on its way.
Country codes can be either 1, 2, or 3 digits but they must be padded for three
digits to create a pseudo-country code with extra zero's if necessary. For
example, England, country code 44, becomes 044.
To see which international sender a certain country (lets use French Guiana,
country code 594, for example) goes through, you can dial KP + 011 + 594 + ST,
wait for the Proceed to Send tone then KP + 000 + 0000 + ST and you will
receive a recording saying which ISC (International Switching Center) it is.
For the example it will say, "This is the international switching center in
Pittsburg, PA -- This is a recording - 4121." You can actually route calls to
certain senders yourself (KP + NPA + 18X + ST) but it is better off not to
since it may look suspicious if a call is sent through a sender that it
shouldn't go through. Here are the senders:
182 -- White Plains, NY
183 -- New York, NY
184 -- Pittsburg, PA
185 -- Orlando, FL
186 -- Oakland, CA
187 -- Denver, CO
188 -- New York, NY
Also, there tends to be alot of talk about the Code 11, Code 12, KP2, STP,
ST3P, & ST2P keys. While they do exist the blue boxer need not concern himself
with them. The first three are used on CCITT System 5. This is the signaling
system that the International Senders use to send information to other
countries. These codes are usually added automatically just like the language
assistance digit [which distinguishes operator (or blue box) dialed calls from
customer dialed calls]. The STP, ST3P, & ST2P tones are used when equipment is
communicating with the TSPS. These also are automatically added when needed in
most cases.
[see Telcom III for more on International Switching Centers (ISC)]
11XXX -- miscellaneous operators
11501 -- universal cordboard operator
11511 -- conference operator
11521 -- mobile operator
11531 -- marine operator
11541 -- LD incoming switchboard
11551 -- leave word for time & charges (neat stuff)
11561 -- same as 11551 but for hotel/motels
11571 -- overseas operators -- language assistance
The 11XXX series is interesting scanning material.
Alliance Teleconferencing has several numbers, a few of which are listed below:
KP + 213 080 XXXX + ST
KP + 305 025 XXXX + ST
KP + 312 001 XXXX + ST
XXXX = 1050, 1100, or a few others
Also, at KP + 317 009 + ST there is a MF tone checker. After the
beep-kerclunk, dial in KP + 999 1234567 890 + ST and it will repeat the digits
that you pulsed if they are of the right frequency.
Tandem Scanning:
----------------
To find all sorts of interesting things, you must look. Begin scanning three
digit codes in your area (i.e., KP + 000 + ST, KP + 001 + ST, etc.). Keep
track of all of your results. Sometimes you must probe things, send additional
digits and see what happens, send touch-tone, send it 2600 Hz, rip it apart.
You never know, you may run into something phun, like a computer that checks CC
numbers.
Incidentally, in some exchange you can dial inwards and other box codes
directly! For example, 914-121-1111 will get you a NY inward. The only
problem is that a 0 or 1 as the first digit of the exchange is usually
prohibited in customer dialing. Somebody may have "accidentally" changed this
screening code on your ESS's computer, though -- you never know and it can't
hurt to try. WATS translation numbers also take up some of the 0XX & 1XX
codes.
Finally, certain tones on the blue box can also be used for other purposes. An
MF "2" corresponds to COIN COLLECT while "KP" corresponds to COIN RETURN. Thus
every blue box is also a green box (see Telcom VI).
