As Published in the August 12,1996 edition of Wireless Week.
Reprinted without permission.
Dr. Who's comments are in bold italics.
WIRELESS HACKERS INVADE WEB
INTERNET 'PHREAKS' PUBLISH SECRETS OF CELLULAR, PAGING
by Rickki Lee
Computer hobbyists are uploading instructions on the World Wide Web detailing how to reprogram
cellular phones. The information could be used in cloning phones or other fraudulent purposes.
True. It could also be used for a number of legitimate purposes For years these hackers,
sometimes called "phreaks"-often undergraduate computer science or
electronic engineering students- and frustrated, disgruntled engineers and technicians have shared
tutorials on
cellular's inner secrets. However, much of the data referred to phones that were no longer in use.
Just because some models are no longer sold does not mean they are no longer in use. These are the
models that turn up at pawn shops, yard sales, etc. that experimenters work with.
Recently, Web sites with up-to-date cellular reprogramming have become popular. Some Webmasters have
obtained and published programming manuals usually restricted to authorized technical personnel. As
a result, Internet providers have restricted server access to some of these sites. Mr. Motorola's
site is the only one I am aware of that has had any trouble. And that was a matter a lot more complex
than simple cellular "secrets"
Perhaps the most famous wireless hacker home in the United States is called RadioPhone, YAY THAT'S
ME! a site residing at www.l0pht.com. The site was highlighted in the August issue of Wired.
L0PHT was. RadioPhone was not.
According to the home page, a Boston-based group of seven hackers formed L0pht Heavy Industries in
1193 for projects in "homebrew electronic development, circuit design and computer security." Recent
L0pht "projects" include a POCSAG-protocol paging decoder kit available for $200.00 Incorrect.
It costs $90 for an assembled unit, or $60 for a kit.
I am disturbed my the mixing of these different projects. While I think the POCSAG project is a nice
idea, it has nothing officially to do with my site. L0PHT is not responsible for any of the things
appearing on the site. They are providing a service, a web server, for RadioPhone. They act as a
home-base for many different hobbyist's projects. In other words, if you have a problem with the
information available on RadioPhone, you have a problem with me, Dr. Who, and NOT L0PHT.
To avert liability in the potential abuse of L0pht's offerings, the RadioPhone site begins with the
warning, "This page is for reference and entertainment only. The
programmer, author and site
maintainers specifically disclaim responsibility for the use
of this information. This information is not intended to be used to defraud cellular service
providers!"
The site offers programming tips on about 50 phone makers including Motorola Inc., Tandy Corp.,
Ericsson Inc., Oki telecom, Nokia Mobile Phones Inc. and AT&T Corp. For example, programming
information is provided for Motorola's advanced mobile phone serv
ice models 2600 4800, 8000, 8500, DPC-550, and MicroTAC Elite.
"If you lost the manual and don't know how to use your [M]otorola, do
not fret.", the Web site
advises.
"We have the pinouts for the Motorola Bag Phone's 8-pin...handset
connector, as well as its 25-
pin...data port, the Elite and the 8000 series handheld 'brick phone' jack too. If you're really
hard core and can handle a soldering iron, then take some wir
e, connectors and resistors to make a re- programming cable to hook up your phone up to your computer
to do neat stuff, including changing your ESN (electronic serial
number)."
RadioPhone offered another disclaimer in a section on call monitoring.
"Listening to cellular
conversations is illegal...We do not condone breaking the law."
Despite its Web site cautions, RadioPhone claims Motorola and Radio Shack lawyers have requested L0pht
to cease publishing copy-righted information. Citing a law passed last year by the Pennsylvania
General Assembly, L0pht also said the state has banned a
ccess to the site. The law makes it a crime to offer, promote, or advertise the sale of any
"unlawful telecommunications device, or plans or instructions for
making or assembling the same."
Despite its antifraud efforts, the wireless industry has yet to deal with information disseminated
over the Internet, said one source at a fraud solutions vendor.
"I don't know how much influence the Web site will have," said
Phillip Redman, analyst with the
Boston-based consultancy the Yankee Group. "Someone already involved
with the criminal element will
understand the procedures." Finally some one who may have a
clue. Yes, the organised crime
figures already have this info, and buy, sell, and trade it among each other. The majority of the
cellular fraud comes from these call-sell operations and not from hobbyists, for whom the site has
been made available for. Mr. Redman seems to see through the hoopla that articles such as this one are
trying to create.
"Theft is theft, whether you do it on the Internet or the back alley
," said Tim Ayers, vice
president of communications or the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association.
This is a meaningless quote. This man sounds like a politician. There is no crime committed here.
It is possible for people to use the information on RadioPhone for criminal purposes, but except
for the People's Republik of Pennsylvania, the information itself is not illegal to have, and
should never be so. As far as being done in an alley, well, I doubt much cloning goes on there,
because it is hard to find an electrical outlet in an alley.
The next time someone wants to write about RadioPhone, please do the courtesy of emailing me and
asking me for my views. Or at least informing me that you are writing a piece. Thanks.
End of Article
Thanks to Vidiot