rbcp, I personally don't think phreaking is really almost dead just yet.
People have just sort of given up on it, which I find sad. ESS didn't ruin blue boxing, CCIS did. I wouldn't be surprised if someone managed to locate a "Tandem office" out there that still operates old equipment. Isn't MF signaling reverse compatible with CCIS? I can only assume it is, since when this technology was replaced years ago the phone system didn't suddenly go down
. Haha.
I'm no pro on this topic, but I really don't consider phreaking dead just yet. Maybe here in the US trunks utilizing old technology are less common (I doubt totally obsolete, just less common! If they have all been replaced and that is a known fact, someone please let me know), but what in other countries? How about
their technology? Considering the fact that you can "route" your call a certain way so that you can actually end up crossing one of these trunks, what if-? Heh. Or am I just crazy?
There will always be a few neat "tricks" one can execute in any system. You just have to find them!
Oh yes, and regarding the paperclip phreaking tricks I've been hearing about lately, just to clear some things up... Don't try them! Sticking a paperclip in a telephone circuit (I believe these "tutorials" often instruct the person to stick it in the reciever) will
not give you a free call, just a free
shock! I've seen people who actually believe this bull. To my knowledge, they do not work. They do not have any reason to actually work, either. From an engineering point of view, and a logical point of view too (hehe), they will simply either break or damage the phone. Cracking an IC, or quite frankly any part of a circuit, with a paperclip can be anything but good. 'C mon people, you don't need to be an engineer to know that! It's common sense
.
