The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws Who Hacked Ma Bell

In the early 1970s, a group of teenagers and outlaws known as the 'phone phreaks' hacked into the world's largest telecommunications company, AT&T, and changed the course of technology forever.

Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws who Hacked Ma Bell

by Phil Lapsley

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7492 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	450 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

These young rebels used their wits and a deep understanding of the phone system to make free long-distance calls, prank call celebrities, and even eavesdrop on government officials. Their exploits were daring, illegal, and ultimately groundbreaking.

The phone phreaks were led by a brilliant young hacker named John Draper, also known as "Captain Crunch." Draper discovered that a toy whistle included in boxes of Cap'n Crunch cereal could be used to generate the tones needed to control AT&T's phone system. This discovery opened the door to a world of possibilities for the phone phreaks.

Over the next few years, the phone phreaks became a nationwide underground movement. They shared their knowledge and techniques through a network of phone lines and magazines, and they formed a close-knit community of like-minded individuals.

The phone phreaks were not without their detractors. AT&T was determined to stop them, and the FBI launched a major investigation into their activities. But the phone phreaks were always one step ahead of the authorities. They used code words, aliases, and other security measures to protect their identities.

In the end, the phone phreaks were unable to outmaneuver the government forever. In 1971, Draper was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison. Other key members of the phone phreak movement were also arrested and convicted.

But the legacy of the phone phreaks lived on. Their techniques and knowledge paved the way for the development of modern hacking and telecommunications technologies. And their spirit of rebellion continues to inspire hackers and activists around the world.

The Untold Story of the Teenage Hackers Who Changed Technology

The Untold Story of the Teenage Hackers Who Changed Technology is a new book by journalist Kevin Poulsen that tells the full story of the phone phreaks. Poulsen, a former hacker himself, provides a fascinating and in-depth look at this little-known chapter in the history of technology.

The book is based on extensive interviews with key members of the phone phreak movement, including John Draper, Steve Wozniak, and Robert Tappan Morris. Poulsen also draws on a wealth of archival materials to paint a vivid picture of the era.

The Untold Story of the Teenage Hackers Who Changed Technology is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of hacking, telecommunications, or the counterculture movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

The story of the phone phreaks is a fascinating tale of rebellion, innovation, and the power of technology. These young rebels used their wits and a deep understanding of the phone system to change the course of technology forever. Their legacy continues to inspire hackers and activists around the world.

Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws who Hacked Ma Bell

by Phil Lapsley

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7492 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	450 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE