              THE PHREAK CHRONICLES
                   R E M O B S

   Some of you may have heard of devices called REMOBs which stands
for Remote Observation System. They are also called silver boxes.
These Devices allow supposedly authorized telephone employees to dial
into them from anywhere, and then using an ordinary touch tone fone,
tap into a customer's line receive only. (IE, the mouthpiece is not
hooked up. Thus it is totally silent and you can listen to any
conversation taking place.  Also, it would  be possible for anyone to
dial into REMOBS, key in the proper access code and tap fones!!!
(Isn't that a no-no?)

REMOB works as follows:

   Dial the number of a REMOB unit. Occassionally, Ma Bell apparently
puts them in 555 information exchanges,  ie XXX-555-XXXX.  A tone
will then be heard for approximately 2 seconds and then silence. It
is then necessary to key in (w/touch tone) a 2 to 5 digit security
code while  holding each digit down at least 1 second.  If the code
is not entered within 5 or 6 seconds, the REMOB will disconnect and
must be dialed again. If the code is properly entered, then another
tone will be heard.  A seven digit subscriber  fone number can then
be entered (The REMOB can only handle certain 'exchanges'  which are
prewired,  so usually one machine cannot monitor an entire NPA).
REMOB will then connect to the subscribers line. The listener will
hear the low level idle tone. Then as the monitored party dials
(rotary or touch tone), the listener would hear the number being
dialed. Then the ENTIRE conversation! All without detection.  When
the listener is finished with the monitoring of that particular
customer, he can then key a single 'reset digit' (usually the last
digit of the access code).  This disconnects him from the monitored
line and returns him to the tone so that he can key in another 7
digit fone #. When the listener is totally finished with the REMOB,
he keys a single 'disconnect digit' which disconnects him from the
REMOB so that the device can reset and be ready for another caller.

   Bell has kept REMOB very low key. Up until 1974, Bell denied
entirely that REMOBs existed.  The device was first made public
during hearing on 'Telephone Monitoring Practices by Federal
Agencies' before a subcommittee for the committee on government
operations. House of Representatives, Ninety-Third Congress, June
1974. It has since been stated by Bell that the REMOB devices are
used exclusively for monitoring Bell employees such as operators,
information operators, etc., to keep tabs on their performance.  Uh
huh!  !!!

If any reader should discover a REMOB during his (or her) scanning
travels, please keep in mind the very strict federal laws regarding
wiretapping if you were caught using REMOB to tap peoples fones.  Be
careful!!!!!!!

        ----THE WEST COAST CONNECTION--
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