
                                   REMOBS

     The Silver Box, as stated earlier, is a lineman's handset or REMOBS
(Remote Service Observing Systems).  They allow Bell employees and phreakers
to use the system to tap phones.  By using a Silver Box and an ordinary Touch-
Tone phone, one can dial directly into the RECEIVE ONLY portion of any
customer's line (the mouthpiece is disconnected).  Silver Boxes work as
follows:
     Dial the number of a REMOBS unit.  Bell apparently puts them in the 555
information exchange (XXX-555-XXXX).  A tone will then be heard for about
two seconds and then silence.  It is then necessary to key in, with a Touch-
Tone, a 2-5 digit security code, holding each digit down at least one second.
If the code is not entered within 5-6 seconds, the REMOBS will disconnect,
and must be dialed again.  If the code is properly entered then another tone
will be heard.  Any 7-digit customer number can then be entered (the REMOBS
can only handle certain exchanges which are prewired for it, and usually one
machine can't monitor all of a multi-Central Office locality).
     The REMOBS will then connect up to the customer line.  The phreaker will
hear the low level idle tone.  As the monitored party dials, the phreaker
will hear the number being dialed and the entire conversation!  At no time
will the monitored party be aware that he has been tapped - there are no
messages, clicks, strange sounds, etc.!  When the phreaker is done listening
to Customer A, he can key in a single "reset digit" (usually the last digit
in the access code), which disconnects him from the monitored line and
returns him to the tone so that he can dial Customer B.  When the phreaker
wants to quit, he keys in a single "disconnect digit," which disconnects him
from the last line being monitored, and disconnects him from REMOBS so that
REMOBS can be reset and be ready for another caller.

The Wanderjahr

  Distributed in part by:

   Skeleton Crue  415-376-8060  located out of Moraga, California.
	 !!Get on the band wagon befor it RUNS YOU DOWN!!
 Headquarters for Computer Hackers and Anarchists to Overthrow the State
			      (CH&AOS)
