phacker
<communications, security> A telephone system cracker. A phacker may
attempt to gain unauthorised access to a phone system in order to make free or
untraceable calls or he may disrupt, alter or illegally tap phone systems via
computer.
The disruptions may include causing a phone line to be engaged so no calls go in
or out, redirecting outgoing or incoming calls, as well as listening to actual
calls made.
Phackers are frequently confidence tricksters or phone freaks (nuisance callers
who can only relate to other people by phone). Phackers are sometimes employed
by illegal enterprises to conduct business using untraceable calls, or to
disrupt, or follow legal authorities' investigations. Phackers interventions may
be lethal to the person being phacked.
A phacker may be a phone company employee, or usually, ex-employee who
specialises in illegal phone system disruption, alteration or tapping via
physically altering installations. A phacker is generally considered to be a
socially and intellectually retarded cracker.
See Captain Crunch.
(1998-08-09)
Nearby terms:
PH « pH « ph « phacker » phage » phase »
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