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)