Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, but I do work on what is considered critical infrastructure.
Power grid?
The OP did not mention it on purpose. Let it be like that. A lot of people here have signed NDA's.
Area code 710
31–40 of 87 posts
Re: Area code 710
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
My recollection is we were specifically curious about what today would be called invalid address space patterns, aka numbers that were outside the patterns used in valid phone numbers at the time (such as area codes could have a 1 in the middle digit but prefixes could not have a 1 in the middle in the 1980's). We pulled out a paper phone book, devised a set of criteria for potentially interesting superficially inval…
Here's a fun one: next time you get a new phone number (USA), ask for it to end in "9999". It's possible, but not without social engineering (or influence?).
Why is it restricted (and who to)?
Re: Area code 710
#33> "the call is then redirected to a live human operator who then asks for the access code." I feel bad for that operator
Why? The job is a job. I assume they have quite a lot of operators and they are crucial for certain processes which make their fairly simple job - a phone operator - crucial.
Re: Area code 710
#34When I was in college in the '80s, My roommate and I got curious about unused area codes (and/or prefixes? I forget). We started dialing some. Within about 15 minutes we stumbled on some government service with a scary-official sounding operator on the other end (I've no idea if it was this service or a different one). The really scary part was after dialing the number and encountering the operator, we were unable to…
It reminds me of a scene in Three Days of the Condor. When Robert Redford calls a number from a phone booth, after his sector was wiped out. He then talks to a guy in a wheelchair.
Guy in wheelchair, 'Condor you're not following correct protocol! Are you injured? Are you armed?'
Condor is freaking out, but gets out all the info.
Condor, 'We have been hit. Everyone is dead. I just read books! I have miss _______ 45, she was afraid of being raped. No--I forget her company name.
Guy in wheelchair, 'Find a secure location--don't go home, and we will get in touch with you. Walk away from the phone, but don't hang up. (Condor walks away completely scared, and confused. I always wondered about the phone. I guess it was to complete the trace?)
Re: Area code 710
#35Re: Area code 710
#36Is there anywhere else to read more about these kinds of special phone numbers? Something about the current state of phreaking?
The internet
Re: Area code 710
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Power grid?
I assume the poster is intentionally not revealing their role. While I am also curious, having known people working in the defense industry, it's considered polite to not ask questions to things they aren't offering information about.
Then why the hell even discuss it?
Re: Area code 710
#38I'll just leave this here:
808-248-0002 - "Your GETS call is being processed. Please hold."
Re: Area code 710
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
Power grid?
Just guessing from his/her previous submissions, but maybe something to do with DNS? Root servers? Something similar, maybe.
You can get these for all sorts of stuff. Not just secret squirrel things.
Running a critical network, supporting critical application, leadership of organizations that impact health and safety, key personnel at hospitals, etc.
Re: Area code 710
#40> "the call is then redirected to a live human operator who then asks for the access code." I feel bad for that operator
Why? The job is a job. I assume they have quite a lot of operators and they are crucial for certain processes which make their fairly simple job - a phone operator - crucial.
Sure, but now they're getting dozens of calls from curious HNers.