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.
(1998-08-09)