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From: hes@ecsvax.UUCP (Henry Schaffer)
Newsgroups: mod.telecom
Subject: Re:  answering machine security
Message-ID: <8608040625.AA03852@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: Thu, 31-Jul-86 09:40:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8608040625.AA03852
Posted: Thu Jul 31 09:40:47 1986
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> I am reminded by this machine of the hack that you can do to any regular
> telephone, in which you place a PLL (phase locked loop) in the phone, and 
> will hear is a brief blip of a ring from the phone once. 
> ...
> Now the phone is off hook, just as if someone had answered it. Think 
> about how sensitive phone microphones are; with amplification, you
> can hear anything said just about anywhere in the house. 
> 
> Modern technology is moving to make this impossible, but slowly. 
> ... 
> 
> Doug
  I believe that this is known in the trade as an "infinity tap".  My
understanding of the origin of the term is that you can be any
distance away from the premises and still listen in.
--henry schaffer  n c state univ