Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!yetti!geac!john
From: john@geac.UUCP (John Henshaw)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: PhonePhreaking in Europe
Message-ID: <1316@geac.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Sep-87 08:53:07 EDT
Article-I.D.: geac.1316
Posted: Fri Sep  4 08:53:07 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 5-Sep-87 15:18:13 EDT
References: <1104@ark.cs.vu.nl> <812@cod.UUCP>
Organization: GEAC Computers, Toronto, CANADA
Lines: 27
Summary: honesty is the best policy

In article <812@cod.UUCP>, rupp@cod.UUCP (William L. Rupp) writes:
> I find this discussion of phone phreaking a bit disturbing.  Hey,
> isn't this sort of activity illegal?  Doesn't this type of activity,
> in a way similar to shoplifting, end up penalizing all the legitimate
> users who pay their rightful costs?  What is the point of posting
> this happy news to the net?  Are we to rejoice in the knowledge
> that it is not too late to rip off European phone companies?
> 

Would you rather *not* hear about it - and let the problem continue? The
Dutch PTT did something about the problem only after it had gone public,
yet it is probably safe to say that they were aware of the potential for
abuse. They solved the problem when it became a *real* problem. Now,
they've got a *better* phone system, and a methodology for resolving
this kind of difficulty in the future.

Getting the facts straight is the first and best step to solving any
problem. I find the hacker's actions to be unethical - but ultimately
useful.

Dependence upon ignorance is for the cowardly and the lazy.

-john-
-- 
John Henshaw,			(mnetor, yetti, utgpu !geac!john)
Geac Computers Ltd.		"My back to the wall,
Markham, Ontario			 a victim of laughing chance..."