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Old 13th Oct 2019, 3:55 pm   #57
tritone
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Derry, Northern Ireland, UK.
Posts: 167
Default Re: My first mobile phone (1992)

Oh Yea, I remember all of those brick size phones from the very early 90's plus the car install handsets. They were easily hackable, all that was needed was the ESN# adderess on the code line, the six different address lines, a PC and a new ESN# to re-program back on the chip.

Some criminals back then even had an ESN reader device (Smith and Myers) that would collect the number from air, from passing unfortunate cell phone owners, then use their ESN# illegally to program other phones. Then the unfortunate person would recieve a humungusly massive bill at the end of the month.

That behavior carried a more than likely jail term and a massive fine or both. A Dodgy, dodgy practice, but it was so common at that time.
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