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Mysteries of the Las Vegas Telecom System
Reverend Raven writes "This is from Security Focus and deals with how some people believe a group of uber-hackers controls the Vegas telecom system. Interesting read, indeed." A follow-up to this old story. The case seems to be still winding its way through the bureaucracy.
This is exactly the kind of stuff they have been making movies about, uber hackers taking over stuff and causing trouble. This would make a kinda boring movie though, because its probobly not some glamish kids who talk funny and rollarblade around some big city, its probobly some old fat guys who drink too much diet pepsi.
Mess Stuff Up
Could this be the start of a belated "1984"?
Ok, sure it's not the goverment that's doing it - but you can bet at least a few people from one of the agencies is wondering how much it'd cost to hire these guys.
This sounds to me like systematic hacking of hotel telephone exchanges, so assuming Sprint isn't responsible for these (I don't see why it would be) I'm really not sure that this is Sprint's fault or problem.
Blaming GW Bush for the Iraq war is like blaming Ronald McDonald for the poor quality of food.
"Munoz believes that test was compromised, and the hackers cleverly arranged for him to receive the test calls, while still blocking the other hotels."
seriously, if they're that good, why don't they just hack into the FBI computer systems and invent a nice little file on him? why bother ruining his life by taking away his livelihood when they could just as easily be ruining it by sending him to jail for 20 years?
background: tell me have you seen herrrrr; OHHHHHHHHHH; de de doo doo doo de de doo doo doooooo.
So lets get this straight, in a hotel in Vegas you may or may not get through when you dial out...
Next week "$5 on getting through on the 4th occasion at 3-2"
And "The Gamblers Suite, where even the phone has the element of chance, get through when the blue light is on and win a free meal for two at the Belagio"
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
Nah, I don't believe those hackers are good enough too control the phonesys[beep]..[beep]..[beep]...[beep]...[beep].. .
A man in the porno biz get's the shaft and decides its because of 'Uber Hackers' employed by the higher powers in vegas to take business from him. Sounds way too Hollywood'ish to me, which I fully believe if they somehow win some sort of settlement in this, there will be at least some sort of T.V. Mini-Series that glams up this already semingly Fictional account of innocient victims in the Porn Industry.
And if this story is even true, then why are these guys in court/hearings? It's only going to get them a cash settlement at best. But to me, despite the fact the basis of this whole ordeal is money apparently, I wonder why, or if they tried, to hire own their own 'Uber Hackers' to help 'counter' the others. Granted that would just make this whole thing sound way more bizarre than it already does. But these people deal in Sleeze, and I wouldn't think Sleeze would run to the authorities right off the bat, I'd think they'd feel more comfortable about my wonderings (of countering as opposed to having hearings.). Then again, who knows, they could have tried it and failed so their next option was to call on the P.U.C. to help lynch Sprint of Nevada.
But I'll admit, I'm going to attempt to keep an eye on this story, curiousity, and I've got 8 lives to spare.
======
Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish. - Euripides
I've been found out, time to move to montana...
http://www.xpurple.com
....and no mention of microsoft or the music publishing industry? who would have thunk it?
Karma: Bad (mostly affected by moderation done to your comments)...Now i know why.
Phone calls in xome Vegas Hotels can run about $20 / min.
You can't read this :-(
Can't a guy get a break? Surely there's a hacking story out there that doesn't mention Kevin Mitnick. Isn't there?
Anyway, did the cretins who run these prostitution rings ever think that just perhaps word got out that their girls were all used up? Why is it that a business people are more apt to blame a WILD-EYED CONSPIRACY THEORY instead of accepting the market's decision to cut them out of the loop? It's like die-hard Catholics blaming the Devil for all the slander against their holy priests and other dwellers of the demonic branches of the tree of deformity (see Matt 13 for a description of the annual herb that becomes a perennial roosting place for the demons). Pure self-delusion.
-- @rjamestaylor on Ello
It seems likely to me that the so-called uber hackers are really the police. Look at the the people involved in this: pimps and smut sellers and Gambino's [and somehow Kevin Mitnik]. The mobsters were caught in a sting when they tried to "muscle-in" on the phone racket. They could only have been caught if the Law knew what was going on.
Last time I went to Vegas, it was much cleaned up from several years ago. Almost no porn and fewer hooker adds. Used to be you couldnt see the sidewalk for them. I say the police did it by jamming the unsavory's phones.
...again, this appeared word for word as early as March 18 2002, google on "Larry Duke Reubel"
hc
" A man in the porno biz get's the shaft..."
Lemme guess...no pun intended?
Carpe Canem - Seize the Dog
Could be an inside job - easier to do than an external hack. You'd know when the system is being checked aswell.
"Things that you own end up owning you" - Tyler Durden (via Diogenes of Sinope).
Prostitution in Las Vegas is illegal. Refer to Nevada State Law, Chapter 244, Counties: Government General Provisions, section 8 for more info (NRS 244,345):
8. In a county whose population is 400,000 or more, the license board shall not grant any license to a petitioner for the purpose of operating a house of ill fame or repute or any other business employing any person for the purpose of prostitution.
Since Las Vegas is in Clark County, a county that has a population that is indeed over 400k, we can plainly see that prostitution is illegal in the area. Laws won't stop the average criminal from committing crimes, so we must assume that there is a fairly profitable business in LV selling flesh for pleasure.
As far as I know, police would derive a greater benefit from simply arresting people who were breaking the law, other than jumping through some serious hoops to stealthily put people who derive their livelihood, directly or indirectly, upon the sale or aiding in the sale of illegal activities.
It's far more likely that some people with money are paying people with some knowledge to put some technological legerdemain on their competition.
Is this is some type of surprise? Hell, if I were a cop, I'd let the small fish get eaten by all the big fish, so I could catch and mount the big ones later.
...much later, it would seem.
And someone named Escobar is in charge of the Utilities Cartel. Er, commission.
Its not uber-hackers!!!
IT's PHREAKERS
Why can't anyone figure this out correctly?
so what was the 'authorised' call forwarding then?
Anyway as a previous poster says..
Sounds like the hotel's PABX's where hacked not Sprint's as it only effects calls from hotels not cell or other land lines..
Is it just me, or is it not surprising, that an ex-cop with no technical skills, knows of no way to hack into his ex-employer's network?
If on the other hand, they had purchased some white hat experience for a week or two and the hat said the same thing, I might just think the same statement carried some weight.
I wonder, if his car has never been stolen, does he belive that his car is un-stealable?
I for one, have never cut my legs off, but I still do believe that it is possible.
If nature abhors a vacuum, why isn't there more dust in the world?
Say, 75% of the prostitutes' income, then another 90% of their money as they buy their drugs.
There are biiig money involved behind the scenes. Street violence, bodies of gang-members in the bushes etc, is only what "we" see of the underground world, but they surely have the resources to use technology as well for their purposes.
Getting a competitor out of business using non-violent methods might not be as "impressive" (or frigthening) among the other competitors, but surely doesn't attract the police and media as much.
This is what the plaintiff in the story is alleging - that Sprint's switches are being reprogrammed by uberhackers in the employ of the Mob or some other competing organizations.
Ow... that hurts..
now your phone is re-routed to a p0rn line phool!
I know of at least 3 major "organizations" that operate using phone hackers in LV. These 3 groups make hundreds of millions a year for escort services and provide substantial kickbacks to several regional heads and a select group if repair crews to keep it quiet. This is why Sprint never sees a problem with these small-fry operators' connections.
Unfortunately, the phreakers make VERY little compared to the top guys in this, but that will be changing very soon...
You mean, there's someone carrying out illegal activity in Las Vegas?
And the Police aren't doing anything to stop it?
And a large company appears to be in the hands of mobsters?
Whatever next?
Before you know it, there will be stories about corporations buying influence in the US Government...but that could never happen...
It's not "uber hackers" or Phreaks. It's simply a case of crappy service- Possibly an employee of Sprint(disgruntled)who had access to their switch translations network(CCS/SS7 links).
Yes, I know that any casino area (read: Atlantic City, Vegas, reservations) nickle-and-dime you every chance they get, but sometimes it is a bit ridiculous.
Even calling an 800 number costs money!
Never hit your grandmother with a shovel, for it leaves a bad impression on her mind...
You realize that gambling in Las Vegas, is a three billion dollar industry. The casios are laced with extra oxgen to get people to stay awake gambling. They have it optimized right down to the lemon scent that they clean the slot machine with?
"Jisms are best used when the person is lest expecting them" overheard in the IRC #E...tell them mej sent you
Okay folks, everyplace with a large mob influence has had it's phones tinkered with by the mob. This is old, but has not been talked about for a while, so it is a visit back to news.
Back in the day, New York City had a privat phone network for the "mob", created with "idle" equipment and bribes to phone workers. Result, FBI taps were tapping the known phone numbers and the mob guys were using the "secret" network.
Also, as far as rerouting disconnected numbers for fun and profit, lookup Poulsen's antics, plus other fun stuff.
I will have to say that it is about time that a Telco is getting called on the carpet for their lack of security, rather than just grebbing another Kevin Mitnic or whomever and blaming every problem on them, then discovering the problem still exists after you take away his access to communications.
Eve Fairbanks says I drive a hybrid!LOL
...are belong to us.
- If we aren't supposed to eat animals, then why are they made out of meat? - Steven Wright
This is a standard bureaucratic coverup. "There's no problem here, but we're taking steps to solve the problem that we're sure doesn't exist in spite of the evidence to the contrary".
To admit that Ruebel is correct, the commission would have to admit that they were asleep at the switch (excuse the pun). It's far more politically prudent for them to belittle pooh pooh, and nay-say him, while at the same time, responding (or appearing to respond) to the publicity around his complaints.
In the meantime, Ruebel spends years of his life proving that Organized Crime (of some sort) is messing with the LA phone system but gets no compensation for his work, or his lost 'business' (I have a bit less sympathy for the latter).
Sometimes boldness is in fashion. Sometimes only the brave will be bold.
you wouldn't think that people within the bureaucracy would have a vested interest/disinterest in this? oh dear, that would be a conspiracy--and crazy! "the police and the criminals are generally the same people." BTW, you need to talk to a taxi driver.
On the wall in my hotel lobby I saw this really cool "AT&T" slot machine with a phone attached. I kept putting in quarters and never won anything or got any money back. Phreakers have obviously hacked the slots too!
They're called Sprint engineers. Anyone who thinks that every single one of these folks is incorruptable is nuts- an extra $10k here and there and I bet you could get 20% to come to the dark side.
"Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
So he pulls mitnick in on the case?
What i want to know is how does this guy know mitnick? If he knows one hacker(and a prominent one at that) doesn't it stand to reason that he knows other hackers? I mean you can't just hire mitnick off of hire-a-teleco-hacker.com.
"As SecurityFocus Online reported last year, former hacker Kevin Mitnick claims extensive penetrations into Sprint's Las Vegas systems from approximately 1992 until his February, 1995 arrest -- smack dab in the middle of the call diversion complaints. Mitnick's access gave him the power to monitor or reprogram any phone line in town. Following that story, Munoz retained Mitnick as a technical consultant in his case, only to give him up later. Munoz says Mitnick wanted to run too many pointless tests; Mitnick says Munoz stiffed him and a partner for thousands of dollars in fees and expenses."
Who's to say he didn't step on one of his "associates" toes. And a disgrntled hacker decides he's gonna wreck the guys business.
At the very least his problems wouldn't have ended after he stiffed mitnick for money. it only would have gotten worse. Heck a few phonecall's by mitnick and...BAM...his problem get's worse. I think this guy is full of crap. That's why he didn't want mitnick "to run too many pointless tests". Not to mention who is this guy to know what tests are pointless or not?
Something is smells Fishy....and it's not just this guys employees....;) LOL
The Only Person Willing to be Me is ME!
In Las Vegas, you might wait for an indefinite amount of time, but you will eventually be able to tell if the person you are calling is home or not.
In Monte Carlo, you can make the connection immediately, but you might get a spurrious busy signal a certain percent of the time.
- undoware.ca
All Of Your Hookers Are Belong To Us
Heh,
i read the story of kevin poulsen "The Watchman" by john littman. I've also read 2 accounts of kevin mitnick ((cyberpunk (john markoff)) && (takedown) (markoff/tsumomira))...
I realise that these folks had been in trouble years ago, have been caught and paid the price, but i've got to hand it to them to be able to be active in the `security consulting' biz nowadays.
all three of those books a great read, btw.
Heh,
i read the story of kevin poulsen "The Watchman" by john littman. I've also read 2 accounts of kevin mitnick ((cyberpunk (john markoff)) && (takedown) (markoff/tsumomira))...
I realise that these folks had been in trouble years ago, have been caught and paid the price, but i've got to hand it to them to be able to be active in the `security consulting' biz nowadays.
all three of those books a great read, btw.
oh yeah, btw, i got all into the books i've read and i forgot to mention..
for a time there (recently) i did work for Sprint Telecom and handled a lot of the Vegas territory. All i can say is what a fscking mess. me being somewhat read on the subject of phone muddling and phreaking and whatnot, i was a bit more alert to attempts at social engineering, manipulative attempts and general security practices than 99% of my coworkers. I must say, if everyone else was getting the same kinds of calls and contacts as i was, and they were clueless as hell, Sprint LTD Nevada is most certainly 0wned.
sorry for posting this twice, but i wanted to be sure that it was seen, as it is relevant and interesting (i think). dual posts == poor planning on my part.
-comet
Isn't a bit ironic to have Dark Dante as the author of this story?
Correct me if I am wrong..
Didn't Kevin Poulsen orginally get charged with hacking into teleco switches in LasVegas and breakins to telco centers searching for phone manuals?
and Didn't also several other teleco phone hackers breakin over the past ten years , so much so that every defcon conf in Lasvegas always has teleco cops, fbi, cai, and treausury officials in attendance?
Don't Tread on OpenSource
uh... no more like uber-sopranos. there have been many stories about this in the past - basically the mob has their people in the phone co - and they hijack calls to businesses (mostly call girls) from the hotels. then re-route the calls to their own call girls and take the business.
sometimes they dont even hijack the call they just tap it - then when the call girl shows up its too late and the "john" is already being serviced....
when the people who were losing out in this deal bitched to the fcc? the investigation showed that not a single call was lost. (basically the staff in the phone co were alerted to the investigation and stopped their hijacking while it was going on)
the thing was that the FCC gave the telco a WEEKS notice that they were going to investigate this... so the word got out and the mob held back.
this is BS and pisses me off. I would like to take a base-ball bat to the kneecaps of the idiots that gave the telco "notice of impending investigation"
Does it irk anyone else whent hey hit a news site, or pick up a paper, and a news story reads like Radar O'Reilly's homework assignments for his creative writing correspondance course.
Or is everyone on here two young to remember MASH tv show?
Or a John Katz fan?
The first paragraph of the linked article reads like a pulp mystery fiction. I expected him to light up a cigarette, while the prosecutor with the shapely gams started to bust his chops.
I've lived in Vegas for 38 years off and on (mostly on). I grew up with people that now work for Sprint, and have seen first-hand how the adult industry operates here.
point 1 - Everyone in the outcall/adult business lies. A lot. About everything. The guy (don't know him) probably snorted all his cash, flaked out, and now wants to blame someone else.
point 2 - They systems guys at Sprint could easily redirect calls. They have access, and the office people / management don't know the difference. Nobody is paying attention.
point 3 - uberhackers? get real.
Could someone have phreaked the phones? -- Of course.
Did they? -- Who cares?
Best Windows Freeware
I work for SBC......
CALEA - www.calea.org - is a federal mandate
that allows law enforcement to tap phone lines
remotely. Big Brother is listening in Vagas!!!
I saw a few posts talking about Keven Poulsen, and I saw a few posts talking about how certain calls can go through from certain types of phones (ie payphones vs hotel phones vs residential phones report differently through the telco switches - see the post modded 5 near the top), but I haven't seen any posts pointing out the fact that Kevin Poulsen WROTE that article. Take a look at the bottom byline. That, at least for me, lends a little credibility to the idea that it could be a hack-for-hire type operation. Ok later.
David
Duh! They're hacking the hotels' PBXs, not the phone company! They're barking up the wrong tree here, they should be bringing the hotel owners into court -- but then, the hotels are owned by mobsters, and you don't want to piss THEM off!
I remember reading a story in 1998 or 1999 about a 5ESS switch that was stolen from a Vegas wearhouse. I can't find an article backing up my memory so it could be just that.....