A form of hacking, as applied to telephone networks. Phone phreaks exploit weaknesses in the phone system to make long-distance calls for free, tap into other's calls, take control of lines, get free phone services, and the like.
Phreaks (or phreakers) are usually motivated more by technical curiosity and the hacker ethos than any criminal intent (although phreaking is most certainly illegal). To bounce a call through a dozen different switching systems around the world, to your friend next door - all for free - is regarded by phreaks as an accomplishment. The fact that they are committing fraud and felonies in the process is regarded as incidental - or perhaps part of the fun.
The tools of phreaking often take the form of "boxes", such as the blue box, red box, or beige box. These devices - whose names refer to their function, not their actual color - generate various useful audio frequencies or electrical signals. The "red box", which allows you to make free calls from pay phones, is the easiest to build and can be assembled using two parts from Radio Shack that cost less than ten dollars.
The archetypal phone phreak is John Draper, aka Captain Crunch, who began phreaking on the West Coast in the 1960s.
The practice of phreaking has declined in recent years, as phone networks have been upgraded from old analog systems to newer, less vulnerable digital systems.
Phreaks (or phreakers) are usually motivated more by technical curiosity and the hacker ethos than any criminal intent (although phreaking is most certainly illegal). To bounce a call through a dozen different switching systems around the world, to your friend next door - all for free - is regarded by phreaks as an accomplishment. The fact that they are committing fraud and felonies in the process is regarded as incidental - or perhaps part of the fun.
The tools of phreaking often take the form of "boxes", such as the blue box, red box, or beige box. These devices - whose names refer to their function, not their actual color - generate various useful audio frequencies or electrical signals. The "red box", which allows you to make free calls from pay phones, is the easiest to build and can be assembled using two parts from Radio Shack that cost less than ten dollars.
The archetypal phone phreak is John Draper, aka Captain Crunch, who began phreaking on the West Coast in the 1960s.
The practice of phreaking has declined in recent years, as phone networks have been upgraded from old analog systems to newer, less vulnerable digital systems.
by Greenie December 12, 2003
Get the phreaking mug.by RedBoxChilipepper(not really) October 4, 2003
Get the phreaking mug.also known as "phreaker". this individual is an explorer of the inner workings of the public telephone network.
by Telco-Inside dot spunge dot org July 25, 2003
Get the phone phreak mug.by fella80 May 13, 2009
Get the phreaktor mug.Pherah is a nice girl with cool hair and eyes. She is a hilarious person and is known for there jokes. They are smart and kind.
by Pherah May 2, 2023
Get the Pherah mug.A pompous, self congratulating asshole whose only interest in life is to make himself look good at the expense of others.
by Wiseman July 11, 2006
Get the Perak mug.David 'Phreak' Turley is a member of Riot, the creators of League of Legends.
Hailing from the competitive Warcraft 3 scene, David “Top 5 World” “Phreak” Bringing his Northern California pride with him, David (known as Phreak in the Riot office) was told by his pro-team’s manager’s ex-roommate David Dunne to apply for an internship at Riot. After taking #1 on the normal games ladder in December 2009 and proving that he could talk just as fast when referencing League of Legends, he was instantly hired and stuck out to make a name for himself in the eyes of all the League’s summoners.
Phreak is in charge of the League of Legends Champion Spotlights on YouTube.
Phreak also is a great dancer and always makes sure to deal tons of damage.
Hailing from the competitive Warcraft 3 scene, David “Top 5 World” “Phreak” Bringing his Northern California pride with him, David (known as Phreak in the Riot office) was told by his pro-team’s manager’s ex-roommate David Dunne to apply for an internship at Riot. After taking #1 on the normal games ladder in December 2009 and proving that he could talk just as fast when referencing League of Legends, he was instantly hired and stuck out to make a name for himself in the eyes of all the League’s summoners.
Phreak is in charge of the League of Legends Champion Spotlights on YouTube.
Phreak also is a great dancer and always makes sure to deal tons of damage.
Phreak: Welcome to the "League of Legends Champion Spotlight". Today we will be dealing tons of damage.
by pepe69 June 21, 2013
Get the Phreak mug.