In the 70s and 80s, party lines weren’t just for chatting, they became underground meeting places for phreakers. By exploiting quirks in telephone switching systems or abusing conference call features, hackers created their own backchannel communications networks. These lines operated in the shadows of the phone system, often bridging cities and time zones, and served as the social backbone of the phreaking scene. Handles were exchanged, techniques shared, and alliances formed — all in real time. Some lines had gatekeepers or required specific access tricks. It was raw, chaotic, and often illegal, but for many it was their first taste of networked rebellion.

#PartyLineCulture #PhonePhreaking #HackerOrigins #TelecomSubculture #OldNet

Via Istari Lasterfahrer:

For those who are around #38c3 in hamburg: we as institut für telenautik did a installation called: CALL FROM 1985.

Have a seat and listen.

#phonephreaking
#hacking
#hackingphilosophie
#freetheinformation

In Erinnerung an Mathias Lehnhardt (RIP), einer der beiden Gesprächspartner* am Telefon und Gründer der Telenautik Workgroup an der Hfbk Hamburg

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Still unpacking boxes from my move. Always fun finding this in my tech junk drawer. A redbox I built when I was about 12. Still works! (not on pay phones sadly…)

#phreak #phonephreaking

SDF prodigal son, on again/off again Fediverse participant, I like #UNIX, #unix_surrealism, #phonephreaking, and #Gopher. I make visual art, street art, digital art, video art, audio art, take photos, you name it. I write code, #poetry and started my own spiritual framework of sorts called #embryonics.

you can find me in Gopher space at gopher://baud.baby and you can find me on IRC in #comfy on https://tilde.chat.

pleased to re-meet you. 💕

#introduction #introductions #fediverse

My teenage hobby doesn’t even exist anymore in the same capacity.

#ImAtTheAgeWhere #HashTagGames #PhonePhreaking