| ==Phrack Inc.== | |
| Volume Two, Issue Ten, Phile #3 of 9 | |
| ********************************** | |
| * The TMC Primer * | |
| *--------------------------------* | |
| * Written by: Cap'n Crax * | |
| *--------------------------------* | |
| * December 17, 1986 * | |
| ********************************** | |
| This file was originally intended to be a "data file" of info on TMC ports, | |
| formulas, etc, but I decided that it would serve a better use as a "tutorial" | |
| of sorts. But first a bit of background info... | |
| Who is TMC? | |
| TMC (TeleMarketing Communications) is a long distance service serving all 50 | |
| states. While not as well known as MCI or Sprint, they are a fairly large | |
| company. They are capable of setting up business communications systems, | |
| PBX's, and residential service. Unlike most LDC's, however, they operate on a | |
| "franchise" basis, which means that each franchise of the company has little | |
| information about any other franchise, although they do use the same lines and | |
| the same type of equipment. | |
| So, what can they do for me? | |
| Well, for most of us, TMC offers many new potentials for abuse. One of the | |
| primary weak points of the company is the code formats that they decided to | |
| use. Codes on all TMC ports are seven digits. If they were generated | |
| randomly, this would be a reasonably secure system from sequential code | |
| hacking. But TMC doesn't use random codes. Instead, they use a checksum based | |
| formula system, with different formulas on each port. I assume that this is | |
| because they wanted a wide displacement of the codes over the seven-digit | |
| series, so that a sequential code hacker wouldn't be able to get 2 or 3 good | |
| codes in a row. Or perhaps they are just very stupid. In any case, it's | |
| interesting that they seem to have never thought of what could happen if | |
| anyone ever managed to figure out any of these formulas. Anyway, that's what | |
| this file is about. | |
| Great! What else can you tell me? | |
| Well, TMC seems to use some form of the Dimension PBX system for their billing | |
| system (Their ads say that the switching equipment is digital). This makes | |
| TMC ports easily identifiable by the "Hi-Lo" bad code siren. For those who | |
| worry about such things, TMC is one of the "safer" companies to use. This is | |
| largely because, unlike "unified" companies like MCI, TMC franchises don't | |
| really care if another franchise is losing money. Since each franchise is | |
| independent of all others, there are many 800 ports, one for each franchise. | |
| If you use an out-of-state 800 port, you are free from such worries as ANI, | |
| which I have never perceived as a major threat to the code-user anyway. Also, | |
| TMC offers lots of opportunities for the aspiring security consultant | |
| (hehehe). | |
| Ok, so where's some real info? | |
| Right here. I am going to explain as much about TMC hacking as I can manage, | |
| without actually handing out codes. First, an example port. The example I am | |
| using is the 800 port for Louisville, KY. | |
| 1-800-626-9600 | |
| This is the port. If you are not familiar with TMC, you may want to call it | |
| to see what it sounds like. So let's say you call it and recognize it as a | |
| TMC. What next? Well, a good bet would be to run a standard "code-hack" | |
| program on it... Set it for seven digits, 1+ the number, and note that TMC | |
| codes start with 0 on more than 50% of the ports I have seen. So let's say | |
| that you then get this list of (fictional) codes... | |
| 0347589 | |
| 0347889 | |
| 0348179 | |
| 0350358 | |
| 0355408 | |
| At first glance, this may look like a series of "random" numbers. But, look | |
| closer. These numbers are based on a checksum. It is as follows... | |
| Code Format: 03xabcy | |
| x+y=13 | |
| (In the first code, x=4 and y=9, and, of course, 4+9=13) | |
| a+c=15 | |
| (Here, a=7 and c=8, and 7+8=15) | |
| b=1 to 9 | |
| (Digit "b" is unrelated to the rest of the numbers. It could, for example, be | |
| varied from 1-9 to possibly find more working codes) | |
| Also note that 0+5 would equal 15, since the 0 is really a 10. Really! | |
| Please note that the above formula is only fictional. I wouldn't want to | |
| possibly cause loss to TMC by giving away codes on their system! | |
| Is that all? | |
| No, of course not. TMC, in their love of telecom enthusiasts, has also put an | |
| additional prize in the Krackerjack box. The vast majority of TMC ports have | |
| "Outside Line" codes, which is a 2 or 3 digit number, that, when entered after | |
| certain codes, will give an AT&T dialtone. This is apparently a holdover from | |
| the fact that they are using PBX equipment. Anyway, if anyone is asking why | |
| you'd want an AT&T dialtone, (does anyone need to ask?) it will allow | |
| unrestricted calling. This, of course, means 976's, 900's, Alliance | |
| Teleconf., international calling, etc... Naturally, I can't list any of these, | |
| but I can say that if it is 2 digits, it would start with any number from 2-9 | |
| and end in 8 or 9. If it is three digits, it will almost always start with 6, | |
| and be followed by any two digits. Some possible outside line codes would be | |
| 59, 69, 89, 99, 626, 636, 628, etc... These, of course, are only examples of | |
| possible codes. As I mentioned, these O/S line codes are entered after the | |
| seven digit code. The O/S line codes only work after certain 7-digit codes, | |
| and from my experience, the 7-digit codes that they work with normally can't | |
| be used for the usual 7 digits+1+number dialing. I can find no apparent | |
| pattern to the codes that they do work with, so you will have to find them by | |
| trial-and-error. | |
| What, you want more? | |
| Ok, well, here's a few 800 ports... | |
| 1-800-433-1440 1-800-227-0073 1-800-331-9922 1-800-451-2300 | |
| 1-800-354-9379 1-800-248-4200 1-800-531-5084 1-800-351-9800 | |
| Closing. | |
| Please note that this article is only intended as an overview of TMC and why | |
| they would/wouldn't be a good choice for your long distance needs. And | |
| goodness me, don't use any of this information in an illegal way! | |