[LINK] Reverse engineering phone number

[Howard Lowndes]

Roger Clarke wrote:
>> On Mon, 2005-06-20 at 16:25, Steve Jenkin wrote:
>>
>>>  On Mon, 2005-06-20 at 15:47 +1000, Howard Lowndes wrote:
>>>  > I was under the impression, from discussions on this list, that 
>>> reverse
>>>  > engineering phone number in AU was illegal except for emergency 
>>> services
>>>  > etc.
>>>
>>>  I think it's illegal to reverse the white pages directory.
> 
> 
> tal <tal at pacific.net.au>:
> 
>> as far as i know, it's illegal to reverse engineer it, but then you just
>> don't have to ... Telstra sells it!  whenever i call a Taxi the
>> automated service asks if this is <me> at <my address>, so what is the
>> issue here?  that Telstra sells it?
> 
> 
> As far as I'm aware, you volunteer the data to the taxi-company by 
> having your number open to calling number display.  Their systems store 
> data associated with each call, including the number, the address that 
> you ask the cab to come to, and the name that you volunteer.  Next time 
> you call, they use the number you dial from as the key, and up pops all 
> of the previously-stored data.
> 
> Some people call that a service.  If the default was non-display of 
> calling number, and if the benefits and risks of switching on calling 
> number display were clearly communicated to the public, I'd agree with 
> them.  'People with nothing to fear' could switch it on, and 
> 'persons-at-risk' could leave the switch in the 'safe' position.
> 
> As it is, calling number display is opt-out (per line, or using #1832 - 

Roger, it's 1831 (normal) or #1831 (special circuits) or #31# (mobile) 
to block CLID and 1832 #1832 *31# to display CLID.  It may not appear on 
the Telstra website but at least it's in the phone directory.

> try looking for per-call-blocking on the Telstra site!!) and its 
> implications are poorly explained.  So privacy advocates generally have 
> always been, and remain, strenuously opposed to the opt-out arrangements.

What is even more so, if you want to have your postal address 
substituted for your street address in the phone directory then it costs 
you a monthly fee.

If you want to enable CLID presentation on PSTN phone lines then it 
costs you a monthly fee.

> 

-- 
Howard.
LANNet Computing Associates - Your Linux people <http://lannet.com.au>
-- 
When you just want a system that works, you choose Linux;
When you want a system that just works, you choose Microsoft.
-- 
Flatter government, not fatter government;
Get rid of the Australian states.