Fun with Alphanumeric Pagers

Did you know that you can send messages to large numbers of alphanumeric pagers using your computer? Here's how.

Many paging companies that accept email use an actual phone number in the email address that looks like this: 

         AAAPPPSSSS@pagercompany.com
In which AAA is the area code, PPP is the prefix and SSSS is the suffix.

Here are some samples: 


  001AAAPPPSSSS@messagewatch.com (Seiko Message Watch, now defunct)
  AAAPPPSSSS@alphapage.airtouch.com
  AAAPPPSSSS.pager@usamobile.com
You can find others by searching for the names of pager companys in Usenet via Deja News. It turns out that a lot of (stupid) individuals post their pager numbers in Usenet messages. In addition, the net also contains lists of phone number prefixes which indicate which prefixes have been specially allocated for use with pagers and other wireless devices (you can look up specific prefixes at www.thedirectory.org).

Now all you have to do is write a small program that will send email to all the phone numbers assigned to the particular areacode and prefix(es) you are targeting. Ideally you shouldn't send the email directly to the paging company, but instead route it through one or more of the anonymous remailers, adding a random delay, thus effectively hiding your tracks.

Mad at your girlfriend? Why don't you send her phone number to all the alphanumeric pagers you can find in the 818 area code!

Want to tie up the telephone lines at your local radio station, police station or fire house? Nows your chance!

Am I advising you to do these things? No.

Have I done these things myself? No, although I have tested to see if I can page myself from an anonymous remailer, and confirmed this to be true.

Is this an example of bad planning on the part of the companies that provide paging services? Yes. An example of a company which has a comparatively better solution is "PageNet", which adds a 7 digit PIN number to the email address.

In addition, paging companies should probably be screening mail from anonymous remailers. Although there are legitimate uses for these remailers, I can't think of a good reason why someone would be sending a page anonymously.


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