Lateral with Tom Scott 51: Snap! Hacker! Pop!
23 snips
Sep 29, 2023 Topics discussed: Captain Crunch whistle for free long distance calls, x-ray technology for security measures, Navy's code book protection, paying double for a product, origins of 'show your true colors' phrase, scaring with a chainsaw, and the most common street name in the US.
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The Whistle That Unlocked Free Calls
- The Captain Crunch toy whistle accidentally emitted a 2,600 Hz tone that telecom systems used to signal a free long-distance trunk.
- That coincidence let callers exploit network tones to place free long-distance calls for years before systems were patched.
Design Forces Ministers To Lock Boxes
- UK ministerial red boxes place the handle on the hinge side so papers fall out if carried unlocked, forcing users to lock them.
- Lead linings historically added weight so lost or thrown boxes sank in water, preventing secrets being recovered.
Half-Gallon Workaround For Rising Gas Prices
- During the early 1980s US gas price surge, pumps often couldn't display full dollar amounts so stations sold by the half-gallon.
- Stations posted notices that pumps registered half-total purchases, so customers mentally doubled the displayed price.