AT&T MERLIN LEGEND Release 4.0 Feature Reference page 445

Feature Reference
Programming
At a Glance
Users Affected
Mode
Telephones
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Security Alert:
Remote System Programming
As a customer of a new telephone system, you should be aware that there
exists an increasing problem of telephone toll fraud. Telephone toll fraud
can occur in many forms, despite the numerous efforts of telephone
companies and telephone equipment manufacturers to control it. Some
individuals use electronic devices to prevent or falsify records of these
calls. Others charge calls to someone else's number by illegally using lost
or stolen calling cards, billing innocent parties, clipping on to someone
else's line, and breaking into someone else's telephone equipment
physically or electronically. In certain instances, unauthorized individuals
make connections to the telephone network through the use of remote
access features.
The Remote Access feature of your system, if you choose to use it,
permits off-premises callers to access the system from a remote
telephone by using an 800 number or a 7- or 10-digit telephone number.
The system returns an acknowledgment signaling the user to key in his or
her barrier code, which is selected and administered by the system
manager. After the barrier code is accepted, the system returns dial tone
to the user. If you do not program specific egress restrictions, the user will
be able to place any call normally dialed from a telephone associated with
the system. Such an off-premises network call is originated at, and will be
billed from the system location.
The Remote Access feature, as designed, helps the customer, through
proper administration, to minimize the ability of unauthorized persons to
gain access to the network. Most commonly, telephone numbers and
codes are compromised when overheard in a public location, through
theft of a wallet or purse containing access information, or through
carelessness (writing codes on a piece of paper and improperly
discarding it. Additionally, hackers may use a computer to dial an access
code and then publish the information to other hackers. Enormous
charges can be run up quickly. It is the customer's responsibility to take
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Programming