Hackers build private 'Ninja Tel' phone network at Defcon

Ninja Phone a badge of honor at Defcon 20 (photos)

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Hackers who spent their teen years phone-phreaking -- breaking into telephone networks and making free calls -- have created their own GSM network at Defcon and are using creative and silly apps on highly customized Android phones.

The Ninja hacker group is giving the phones away to people who have contributed to the community, and to their lucky friends. The phones and accompanying lanyards serve as "badges" that provide entrance to the annual Ninja party tonight. (Defcon attendees can also get in by donating blood or signing up to donate bone marrow, or donating money to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.)

The phones are HTC One V phones running Android 4.0.3. Calls can be routed over the private GSM network or over Defcon's WiFi network. The network is not encrypted and there is no emergency call phone number.

The "Ninja Tel" networ... [Read more]