bruce@ccavax.camb.com (Barton F. Bruce) (11/13/90)
I wonder if either or both of the following are available in current modems. They would improve security in general, and callback in particular. Do any modems capture caller-id, and if so is there a standardised way for a program to ask for it, and for modem based callback schemes to optionally use it? Is there a standard modem that can use a ground-start line. In the OLD OLD days there WERE such modems. Obviously, any modem can answer one. But to originate on one, one needs to first pull dialtone by grounding Ring until a ground appears on Tip. Watching for a ground on Tip before requesting dial tone, one knows if the CO seizes the line without having seen ringing. This makes it almost impossible for anyone to try dial-back-in-fast spoofing.