AT&T backs off the lawsuit against Mike Smith

Shine a beautiful week continues. Hillary should -- is here she's a reporter with the Boston Herald covers so all the good politics for The Herald. And all the more -- a rag -- stuff goes to other people when you get the big races I'd like that he. It joining -- you've heard this story right -- snow in Ipswich yes is. Been in a dispute with AT&T because it's phone company got its phone. System that hijacked. And did the hackers were able to make calls all over the world apparently -- a lot of friends and family they're behind on today's -- to make some yeah that makes a connection a million -- takes a long time to run up but somehow they managed to do it and here to tell us about it is Mike Smith the owner of that company might welcome to WRKO. Hello -- are very good self hating Hillary should -- from the Harold -- our I'm I -- Grandma as well pretend it circumstance so is this your first million dollar phone bill. Yeah except for the first one or whatever thousand bucks what's your understanding about what actually took place. Well it sure. Very convoluted it could we or even an AG to trot them. That's where that the real confusion -- -- -- And basically what happened was Webber had breached our system. You know to abort system are similar to. You know what any small business in America and it's a hard each -- goes out -- Eight there's people grew up breached the system and I don't know there are. Basically what they call it and I'm Tyler. Changed along there. So actually first couple days we actually. Received 260000. Dollars all. Are you -- -- -- so I just want to understand the technical thing might. So did -- -- they did they go your phone system via the answer was a set a regular Internet hacking thing. Or know how did they access your phone system and and kidnap your phone lines. My understanding is that you're actually piled it on our 800 number. Much like -- an employee would. Try and get access to their own voicemail from our guards -- their own voice mail. Basically once you get in the system using your or your access code you're actually the most systems and ability to call out from the going back at at -- before the effectiveness of cell technology. Where now you call it -- at all somebody. You would call the work 800 number your voice mail and if you had to make all from the -- you can actually make your business. And that way you I would build your employer for a long distance calls rather than doing that on your own phone. Absolutely okay so they use I've often wondered -- I'm checking my voicemail or something or when you when you go and you call somebody else and you hit the pound sign and then. You're it's inviting you into the the background -- system at that point you know the codes so. These hackers do that and then they gain access to the ability to make outgoing phone calls and then somehow -- Give that they sell that ability to use your phone lines to somebody else. I would assume that that's that it basically what can what you can ultimately -- and you -- -- league -- It -- Edgar ray our -- -- great effort eight. International call or a long distance call you can actually -- an -- and changed. -- want to share it right. Okay so the computer system that had. Control of your phone system was switching you all over to AT&T using is that what the tent tent thing is the -- and. Exactly and apple orchards and dialer on -- to myself all right now I -- My understanding it so basically what happened say they. -- on starting outside right. 260000. Dollars a phone call went out Friday and Sunday. Which where eighteen she charged that calls on our horizon line. Now if if former intercept in the paper which is often wrong. I'm my apologies to Hillary -- -- old who's here with me about it. But I often I understand talking to a firsthand personally Q Mike Smith from Todd tool up in Ipswich. Debt of the fact pattern is older from what I learned from the newspaper. Was that was as several surprising things about this whole deal. But one is that AT&T apparently doesn't monitor you would think they would have software that would pick up and -- usual. Amount of activity like this out of nowhere and also that your phone installer had -- been a little more savvy. Would have -- protections in your phone system that would block this from happening. Well I have my understanding with international calling we actually at higher. Expert. And actually warm meeting with him yesterday or -- The -- finally officially dropped. Basically what international. International all I know that they stated that every international call in in the United States not only monitored by. The phone company but it actually recorded by the US government. Every international call. -- are rewarded by the US government well that's fast and yet that is fast. Aren't. I monitored by the monitor -- barrier. They can and they get actually listen and -- actually recorded by the US. -- let's get to the bottom line though so AT&T was suing you looking for money how much they want. They wanted 891000. Dollars phone calls and then I would. One point 15 million overall including interest. When did this incident take place. It place not say filed suit in February 2 know the incident when it happened the phone lines were kidnapped. September 2009. -- been on our profile and you've been fighting them and they or push a new for the money and pursuing -- in court in solicit the media did the did the stories that we've been doing in the media did they blow this thing up for eighteen -- get them to change course. I think that it can't combination of the fact that you know immediately very very helpful. And things like. Very very fast and it's amazing how technology can work against what you and get your ought to be there yup yeah. You know this story broke on. This couple three is -- government yeah and gigabyte limit is seven hours you know you contacted. Basically. The worst change. Nothing like a little bad publicity great company and suddenly you matter hit hit hit -- Any of any moral of the story or anything else you wanna communicate to us Mike. Well you know that that oral historian. You know you really need to make sure you're as small business or businessperson or at eight PBX system. You are secure. You can become -- hurt her quickly. Ed I think most people feel that OG the most horrible I see is that. It's access to my business voicemail. And you know me personally it's important that everyone in my business -- it would share. But the reality is there -- major damage done from inside your system -- -- get into voicemail. They are as good or better that it it will -- But but really isn't the lesson that your crazy in America today have your own business. -- it it seems to be -- becomes more more difficult than. You know I'm always -- Free enterprise guy that you know there's a different level free enterprise people who. The lesson via AT&T as if this past. It's tough fare really as our Michael thank you for being a -- -- -- -- -- and talking with us and if anything else develop so it's so -- the one last question why -- -- still suing AT&T. Even though they've backed off their lawsuit. Well I'm still -- or whether countersuit. You know mainly because. 33. Years I have been 900000. Dollar weight on my shoulders. Now and it's a place that -- on our first bout -- case. And then I'll let in five minutes they changed course it was basically -- oh well never mind yeah. -- -- sorry but they actually my business my coworkers to help. You know we were one step from going out of business you know it's just judgments -- against awaits you want damages from. What what we're working on you know that concept that we are we are countersuing for. You know person Al lack of business practice. Term. Or is in layman's terms what is -- year you leave for them having been. Dishonor -- and deal with you -- harm you by pursuing this lawsuit. While this event so it's very interesting you're not gonna always. Well you know it's it's ruined -- like three years. Its its air you know our delegate -- it's affected my coworkers you know -- at fourteen employees -- it works daily business. And you know -- and a lot. You know a lot of exertion on on that on the companies for three years and they just. -- side and a wrap up and I just move on has almost like a mind. Yeah yeah credit. And you have you suffered in your company -- -- Michael Todd Smith you're living up to the company name it's called -- tool and abrasive systems you're being abrasive right back it. I like it thank you sir for being here today. Much Michael Smith from Ipswich the company from a switch and -- scary story of his cellphone system having been kidnapped. When and a lawsuit from AT&T. I do we get you didn't say much. -- now I'm sorry I just jump in Russia -- and I don't sense that we don't have to do but don't be has -- well again I mean it -- With without story it has been playing out I -- actually and I should have asked how he. How we came to contact the media or some media just to contacted by. Got a call from I don't know if I should reveal this but I Will -- give bully who owns a clothing store in the North Shore giveaways are -- and he called me so I know this guy. Who's got this situation you might wanna -- -- So blistering heat he gave me you know he hooked us up so I can learn about it that's pretty and it's yeah its nice to get those kinds of tips and to learn about things going -- so what we've got this great sound from Johnson -- -- the former governor New Hampshire the do you play you wanna break first course and then. Play the cuts yet so we'll take a short break we'll listen took -- he beats up on Andrea Mitchell in -- -- doesn't -- I thought after her right goes after or what she's saying in the line of thinking yes yeah so you're gonna love this -- and pillars of us here from The Herald. It's taught fiber -- on 680 WRKO. Local talk like it's no one else can do some boosters Boston's talk station AM sick -- W -- trio.