SMRTR TechApr 9, 2026Hacker News

Joybubbles – The Forgotten Story of an Accidental Phone Hacker

SMRTR summary

Joe Engressia, known as Joybubbles, was born blind and accidentally invented phone hacking by discovering he could whistle tones to make free long-distance calls, inspiring the "phone phreaks" movement that included future Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. A new documentary explores his forgotten legacy as a pivotal figure whose telephone hacking techniques directly influenced the birth of modern technology and computer hacking culture.

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