Phreaking is the practice of manipulating telephone systems to make free calls or gain unauthorized access to phone networks. It originated in the 1960s and 1970s when individuals discovered ways to exploit the analog phone system using various tools and techniques, such as tone generators that mimicked the sounds used by the system. Phreakers often shared their knowledge and techniques through underground communities, leading to a culture of exploration and experimentation. While some phreakers aimed to expose vulnerabilities in the system, others engaged in illegal activities. The rise of digital technology eventually diminished traditional phreaking, but its legacy influenced the development of hacking and cybersecurity.