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Post by Tweaker on Jul 1, 2004 20:10:53 GMT -5
Ho hum. I hate firewall duty. Tweaker sat back in his swivel chair and spun in a circle. Daisy Systems' security center was laid out before him in a semicircle. All systems were clear; data traffic poured steadily in and out as the server's I/O ports flashed data to other parts of the Internet. It was quite possibly the most boring job he'd ever been assigned. But Daisy Systems insisted they needed the very best firewall control program available, and that was him. At least the pay was good. A client finished his download; Tweaker reached over and tapped a control, and a port rumbled shut. Tweaker sat back in his chair with a sigh. Only twenty cycles to go...
Suddenly, a light blinked. Some system or other had requested a connection. Routine, although he didn't recognize the return IP address. Tweaker opened a port and sent a packet winging its way back towards the originating computer. A few packet exchanges later, and a beam of light locked onto the data port. Connection established. Tweaker spoke into a dataport: "Welcome to Petal. Please enter username and password." Tweaker sat back; it usually took several seconds for a User to type in the complex passwords Daisy required. Thus he was totally unprepared for the blast of data that came beaming down the connection and into the Server. Tweaker immediately closed the port and slapped an alert to let the Users know what was going on. A password cracker! They're inside! The Tweaker set the board to accept no new connections, jumped out of his command chair, and strode into the base. Whoever this foreign program was, there was no way he was infiltrating this server if Tweaker had anything to say about it. Not on my shift, mister.
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Post by Kamui.EXE on Jul 2, 2004 7:44:47 GMT -5
Kamui.EXE was greeted by a bunch of ICPs throwing disks at her.
"GRIDBUGS!" she snapped, "IPeX IN TO THE FRAY!"
The little whispy creature named IPeX wizzed around the ICPs causing distractions.
She was on the trail of a malicious program that escaped her before her. If these ICPs didn't let her do her job, the server was in jepordy. She used the password cracker to get in.
"I'm trying to get a bounty here! Leave me alone!" Kamui.EXE shouts as she fires off her modified LOL.
She made quite a few connected hits putting a whole bunch of ICPs in to sleep mode. She needed to get the program in charge of security to stop attacking her. She needed to tell him about the malicious VIRAL threat that she was hunting. She took down a few more ICPs.
At this rate, she'd run out of energy before she even had a chance.
Tweaker? Can't you recognize me? Kamui.EXE thought.
~Kamui.EXE
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Post by Tweaker on Jul 2, 2004 13:37:09 GMT -5
Tweaker pulled up a security panel in midair before him as he raced down the hall. What the...? 17 ICPs derezzed? That's some program! Tweaker summoned more reinforcements. Then, as he arrived in the compromised sector, he tapped a control on the datasheet and activated the Quarantine fields. Now no program would get in or out of the sector without his say-so. Tweaker checked his inventory-- Gold cluster disc, plane shield, plane sword, and the nice armor subroutines Daisy had provided him with. Then he set his configuration for Battle mode and piped himself through a Sec Rezzer.
Tweaker rezzed into the I/O Port Control Block. It was a regular war zone. A single program sat at the center of a group of 35 ICPs, furiously fending off discs and chopping secuirty programs into little bits with some sort of sword. Tweaker activated his Megaphone subroutine and spoke, his voice reverbrating throughout the room. "THIS IS ACTING KERNEL TWEAKER. FOREIGN PROGRAM, SURRENDER OR BE DEREZZED. WHAT THE-- KAMUI??" Tweaker shut off his megaphone and pushed his way to the front of the battle. "Oh, hello, Kamui. Program, you are not authorized to be on this system."
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Post by Kamui.EXE on Jul 2, 2004 16:13:19 GMT -5
Kamui.EXE paused for a breather.
"I've noticed." she said as she looked at the ICPs that she put in to sleep mode.
She then looks at IPeX who was still nipping and biting away at the ICPs.
"IPeX! That's enough!" Kamui commands.
IPeX stops but not without what sounded like it was blowing rasberries.
Kamui.EXE rezzed away her weapons.
"I'm sorry about this, Tweaker. I was tracking a malicious viral program to your server. The only way I could get in was a password cracker. I couldn't risk her knowing I was here. But I guess with you coming down here, the jig is up." kamui.EXE explains.
~kamui.EXE
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Post by Tweaker on Jul 2, 2004 21:37:53 GMT -5
"Indeed. Kamui, this is a high-security server. Unless you have some permissions that I don't know about, you are not allowed to be here. If there's a foreign program here, please tell me about it and I and the in-house security will handle it, but frankly I think you're on a false trail. Before you arrived, the firewall was at full and security sweeps were negative."
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Post by Kamui.EXE on Jul 3, 2004 7:10:03 GMT -5
"That's the problem. She's a trogen horse. She can easily slip through security in chamelion mode. She's wanted on every server imaginable with a huge bounty on her header. And since collecting rent payments isn't enough to get by, I also need to consider other avenues. Is there any way I can stay to hunt for her? Even as a guest? Korruptika.exe is a very DANGEROUS virus." kamui.EXE says.
Kamui.EXE had to search the server. The server itself was on the line along with everyone in it.
~Kamui.EXE
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Post by Harpo989 on Jul 3, 2004 11:18:18 GMT -5
I was enjoying a walk along a main walkway towards the port out, well, as much as you can enjoy a walk after you just stole a bunch of files from a secured archive bin, when the system message came out that the firewall was currently under lockdown. Geez... it would be when I'm trying to get out, wouldn't it? I sighed and made my way down a back alley, heading towards a rest point, hopefully far away from any sec rezzers. then I saw a program coming at me, he looked like a E-mail script, but a little... different. "Hey!" I called out. "what are you doing here?" but the program didn't respond. instead, he morphjed into a ICP form. this cought me off guard for a moment, then it suddenly occoured to me that there's only one kind of program that shape-shifts... he ran at me and used his ICP strengh to slam me into a wall, out of his way. but before he turned a corner and escaped, I ran a profiler v3.5 scan on him. or should I say, 'her'.
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Post by Tweaker on Jul 3, 2004 13:08:29 GMT -5
Tweaker pondered for a moment. "Tell you what. I'll talk to the Users and ask if they need another security program. Give me a second."
Tweaker walked over to an I/O node and punched in the hex code to communicate with the Daisy SysAdmin.
Sys_Alert Possible virus intrusion Virus name: Korruptika.exe Virus type: Polymorphic trojan
Request focused antivirus sweep -eol-
Sys_Request New Antivirus security program found Program name: Kamui.exe Program type: Security, general Request temporary integration into security grid -eol-
Tweaker stepped back from the node for a few seconds and waited. The Daisy SysAdmin was very good about reading his alerts, but he was only human. Finally the node bleeped and Tweaker stepped up to it.
PacketInfo: RouteTo Tweaker.exe Flags: Read-only, System, Secret(Eyes Only) >>Text Follows<<
Antivirus sweep unavailable. Reason: Up-to-date virus definitions unavailable.
Permission granted to execute Kamui.exe for purposes of antivirus security. Evaluation to follow. -eol-
Tweaker shot off a quick "ACK" packet, then strode over to where Kamui stood, in the center of the mass of ICPs. "Good news! Daisy has officially requested your services for purposes of this virus hunt. Afterwards they will evaluate your execution and consider hiring you on a longer-term basis. Congratulations!" Tweaker shook Kamui's hand.
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Post by Harpo989 on Jul 3, 2004 13:38:20 GMT -5
I brushed myself off, then continued down the alley, keeping the tracking lock provided by the profiler v3.5. I walked over near the bar, and saw a cluster of ICPs off to one side. hmm... odd. I walked casually across the street hoping not to be seen, but in the plain view of the ICPs. if they really want to find me, they can get me right now. but they probably don't even realise their data that they're working so hard to protect is gone. I laughed quietly to myself and refoucused on walking to the bar.
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Post by Kamui.EXE on Jul 4, 2004 8:21:15 GMT -5
"Thanks, Tweaker. Now it's probably best if we keep this place locked down tight. Korruptika can be anywhere or any one for that matter," Kamui.EXE says.
One of the ICPs speaks up.
"How do we know you're not Korruptika?" says the ICP.
Kamui.EXE rezzes up her Data_Bokudo and hits the ICP on the header.
"Don't you DARE say that! Are you TRYING to disgust ME?!" Kamui.EXE growls.
There was only one program anyone knew of with that kind of temper and that was Kamui.EXE.
"Ow! Sorry," says the ICP.
Kamui.EXE rezzes away her Data_Bokudo.
"First things first after we lockdown is that we need to get some info from the streets. Odds are she made some kind of impression already," Kamui.EXE says.
~kamui.EXE
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Post by Tweaker on Jul 4, 2004 16:47:32 GMT -5
Tweaker grimaced. "Right. I'm going to have to get back to the control center to oversee the lockdown. In the meantime, here are your guest permissions to allow you to get around this server."
/You have received a permission set./
[pulls up his datasheet again and cancels the local quarentine] "If you'll excuse me..." [rez_out]
-*-*-*-*-
Tweaker sat down in his command chair and began tapping controls. Having to lock down the server because you'd let in a virus was highly embarassing and would not look good at all on his spec sheet. The only thing worse than that would be locking down the server because of a false positive. Kamui had better be right about this virus. As he shut down connections and sealed all of the server's ports, an idea came to him. What if I over-clock the server to operate at faster-than-human speeds? That way maybe the hunt will be over with before anyone notices. Tweaker opened a channel to BIOS.sys. "BIOS, this is Acting Kernel Tweaker. Listen, I need you to do me a favor..."
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Post by Harpo989 on Jul 4, 2004 17:55:08 GMT -5
I looked over and saw the ICPs were dispersing, and the program that seemed to be in charge rezzed out. Huh. oh, well... I turned back and walked into the bar. as I entered, I saw there were only a few programs sitting in the booths chatting, and two or three sitting at the bar enjoying their drinks. I walked over and sat down, the the bartender walked over and leaned on the bar. "Can I do something for you, Program?" "yeah." I replied. "get me a Sark's, will ya?" he nodded and started to pour me the drink. "so," I asked, "what's with this lockdown?" the bartender gave me a look then finished pouring the drink and replied: "I heard something about a virus. of course I can't know much, it happening so quick and all, but considering the lack of viruses around, I think I may have gotten some bum info." A virus... that would make sense. the bartender coked his head. "something wrong?" he asked. I quickly snapped out of thought and answered. "Uh, no. thanks for the drink." the bartender seemed to shake his head then wlked on, tending to his drink bins.
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Post by Kamui.EXE on Jul 5, 2004 7:59:19 GMT -5
Kamui.EXE was checking in to some of the local Power bars. She knew that Korruptika like to drink every so often. But yet kamui.EXE wondered why Korruptika (Korri was what everyone called her) would attack this server in particular. kamui.EXE walked in to one of the seediest bars she could find. She sat down at the bar. The bar tender, who was a resource hog, came to talk to her. It somewhat caught her off guard that resource hogs actually had other jobs when they weren't trying to rob someone of their subroutines. This however, didn't show on Kamui's face.
"Did ya want something?" the bar tender asks.
"Can you give me an Austrailian Spritz?" Kamui.EXE asks.
"Sure," the bar tender says as he pours the drink for Kamui.
"By the way, did you hear of a new program in the system named, Korri?" Kamui.EXE asks.
"What's it to you, program?" The bar tender asks.
"Oh! She just an "old" friend of mine. I heard she was here," Kamui says.
"You're going to have to pay for that kind of info, program." says the bar tender.
Gridbugs! That's just what I need - An information dealer......
"How much are you asking?" Kamui.EXE says as she takes a drink from her Austrailian Spritz.
The bar tender states his price. The price was enough for kamui to back wash her drink in to the bar tender's face.
"What?! Who do you think I am?!" Kamui says in shock.
"You can pay for the drink too," says the bar tender as he wipes off his face.
Kamui.EXE gets up and leaves. She leaves her payment with the bar tender. It was obvious he knew Korri and he wasn't ready to give anything away. Kamui climbs up the side of the bar for a perfect perch above the door. A stake out was called for.
~Kamui.EXE
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Post by Tweaker on Jul 5, 2004 15:00:25 GMT -5
Tweaker terminated the call and felt the rush as the system clock speed accelerated. Now, let's get this hunt on the road.
The first step was to send out an alert. Tweaker picked up the microphone on his desk, keyed it for a general broadcast, and spoke throughout the base. "All programs, this is Acting Kernel Tweaker. A virus has been detected. Program name: Korruptika.exe. If you see this program, report to the nearest Sec Rezzer for your own safety. The program that finds Korruptika will be rewarded generously. Please help us resolve this problem and downtime will be minimal. End of line."
Tweaker wished he could read up on Korruptika, but that would require opening a port to the outside world and the risk of letting the virus escape. Not likely.
"How to get rid of this virus?" he pondered. The most thorough way to get rid of a virus--without involving the dedicated Antivirus programs, which wouldn't recognize Korruptika due to their outdated virus definition files--would be an ICP sweep. That would involve legions of ICPs methodically searching every nook and cranny of the server. But that would take time, and there were ways past it. Tweaker's preferred method was to simply spot-check every area of the server with ICP questioning. Eventually, the virus would reveal itself, and he could simply delete it.
With that in mind, Tweaker modified his I/O profile to resemble that of a Byte, and headed for the system's Root Directory. For now, he would lurk and listen.
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Post by Kamui.EXE on Jul 5, 2004 17:22:13 GMT -5
Kamui.EXE's methodes were a tad unorthadox, even for an anti-virus (Or at she thought she was one). Her version of stake out ment getting to use any subroutine possible to get her program to speak.
She sat on the lower over hang with another over hang above her. She was covered in shadows. She suddenly felt a rush in time. Then she heard the announcement. It startled her. She bolted up right causing her to bang her header on the top over hang.
"OW! Tweaker...." she growled.
But the she realized that she'd finally get her chance. The bar tender's sec rezzer was outside accross from the exit and the exit was right under her.
The resource hog bar tender strode outside casually. Kamui make a few quick calculations and rezzed up her Data_Katana. She lept down behind the bar tender, brought the blade around and up to his neck. He was slightly taller than she was forcing her to go on the tip of her toes.
"I know you're connected to Korri. Tell me what you know and perhaps I won't derezz you." kamui.EXE says.
The bar tender was taken by supprise.
"What do you want to know?" He asked.
The bar tender was scared.
"Where is Korri? What are her plans for the server?" Kamui.EXE growls.
"I dunno. It's not like I'm her friend," says the bar tender.
"You're lying. Do you wish me to repeat the questions or should I be taking your header now?" Kamui.EXE growls.
"Okay! I'll talk! She's an old friend of mine. She wants to completly destroy the server because of Tweaker. She snuck in past the firewall as a simple civilian program. She likes to take the shape of ICPs considering there are quite a few female ICPs on the system," says the Bar tender.
Female ICPs.... TWEAKER! HE'S IN TROUBLE!
Kamui.EXE felt cold and slowly let go of the bar tender.
"Th-thank you for your time." Kamui.EXE says as she takes off.
"WAIT! THERE'S SOMETHING I FORGOT TO TELL YOU!" Yells the bar tender.
But it was too late, Kamui was gone.
Back at the firewall.....
Kamui.EXE dashes up a set of step using her newly aquired permissions to access rooms. She got in to the control room to see Tweaker tied to his swivel cahir and a female ICP standing over him.
"That's enough, Korri! I know it's you!" Kamui.EXE shouts.
The ICP shifts in to a female virus.
"So.... you got me....." She says as she strode around Tweaker, "Just what ARE you going to do about it?"
Her gaze locked on to kamui's.
"Let him go. I'm the one hunting you." Kamui says.
"I could just infect him and turn him in to one of my slaves to help me destroy the system. A program like him could come in handy," she says as she brings her hand close to his face.
Without thinking, Kamui.EXE brinds up her Data_Katana and slashes it accross Korri derezzing her. She frees Tweaker. But something felt wrong.
Kamui looks at the spot where Korri was. It all clicked in. There was no core dump. This Korri was a fake. A clone.
"Tweaker, she's near the firewall. She likes your ICPs a little too much," Kamui.EXE says as she gets up, 'Something else, she's issuing a challenge. Holding up a hostage is her way of issuing a challenge. She wants to fight me."
~Kamui.EXE
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