Terminal Compromise - Winn Schwartau (fiction book recommendations TXT) 📗

legitimate secret when the program started in the ‘70’s. But

now, the private sector is publishing their own results of stud-

ies duplicating what we did 20 years ago. The Germans, the

Dutch, the French, just about everybody but the English and us

has admitted that CMR is a problem for everyone, not just the

military. Jesus, you can buy anti-Tempest plans in Popular

Science. Because of NSA’s protectiveness of a secret that is no

longer a secret, the entire private sector is vulnerable to CMR

and anti-TEMPEST assaults. As a country, we have no electronic

privacy.”

Marvin nodded in agreement. “You’re damn right we keep it a

secret. Why the hell should we tell the world how to protect

against it? By doing that, we not only define the exact degree

of our own exposure, but teach our enemies how to protect them-

selves. It should be classified.”

“And everyone else be damned?” Trump challenged Jacobs.

“I wouldn’t put it that way, but NSA is a DoD oriented agency

after all. Ask Congress,” Marvin said resolutely.

“That’s the most alienating, arrogant isolationist attitude I’ve

ever heard,” Paul Trump said. “Regardless of what you may think,

the NSA is not the end-all be-all, and as you so conveniently

dismiss, the NSA is not trusted by many outside the U.S.. We do

not have a technology monopoly on TEMPEST any more than we do on

the air we breathe.” Trump threw up his hands in disgust.

“Patently absurd paranoia . . .”

“Paul, you don’t have all the facts . . .” objected Marv to no

avail. Trump was a master at debate.

“Sir,” Trump again turned from the argumentative Jacobs to the

President. “I don’t think this is proper forum for rehashing

history, but it should be noted that NIST is responsible for non-

defense computer security, and we have a staff and budget less

than 1% of theirs. The job just isn’t getting done. Personally,

I consider the state of security within the government to be in

total chaos. The private sector is in even worse shape, and it’s

our own fault.”

“Phil?” the President said. “Emergency funding. Congress.” Phil

nodded as the debate continued. “None of this is saying a damn

thing about what we should do. How do we best defend?” He bit

off the end of crispy slice of bacon waiting for the answer he

knew would be unsatisfactory.

“We improvise.”

“Improvise! That’s the best you can do?” The President threw

down his napkin and it slipped off the table to the floor as he

shoved his chair back.

“This country is run by goddamned computers,” the President

muttered loudly as he paced the breakfast room. Those who had

been eating ceased long ago. “Goddamned computers and morons.”

* Thursday, January 21 SPREADSHEETS STOP CRUNCHING LOTUS AND MICROSOFT STRUCK by Scott Mason

Last weekend’s threats made by the late OSO Industries Chairman,

Taki Homosoto appear to be a trustworthy mirror of the future.

Lotus Development Corporation and Microsoft, two of the software

industry’s shining stars are the latest victims of Homosoto’s

vengeful attack upon the computer systems of the United States.

With cases of 20-20 hindsight proliferating, security experts

claim that we should have seen it coming.

The last several months has been filled with a long series of

colossal computer failures, massive virus attacks and the magnet-

ic bombing of major computer installations. These apparently

unrelated computer crimes, occurring with unprecedented frequency

have the distinct flavor of a prelude to the promises Homosoto

made in the self penned note that accompanied his seeming sui-

cide.

The latest virus debacle comes immediately on the heels of the

announcement of the dGraph infections.

Yesterday, Lotus and Microsoft and their dealers were inundated

with technical support calls. According to reports, the industry

standard 1-2-3 and the popular Excel spreadsheets have been

experiencing cataclysmic failures in the field. Typical com-

plaints claim the powerful spreadsheet programs are performing

basic mathematical functions incorrectly; a veritable disaster

for anyone who relies upon the accuracy of their numbers.

The leading theory held by both companies as well as software and

security experts, is that a highly targeted computer virus was

designed to only affect Lotus and Microsoft spreadsheet files.

While some viruses are designed to erase files, or entire hard

disks, the Lotus Virus as it has been informally named, is a

highly sophisticated virus designed only to make subtle changes

in the results of mathematical calculations.

Viruses of this type are known as Slight Viruses. They only

infect small portions of the computer or program, and then only

in ways that will hopefully not be detected for some time – thus

compounding the damage.

Fortune 100 companies that use either 1-2-3 or Excel nearly

unanimously announced that they will put a moratorium on the use

of both programs until further notice. Gibraltar Insurance

issued a terse statement: “Due to the potential damage caused by

the offending software, we will immediately begin installation of

compatible spreadsheet programs and verify the accuracy of all

data. Our attorneys are studying the matter at this time.”

Lotus and Microsoft stock plummeted 36% and 27% respectively.

GOOD ARTICLE. DO YOU WANT TO GET IT RIGHT NOW?

I see humility reigns right up there with responsibility.

THE FIRST LOTUS VIRUSES WERE WRITTEN IN LATE 1988. CUTE, HUH?

THE LONGEST VIRUS INCUBATION PERIOD EVER!

Not many people share your sense of achievement.

I DON’T EXPECT SO.

We should get something straight right off.

ARE YOU SAVING?

I am now. I do not approve, in fact I despise what you say

you’ve done.

I AM NOT LOOKING FOR APPROVAL. MAYBE UNDERSTANDING.

Not from me.

YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT. IF WE DO THIS, YOU NEED TO PRESENT BOTH

SIDES. IT’S TO YOUR BENEFIT. YOU’RE GOING FOR A PULITZER.

Don’t tell me how to do my job.

LET’S GET TO IT.

Fine. Where did I go wrong in the article?

NOT WRONG, INCOMPLETE. THERE ARE REALLY 6 VERSIONS OF THE LOTUS

VIRUS. ONLY THE FIRST ONE HAS BEEN DETECTED. THE OTHERS AREN’T

SET TO GO OFF UNTIL LOTUS HAS TIME TO CLEAN UP THE FIRST MESS.

You mean you built several viruses all aimed at Lotus programs?

AND MICROSOFT, ASHTON TATE, BORLAND, CA, NOVELL, LAN MANAGER,

WORDPERFECT, AND A WHOLE BUNCH MORE. THE LIST WAS OVER 100 TO

BEGIN WITH.

100? How many viruses? When?

SLIGHT VIRUSES! I LOVE IT. WHAT A NAME. LIKE I SAID, YOU’RE

GOOD. I GUESS 500. MAYBE MORE. THEY’RE SET TO GO OFF FOR THE

NEXT TWO YEARS. TIME RELEASED. TIME RELEASE SLIGHT VIRUSES.

WHEW!

Why? Why tell me now?

SLOW DOWN. NOT ALL AT ONCE. FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO BUILD YOU

A LITTLE CREDIBILITY. CONVINCE YOUR PUBLIC THAT I AM WHO I SAY I

AM AND THAT I CANNOT BE TOUCHED. SO HERE’S THE FIRST LOTUS VIRUS

SIGNATURE – THE CURRENT ONE: 05 55 EF E0 F4 D8 6C 41 44 40 4D.

IN COMPUTERS THAT ARE INFECTED, BUT HAVEN’T YET STRUCK YET, THE

VIRUS IS TWO HIDDEN FILES: ONE SHORT ONE NAMED 7610012.EXE.

IT’S ONLY 312 BYTES LONG AND HIDES ITSELF IN THE ROOT DIRECTORY

BY LOOKING LIKE A BAD CLUSTER TO THE SYSTEM. IT’S NEVER EVEN

NOTICED. WHEN THE TIME COMES, IT AWAKENS THE SECOND PART OF THE

VIRUS, 7610013.EXE WHICH IS SAVED IN A HIDDEN DIRECTORY AND LOOKS

LIKE BAD SECTORS. ONLY A FEW K. THAT’S THE FILE THAT SCREWS

AROUND WITH 123 MATH FUNCTIONS. AFTER 123 IS INFECTED, THE FILE

LENGTH STILL SAYS IT HASN’T BEEN CHANGED AND THE VIRUS ERASES

ITSELF AND RETURNS THE SECTORS TO THE DISK. IN THE MEANTIME,

LOTUS IS SHOT AND IT IS INFECTING OTHER PROGRAMS. BRILLIANT IF I

SAY SO MYSELF.

And you want me to print this? Why?

IT WILL GIVE YOU AND ME CREDIBILITY. YOU’LL BE BELIEVED AND THAT

IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. WE HAVE TO STOP IT FROM HAPPENING.

What from happening?

THE FULL ATTACK. IT CAN’T BE TOTALLY STOPPED, BUT I CAN HELP.

How much of an attack?

YOU HAVE NO IDEA. NO IDEA AT ALL. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF

PEOPLE INVOLVED AND NOW IT’S ON AUTOPILOT. THERE’S NO WAY TO

TURN IT OFF.

That’s incredible . . .more than incredible. Why? For what

purpose?

MAYBE LATER. THAT DOESN’T MATTER NOW. I WILL SAY, THOUGH, THAT

I NEVER THOUGHT HOMOSOTO COULD PULL IT OFF.

So you worked for him?

I WAS HIRED BY OSO INDUSTRIES TO WORK ON A SECRET CONTRACT TO

DESIGN METHODS TO COMBAT COMPUTER VIRUSES AND STUDY MILITARY

APPLICATIONS. AS THE PROJECT CONTINUED, IT TOOK ON A NEW SCOPE

AND WE WERE ASKED TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS AND CONSIDERA-

TIONS IN OUR EQUATIONS.

Equations?

COMPUTER DESIGN IS MATHEMATICAL MODELING, SO THERE’S A LOT OF

PENCIL AND PAPER BEFORE ANYTHING IS EVER BUILT. WE FIGURED THE

EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE SEQUENCED VIRUSES ON LIMITED