Terminal Compromise

umbus Brings Di

cott

are borrowed from a story title in last week's National Expose, that most revered of journalistic p

ore appropriately

n New Computer V

tial Damage to Com

y Virus: Ima

w infamous Columbus Day Virus. As for the last several years, that is the anticipated date for a high

wn comput- er virus. As my regular readers recall, a computer virus is an unsolicited and unwanted computer program wh

s CHAOS, an acronym for Computer Hackers Against Open Systems, whatever the

s were aware of the planned virus. As a result of the negative publicity hackers have gotten over the last few years, the Conference issued a statement disavowing the prop

tergalactic Hackers meetings. In other words, files and programs, supposedly legitim

1989, and caused millions of dollars of down computer t

te over a period of years. The Columbus Day Virus is called by its creators, the "Data Crime Virus", a name befitting its p

ing than the hundred or so that have preceded it? The publi

BS, NBC and hundreds of newspapers including this one. The Associated Press and other reputable media have, pe

event propelled by Virus Busters. Sam Moscovitz of Computer Nook in Dallas, Texas commented, "I have never se

te in San Jose, California thinks that most viruses are harmless and users and companies overreact. "There have been no more that a few dozen viral outbreaks in the last few years. They spread m

er date that computer virus makers use as the intended date of destruction. According to an official spokesman, NASA has called in computer security experts to m

highly respected computer specialist put it, "The Columbus Day Virus is a low risk high consequence possibility. I don't

this is Scott Mason, hoping m

*

ale, N

trains were

of Scarsdale, New York into Grand Central Station. If he made it. It was a 32 minute ride into the City o

e Scarsdale train station. He bought a large styrofoam cup full of decent black coffee and 3 morning papers from the blin

im with a perfectly good Ford Fairlane with 78,000 miles on it when he needed a car in New York. He was one of t

r executives on their way to the Big Apple. The morning commute is a personal solace for many. Your train buddy knows if you got laid and by whom. If you tripped over you

Club 10 years ago. Maggie Mason and Arlene Duncan were opoosites; Maggie, a giggly, spacey and spontaneous girl of 24 and Arlene, the dedicated wife of a civil servant and mother of th

s considerable bulk accumulate around the middle. Scott, small and wiry was 10 years Ty's junior. On weekends they played on a ver

d T-Shirt of choice. His glowing skull, more dark brown than ebony, with fringes of graying short hair emphasized the usually jovi

wn opposite Scott as the train pu

some mood," Tyro

is newspaper and

A lesson in how to make fri

looked down at the

m

A Shi

s them that oug

thea

thea

said sarcasti

cott. "VCR lessons." T

cent present. Well, a couple of weeks later I went over to her place and I asked how she liked the VCR. She di

it sitting next to her TV for a couple of months before she

med Tyrone. "And

a light- bulb." They laughed until Scott could speak.

achine to do something right, when you're not around to make sure it is

uce things to the basics. The real basics. Trying to teach a seventy year ol

he simplicity of either 'on' or 'off'. But he welcomed the tangent conversa- tions that invariably resulted when he

to show her how to use it. And after he left, she repro- grammed it for her tastes only to erase it again before his next visit

Tyrone. "What are you and

, why?" Tyrone a

e get together and she'd

of her seances?" Ty

y words, but it's al

time. I don't think I could get Arlene within 20 miles of your moth

almly. "It's just her

bingo, others p

that's not normal. I like your mother, but, well, Arlene has put her foot down." Tyrone shuddered at the thought of that evening. No one

ehind the newspaper. "I see you're maki

ou mean?"

urned to Scott's Christopher Columbus article. "Your computer crime pieces have been raising a few eyebrows down a

ment. "Just a job, but I gotta story much mor

hy

ight. Can you be- lieve it?" Scott teased Ty

detail, preferring to remain at a measured professional distance. The years of dedication invested in their friendship, even after to everyones' surprise,

h to go into print, but, it's there, I know i

the

ments papers on a certain company. I can't say

Tyrone urg

he McMillan situation and the legality of the apparently purloined information. Tyrone li

up his spine. He t

question?" Tyro

Go fo

companies Amal

e a look they be

ow?" Scott aske

e National Bank?" Tyrone tried to subdue his

his surprise. "Yeah!

you

nto his professional FB

t's reporter mindset replac

Tyrone picked up a newspaper

. Talk o

know it." Tyron

l buy you a lolli

the rules, I can't talk

case? What is i

t there was a cas

gress were your words, no

ver know why you became a reporter. You used to be a much nicer pain in the a

some help. Since he hadn't read any of this in the papers, there had to be journalistic resp

on

f Manhat- tan. They had to raise their voices to hear e

mail. From Oshkosh, Baton Rouge, New York, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, LA, the works. Small towns to the metros. It's an epidemic and the local and state cops are absolutely buried. They can't handl

t asked knowing he woul

it was organized crime, but our informants say they're baffled. Not the mob, they swear. T

tiv

We're

e're both on t

s of commuters lunged at the doors to make their escape to the streets of New Y

ne queried on

ea

a wor

h three fingers. "Scott's honor!

at caught both of their eyes instantly. The Natio

IN NATIONAL BL

for the scandal filled tabloid, bought two,

ually saying the word. "They're going to mak

blasted lot. And they're printing them." Scott put dow

ed," Tyrone sai

imed Scott. "The motive. W

What's the answer?" Tyrone demanded loud enough to attr

u." Scot

surprise. "What

ore than anyone else. You said you're overloaded,

yrone didn't follow Scott's reason

have other crimes in mind. Maybe they have already hit their real targets. Isn't it possible that the FBI is an unwill- ing dupe, a decoy

ar left field for his linear thinking. "No this is crazy as the time you though that UFO's were invading Westch

n't my fa

nection and the other 500 wild a

the only victim is the FBI. None of the alleged victims have been harmed, other than ego and their paran

uncan accepted the

g hits, you guys are t

*

Bureau of

Square,

, in no way echoed the level of technical sophistication hidden behind the drab exteri- or. The building had

the clues to the locations of an incredible array of computing power, some of the world's best analytical tools, test equipment, forensic labs, com

ational privacy was guaranteed. Personal privacy was another matter, though. Most of the office staff worked out in an open office floorplan. The walls

one. There was near total sepa- ration between the two groups out of necessity; maintain isola- tion between those with differing need-to-know criteria. The mo

e power brokers, at the FBI the farther down into the ground you worked, the more important you were. To the "airheads"

ge Government issue executive desk to answer his ringing phone. It was Washin

l very flattering, but no. I'm afraid not. And you know why. We've been throug

e other end of the conversation. "OK, I'll give it some more thought, bu

te content and frankly, I don't need the headaches." He looked around the room as

d. I'll call you ne

hear from me, you'll

All right, you

t won't leave me alone. Let me be! He clasp

*

ere against him ever being accepted into the elite National Police Force. The virtually autonomous empire that J. Edgar H

h one of Boston's most prestigious law firms. Tyrone was a member of one of the very few rich and influenti

it was more than prejudice, though. It was hate, it was ignorance and fear. It was so much more than prejudice. It was one of the l

ummer in Alabama. The murder of the civil rights workers made front page news. The country was out- raged, at the murders most assuredly, but national o

Tyrone thought that that approach was real slick, a nice legal side step to get what you want. Put the lawyers on the case. When he asked the FBI if they could use a hand, the local ove

decided that his despite his father's urg

written and physical tests for FBI admission. He was over 100 pounds lighter than his current weight. His background check was unassai

or what was pulling the strings. He called FBI personnel and asked why he had been rejected. They mumbled something about 'experience base' and 'fittin

ummer. After the pleasantries, Tyrone told them that he was applying for a

The four letters of recommendation, which read more like votes for sainthood were a little overdone, but, they were on FBI stationa

's charts in your files and, well, you understand, I'm sure. It happens all the time. We're

ginary enemies to feed the Hoover Nixon paranoia. He tried, fairly successfully to stay away from that last kind of work. In Tyrone's not so humble opinion, there were a whole lot more better things for

the New York City office. A prestigious position. This was his first promotion in 8 years

ew counterfeiting rings and nary a kidnapping. What dogged him though was the flurry of blackmail and extortion claims. He re- r

nt who takes the call can identify the source of the call with a readout on his special phone; a service that the FBI had had for years but was only recently becoming available to the public. Thus, if the caller had significant information, but refu

played to the agent. Then the number was crosschecked against files from the phone company. What was the exact location

the agent knew a plethora of information about the caller. Criminal activities, bad credit records; the type of data that would permit the agent to gau

the office or home of major corporate movers and shakers. Top American businessmen who, while not beyond the reach of the law, were from the FBI's view, upstanding

f diversified cases of blackmail, and a very small percentage of those pan out into legitimate and solvable cases

ndoubtedly they haven't befriended everyone with whom they have had contact, but what's the connection? Tyrone's mind reeled through a maze of unlikelihoods. Until, the only common element he could think of

e government. No way. Is it possible? I must be missing something, surely. This is crazy. Or is it? Doesn't the IRS have records on ever

nother overworked, underpaid civil servant; his boss. The G-9 says, 'I got a way to make sure the tax evaders pay their share, and it won'

anies on his hit list aren't necessarily functioning on the up and up. What better way to get them to p

mething like, 'Big Brother is listening and he doesn't like what he hears.' And he says, 'we'll call you bac

possible? The government was certainly capable of some pretty bizarre things. He recalled the Phoenix program in Viet Nam where suspected V

s. Didn't we give LSD to unsuspecting soldiers to see if they could function adequately under the influence? The horror stories swirled through his mind. And they became more and more unbelievable, yet they

f his phone jarred Tyrone fr

answered i

rson is out and so you're elected." Duncan's secre- tary was too damned effici

tes to graduate from speculative forensics and return to Earth to deal with real

lp. Mr. Dobbs, Mr. Duncan, regional director." She waited for the tw

e huge FBI agent. Duncan accepted and point

help you,

need help." Dobbs looked straig

uncan. "By whom?"

now." Dobb

blackmailed?" Duncan wanted to conce

ll you wha

If only half of us would s

posi- tions, contingency plans, competitive information and so on. There are only a half dozen people in my company t

erjected Tyrone

ow. That's

Dobbs' eyes. To both force an answer and look for s

. All I got was the pack

e message?"

in touch.

ardly seems like a case for the FBI." Tyrone

d more like the originals, of informa- tion that would negatively affect my company. It

to and you want us to protect you. Fat c

p it. Before i

e?" aske

Before it

obbs?" Duncan stared

s' e

ets." Dobbs paused

here a l

tled to protection." Duncan decided to bait Dobbs a bit more. "Even

mean no one has access to. They were my own notes, ideas in progress. Nothing concrete, just work in progress. But someone, somehow has gotten a hold of it all. And, by my thinking, there'

question made Dobbs pause too obviously.

s eminently clear. There's not a damned thing you can do. Good day." Do

*********************