Marcus H. Sachs

The DoJ Project, Washington, DC, 2001

This chapter describes the story of Reuben, a hacker, who works for a firm that verifies software and finds technical flaws. Reuben has to verify a VPN product, a software to be used for the U. S. Department of Justice, developed by a German company ZFon. Reuben calls his friend Frank who is also called “Madfast” and is well versed in cryptography.

DefCon in Las Vegas, 2000

The chapter discusses the main sources of security research in the IT world. It also discusses small groups of hackers like Phenoelit, L0pht, Attrition, and a select few independent researchers, like Rain Forest Puppy, Dan Kaminsky, Greg Hoglund and David Litchfield among others, each with their own particular specialties and focus.. The chapter further discusses a conference of hackers called Defcon that was the annual conference for hackers and the likes.

The Arrival of MadFast

The chapter describes the arrival of Madfast. Reuben and Madfast are assigned to verify VPN, a product of ZFon. ZFon is a software to be used by the Department of Justice.

Scanning the System, 2003

Reuben and Madfast, two computer experts, are working on a project to verify a VPN product and its vulnerability toward hackers .After days of work, the duo find something.They both enter a situation where they do not know what to do. They find that many hackers are scanning the ZFon software on the same day, which worry both Reuben and MadFast.

Chapter 1 – Prologue

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on a story that is set on the days of the cold war between the United States and the U.S.S.R. The United States was giving much emphasis on science and technology especially computers to outsmart USSR. To be in the race, the U.S.S.R. imported technology from the United States previously openly and later secretly.

Chapter 5 – ZFon Vulnerability

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses John, Reuben, and MadFast’ attempts to verify the vulnerability of ZFons to attacks from hackers. MadFast and Reuben find a buffer overflow. This chapter also focuses on Agpalo and Lualhati, two hackers from Tagig, Philippines, their work and intentions.

Chapter 9 – Damage Control

Publisher Summary There had been no progress in acquiring a ZFons VPN for testing. Reuben and Madfast spends the day double-checking everything to make sure that they were ready, discussing concepts and definitions of computer security with Jane, Paul, Mark to pass the time.

Chapter 7 – Zero Day

Publisher Summary Lualhati and Agpalo, two hackers from Tagig, Phillipines, are about to attack ZFon German company software in the United States. Lualhati and Agpalo use zombie systems for this purpose. Nobody notices this attack except Reuben and MadFast. These two American computer experts work on ZFon software, checking its vulnerability to hackers. In the mean time, Reuben comes to the conclusion that a group or person is behind all these attacks.

Chapter 10 – Recovery

Publisher Summary Frequent attacks by two miscreants, Agpalo and Lualhati, cause chaos in the United States. Ultimately, the president announces national emergency due to unavoidable circumstance. Ibn Kelbeh, a terrorist organization of Philippines, takes responsibility of the attacks. A meeting is called to discuss the situation.

Chapter 8 – Exploit Impact

Publisher Summary A large conflagration erupts due to some technical errors. An error in one of the gasoline pipes led to a huge fire while it was being pumped. A miscreant called Agpalo sitting thousand miles away was doing this using on his computer. Agpalo makes the system unresponsive using his tactics. The news spreads all over America.