Spyware Essentials by Techrepublic

Author:Techrepublic [Techrepublic]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Computers, Information Technology, Security, Hardware, Spyware (Computer Software)
ISBN: 9781932509908
Publisher: Techrepublic
Published: 2005-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

. . . 48 Hours and Counting . . .

Like so many before him on stake-out duty, Ray found himself nodding off when the moment finally came. He had had little sleep for the last three days, and it was catching up with him. His eyes closed, then opened, blinking, then closed again. Half-aware, he watched as another user logged on, Turtledove, this time. Then another, Vader was the handle. Vader logged off and Turtledove struck up a conversation with Whiskeydick, who seemed to have no life other than to chat-up anyone on this popular board.

After Whiskeydick and Turtledove got into an argument and broke it off when someone called Snowflake came onto the scene. It was a new user: ‘noob’ said the status line, rudely. Ray looked at the screen with one, half-open eye. His arms were crossed over his chest and he had sagged down into his chair. He wondered vaguely as he dozed if he was indistinguishable from the homeless crowd in the carrels.

Earlier a librarian volunteer had come around and asked if she could help him. That meant, he knew, she didn’t really want him back here in the side rooms, which were reversible, but normally kept locked. Leaning forward to hide his notebook computer, he had leered at her and told her he was doing just fine. Fortunately, she was the timid type. She had nodded, blinking rapidly, and hurried away. He had not been disturbed again, but he felt sure that he was under casual scrutiny now and then. Falling asleep on the job put him in the exactly the category he wanted to be in.

But it wasn’t finding Justin any faster. Using that thought and a deep breath to wake himself up, he touched the mouse. He clicked on Snowflake and brought up a window of more detailed information on the user. He watched as Snowflake performed several scanning commands of his or her own. Snowflake was reading mail, and since this was a new user, that meant Snowflake was reading the mail of others. Ray sat up, fiddled with the mouse further. The mail messages flashed up. Snowflake skipped directly to Santa’s mail and read it.

“Son-of-a-bitch,” muttered Ray, sitting up. Could this be the one?

Snowflake read the message Ray had sent hours ago to Santa. Two other patrons logged on, Foobar and Budha. Ray ignored them, watching Snowflake intently. All thought of sleep was gone now. His heart pounded as he watched the screen.

Budha moved to open a back-channel with Snowflake. Ray sucked in his breath. He glided the mouse up to the SNOOP button and he clicked on it.

Budha: I’m here.

Snowflake: Someone else is, too.

Budha was silent for perhaps ten seconds.

Snowflake: You still there?

Budha: How do you know?

Snowflake: I know. Someone’s made me on this system.

Budha: What’s the deal with the kid?

Snowflake fell silent.

Budha: hello?

Snowflake: fat fucking idiot

Budha: screw you too, man

Snowflake: Keep your typing neutral

Budha: You’re getting paranoid. I don’t think anyone is listening.

Snowflake: All right. We have to talk.

Budha: We ARE talking, man.

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