9 The interview...(part-2)

Shin(with an act-like-normal look): Umm... I've bought it in auction sir.

Colonel(with a doubtful face raised one of his eyebrows): What! you bought it at auction???

Shin: Y-yes sir, there was this auction that was selling software that was used before 2020 to donate the money earned to the charity. And since, it was an auction about software no longer anyone uses, so only a fewer number of people participated in that auction, there were only 9 to 10 people.

I was among them and I bought that software in that auction. While I was running that software I've found a glitch when I was running that software and after a thorough examination, I found this tool, maybe that software was hacked or bugged and due to changes in the internet no one used that software and that virus were hidden, I found Zeus virus in it. But I don't why the virus wasn't a complete one half of that virus was destroyed. So I've rebuilt it.

Colonel (with a surprise): But why did they keep auction of outdated software???

Shin: 'coz it's outdated and that makes the software kind of antique one.

Colonel: okkay, but where did you learn about the attack???

Shin: I read about it, sir. My friend gave a handwritten book in which the attacks were mentioned. I don't know where she bought that book. I never asked her where she got that book. It was my birthday present.

While saying that shin's heartbeat increased as she remembered who taught her those attacks and who gave her the software and helped Shin to learn more about 'Zeus'.

Colonel took a look at the polygraph and looked back at Shin.

Colonel(with a deeper voice): Is that true??? If yes, why the vital signs on polygraph are fluctuating abnormally???

Shin(with fear and sorrow): I-its because... M-My friend... Sh-she is no more sir... She's dead... And this reminds me of her death.

(Colonel and the soldier in that room see that Shin is holding back her tears).

Colonel(with a sorrow look): sorry. Let's move on to the other question???

(Shin sighed and nodded indicating yes to Colonel's question).

Colonel: Right. Now, tell us about the 'Zeus' virus.

Shin: Zeus is used in turning a compromised computer or a server into a bot or a zombie. A bot is a compromised computer that is used to perform internet-based attacks. A botnet is a collection of compromised computers. The botnet can then be used in a denial of service attack or sending spam emails. Zeus is mostly used to hack banking software. But I've used Zeus to just send a spam mail which contains a bug.

Colonel(with a shock): What! a spam mail with a bug???

Shin: Umm... Yes sir. It's just a simple attacking tool. Actually, there is a minute negligible fault in the server that is there for competition sir. Your military server or the server you've used for the competition has a common feature, i.e., it accepts military recruitment emails from the public moreover from citizens of Mium who want to join the army.

In short, these servers accept army recruitment emails. The firewall in this server destroys all the emails which are other than recruitment mails. So I've sent a mail for army recruitment with a bug using Zeus to the server and the firewall didn't found the bug in the mail and accepted it.

Colonel: Can't you use a direct email with a bug??? Why you have to use Zeus to send spam mail???

Shin: No sir. We can't send a normal email. The firewall blocks that email because the firewall can easily identify the bug in those emails. I've used Zeus because it acts as a Trojan horse. Zeus can only be detected if it is in the server i.e., after entering into it. No firewall can detect it while it is entering, it can only be detected after it is in the server and till then it would be too late to react.

That made my work simple. When I sent the email to the server the firewall didn't destroy instead, it accepted it. So now, that server in the competition has a mail that contained a bug. Now it was time for my second move - a type of attack against the server.

I've tried "Directory traversal attack" because of the same reason i.e., it was stopped 30 years ago.

Colonel: What will this directory traversal attack do???

Shin: The 'directory traversal attack' exploits bugs in the webserver to gain unauthorized access to files and folders. Once the attacker has gained access, they can download sensitive information, execute commands on the server, or install malicious software.

This attack exploits the bug I've sent through spam mail earlier. And due to this, I was able to hack the server. The server did have the greatest firewall I've ever known. But the minor defect in the firewall is to accept those recruitment emails. That defect is a negligible one because it is very common for a military server to accept recruitment mails but those kinds of defects cause a greater problem in the future if they are held in the wrong hands.

Colonel (with a shock on his face): G-great. But how come we haven't found Zeus or any bug in that server???

Shin: I've programmed Zeus to self destruct once the computer gets hacked. As it was only competition there was no need for the virus to be in that server and after the alert goes to the main server that it's been hacked, Zeus activates self-destruction mode. The alert was enough for me to win the competition and That's why you haven't found Zeus or any other bug in that server.

Colonel (raised both of his eyebrows): What do you mean, you've programmed it??? Do you code for the software too???

Shin(with a small smile nodding her head): Yes sir. I can code for the software too.

Colonel (with curiosity): what else can you do???

Shin: Is it regarding the hacking sir???

Colonel(rolling his eyes): Yes!! What else can you expect in this question???

Shin: hm.. s-sorry sir. I just want to be clear.

For what shin said colonel just nodded showing he accepted her apology.

Shin: Sir, I can create and program software. Creating bugs and also antivirus for that bug. I can also create firewalls and I can do a bit of reverse hacking. Hmmm... I can fix the computers either software or hardware problems.

After Shin finished, she saw every face in the room(of course there are only 2 faces), they were only one expression jaw drop. Outside the room everyone is thinking about what they heard and how did she learn all these. Shin can do those works which the technical department can't do.

Colonel(with looking at his watch): ookkay. Great. Let's take a break and we will continue the second round of interviews.

Shin simply nodded to that. What Shin doesn't know was, the things she spoke about how she hacked are recorded by the soldier outside the room.

Solider: Shin please have some food and we will continue the interview after the lunch break.

By saying that she removed the sensors on shin's body and shin went to the restroom.

Shin in the restroom looking at the mirror.

Shin: IV, I think this round went well.

IV: Yes, Shin it indeed went very well. But the trouble is yet to come...

Shin: Trouble??? What's that???

IV: Did you forget the roundabout asking for personal information???

Shin(after remembering): Oh... No... I did forget about that. What the hell... Haaa...

IV: Don't stress out. Calm down and control your breathing that's it.

Shin: okkay... That should work.

After that Shin came out of the restroom and went to the cafeteria in the building to have lunch and she called Elizabeth while having lunch.

Elizabeth (On phone): Hello! shin. How is it going???

Shin: it's going great but the second round is about personal information, I guess.

Elizabeth: Don't stress out you are doing great Just continue like that.

Shin: okkay... But...

(Elizabeth cut out shin before she could say anything.)

Elizabeth: Listen I'm in the cafè and it's crowded today, I'm a bit busy can we talk about this at dinner.

Shin: O-okkay. Then bye...

Elizabeth: sorry for cutting out. I'm a bit busy. Do well in the interview and byee...

By saying that Elizabeth ended the call.

Shin felt strange as Elizabeth never ends her call even when she is busy as hell. Shin just thought she was indeed really busy doing both cafè work and her office work as she took a day off... And continued having her lunch...

At last, the lunch break was over and Shin came back to the room where her 2nd round of interview will be held and the same soldier again attached sensors to shin's body. After a couple of minutes, the colonel came and started asking questions again...