opnet [OpNet] Help Needed

[Walker]

First of all my thanks to everyone taking the time to read this.

I am experiencing a problem that requires skills beyond that which I have. In brief, someone, I’m not sure who, is threatening me via anonymous opnet messages. I don’t think it’s a hoax and they have resisted my, somewhat amateur, attempts to trace them.

I could use some help in tracking the person/s down and obtaining relevant information about whoever is doing this. I can to pay for the information either financially or by rendering some service in return. Any offers?

[Walker]

To the guy who was interested, I seem to be having a little trouble with my private messages, maybe the threatening message sender has been hacking my accounts? I don't know.

The messages are along the following lines this is a typical one:

"We'll be in touch soon, we want to make use of your skills, don't contact anyone else about this or things will go badly for you, we know where you and your family are."

Pretty vague you'll agree, given the recent development with my private messages I have taken the precaution of establishing some safeguards for myself and such family that I have, just in case. I don't think my family members appreciate being uprooted so suddenly, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

[Fortune's Son]

If you stashed 'em in a place that only you can access then you might want to think about a contingency plan. Just in case of course. DeVries does "open-in-the-event-of-(blank)" services all the time.

Just a thought.

[ 08-14-2002: Message edited by: Fortune ]

[Sakurako Hino]

Okay, Fortune, you said there would be something about the real world that'd bite me in the butt someday? At least I thought you was the one that said it.

Well, this situation just made me remember that.

Walker: Whoever is doing this scares me. Their hacking skills must be good, since you can't anonomously send PMs here. They either know the boards like the back of their hand, or they ARE the board. Then again, there could be a program sending these messages, a program seeded by a hacker or an agent. Most likely you are having a situation with someone with a governmental tie. To which government, I have no clue. Too bad I can't watch the traffic on these boards. Best course of action: Hire an Elite or two, that is why you'd should deal with Fortune a bit, he seems to know what he's doing. Second, I do have a few programs I can send to you that can tell you exactly where messages come from. Hopefully it's somewhere with a address that points to somewhere worthwhile.

One more thing, I may be pulling this out of my arse, but does anyone else know your access codes to your account?

[Walker]

Quote:

If you stashed 'em in a place that only you can access then you might want to think about a contingency plan. Just in case of course.

They are stashed, but not anywhere out of the way, if you know what I mean. They should be safe, they are staying on the move and they are gaurded by an Devries elite with a very specialised talent, cost a fair wack but what the hell. I've made myself the biggest and most obvious target, if they nail me then they have no use for my family.

Quote:

Whoever is doing this scares me. Their hacking skills must be good, since you can't anonomously send PMs here. They either know the boards like the back of their hand, or they ARE the board.

With regard to my PM problem, I'm not entirely conviced it wasn't just a problem Z

[Preston]

I tried to send you a message earlier, Walker, but I had an extreme system failure.

If you let me know where these attacks are happening, I could point you at the proper authorities to contact. I am not sure how much good it will do, but it might cause your attackers some grief.

[Teknokat]

I'm willing to look, Walker, but to be honest, someone who can hack around hard-wired limitations in systems (like the Opnet's security protocols) isn't likely to leave too many tracks.

But, on the other hand, hacking around hard-wired limitations in systems tends to leave other tracks. I'll see what I can turn up, but don't hold your breath.

Now, where did I put that Hack-Tracer? Ah! There it is...

[Walker]

Preston, I think the system failures have been effecting a few people lately, seems strange that I should get a hacking problem just as the board goes screwy, coincidence?

Teknokat, thanks for taking a look if you dig anything up PM me, assuming the board will let you.

Endevor, As I was saying before the board cut of my last post. I don't know who is threatening me, please send those programs in case they dig up something and no one knows my account password unless they've hacked this site.

[Sakurako Hino]

Walker: The programs are en route. They can report to me as well as you as to just WHO or WHAT is sending said messages. Quite frankly, I think this is causing the problems on this board. I'll check out the reports to me as they come in. I have a dynamic Opnet IP that can render me untracable for now. I know that by doing this I'll be involved, but that dosen't matter to me. I consider anyone being threatened here as someone I can help. At least once you find out who or what is doing this, you can respond accordingly.

[Walker]

Endeavor, thanks for the programs and your offer of help, don't make yourself a bigger target than me though, I've been around donkey's years and they ain't found a way to kill me yet.

I tried out your programs and they led me to an annonymous mailing site called "Privacy Coms" but no further, I had a depressing feeling that they would lead me somewhere like that. My commercial programs were just saying 'Return Address Unreachable' so it's a step forward. This Privacy Coms seems to be based in Antigua it looks to me like they're using some antiquated or maybe advanced hardware to get round Opnet Security Protocols. Anyone know any thing else about these guys?

Teknokat have you traced this joker any further?

Preston, you got any contacts in the Antiguan police force?

Also what do you guys want as payment for your help, trip to the Jovian moon system sound nice?

[Sakurako Hino]

...Privacy Coms huh? Ever try that one compressed file I attached? I call it Endeavor's secret sauce. It may get you further. Oh, if you ever want to do a little term to term frag fest, I'm more than willing to offer up a few homebrewed choice levels. Tell me if you find out who these 10$er$ are. I'd like to hook up with ya and join in a little attitude adjustment of those fellows. Yeah, I'm bored.

Jovian Moon? I'll shoot for Europa. All the others look too hostile. Besides, I'd like to try out this spacesuit I built that's been in storage for a while. I wanted to hook up with Mr. Nashoba's little field trip to mars with that baby, but I got too busy elsewhere. Hmmm... Maybe I could call up NASA and get a probe to take with me. I know there's a few scientists who'd love to see what's below Europa's ice.

[Preston]

I know a police superintendant in Jamacia. His brother is a big wheel in the OAS (Organization of American States) which has some pull in the Caribbean.

My friends name is Stanley Paul Morgan and his brother is Edward Robinson Morgan (Robby). I have asked Stanley to give his brother a heads up. Here is his Opnet address:

OAS/Kingstonet/Rmorgan.gov

I hope this helps. If you can track these bastards to Latin or South America, I have a few more friend I can pull in. All those years as a narc have really paid off.

[Sakurako Hino]

Preston: Sweetness. Good you had those contacts there. Walker could use all the help he can get. Hmmm... Although.... this seems all to simple. If there is going to be an up-close and personal encounter, We'd better be ready for suprises.

[Teknokat]

Walker, I want you to try something, just to test a theory. I'm sending you a small device via Nova courier. Attach it to the data receiver on your Opnet Terminal. Wait a couple of days, and then tell me whether you get another message or not.

I smell something fishy...

[ 08-18-2002: Message edited by: Teknokat ]

[Walker]

Well some interesting developments have come about. After an enlightening talk with Mr Morgan, I decided to pay a visit to the headquarters of Privacy Com. It turns out that things aren’t so sophisticated as we first thought, it seems that this company is a legitimate company for individuals concerned about their privacy on the Opnet.

For a fee they actually physically transfer messages from computer to computer, thus circumventing the security protocols of the Opnet. This is how it works, Privacy Coms receive a message from their client and then print it out. The print out is taken to a different computer, the PC server, which has a different OP address and no return mail facility and then typed or scanned in, use a different computer and the Opnet chain’s broken. Now to operate this way PC have a kind of charter with the government, (apparently this sort of thing is only legal in a few parts of the world and quasi-legal at that) and they’re not supposed to send any illegal, harassing messages or anything slanderous, etc.

So, after picking up a friend, many thanks Endeavor, I warped over to Antigua. When I saw the building, something about it was familiar, I think it must have set my precognition off when I last slept a couple of days ago. Endeavor and I checked out the out the building briefly and then warped into where we determined the main transfer room to be. As soon as we were spotted security was called, I explained why I was there and this one guy starts really freaking out, and makes a run for it. After a playful tussle with Endeavor (playful for Endeavor, not the guy with the dislocated arm, ouch) he surrendered and with a mild bit of persuasion confessed that he had been bribed by someone, to send the threatening messages. By this time security had shown up and the managers were raising hell, threatening to call the army and all sorts of legal trouble. But several other employees had heard the guy confess, so after a bit of sweet talking from Endeavor they let us go and fired their erstwhile employee.

I was able to get from the ex-employee a description of the person who hired him, it rang a few bells so I produced a couple of pictures from a recent trip I went on with the Daedalus League, sure enough one of the people who came along as an observer was the someone who had bribed him.

Since then, I haven’t had a message, I’m not convinced that the problem I was having receiving private messages wasn’t just a bug with the board, (it has been known to happen) but they may well have hacked my computer or this board in the past to gain my op-mail account address, knowing that after they’d seen me post on this board I would be online.

Endeavor and Preston thanks for your practical help, Endeavor is there anything else you want to add about our little confrontation?

Teknokat, I have attached the program you sent just in case anything else computery happens. What is your theory about this?

Preston, Teknokat and Jager (who also expressed an interest, I got your message eventually, is your business finished yet?), I now have a name (probably false) and an address (ditto) for the person who seems to be behind this, more importantly I have a picture. I will send any/all of you the info and pic if you think you can do anything with them.

Walker

[Sakurako Hino]

Yeah, that little half nelson into an armbar would rip anyone's arm out of socket. I wanted to do a boston crab, but I guess the guy knew what I was going for. I'm glad I didn't have to use any energy based attacks on the poor fellows. Although it as I have discovered is nothing more than directed kinetic force, they still pack a whallop.

You should have seen the face on the guy I did some convincing to. I mean, look at this from his POV. There's this pink haired girl laying some smack down on a guy, and she's not even fazed. I hate using some of my skill on humans, but push came to shove, and those who mess with my friends, get the shaft.

I did get ot peek into the computer transmission records they keep (so they can track abusers of their system), and what I discovered I reported to walker, and he's giving to some of you guys.

One more thing:

Walker: Aren't you going to teach me that fancy little technique you used to KO one of those guards? I'm well versed in some martial arts and grappling techniques, but that had style! Was it some sort of pressure point thing?

[ 08-19-2002: Message edited by: Endeavor ]

[Teknokat]

Quote:

Originally posted by Walker:
Teknokat, I have attached the program you sent just in case anything else computery happens. What is your theory about this?

Well, the additional info confirms it, but I had the feeling that the messages you were being sent weren't going through the Opnet at all, but being transferred by shuttle-net (ie placing data on removable media and moving it from computer-to-computer that way). It was the only way I could think off that could bypass a SecChip like it did.

Oh, and I did a quick scan of the Board, and while you may be a little sceptical, I'm fairly satisfied it was all a few minor bugs. This place was set up rather illegally originally, even with the occaisional software upgrade, it stands to reason that it'll have the occaisional hiccup. The curse of Legacy Software, I guess

[Walker]

Quote:

Originally posted by Endeavor:

One more thing:
Walker: Aren't you going to teach me that fancy little technique you used to KO one of those guards? I'm well versed in some martial arts and grappling techniques, but that had style! Was it some sort of pressure point thing?

[ 08-19-2002: Message edited by: Endeavor ]

Well if I actually knew what the hell it was I did, I would. Remember I metioned that my precognition was set off by the building?

When that security guard came by, I 'saw' the maneuver I needed, just before the event happened, then applied it. My guess is that it would have been some kind of, excuse the pun, Walkan nerve pinch, as I never kill if I can help it.

TeknoKat quote

Quote:

Oh, and I did a quick scan of the Board, and while you may be a little sceptical, I'm fairly satisfied it was all a few minor bugs. This place was set up rather illegally originally, even with the occaisional software upgrade, it stands to reason that it'll have the occaisional hiccup. The curse of Legacy Software, I guess

Had a feeling it would be something like that

Have you found out anything about, 'Mr Richard Smith' yet?

[ 08-19-2002: Message edited by: Walker ]

[Jager]

Daedulus League. Short term nice guys, long term scary.

Yes, my business is almost done. You may want to drop Fortune a line if you want to hire a professiona spook. He is pricey but good.

Send me what you have and I will take a look see.

Yes, Mr. Blackmailer, I am even warning you that I'm coming. Be seeing you.

[Walker]

Jager,

I've sent the picture and info over, what make's you say the League are scary? Surely it wouldn't be them who were trying to threaten me? Err and try not to mention the black-mail aspect, it will only make people ask what I've done

[Jager]

Thanks. Nothing like beating the bushes for the likely suspects. I will stay in touch.

[Sakurako Hino]

Richard Smith? ...Why is that name pinging off my memory like I should know this fellow? I had SUCH a deja'vu moment when I saw that name... Richard Smith... Maybe the name is as common as air, or I've come across that name somewhere... *scratches head*

Walker: Walkan neck pinch? More like a fist of the walker to me. It wasn't just one blow you did bud. Although when I first recalled it it was. I know high-speed fighting. You saw those nice little combos I was doing. You just... let loose, hitting at pressure points that I sort of know where to go, but not at the speed you used. You... are quite an amazing peice of work.

[Walker]

Thanks for the help Jager

,,

Quote:

Originally posted by Endeavor:

Richard Smith? ...Why is that name pinging off my memory like I should know this fellow? I had SUCH a deja'vu moment when I saw that name... Richard Smith... Maybe the name is as common as air, or I've come across that name somewhere... *scratches head*

It's probably a pseudonym or nom de guerre, might be his real name but probably not, Smith is a pretty common name and one always used traditionally as a signing in name for couples conducting sleazy affairs.

As for the deja vu, happens to me all the time, maybe you been hanging round with me too much.

,,

Quote:

Walker: Walkan neck pinch? More like a fist of the walker to me. It wasn't just one blow you did bud. Although when I first recalled it it was. I know high-speed fighting. You saw those nice little combos I was doing. You just... let loose, hitting at pressure points that I sort of know where to go, but not at the speed you used. You... are quite an amazing peice of work.

Thanks for the complement you're a pretty amazing piece of work yourself OK, so I have studied a little martial arts but I was never that nimble or fast until my eruption, I'll have to teach you the maneuvers one day when the heat is off, be warned i'm a dreadful teacher.

[Sakurako Hino]

Walker: Hey, I know that sooner or later I'll take some bruises, even a laceration or two. But if it's for my own personal evolution's progress, I'm ready to take on any responsibility or face any obstacle. Just name the time or place... Unless you like suprise lessons like my last sensei. Although I did understand his logic, attacking at times when I was at my weakest. But I just walked away with a bruised ego more than anything else. He quit soon after I erupted. I guess he knew I was in a whole new league.

Hopefully we can take the layers off this onion that is this situation, and figure out this whole mess without suffering any casualties. At least on our side, that is.

[Jager]

Walker, you need to 'check your mail'.

Here is a little warning/update to those who might care.:

Richard Smith is a cover identity for a hacking/computer fraud outfit that has been making a steady name for itself over the past few year. They also have the reputation for hiring second-tier talent like the guy whose picture you provided. He's an 'actor' with eidetic memory. For a day or two, he can pretend to be anybody, even an award winning scientist.

The rest of the story is standard dead drop stuff, well exactued cover ID, and then a memory download after the fact (again, anonymously).

For those who care, call Novelty and ask for Poseur (there you go, kid).

The bad news is that around six-months ago, they burned the Heaven Thunder Triad. Those guys never forgive or forget. Unfortunately, that means they are studiously avoiding all their old haunts.

That's the Cliff Notes version. More later.

[Walker]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jager:


The bad news is that around six-months ago, they burned the Heaven Thunder Triad. Those guys never forgive or forget. Unfortunately, that means they are studiously avoiding all their old haunts.

That's the Cliff Notes version. More later.

Hmmm having read this I did a bit of checking, with, let's call them a childhood friend, and it seems that The Heaven Thunder Triad and the Camparelli-Zukhov have been having a little low level war over the distibution of heroin/opium trade. Its been going on a while apparently, but nothing major has been reported about this on the news, so info's pretty scarce.

Preston, is there anything you know about what's going on, I have a 'feeling' this is related, to my troubles.

[Sakurako Hino]

I can understand why such a drug war would be held in the "shadows". The Triads and the CZ's are 2 very high calibur mobs. Even rumored to have a couple wiseguys with node sparks. The only thing that keeps these two groups off Japan's doorstep is the Yakuza. And they're too interested in keeping the black market tech and illicit trades going here to care. At least... Untill a couple of idiots try to get a foot into the door here. The Yak's don't like their territory violated. I guess that's why I haven't heard NONE of this. I don't have any contacts with the underworld, and the news don't follow crime like it used to.

I'll be monitoring the net for a bit, I'm sniffing out some suspicious "pings" on my mainframe recently. I gotta find out by who...

[Preston]

Walker, I will have a talk with some friends over on the Organized Crime Task Force. The took a big hit in Boston during Utopia's 'purge', but have been slowly and quietly rebuilding.

I will also look into the Richard Smith angle and see what comes up.

[Jager]

Endeavor, while the HTT probably has the most novas and the CZM has the largest reach, the Nakato pack the biggest punch. Their bread and butter is military grade black market goods. That equates to the average footsoldier having access to really big bang-bangs.

Likewise, if the HTT and CZM are getting ready to square off, the Nakato might be looking to step in and pick up the scraps.

For everyone else, if you hang out near any international hubs of commerce, things might start getting a little 'lively'.

[Sakurako Hino]

Jager: So what you're saying is don't go shopping in the Shinjuku District of Tokyo without a flak jacket? Hmmm, I'd bet the GAP wouldn't sell that sort of stuff... Sorry, Had to inject a little humor here. But yeah, I'm seriously considering to moving into the country. I'm starting to think that even suburban living isn't a good idea.

[ 08-21-2002: Message edited by: Endeavor ]

[Jager]

Wrong-o Endeavor. They try never to mess in their own backyards. If anything, they resent people who cause a racket. The last thing the Nakato want is the police to get involved. That's why your police force has 'riot control' vechiles that look suprisingly like tanks. THE POLICE DON'T PLAY AROUND.

Anywhere in the world were the police pay more attention to public security than public safety means the cops are out to stop the criminals, no matter what.

[Walker]

One of the reason's this hasn't reached the news is because it's so far involved, raids on poppy fields with flame throwers, dead drug farmers in the thirld world are rarely telegenic or even noticed.

[Jager]

Not when Alejandra has just released her fifth(?) album and the XWF is building up for the Midnight Massacre this Sunday. Its going to be Kid Armadillo vs. the Core Meltdown . Anyone up for the PPV?

[Sakurako Hino]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jager:
XWF is building up for the Midnight Massacre this Sunday. Its going to be Kid Armadillo vs. the Core Meltdown . Anyone up for the PPV?

You know I'm game. What bar, and when? The ampwell beckens!!! You in Walker?

I don't think the kid stands a chance...

[ 08-21-2002: Message edited by: Endeavor ]

[Guest]

Hell, I'm in too! I need a break from all this trainin' shit, an' I ain't gonna be able to see my kid this weekend. So, where an' when?

[Dampner]

HEY LISTEN UP!!

Has anyone seen or heard from Walker in the last eight hours?

If so message me.

Dampner

[Jager]

Not yet, but you shouldn't sweat it. He has been one busy guy.

[Dampner]

Yeah, I guess.

He better not stand me up next time though, a girl can only wait so long, buying her own drinks.

[Jager]

Oh, guys? Does anyone have a premanent residance we could use for this weekends bash?

[Sakurako Hino]

Quote:

Originally posted by Jager:
Oh, guys? Does anyone have a premanent residance we could use for this weekends bash?

You guys could use my place. I have a home theater you guys could use. Not to mention an overstocked kitchen.