Chapter 13: A Genius Hacker

"Ring-ring-ring..."

Shortly after forwarding the data file compiled by Song Han to the logistics team, Wang Wei's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Where did you get this document?"

"Is it very important?"

"Do you know what this is?"

The voice on the other end of the phone sounded somewhat urgent.

"This is a security vulnerability in the UPNP service of the Weiying XP system! It's a vulnerability that allows direct execution of arbitrary commands on computers installed with this system!

This is terrifying. With this document, basically, not a single computer in the world with the XP system installed is safe now!

All the genuine and pirated, government-level, and enterprise-level computers in our country that have the XP system installed are like a house with no protection at all and full of loopholes in front of this vulnerability!

Damn it! What on earth is Weiying doing? How could they release such an incredibly serious bug!"

The voice on the phone made Wang Wei's expression turn grave. He looked up at Song Han, who was using the computer and he didn't know what he was doing, and then lowered his head to reply,

"Okay, I understand!"

Seeing Wang Wei hang up the phone, Song Han raised his eyebrows. 

Wang Wei looked down at Song Han and said seriously,

"We can talk about the deal between us now! But you have to tell us everything you know!

Who is manipulating the children behind the scenes to carry out the attacks? Who wants to kill you, and why do they want to kill you?"

"Here!"

Song Han instinctively turned the laptop screen towards him. This was an instinctive habit he had developed after using that old laptop with a rotating screen for decades.

No matter how fast the pace of technological progress is, there are always some people who have been left behind, stubbornly sticking to the technological products of their adulthood and regarding all the latest technological developments as heresies.

He pointed at the laptop that was broken into two halves and felt a bit embarrassed.

"Actually, I've already written down everything I know in it just now. How about we consider this broken laptop as part of our deal, and deduct its value?"

Looking at the laptop that had been broken into two halves, Wang Wei's forehead couldn't help but twitch violently.

That was a high-tech product worth over 20,000 yuan, which was almost enough to cover his annual salary!

There was no second computer in the safe house. Wang Wei had no choice but to take out a notebook and said angrily,

"Write it down with a pen and paper!"

Watching Song Han carefully write down the summary of the intelligence, Wang Wei couldn't help but speak up.

"The explosion case at Jingdian Primary School is the first恶性袭击事件 (vicious attack incident) in more than a decade in our An Province that has been classified as such.

It is also the first malignant attack incident in our country since the new century that has been classified as a terrorist attack!"

"Hmm?"

Song Han looked up in confusion. 

 Wang Wei stared intently into Song Han's eyes and said seriously,

"Controlling underage children to carry out suicide bomb attacks.

Do you know what this means?

Do you think what you wrote can pass as a proper report?"

Song Han looked down at the statement he had written.

"It does seem a bit like a science fiction movie script."

Wang Wei snatched the pen and paper away, heavily crossed out what Song Han had written earlier, and turned on the camera behind him.

"I'll ask the questions, you answer them! She'll take notes!"

Song Han instinctively sat up straight.

"I'm familiar with this. Go ahead!"

"Where did you learn your computer skills?"

Song Han thought for a moment and wasn't too sure.

"From books?"

Liu Xi, who was acting as the note-taker beside him, wrote down the words "self-taught" heavily.

"Have you ever used this technology to engage in any illegal or criminal activities?"

"No!"

"Response is firm, with an instinctive retort! Suspected of self-deception!"

"Why do people want to kill you?

Did you provoke someone you shouldn't have by using this computer vulnerability?

Is that why they're trying to kill you?"

Wang Wei's series of logically rigorous reasoning points made Liu Xi's eyes light up, and she instinctively stared intently at Song Han.

Song Han began to feel a bit less confident due to the questions. 

"I didn't say that! Our family is so poor that we don't even have a computer at home."

"Why are you emphasizing that there's no computer at home? Have you secretly carried out hacking activities in an internet café?"

"No!"

Song Han firmly denied it.

"I'm a skeptic. When my colleague was scolding Weiying on the phone just now, I started to wonder. Is it really an accident that such an obvious and important system vulnerability was released by their company?

Is it possible that it's a joint project between the Weiying Company and the government of Country M, a network plan to monitor and control the whole world?

And you!

A genius computer hacker who accidentally discovered this plan, so you're being targeted for elimination!"

"The Prism Program!"

Song Han couldn't help but clap his hands as he looked at the security officer in front of him who was talking non-stop.

"You guessed it quite accurately. Don't guess anymore in the future."

"Tell me, what exactly is the Prism Program?"

"It's a global monitoring system implemented worldwide, relying on the hegemony of the information industry. It's jointly created by computer hardware, software, and information internet companies within Country M.

Although it has nothing to do with this incident, I think you should still take precautions in advance."

Song Han didn't hide anything. Instead, he spilled out all the information in his memory.

Slap!

Liu Xi, who had been taking notes beside them, couldn't help but slap her forehead.

"No wonder we've suffered heavy losses in information security in recent years!

We originally thought it was because our technology wasn't good enough!

We didn't expect that they even left backdoors in the computers we used. How despicable!" 

The two of them, who had uncovered the real inside story, were obviously quite excited.

"How did you discover it?"

Song Han thought about the news information and the complete content of the incident he had seen at the beginning and said seriously, "From the news."

Wang Wei didn't care about Song Han's answer at all.

"So you hacked into their monitoring system and discovered their plan?"

"You could say so!"

Song Han looked at the two people in front of him who were a bit excited and really couldn't bear to refute them.

At their age in their twenties, who didn't have a dream of saving the world in their hearts?

With the questions and answers between them, before long, a written record that met the real needs of the two of them was taken down.

With their goal achieved, Wang Wei and Liu Xi looked at each other and smiled. A sense of accomplishment of saving the world welled up in their hearts!

At this moment, Song Han couldn't help but ask, "What about our deal?"

"Don't worry!"

Wang Wei assured him, "I've just informed my colleagues to seal up your personal information. As long as you don't expose your information on the Internet yourself, no one can find your real file from the vast ocean of the people!"

After sending Song Han back to the rented house where his family was temporarily living, the two of them rushed to the sub-bureau without delay.

"Is the case closed?"

Wang Wei solemnly handed over the written record. 

"Director, we propose that a security review be immediately carried out on the domestic business operations of the Weiying Company and Internet companies from Country M!"

The director waved his hand and flipped through the written record. When he saw the basic information about Song Han's age, he couldn't help but nod his head.

"He's a genius! Since he has made significant contributions and shown meritorious performance, don't forget to apply for rewards for him!"

"Is that all?"

"What else do you expect?"

The director looked at Wang Wei curiously.

"Haven't you already sealed up his personal file?

Put him in the talent pool and just pay special attention to him in the future."

Wang Wei became a bit anxious.

"But what about the Prism Program!"

"You think this is a conspiracy?"

The director's rhetorical question left the two of them standing there in a daze.

"Since the turn of the millennium, in order to deal with the information warfare and public opinion warfare from Country M, the state has been sparing no effort in supporting and strategically developing the domestic Internet industry!

You think it's a conspiracy, but in fact, it's a blatant open plot!

Relying on the market share and technological authority of the information industry in Country M, since we have opened our country's door, these things are hard to avoid!" 

The director tapped on the written record book in his hand and said,

"Since their first assassination mission failed and has alerted us, there won't be a second one in the near future."

He said confidently,

"No one can carry out a second attack in our country, right under our noses!

Let's put an end to this matter!"

Feeling disheartened, Wang Wei returned to the office and applied for the reward for Song Han according to the director's instructions. As soon as he was free, Wang Wei found Song Han again.

"What's this?"

After living in fear for a while and not encountering another assassination attempt, Song Han gradually relaxed.

However, on his way home from school that day, Song Han was stopped by Wang Wei again.

"This is a special reward from the National Security People's Defense Line of An Province. It was approved when you submitted the system vulnerability last month.

It was originally supposed to be given to your parents, but considering you seem more mature than your age, you probably don't want your parents to know about it, right?"

"Generous!"

Song Han happily took the thick document bag that Wang Wei handed over and stuffed it into his schoolbag without even looking at it.

Feeling the heavy weight of the schoolbag, Song Han was even more satisfied.

"Pleasant cooperation! If I'm short of money in the future, I'll give you a couple more vulnerabilities!"

Song Han's words left Wang Wei stunned.

"How many more vulnerabilities do you have in your hands?"

Song Han smiled and said,

"I'll tell you if you do me a favor!"