Terminal Compromise, Winn Schwartau [sight word books txt] 📗
- Author: Winn Schwartau
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In conversations with the Spook, the man who claims to be the
technical genius behind the Homosoto Invasion, I have learned
that there are even more menacing types of computer viruses than
those commonly associated with infected software programs. They
are hardware viruses; viruses built right into the electronics.
The underground computer culture calls the elite designers of
hardware viruses Chippers. It should come as no surprise then
that Chipping was a practice exploited by Homosoto and his band
under the wizardry of the Spook.
Chippers are a very specialized group of what I would have once
called hackers, but whom now many refer to as terrorists. They
design and build integrated circuits, chips, the brains of toys
and computers, to purposefully malfunction. The chips are de-
signed to either simply stop working, cause intentional random or
persistent errors and even cause physical damage to other elec-
tronic circuits.
You ask, is all of this really possible? Yes, it is possible, it
is occurring right now, and there is good reason to suspect that
huge numbers of electronic VCR’s, cameras, microwaves, clock
radios and military systems are a disaster waiting to happen.
It takes a great many resources to build a chip – millions of
dollars in sophisticated test equipment, lasers, clean rooms,
electron beam microscopes and dozens of PhD’s in dozens of disci-
plines to run it all.
According to the Spook, OSO Industries built millions upon
millions of integrated circuits that are programmed to fail. He
said, “I personally headed up that portion of the engineering
design team. The techniques for building and disguising a
Trojan Chip were all mine. I originally suggested the idea in
jest, saying that if someone really wanted to cause damage,
that’s what they would do. Homosoto didn’t even blink at the
cost. Twelve million dollars.”
When asked if he knew when the chips would start failing he
responded, “I don’t know the exact dates because anyone could
easily add or change a date or event trigger. But I would guess
that based upon timing of the other parts of the plan, seemingly
isolated electronic systems will begin to fail in the next few
months. But, that’s only a guess.”
The most damaging types of Trojan Chips are those that already
have a lot of room for memory. The Spook described how mostly
static RAM, (Random Access Memory) chips and various ROM chips,
(Read Only Memory) such as UV-EPROM and EEPROM were used to house
the destructive instructions for later release in computer sys-
tems.
“It’s really simple. There are always thousands of unused gates
in every IC. Banks and banks of memory for the taking. Homosoto
was no slouch, and he recognized that hardware viruses are the
ultimate in underground computer warfare. Even better than the
original Trojan Horse. No messy software to worry about, and
extensive collateral damage to nearby electronic components.
Makes repairs terrifically expensive.”
Which chips are to be considered suspect? The Spook was clear.
“Any RAM or ROM chips with the OSO logo and a date code after
1/89 are potentially dangerous. They should be swapped out
immediately for new, uninfected components. Also, OSO sold their
chips, in die form, to other manufacturers to put their own names
on them. I wish I knew to whom, but Homosoto’s firm handled all
of that.”
The Spook also said to beware of any electronic device using OSO
labeled or OSO made LS logic chips. Hundreds of millions of the
LS logic chips, the so called Glue of electronics, are sold every
year. In the electronics world they are considered ‘dime-store’
parts, selling for a few pennies each. However, in most elec-
tronic systems, an inexpensive component failure is just as bad
as an expensive component failure. In either case, it stops
working.
The Spook continues: “The idea was to build a small timebomb
into VCR’s, televisions and radios. Not only computers, but
alarm systems, cash registers, video games, blowing up all at
once. At times it got very funny. Imagine dishwashers spitting up
gallons of suds in kitchens everywhere. The ovens will be cook-
ing pork tartar and toast a la burnt. What happens when Betty-
Jean doesn’t trust her appliances any more? The return line at
Sears will be a week long.”
I asked the Spook how this was possible? How could he inflict
such damage without anyone noticing? His answer is as indicting
as is his guilt. “No one checks. If the chip passes a few
simple tests, it’s put into a calculator or a clock or a tele-
phone or an airplane. No one expects the chip to be hiding
something destructive, so no one looks for it. Not even the
military check. They just expect their chips to work in the
frozen depths of space and survive a nuclear blast. They don’t
expect a virus to be lurking.”
No matter what one thinks of the nameless, faceless person who
hides behind the anonymity of these computerized confessions, one
has to agree that the man known as the Spook has awakened this
world to many of the dangers that unbridled technical proficiency
brings. Have we taken too much liberty without the concomitant
responsibility? I know that I find I wish I could run parts of
my life in fast forward. Sitting in a movie theater, I feel
myself tense as I realize I cannot speed up the slow parts. Has
the infinite flexibility we have given ourselves outpaced social
conscience?
Ironically, conversations with the Spook tended to be impersonal;
not machine-like, but devoid of concern for people. I asked him
if he cared.
“That was not the idea, as far as I know. In a way this was
electronic warfare, in the true sense of the word. Collateral
damage is unavoidable.”
Hardware viruses in addition to software viruses. Is nothing
sacred?
* Sunday, January 24 Washington, D.C.“Does he know what he’s saying?” Henry Kennedy said doubtfully.
“I think so, and I also think it’s a brilliant way to put a huge
dent in the Japanese monopoly on integrated circuits.” Marvin
Jacobs had an office installed not two doors from Kennedy’s in
the subterranean mazes beneath the White House lawn.
“He can’t blame the Japanese for everything.”
“Don’t you see? He’s not? All he’s saying is that OSO did it,
and he’s letting the Japanese national guilt by association take
its course.” Jacobs seemed pleased. “Mason’s chippers will
cast a shadow of doubt on everything electronic made in Japan.
If it has OSO’s name on it, it’ll be taboo. Toshiba, Mitsubishi,
Matsushita . . .all the big Nippon names will be tarnished for
years.”
“And you actually want this to happen?” asked Henry.
“I didn’t say that,” Marvin said slithering away from a policy
opinion. “Hey, what are you complaining about? Mason gave us
the article like you wanted, didn’t he?”
“I told you there were other ways,” Kennedy shot back.
“Well, for your information, there’s a little more that he didn’t
tell us about,” said Jacobs haughtily.
“And how did you find out? Pray tell?”
Marvin grinned devilishly before answering. “CMR. Van Eck.
Whatever. We have Mason covered.”
“You’re using the same . . .”
“Which is exactly how we’re going to fight these bastards.”
“At the expense of privacy?”
“There is no clear cut legal status of electromagnetic emanations
from computers,” Marv said defensively. “Are they private? Are
they free to anyone with a receiver, like a radio or TV? No one
has tested the theory yet. And that’s not to say we’ve tried to
publicize it. The FCC ruled in 1990 that eavesdropping on cellu-
lar telephone calls was legal. By anyone, even the government.”
Marvin was giving a most questionable technical practice an aura
of respectability hidden behind the legal guise of freedom.
Kennedy was uncomfortable with the situation, but in this case,
Marv had the President’s ear.
“And screw privacy, right? All in the name of national security.”
Henry did not approve of Marvin’s tactics.
“It’s been done before and it’ll be done again,” Marvin said
fairly unconcerned with Kennedy’s opinions and whining. “Citing
National Security is a great antidote to political
inconvenience.”
“I don’t agree with you, not one iota!” blasted Kennedy. “This
is a democracy, and with that comes the good and the bad, and one
premise of a democracy is the right to privacy. That’s what
shredded Nixon. Phone taps, all the time, phone taps.”
“Henry, Henry,” begged Marv to his old time, but more liberal
minded friend. “This is legal.” Marvin’s almost wicked smile
was not contagious. “It’s not illegal either.”
Kennedy frown deeply. “I think you take the NSA’s charter as
national listening post to an extreme,” he said somberly.
“Henry, Are you going to fight me on this?” Marv asked finally.
“No,”
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