Cyber Terror Read Online Free PDF Page A

squeezing into the tiny room that could have been a broom cupboard. “I’m Jordan. Friend of Mr. Goss.”
    “Yeah?”
    Merrick had changed. His hair was much shorter, his body more solid, his glasses more prominent, his skin more tanned, his voice deeper. He still had the broad sinewy shoulders of an Olympic
swimmer but, as far as Jordan knew, he never swam. Jordan hoped something else hadn’t changed. He hoped that Merrick still loved to brag about his online activities.
    “I’ve been away,” Jordan continued. “Out of touch. Last time I heard about you, you were one of the Medway Pirates.”
    Brought together in the confined space, Merrick was close enough to see Jordan’s flaws. He glanced at the fake right arm and looked into his reconstructed face, but he didn’t comment
on Jordan’s appearance. “Whoever decides these things thought we’d all pull together after the explosion if we had a local voice. That’s us. A local community radio station.
Okay, we’re in a shed, but we’re legal. We’re broadcasting and going out over the internet. That’s my bit. It’s what I do instead of homework. Actually, being legit
takes half the fun out of it.”
    Jordan smiled. “I know what you mean. You’re a pretty good pirate in another way.”
    Merrick’s face creased.
    “Hacking.”
    “Do I know you?” Merrick asked.
    “I don’t think so. Just that you’ve got a good reputation with Mr. Goss.”
    Merrick nodded. “Never did like being called a hacker. Still don’t. I’m a cyber joyrider.”
    Jordan grinned at the description. “Nice one.”
    Jordan had an unusual education within Unit Red. He wasn’t so sure about equations and metaphors, but he’d learned a lot about the Computer Misuse Act, the Counter-Terrorism Act and
intelligence work. He knew when Merrick’s mischief became a crime.
    “Do you hackers – I mean, cyber joyriders – mess around on your own or are you all in touch?”
    Merrick wasn’t entirely serious in his reply. “We’re one big happy online family. Except we keep some things to ourselves. We share other things. Why?”
    “Mr. Goss is wondering if you know anyone who’s more cyber vandal than cyber joyrider.”
    “He’s behind the times. There’s not so much vandalism now. It’s more about making cash than making a mess. It’s about identity theft and back doors to
people’s money.” Quickly, Merrick added, “Not for me. I still like the thrill of cracking a system, not robbing people.”
    It was true. Jordan remembered that Merrick had never been motivated by money. He’d just enjoyed using a computer as a weapon against authority. “How about hacking into flight
control systems?”
    Merrick grimaced. “That’s heavy.”
    “But do you know anyone who does it?”
    “No,” he answered.
    “Sure?”
    “Positive.”
    Even though Raven had told him it was easy to sabotage an aeroplane, Jordan was still wondering if Short Circuit had practised on something else first. “So, what does the happy online
family take a pop at?”
    Merrick laughed. “Government websites. Big business. That sort of thing. Bringing them down is fair game. And no one gets hurt.”
    “Any successes stick in your mind?”
    “Mr. Goss knows I got into the local police computer.”
    “Yes, but how about other people’s hits? I’m interested – Mr. Goss is interested – in anything special.”
    “Special?” Merrick thought for a moment. “Well, there was one job I would’ve been proud of, if I’d done it. I suppose it could’ve been more of a cyber attack
than joyriding. Anyway, it was months ago. Someone got into Cockenzie Power Station and took it offline for a day.”
    “Cockenzie? Where’s that?”
    “Edinburgh. But the hacker could have been in America or Russia or anywhere else. The net was buzzing about it for a bit. We were all trying to figure out who did it, but no one knew and
no one claimed it on Zone-H...”
    “Zone-H?”
    “A site where joyriders