Cypherpunk Underground is here to prepare you for the dystopian surveillance state of the future. Each Cypherpunk Underground chapter will offer a new bit of information on a multitude of topics to equip you for the challenges of the digital and physical world. Prior editions of CPU can be found at the CPU index page.
Cypherpunk Underground Chapter 6 - Nihil obstat
In this chapter we will tell the story of some daring Cypherpunks who took the back privacy of millions. On a hot summer night not long ago two Anons by the names of "Finney" and "0x" did what many thought was impossible. They infiltrated Megacorps server rooms and nullified the surveillance database.
But how? how did two young Anons penetrate into Megacorp?
Obstacle one: Outer Perimeter Fence
Megacorp's 1000 Acre facility just outside Metropolitan Megaland boasts impressive perimeter fences. Two fences surround the site, each 12' tall and topped with triple strand razor wire. If they were able to top the first fence they risk being stuck in no mans land in the middle and would likely set off the ground vibration sensors that are rumored to be emplaced there. Surely that would be a death sentence. There has to be a better way. What about the vehicle access gates that the employees use?
It seemed that they would only need to clone a key card using their Flipper Zeros. After a few days of hanging around the cafe near Megacorp 0x was able to secretly clone what he is certain is an access card to the vehicle gates...
The night of...
0x and Finney ditch there E-bikes a few blocks away from Megacorp and skateboard to the vehicle access gates. The facility seemed mostly quiet with only the skeleton crew working the holiday weekend. It seems like this was going well already. 0x approached the card scanner with his Flipper and the card scanner gave 3 audible dum-dum-dum tones and the LEDs flashed red. "It's not working, we have to think of something else" 0x said as he scrambled for ideas. It was at that moment that Finney had an idea. Finney noticed that on the interior side of the fence there was a 8'x10' square rectangle cleanly cut into the pavement. That rectangle is what the workers would park on to trigger the gate to open so that they could exit the facility. Finney remembered the time him and his friends tried to get a gate to open by having a stacking bricks on top of a sensor like that. On that day many years ago him and his friends discovered that the sensors ARE NOT triggered by weight, but are triggered by metal from vehicles that disrupt a magnetic field created by a wire coil placed in the pavement.
Thinking quick Finney unbolted a metal sign reading "Megacorp property, Authorized Personnel Beyond This Point" from its post. Finney pulled some string from his satchel and cut a 20' length and secured it to the sign. "Watch this" Finney said as he slid the metal sign under the roller gate and shoved it with all its might. The sign stopped dead center of the sensor and a second later the roller gate stuttered open.
Obstacle 2- Iris Scanning Exterior Door
After getting past the gate 0x and Finney skated as fast as they could to a obscure entrance near the loading docks. After a quick glace at the retinal scanner console near the door handle 0x chuckled. He reached into his backpack for his homemade under door tool and got to work. 10 seconds later they were in.
Interior Doors- Using the Flipper Zero
Once in the facility the brave Cypherpunks set out for the server rooms. They had a general idea of where to look and began to make their way. It wasn't long before they reached their first locked door. Without a bypass tool for this type of door Finney decided to try his Flipper, and to his surprise it worked.
Final Obstacle- Server Room Cages
The punks finally make their way to the server rooms. Once inside they are greeted with heavy metal cages surrounding the hundreds of servers. Upon closer inspection they recognized that each cage was a combination of different Master brand 4 combo locks. "Too Easy" Finney said, within 30 seconds Finney had determined that the combo was 1-3-3-7.
Most of the locks opened but a few older models didn't seem to be set to the same combo. 0x pulled out his "master key" and made quick work of them as well.
Grand Finale- Bricking the Servers
With the server cages now open 0x and Finney pulled their Degaussing pistols from their waistbands and pulled the tabs on the thermal batteries. As they felt the guns warm up they watched as the battery indicator lights quickly went to 10/10 green bars. As quickly as they could they went down the rows with the electromagnetic pistols, after holding the trigger for one second the internal capacitor would release and a faint click was heard. One by one fault codes began to flash on the servers. MISSION SUCCESS.
In the ensuing confusion the Cypherpunks were able to escape Megacorp. Once safely back home they sent the good news to the Cypherpunk Underground via Z2Z memos.