Joe
Beckett in IT Security.”
“He’s working at Clarion,” I said.
“The software design company?” Max asked. “Don’t they do…
video games or something?” I was already dialing again.
“Video games are incredibly well-guarded secrets in their
industries,” I said. “You take the top software developers in the country, pay
them a ton of money and put them in a hyper-competitive marketplace. Somebody
better be watching security.”
I dialed information and got the number for Clarion. They
put me through to the front desk and I dialed Joe Beckett’s extension… except
for the last digit. I didn’t want the security person who worked for Chris. I
wanted Chris himself.
While the phone rang, I gestured to Max that I needed
something to write on. He pulled a legal pad from his top drawer and handed it
to me. I saw him look up then and wave someone in from the doorway. It was
Christine Frost. She approached and sat down, quietly listening. Max was
explaining something to her, I assumed giving her the play-by-play of my call.
The phone was picked up a moment later by a woman.
“This is Susan,” she said, her voice pleasant. I had no idea
what department she worked in or what her position was, so this next part was
critical.
“Hi Susan,” I said. I softened my voice and tried to be
charming without coming off as smarmy. “My name is Max Frost and I’m the new
field technician for Clarion. I’m working under Joe Beckett in IT security…” I
watched both Max and Christine stiffen as I threw their names into the mix and
tried not to chuckle.
“Oh, yes…” Susan said. I could tell from the uncertainty in
her voice that she couldn’t confirm or deny this story. There was some truth to
it by using Joe Beckett’s name but she didn’t know me. Surely I must be the new
guy, just not added to the company directory yet.
“Well, Susan,” I continued, “I’m having some serious issues
with the remote network and I don’t want to compromise any of our data. Joe’s
busy at the moment and I really need to talk to someone.”
She was flustered now, unsure of how she fit into the
picture.
“What can I do to help?” she asked.
“Susan, all I need is the directory listing for Chris
Swenson. I’m up to my eyeballs in cabling down here and I don’t have his number
programmed into my phone. Could you get that for me? I’d be so grateful.”
I could hear her flipping pages and then she rattled off a
number. It was completely different from Joe Beckett’s number. I’d never have
found him by intentionally misdialing off of Beckett’s number. Chris was
entrenched, well-hidden.
I looked up. Tom Ellis had joined us. Christine was watching
me.
“Did you find your mystery man?” she asked. Her tone seemed
to indicate that she doubted if I ever would.
“Why yes, I did,” I said. Ellis smiled, then quickly hid it
when Christine looked up at him. I saw that woman walking by again. Jessica…
that was her name. I gestured to Ellis. “Could you ask her to join us please?”
Ellis ran out of the room and a moment later returned.
Jessica smiled when she saw me in the middle of everyone.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
I tore a piece of paper off the pad and handed it to her.
“We’re recruiting someone,” I said. “I need you to call this
number. The man at the other end will be Chris Swenson…”
“The Christopher Swenson?” she asked. I wondered for a
moment why everyone did that, but simply continued.
“Yes, tell him that your name is Susan from extension 337
inside Clarion Corp. Tell him you just got a phone call from someone that you
think is a hacker trying to get company names from the directory.”
“You mean social engineering?” Jessica asked.
I was pleasantly surprised that she knew the term.
“Yes, exactly, but don’t use those words or he’ll know
you’re not Susan. Then tell him that the person who called dialed in from this
number…” I handed her another
Beckett in IT Security.”
“He’s working at Clarion,” I said.
“The software design company?” Max asked. “Don’t they do…
video games or something?” I was already dialing again.
“Video games are incredibly well-guarded secrets in their
industries,” I said. “You take the top software developers in the country, pay
them a ton of money and put them in a hyper-competitive marketplace. Somebody
better be watching security.”
I dialed information and got the number for Clarion. They
put me through to the front desk and I dialed Joe Beckett’s extension… except
for the last digit. I didn’t want the security person who worked for Chris. I
wanted Chris himself.
While the phone rang, I gestured to Max that I needed
something to write on. He pulled a legal pad from his top drawer and handed it
to me. I saw him look up then and wave someone in from the doorway. It was
Christine Frost. She approached and sat down, quietly listening. Max was
explaining something to her, I assumed giving her the play-by-play of my call.
The phone was picked up a moment later by a woman.
“This is Susan,” she said, her voice pleasant. I had no idea
what department she worked in or what her position was, so this next part was
critical.
“Hi Susan,” I said. I softened my voice and tried to be
charming without coming off as smarmy. “My name is Max Frost and I’m the new
field technician for Clarion. I’m working under Joe Beckett in IT security…” I
watched both Max and Christine stiffen as I threw their names into the mix and
tried not to chuckle.
“Oh, yes…” Susan said. I could tell from the uncertainty in
her voice that she couldn’t confirm or deny this story. There was some truth to
it by using Joe Beckett’s name but she didn’t know me. Surely I must be the new
guy, just not added to the company directory yet.
“Well, Susan,” I continued, “I’m having some serious issues
with the remote network and I don’t want to compromise any of our data. Joe’s
busy at the moment and I really need to talk to someone.”
She was flustered now, unsure of how she fit into the
picture.
“What can I do to help?” she asked.
“Susan, all I need is the directory listing for Chris
Swenson. I’m up to my eyeballs in cabling down here and I don’t have his number
programmed into my phone. Could you get that for me? I’d be so grateful.”
I could hear her flipping pages and then she rattled off a
number. It was completely different from Joe Beckett’s number. I’d never have
found him by intentionally misdialing off of Beckett’s number. Chris was
entrenched, well-hidden.
I looked up. Tom Ellis had joined us. Christine was watching
me.
“Did you find your mystery man?” she asked. Her tone seemed
to indicate that she doubted if I ever would.
“Why yes, I did,” I said. Ellis smiled, then quickly hid it
when Christine looked up at him. I saw that woman walking by again. Jessica…
that was her name. I gestured to Ellis. “Could you ask her to join us please?”
Ellis ran out of the room and a moment later returned.
Jessica smiled when she saw me in the middle of everyone.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
I tore a piece of paper off the pad and handed it to her.
“We’re recruiting someone,” I said. “I need you to call this
number. The man at the other end will be Chris Swenson…”
“The Christopher Swenson?” she asked. I wondered for a
moment why everyone did that, but simply continued.
“Yes, tell him that your name is Susan from extension 337
inside Clarion Corp. Tell him you just got a phone call from someone that you
think is a hacker trying to get company names from the directory.”
“You mean social engineering?” Jessica asked.
I was pleasantly surprised that she knew the term.
“Yes, exactly, but don’t use those words or he’ll know
you’re not Susan. Then tell him that the person who called dialed in from this
number…” I handed her another
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