Cyber Security Sam Book 3: Rosie I'm Home

By Rich Owen

This is the story about a friendly high school student who happens to have a strong interest in how computers work. This interest gets him to ask questions and perform investigations that end up having him work with the FBI to solve Cyber Crime. In this story, the names are made up but the hacks are based on events that have actually happened in the industry.

Rosie I'm Home is a mystery, in which a bright high school boy named Sam identifies potential threats to friends and family. His fast actions, based on his knowledge and experience of computers, help to prevent a home invasion. His efforts also save the life of a cheerleader. While continuing to work with the FBI and Secret Service to complete previous investigations and bring the perps to justice, Sam makes a new friend in the CIA, as one case takes a turn that may involve spies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 14, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098380045

Book preview

Owen

Preface

This book is about the continuing adventures of Cyber Security Sam and his efforts of working with the authorities to solve cybercrime. All names in these stories are made up. With one exception, Granddad, there is no relationship between the characters in the books and real people. Some places are real like Mac and Bob’s. Some places are variations on existing places, like S3 is based on Andrew Lewis High School (now a middle school).

The technology discussed in this book is very close to real. The cyber events are based on real events. You will be exposed to technical terms such as OPSSEC, SIGNT, Cozy Bear, Dark Halo (aka UNC2452), APT, RAT and more. First read this book as a fun adventure story. Then go back and research the events, technologies, and organizations mentioned to learn the details behind the hacks.

The purpose of this series of books is three fold. First, the books have been written to entertain you. In the process there is an effort to educate you on some of the evils of the internet. In the process of learning of the evils, you will also learn how to avoid issues associated with computer/phone technology. The ultimate goal is to influence you to become a Sheepdog that fights the cyber-criminal. This is a hot field that has good pay and negative unemployment.

This book and the entire Cyber Security Sam™ series is dedicated to my grandchildren and to all who have an interest in protecting information.

I hope you enjoy the journey.

December 26

The trees are beautiful this time of year. Everything seems to be a bit more peaceful as the sun peaks above the trees. There was much more snow in Roanoke, maybe as much as 20 inches. This was the result of an early winter storm. There seemed to be only a couple of inches on the ground as she turned off I-81N onto I-64E headed to Charlottesville. The roads had been no problem. Virginia knew how to handle snow. This was not her first time making this trip from Roanoke to Charlottesville. Francis Andrews was a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke. She then she got her degree in Criminal Justice, with a minor in Computer Science, from the University of Virginia. Although seeing the sites brought back memories, things just don’t seem the same. Besides, this is not a homecoming. She is not here to meet friends and enjoy herself. She is on the job. She is the U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the case of the Ole Towne Square (OTS) Bank robbery which occurred in Salem in early November. She has an arrest warrant for James Buchannan and Ira Hurtado. Mr. Buchannan is the prime suspect in the robbery, but it appears that Mr. Hurtado helped him. She also has a search warrant to retrieve his computer. The warrant covers his personal space, common areas of the house at 1515 Gordon Ave and the vehicle associated with the crime (2013 Ford Explorer).

Charlottesville PD is providing an assist here. They were happy for the chance to show their professionalism since they had gotten some negative press in the last year.

Special Agent Andrews was scheduled to meet the task force commander, LT Snodgrass, in an unmarked van that had been parked on 15th street just south of the address. Because SA Andrews was driving a car with government plates, she parked it on 14th street and walked up Grady Ave. to 15th Street. As it is only 34 degrees and blowing snow, she is happy to finally get to the van. As she approached the van, the door opened and she stepped in.

Hello, I am Special Agent Andrews with the Secret Service.

Come on in and get out of the cold, Special Agent. I am LT Snodgrass, Task Force Commander, for this event. How was your trip from Roanoke? asked LT Snodgrass.

It was beautiful. Yes, it was cold, and snowing, but the roads were cleared. I want to thank you and your team for helping us with this.

We are always glad to help out the Secret Service, sometimes not so much with the FBI. Sometimes they act like they have all of the answers. This van is our command post for this operation. We have had the house at 1515 Gordon Ave. under surveillance for the past three days. With technology today, it was easy to put multiple cameras on the residence based on your warrant. So far we know that Mr. Hurtado is in the house. We have not seen Mr. Buchannan. Based on information that you provided us on cell phone activity, we believe he has been there since before Thanksgiving. I have a SWAT team stationed at the west end of Ackley Lane, just in case they are needed. I will have extra officers in the area when we make the arrest, but our plan is to try to keep it quiet and simple.

How are you going to do that?

"We will have a patrol car with two officers. They will approach via the parking lot. One officer will go to the SUV that is listed on your warrant. One officer will stand on the side of the car that can’t be seen from the house. She will act as if she is examining damage. The other officer will go to the house and explain that there has been vandalism of cars in the area overnight and that he is just checking to see if the damage that they noticed to the SUV was a part of that. Our hope is to get Mr. Hurtado out of the house without alerting anyone else, since it is his car. We will also have other officers walking a dog, jogging and two other patrol cars, with two officers each. We hope that we do not need SWAT, but this is an ANTIFA