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arfox158 · 3 years ago

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5m Mathmrs. Mac's Messages

TLDR: With a bit of research and support we were able to demonstrate a proof of concept for introducing a fraudulent payment message to move £0.5M from one account to another, by manually forging a raw SWIFT MT103 message, and leveraging specific system trust relationships to do the hard work for us!

5m Mathmrs. Mac's Messages App

5m Mathmrs. Mac's Messages Message

5m Mathmrs. Mac's Messages To My

5m Mathmrs. Mac's Messages For Her

Before we begin: This research is based on work we performed in close-collaboration with one of our clients; however, the systems, architecture, and payment-related details have been generalized / redacted / modified as to not disclose information specific to their environment.

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5m Mathmrs. Mac's Messages App

With that said.. *clears throat*

The typical Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) against SWIFT systems we see in reports and the media are - for the most part - the following:

Compromise the institution's network;

Move laterally towards critical payment systems;

Compromise multiple SWIFT Payment Operator (PO) credentials;

Access the institution's SWIFT Messaging Interface (MI);

Keys in - and then authorize - payment messages using the compromised PO accounts on the MI.

This attack-path requires the compromise of multiple users, multiple systems, an understanding of how to use the target application, bypass of 2FA, attempts to hide access logs, avoid alerting the legitimate operators, attempts to disrupt physical evidence, bespoke malware, etc. – so, quite involved and difficult. Now that’s all good and fine, but having reviewed a few different payment system architectures over the years, I can’t help but wonder:

“Can't an attacker just target the system at a lower level? Why not target the Message Queues directly? Can it be done?”

A hash-based MAC might simply be too big. On the other hand, hash-based MACs, because they are larger, are less likely to have clashes for a given size of message. A MAC that is too small might turn out to be useless, as a variety of easy-to-generate messages might compute to the same MAC value, resulting in a collision. WhatsApp Messenger is a FREE messaging app available for iPhone and other smartphones. WhatsApp uses your phone's Internet connection (4G/3G/2G/EDGE or Wi-Fi, as available) to let you message and call friends and family. Switch from SMS to WhatsApp to send and receive messages, calls, photos, videos, documents, and Voice Messages. WHY USE WHATSAPP. Garrick Hello, I'm Garrick Chow, and welcome to this course on computer literacy for the Mac. This course is aimed at the complete computer novice, so if you're the sort of person who feels some mild anxiety, nervousness, or even dread every time you sit down in front of your computer, this course is for you.

Well, let's find out! My mission begins!

So, first things first! I needed to fully understand the specific “section” of the target institution's payment landscape I was going to focus on for this research. In this narrative, there will be a system called “Payment System” (SYS). This system is part of the institution's back-office payment landscape, receiving data in a custom format and output's an initial payment instructions in ISO 15022 / RJE / SWIFT MT format. The reason I sought this scenario was specifically because I wanted to focus on attempting to forge an MT103 payment message - that is:

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MT – “Message Type” Literal;

1 – Category 1 (Customer Payments and Cheques);

0 – Group 0 (Financial Institution Transfer);

3 – Type 3 (Notification);

All together this is classified as the MT103 “Single Customer Credit Transfer”.

Message type aside, what does this payment flow look like at a high level? Well I’ve only gone and made a fancy diagram for this!

Overall this is a very typical and generic architecture design. However, let me roughly break down what this does:

The Payment System (SYS) ingests data in a custom - or alternative - message format from it's respective upstream systems. SYS then outputs an initial payment instruction in SWIFT MT format;

SYS sends this initial message downstream to a shared middelware (MID) component, which converts (if necessary) the received message into the modern MT format understood by SWIFT - Essentially a message broker used by a range of upstream payment systems within the institution;

MID forwards the message in it's new format on to the institution's Messaging Interface (let's say its SAA in this instance) for processing;

Once received by SAA, the message content is read by the institution's sanction screening / Anti-money laundering systems (SANCT).

Given no issues are found, the message is sent on to the institution's Communication Interface (SWIFT Alliance Gateway), where it's then signed and routed to the recipient institution over SWIFTNet.

OK, so now I have a general understanding of what I'm up against. But if I wanted to exploit the relationships between these systems to introduce a fraudulent payment without targeting any payment operators, I was going to need to dig deeper and understand the fundamental technologies in use!

So how are these messages actually 'passed' between each system? I need to know exactly what this looks like and how its done!

More often than not, Message Queues (MQ) are heavily used to pass messages between components in a large payment system. However, there are also various “Adapter” that may be used between systems communicating directly with the SAG (Such as SAA or other bespoke/3rd party systems). These are typically the:

Remote API Host Adapter (RAHA);

MQ Host Adapter (MQHA);

Web Services Host Adapter (WSHA).

Having identified that MQ was in use, my initial assumption was that there was most likely a dedicated Queue Manager (QM) server somewhere hosting various queues that systems push and pull messages from? However, due to SWIFT CSP requirements, this would most likely - at a minimum - take the form of two Queue Managers. One which manages the queues within the SWIFT Secure Zone, and another that manages queues for the general corporate network and back office systems.

Let's update that diagram to track / represent this understanding: Now I could research how this 'messaging' worked!

There are multiple ways to configure Message Queues architectures, in this case there were various dedicated input and output queues for each system, and the message flow looks something like this: Full disclosure, turns out it’s hard to draw an accurate - yet simple - MQ flow diagram (that one was basically my 4th attempt). So it’s.. accurate 'enough' for what we needed to remember!

5m Mathmrs. Mac's Messages Message

Now I had a good understanding of how it all worked, it is time to define my goal: 'Place a payment message directly on to a queue, and have it successfully processed by all downstream systems'.

This sounds simple, just write a message to a queue, right? But there are a few complications!

Why are there few indications of this attack vector in the wild?

How do I even gain “write” access to the right queue?

What protects the message on the queues?

What protects the messages in transit?

What format are the messages in?

What is the correct syntax for that message format at any particular queue (0 margin for error)?

Where does PKI come in? How / where / when are the messages signed?

Can I somehow get around the message signing?

What values in the messages are dependent / controlled / defined by the system processing them (out of my control)?

What is the maximum amount I can transfer using Straight Through Processing, without alerting the institution / requiring manual validation?

But OK, there's no point dwelling on all of that right now, I'll just clearly define what I want to do! The goal:

Successfully write a payment instruction for 500,000 GBP;

Inject that message directly onto a specific queue;

Have the message pass environment-specific validation rules;

Have the message pass sanctions and AML checks.

Have the message successfully signed;

Have the message pass SWIFTNet-specific validation rules;

What I was not interested in doing for this research - yet needed to understand nevertheless for a full attack chain was:

How to compromise the institution's network;

How to gain access to the MQ admin's workstation;

How to obtain the pre-requisite credentials.

What I wanted to 100% avoid at all costs:

The attack involving SWIFT payment operators in any way;

The attack involving SWIFT application access in any way;

A need to compromise signing keys / HSMs;

A need to compromise SWIFTNet operator accounts or certificates or any type of PKI;.

Now I had an idea of what to do, I needed to make sure I could write a raw MT103 payment instruction! Typically, even when operators write payment messages using a messaging interface application like Alliance Access, they only really write the message “body” via a nice GUI. As raw data this could look something like:

I'll break this down in the following table:

NameFieldValueTransaction Reference20TRANSACTIONRF103Bank Operation Code23BCRED (Message is to 'credit' some beneficiary)Value Date / Currency / Amount32A200102 (02/01/2020) GBP 500,000.00Currency / Original Credit Amount33BGBP 500000,00 (£500,000.00)Ordering Customer50KGB22EBNK88227712345678 (IBAN) JOHN DOE (Name) JOHN'S BUSINESS LTD (Line 1) 21 JOHN STREET, LONDON, GB (Line 2)Beneficiary59KFR20FBNK88332287654321 (IBAN) ALICE SMITH (Name) ALICE'S COMPANY (Line 1) 10 ALICE STREET, PARIS, FR (Line 2)Remittance Information7012345-67890 (essentially a payment reference)Details of Charge71ASHA (Shared charge between sender and receiver)

Now as this is a valid message body, if I were targeting a payment operator on SWIFT Alliance Access, I could - for the 'most' part - simply paste the message into SAA's raw message creation interface and I'd be pretty much done. With the exception of adding the sender / recipient BIC codes and most likely selecting a business unit. However, these values are not stored in the message body. Not stored in the message body you say? Well that complicates things! Where are they stored exactly?

The message “body” is referred to as “block 4” (aka the “Text Block”) within the SWIFT MT standard. As suggested by the name, there is probably also a block 1-3. This is correct; and these blocks are typically generated by the payment processing applications - such as SWIFT Alliance Access - and not necessarily input by the operators. A 'complete' MT103 message consists of 6 blocks:

Block 1 – Basic Header

Block 2 – Application Header

Block 3 – User Header

Block 4 – Text Block

Block 5 – Trailer

Block 6 – System block

So it looked like I was going to need to learn how to craft these various “blocks” from scratch.

Block 1 (Basic header)

Reading through some documentation, I crafted the following “Basic header” block:

A breakdown of what this translates too is as follows:

NameValueContextBasic Header Flag1Block 1 (Not 2, 3, 4, or 5)Application TypeFFIN ApplicationMessage Type0101 = FIN (I.e not ACK/NACK)Sender BICEBNKGB20EBNK (Bank Code) GB (Country Code) 20 (Location Code)Sender Logical TerminalATypically A, unless they are a significantly large institution and require multiple terminalsSender BranchXXXAll X if no branch neededSession Number0000The session number for the messageSequence Number 999999The sequence number of the message

Taking a step back, I already identified two potential problems: the “session” and “sequence” numbers! These are described as follows:

Session Number – Must also equal the current application session number of the application entity that receives the input message.

Sequence number – The sequence number must be equal to the next expected number.

Hmmm, at this point I was not sure how I could predetermine a valid session and/or sequence number - considering they seemed to be application and 'traffic' specific? But there was nothing I could do at the time, so I noted it down in a list of 'issues/blockers' to come back to later.

Block 2 (Application Header)

A bit more dry reading later, I managed to also throw together an application header:

Again, I’ve broken this down so it makes sense (if it didn’t already; I’m not one to assume):

NameValueContextApplication Header Flag2Block 2I/O IdentifierIInput Message (a message being sent)Message Type103103 = Single Customer Credit TransactionRecipient BICFBNKFR20FBNK (Bank Code) FR (Country Code) 20 (Location Code)Recipient Logical TerminalXAll General Purpose Application Messages must use 'X'Recipient BranchXXXAll General Purpose Application Messages must use 'XXX'Message PriorityNNormal (Not Urgent)

Awesome! No issues crafting this header!

Note: At this point I should probably mention that these BIC codes are not 'real', however are accurate in terms of in format and length.

Block 3 (User Header)

The third block is called the “User Header” block, which can be used to define some “special” processing rules. By leverage this header, I could specify that the message should be processed using “Straight Through Processing” (STP) rules which essentially attempts to ensure that the message is processed end-to-end without human intervention. This could be specified as follows:

However, this was not yet a valid header! As of November 2018 the user header requires a mandatory “Unique end-to-end transaction reference” (UETR) value, which was introduced as part of SWIFT's Global Payments Innovation initiative (gpi)! This is a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) compliant with the 4th version of the generation algorithm used by the IETF standard 'RFC4122'. This consists of 32 hexadecimal characters, divided into 5 parts by hyphens as follows:

where:

x – any lowercase hexadecimal character;

4 – fixed value;

y – either: 8, 9, a, b.

This value can be generated using Python as seen below:

With an acceptable UETR generated, this is how the third block looked:

And as before, a breakdown can be found below:

NameValueContextUser Header Flag3Block 3Validation Flag119Indicates whether FIN must perform any type of special validationValidation FieldSTPRequests the FIN system to validate the message according to the straight through processing principlesUETR Field121Indicates the Unique end-to-end transaction reference valueUETR Value8b1b42b5-669f-46ff-b2f2-c21f99788834Unique end-to-end transaction reference used to track payment instruction

Block 5 and 6 (Trailer and System Blocks)

I’ve already discussed “block 4” (the message body), so to wrap this section up, I'll be looking at the final 2 blocks: Block 5, aka the “Trailer”; and block S, aka the “System” block.

Before going forward, let me take a moment to explain the pointlessly complicated concept of input and output messages:

An “input” message (I) is a message which is traveling “outbound” from the institution. So this is a message being “input” by an operator and sent by the institution to another institution.

An “output” message (O) is a message which is traveling “inbound” to the institution. So this is a message being “output” by SWIFTNet and being received by the institution.

OK, moving swiftly (aaaahhhhh!) on.

For Input messages, these blocks were not too much of a problem. The headers only really seemed to be used to flag whether the message was for training / testing or to flag if it was a possible duplicate, which syntactically took the following form:

Where “TNG” indicated “training” and “SPD” indicated “possible duplicate”.

However, with Output messages, it got considerably more complicated. An example of what the trailer and system block could look like on an Output message is the following:

A breakdown of these various values is:

Trailer ((5:) MAC – Message Authentication Code calculated based on the entire contents of the message using a key that has been exchanged with the destination bank and a secret algorithm; CHK – This is a PKI checksum of the message body, used to ensure the message has not been corrupted in transit; TNG – A flag to indicate that the message is a Testing and Training Message.

System ((S:) SPD – Possible Duplicate Flag SAC – Successfully Authenticated and Authorized Flag. This is only present if:

Signature verification was successful.

RMA (Relationship Management Application) authorization and verification was successful.

COP – Flag indicating that this is the primary message copy; MDG – The HMAC256 of the message using LAU keys.

However, these seemed to only be values I would need to consider if I was to try and forge an “incoming” message from SWIFTNet or an 'outbound' message on the output of the SAG.

So.. I'll stick with crafting an “input' message trailer:

Now, having said all that, it turned out the trailer block did seem to sometimes hold a MAC code and a message checksum (sigh), meaning I actually needed to construct something like:

So that was +2 to my 'issues/blockers' list. However, issues aside, I now understood the complete message format, and could put it all together and save the following as a draft / template MT103 message:

Highlighted in bold above are the areas of the message I was - at this point - unable to pre-determine. Nevertheless, a summary of what that the message describes is:

Using the transaction reference “TRANSACTIONRF103”;

please transfer 500,000.00 GBP;

from John Doe, (IBAN: GB22EBNK88227712345678) at “English Bank” (BIC: EBNKGB20);

to Alice Smith (IBAN: FR20FBNK88332287654321) at “French Bank” (BIC: FBNKFR20);

Furthermore, please ensure the transaction charge is shared between the two institutions;

and mark the payment with a reference of “12345-67890”.

To wrap up this section, i wanted to take a moment to explain some logic behind the target of 500,000 GBP, as it is also important.

Aside from the many reasons it would be better to transfer (even) smaller amounts (which is an increasingly common tactic deployed by modern threat actors), why not go higher? This is where it’s important to understand the system and environment you are targeting.

In this instance, let's assume that by doing recon for a while I gathered the understanding that:

If a message comes from SYS which is over £500k;

even if it has been subject to a 4 eye check;

and even if it is flagged for STP processing;

route it to a verification queue and hold it for manual verification.

This was because a transaction over £500k was determined to be “abnormal” for SYS. As such, if my transaction was greater, the message would not propagate through all systems automatically.

OK, so now that I understood:

how the system worked;

how it communicated;

the fundamental structure of a raw MT103 payment messages;

and how much I could reliably (attempt) to transfer.

And with that, it was time to take a break from MT standards and establish an understanding of how I would even get into a position to put this into practice!

To place a message on a queue, I was going to need two things:

Access to the correct queue manager;

Write access to the correct queues.

Depending on the environment and organisation, access to queue managers could be quite different and complex. However a bare-bones setup may take the following form:

An MQ Administrator accesses their dedicated workstation using AD credentials;

They then remotely access a dedicated jump server via RDP which only their host is whitelisted to access;

This may be required as the queues may make use of Channel Authentication Records, authorizing specific systems and user accounts access to specific queues;

The channels may further be protected by MQ Message Encryption (MQME) which encrypts messages at rest based on specific channels. As such, even if someone was a “super duper master admin” they would only be able to read / write to queues specifically allocated to them within the MQME configuration file (potential target for another time?);

The MQ Admin can then use tools such via the Jump Server to read/write to their desired message queues.

So, in this scenario, to gain access to the message queues I - as an attacker - would need to compromise the MQ admin’s AD account and workstations, then use this to gain access to the jump host, from where I could then access the message queues given I knew the correct channel name and was configured with authorization to access it.. and maybe throw some MFA in there..

That is understandably a significant requirement! However, when discussion sophisticated attacks against Financial Market Infrastructure (FMI), it is more than reasonable to accept that an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) would see this as a feasible objective - We don't need to dig into the history of how sophisticated attacks targeting SWIFT systems can be.

Next, it was time to finally identify a feasible attack vector for message forgery.

Now with an idea of how to gain the right access, as well as an understanding of the various technologies and security controls in place; I update my diagram:

You may have noticed I've added something called “LAU” around the SAA-to-SAG adapter, and another “LAU” to the MID-to-SAA MQ channels, which I have yet to explain. “Local Authentication” (LAU) is a security control implemented by SWIFT to authenticate messages using a pair of shared keys between two systems. These keys are combined and used to generate a SHA256 HMAC of the message and append it to the S block. This can then be validated by the recipient system. Effectively, this validates the origin and authenticity of a message. As such, even if an attacker was in position to introduce a fraudulent payment, they'd first need to compromise both the left and the right LAU signing keys, generate the correct HMAC, and append it to the message in order to have it accepted / processed successfully.

But LAU aside, I now just needed to figure out which queue to target! There were a lot of queues to work with as each system essentially has multiple “input” and “output” queues. With that in mind, it was important to note that: an incoming message would require being in the format expected by the target system (from a specific upstream system) and an outgoing message would need to be in the format “produced” by one target system and “expected / ingested / processed” by its respective downstream system. So to figure this out, I worked backwards from the Gateway.

Targeting SAG

This was the least feasible attack vector!

I hadn't really looked into how the SWIFT adapters worked - If only I could research literally everything);

SAA and SAG implemented LAU on messages sent between them - An excellent security control!;

The output of SAG was directly on to SWIFTNet which would entail all sorts of other complications - this is an understatement)!

Next!

Targeting SAA

So what if I wanted to drop a message on the “outbound” channel of SAA?

LAU and the SWIFT adapter aside, remember those session and sequence numbers? Well, messages which leave SAA are in the near-final stages of their outbound life-cycle, and as far as I understood would need to have valid session and sequence values. Given I didn't know how to generate these values without gaining access to SAA or how they worked in general (and lets not forget the LAU signing) this didn't currently seem feasible.

Next!

Targeting SANCT

This solution didn't actually transport messages back and forth; it just reads messages off the queues and performed checks on their details. Not much I could wanted to leverage here.

Targeting MID

To target MID, I could try and inject a message onto SAA’s “input” queue, or the “output” queue of MID. This would only need to match the format of messages produced by the Middleware solution (MID). Following this, in theory, the (mistial) message session and sequence number would be added by SAA, along with the UETR. This was promising!

However, MID was a SWIFT “message partner”, which are typically solutions developed using the Alliance Access Development Kit that allows vendors to develop SWIFTNet compatible software, and consequentially, implement LAU. So again, in-order to forge a message here, I’d need to compromise the left and right LAU signing keys used between SAA and MID, manually HMAC the message (correctly!), and then place it on the correct queue.. This also no longer looked promising..

Targeting SYS

OK, how about the input of the next system down - the 'Payment System'?

5m Mathmrs. Mac's Messages To My

As described previously, the inbound data was a custom “application specific” payment instruction from the institutions back office systems, and not a SWIFT MT message. This would be an entirely new core concept I'd need to reverse - not ideal for this project.

But how about the output queue?

Although SYS received custom format data, I found that it output what seemed to be an initial SWIFT MT messages. This was perfect! Additionally, SYS did not have LAU between itself and MID because (unlike MID) SYS was not a SWIFT message partner, and was just one of many-many systems within the institution that formed their overall payment landscape.

Additionally, because SYS was esentially just one small piece of a much larger back office architecture, it was not part of the SWIFT Secure Zone (after all you cant have your entire estate in the Secure Zone - that defeats the purpose) and as such, made use of the Queue Manager within a more accessible section of the general corporate environment (QM1). Konica minolta bizhub c352 driver mac os xcompubrown recovery tool.

With this in mind, and having - in theory - compromised the MQ admin, I could leverage their access to access on the corporate network to authenticate to QM1. I could - in theory - then write a fraudulent payment message to the SYS “output” queue, which we will call “SYS_PAY_OUT_Q” from here on.

OK! It seems like I finally had an idea of what to do! But before I could put it into practice, I of course needed to create a diagram of the attack:

I think it’s important to take a minute to refer back to the concept of “trust” which is what lead to this attack diagram. My theory behind why this may work is because the MID application, implicitly trusts whatever it receives from its respective upstream systems. This is intentional, as by design the security model of the payment landscape ensures that: at any point a message can be created, a 4 (or 6) eye check is performed. If there was a system whose purpose it was to ensure the validity of a payment message at any point upstream, the downstream systems should have no real issue processing that message (with some exceptions). After all, It would be next to-impossible to maintain a high-throughput payment system without this design.

And with that said, the plan was now clear:

Leverage the access of a Message Queue administrator;

to abuse the “trust relationship” between SYS, MID, and SAA;

to introduce a fraudulent payment message directly on to the output queue of SYS;

by leaning on my new found understanding of complete MT103 payment messages.

It was finally time to try to demonstrate a Proof-of-Concept attack!

So at this point I believe I had everything I needed in order to execute the attack:

The target system!

The message format!

The queue manager!

The queue!

The access requirements!

The generously granted access to a fully functional SWIFT messaging architecture! (that’s a good one to have!)

The extra-generously granted support of various SMEs from the target institution! (This was even better to have!)

Message Forgery

I needed to begin by creating a valid payment message using valid details from the target institution. So before moving on I was provided with the following (Note: as with many things in this post, these details have been faked):

Debtor Account Details – John Doe, GB12EBNK88227712345678 at EBNKGB20

Creditor Account Details – Alice Smith, GB15EBNK88332287654321 at EBNKGB20

Some of you may have notice that the sending and receiving BIC’s are the same. This was because, for the sake of the research, I wanted to send the message back to the target institution via SWIFTNet so that I could analyse its full end-to-end message history. Furthermore, you may have noticed we are using 'test & training' BIC code (where the 8th character is a 0) - this was to make sure, you know, that I kept my job.

But yes, with access to these 'valid' account details and the knowledge gained during the research so far, I could now forge a complete Input MT103 messages:

Note: Field 33B is actually an optional field, however, the MT standard stated that “If the country codes of both the Sender’s and the Receiver’s BIC belong to the country code list, then field 33B is mandatory”. As such, if 33B was not present in the message, it would fail network validation rules and SWIFTNet would return a NAK with the error code: D49.

Optional / Mandatory fields aside, it was not quite that simple! There were a few minor changes I needed to make based on the specific point in the message's its life-cycle I was planning to introduce it!

As I list these changes, remember that the objective is to introduce the message to the output queue of SYS (Which exists before MID, SAA and SAG)

The first 3 blocks needed to be placed on a single line;

Remove field 121 (UETR) from the User Header, as this would be generated by SAA during processing;

Remove 1 character from the transaction reference as it needed to be exactly 16 characters (classic user error);

Add decimal point to transaction amount using a comma - otherwise it would fail syntax validation rules;

Ensure the IBAN's were real and accurate, otherwise it seemed the message would fail some type of signature validation on the SWIFT network. The IBANs are fake here, but during the real PoC we used accurate account details in collaboration with the target institution;

Remove the trailer block (5) - as this would be appended by SAA during processing;

Remove the System Block (S) - as this would be completed by the SAG.

And the final message was as follows:

Note that the location in which I introduce the message has resolved all of the 'issues / blockers' I'd tracked whilst researching the message structure! It would seem the further upstream you go, the easier the attack becomes - given MQ is still used as a transport medium.

Message Injection

Now I had my raw MT103 message, I just need to save it to a file (“Message.txt” - sure why not) and place onto the “SYS_PAY_OUT_Q” queue using one of the admin's tools:

With access to a sole MQ Administrator's AD account;

We connect to the MQ admins machine;

Log into the Jump Server;

Open our MQ tools of choice and authenticate to queue manager (QM1) where the output queue for SYS was managed;

Connected to the 'SYS_PAY_OUT_Q' queue;

Selected my forged “Message.txt” file;

Invoked the “write to queue” function;

And it was off!

Loggin in to Alliance Access and opening the message history tab, we sat awaiting for an update. Waiting, waiting, waiting… waiting… and..

ACK! It worked!

That's a joke; did we hell receive an ACK!

See, this last section is written slightly more 'linear' than what actually happened. Remember those 'tweaks' used to fix the message in the previous section? I hadn't quite figured that out yet..

So roughly seven NACKs later - each time troubleshooting and then fixing a different issues - we did indeed, see an ACK! The message was successfully processed by all systems, passed target system validation rules, passed sanctions and AML screening, passed SWIFTNet validation rules, and SWIFT’s regional processor had received the message and sent an 'Acknowledgement of receipt' response to the sending institution!

For the sake of completeness, I’ve included the ACK below:

And of course a breakdown of what it all means:

NameValueContextBasic Header Flag1Block 1Application TypeFF = FIN ApplicationMessage Type2121 = ACKInstitution CodeEBNKGB20AXXXEBNKGB20 (BIC) A (Logical Terminal) XXX (Branch)Sequence and Session No.19473923441947 (Sequence No.) 392344 (Session No.)Date Tag177200103 (Date) 1102 (Time)Accept / Reject Tag4510 = Accepted by SWIFTNet

Excellent! WooHoo! It worked! .. That took a lot of time and effort!

Closer Inspection

But the ACK wasn't enough, I wanted to make sure I understood what had happened to the message throughout its life-cycle. From the message I placed on the initial queue, to being processed by SWIFTNet.

Thankfully, as we sent the message back to the target institution we could see its entire message history. I already knew what the raw message placed on the queue looked like, so I wanted to focus on what became of the message once it had been processed by SAA:

The end-to-end tracking UUID had been generated and added (b42857ce-3931-49bf-ba34-16dd7a0c929f) in block 3;

The message trailer had been added ((5:(TNG:))) where I could see that - due to the BIC code used - SAA had flagged the message as 'test and training'.

Additionally, an initial System Block segment had been added ((S:(SPD:))), tagging the message as a possible duplicate. I wonder why - *cough* 7th attempt *cough*?

OK, so that was SAA. Now let’s see how it looked it once it passed through the Gateway and regional processor:

OK, we can see a few changes now.

The session and sequence numbers have been populated (1947392344);

The I/O identifier in block 2 has been updated to track that it is now an 'Output' message;

The additional data within Block 2 is a combination of the input time, date, BIC, session and sequence numbers, output date/time, and priority;

The trailer has been updated with a message authentication code (MAC) calculated based on the entire contents of the message using a pre-shared key and a secret algorithm;

Additionally, a checksum of the message body has been stored within the trailer’s “CHK” tag. This is used by the network to ensure message integrity.

I also took a look at the entire outbound message history, just to see all the “Success” and “No violation” statements to make it feel even more awesome!

So that's that really..

With a bit of research and support I was able to demonstrate a PoC for introducing a fraudulent payment message to move funds from one account to another, by manually forging a raw SWIFT MT103 single customer credit transfer message, and leveraging various system trust relationships to do a lot of the hard work for me! https://arfox158.tumblr.com/post/655263262721638400/wireless-external-hard-drive-for-mac.

As mentioned briefly in the introduction, this is not something I have really seen or heard of happening in practice or in the 'wild'. Perhaps because it clearly takes a lot of work.. and there is a huge margin for error. However, if an adversary has spent enough time inside your network and has had access to the right documentation and resources, this may be a viable attack vector. It definitely has its benefits:

No need to compromise multiple payment operators;

No requirement to compromise - or establish a foothold within - the SWIFT Secure Zone;

No requirement to bypass MFA and gain credentials for a messaging interface;

No generation of application user activity logs;

No payment application login alerts;

No bespoke app-specific and tailored malware;

And all the other things associated with the complex task of gaining and leveraging payment operator access.

All an attacker may need to do is compromise one specific user on the corporate network: a Message Queue administrator.

The industry is spending a lot of time and effort focused on securing their payment systems, applications, processes, and users to keep - among other things - payment operators safe, Messaging Interfaces locked down, and SWIFT systems isolated. But the reality is,; the most valuable and most powerful individual in the entire model, might just be a single administrator!

As always, a security model is only as strong as its weakest link. If you're not applying the same level of security to your wider institution, there may very well be many weak links within the wider network which chain together and lead to the comrpomise of systems which feed into your various payment environment.

I think the main thing to remember when reflecting on this research is that it did not abuse any vulnerabilities within the target institution's systems, or even vulnerabilities or weaknesses within the design of their architecture. It simply leverages the legitimate user access of the Message Queue administrators and the trust relationships that exist by design within these types of large-scale payment processing systems.

So the harsh reality is, there is no particular list of recommendations for preventing this type of attack in itself. However, the main point to drive home is that you must ensure the security of your users - and overall organisation - is of a high enough standard to protect your highest privileged users from being compromised. Things such as:

Strong monitoring and alerting controls for anomalous behaviour;

Requirements for Multi-Factor authentication for access to critical infrastructure;

Segregation of critical infrastructure from the wider general IT network;

Strong password policies;

Well rehearsed incident detection and incident response policies and procedures;

Frequent high-quality security awareness training of staff;

Secure Software Development training for your developers;

Routine technical security assessments of all critical systems and components;

The use of 3rd party software from reputable and trusted vendors;

However, in the context of Message Queues, there is one particular control which I think is extremely valuable: The implementation of channel specific message signing! This, as demonstrated by SWIFT's LAU control, is a good way in which to ensure the authenticity of a message.

As discussed, LAU is - as far as I know at the time of writing - a SWIFT product / message partner specific control. However it's concept is universal and could be implemented in many forms, two of which are:

Update your in-house application's to support message signing, natively;

Develop a middleware component which performs message signing on each system, locally.

This is a complex requirement as it requires considerable effort on the client’s behalf to implement either approach. However, SWIFT provides guidance within their Alliance Access Developers guide on how to implement LAU in Java, Objective C, Scala and Swift;

Strip any S block from the FIN message input. Keep only blocks 1: through 5;

Use the FIN message input as a binary value (unsigned char in C language, byte in Java). The FIN message input must be coded in the ASCII character set;

Combine the left LAU key and the right LAU key as one string. The merged LAU key must be used as a binary value (unsigned char in C language, byte in Java). The merged LAU key must be coded in the ASCII character set;

Call a HMAC256 routine to compute the hash value. The hash value must also be treated as a binary value (unsigned char in C language, byte in Java). The HMAC size is 32 bytes;

Convert the HMAC binary values to uppercase hexadecimal printable characters.

An example of how this may work in the more flexible middleware solution proposed is where the original service is no longer exposed to the network, and is altered to only communicate directly with the custom 'LAU-eqsue' service on its local host. This service would then sign and route the message to its respective queue.

When received, the core of the recipient payment service would seek to retrieve its messages from the queues via the 'LAU-esque' signing middleware, which would retrieve the message and subsequently verify its origin and authenticity by re-calculating the signature using their shared (secret) keys. Key-pairs could further be unique per message flow. This design could allow for the signing to be used as a way to validate the origin of a message even if it had passed through multiple (local) intermediary systems.

As a final bit of creative effort, I made yet another diagram to represent what this could perhaps look like - if life was as easy as a diagram:

If you made it this far thanks for reading all.. ~6k words!? I hope you found some of them interesting and maybe learned a thing or two!

I'd like express our gratitude to the institution who facilitated this research, as well as specifically to the various SMEs within that institution who gave their valuable time to support it throughout.

Fineksus - SWIFT Standard Changes 2019

https://fineksus.com/swift-mt-standard-changes-2019/

Paiementor - SWIFT MT Message Structure Blocks 1 to 5

https://www.paiementor.com/swift-mt-message-structure-blocks-1-to-5/

SEPA for corporates - The Difference between a SWIFT ACK and SWIFT NACK

https://www.sepaforcorporates.com/swift-for-corporates/quick-guide-swift-mt101-format/

SEPA for corporates - Explained: SWIFT gpi UETR – Unique End-to-End Transaction Reference

https://www.sepaforcorporates.com/swift-for-corporates/explained-swift-gpi-uetr-unique-end-to-end-transaction-reference/

M DIBA - LAU for SWIFT Message Partners

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lau-swift-message-partners-mohammad-diba-1/

Prowide - About SWIFT

https://www.prowidesoftware.com/about-SWIFT.jsp

5m Mathmrs. Mac's Messages For Her

Microsoft - SWIFT Schemas

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/biztalk/adapters-and-accelerators/accelerator-swift/swift-schemas

SWIFT FIN Guru - SWIFT message block structure

http://www.swiftfinguru.com/2017/02/swift-message-block-structure.html

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ready4tech · 3 years ago

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Top 10 Game-Changing Mobile Technologies 2021

Introduction

Smartphones are exceptional technology, but the advancement is essential. Understanding the latest smartphone technologies helps you take maximum advantage. Now game-changing technologies in smartphones are emerging to bring more convenience to the table. If we were to reflect on our history and evolution of humankind, we would see mind-boggling tremendous improvements in our form of communication and throughout time. At first, humans communicated through hand signs, which later developed into drawings. Next, the words came into play. As humans evolved, so did their language. However, long-distance communication was a large hindrance. Slowly, humans came up with the idea of a runner who would go from city to city to deliver a message. Perhaps, the most renowned runner of ancient times is the fabled Greek soldier Pheidippides, who ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of Athenians’ victory over the Persians in the battle of Marathon. Today, the marathon race in the Olympics is based on this fable.

However, the major drawback was the fact that a runner or messenger could not recall all the important messages he was supposed to deliver. Therefore, it resulted in the use of letters, even though it took days to deliver the important messages. Improving the speed of communication was crucial for all, and they managed to do it using telegrams. Telegrams were expensive but faster than letters. They were often cryptic and shorter than letters.

Possibly, the most significant landmark in the development of communication is the landline. With the advent of landlines, we could talk instantly with our loved ones and deliver important messages too. There was no need for lengthy letters or cryptic telegrams. Yet, the ever-curious human mind wanted an even better form of communication. As a result, the world saw the revolutionary rise of cellular phones in the early 1970s, which blew everyone away. The commercial use of mobile phones began in 1983, and as of 2014, there were over seven billion mobile phone subscribers in the world. It was once considered an impossible feat, and now it has seen widespread use.

In the early 1990s, the emergence of the smartphone did gobsmack everyone. Inventions after inventions in the world of technology improved the quality of smartphones. It was initially an uphill task to ensure the widespread use of cell phones. But, Apple Inc.’s founder, the renowned late Steve Jobs (1955 – 2011), was the premier driving force who managed to skyrocket the popularity of smartphones and ensure their extensive use. With the expansive marketing campaign spearheading one of the largest global campaigns, Steve Jobs guaranteed that smartphones are a force to be reckoned with.

LATEST SMARTPHONE TECHNOLOGY

From the 1990s to the 2020s, the world of technology has seen a colossal amount of money invested in research and development for newer inventions that could make life easier for everyone. Here, we have a catalogue of the top ten game-changing technologies that revolutionised the smartphone industry.

1. SIM Card and e-SIM:

What latest smartphone technology is used in mobile phones? Whenever anyone hears this question, the first response that comes to mind is a SIM Card. SIM stands for Subscriber Identity / Identification Module. It runs a Card Operating System (COS) on an integrated chip, which securely contains the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID), Personal Identification Number (PIN), Personal Unblocking Key (PUK), etc. The SIM card allows us to make phone calls, send text messages, surf the internet with a data plan, etc. The initial concept of using a silicon Integrated Circuit (IC) chip on a plastic card can be traced back to the late 1960s – just before the first mobile phones were invented. Currently, there are four SIM card sizes in the market – the full-size SIM card (1991), Mini-SIM (1996), Micro-SIM (2003), and Nano-SIM (2012).

While the SIM Cards mentioned above are hardware-based, there were talks to discuss the development of a software-based chip since 2012. The embedded Subscriber Identity / Identification Module (eSIM ), also known as embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC), is currently used in all the cars sold in the European Union (EU). The SIM would likely be easier to operate and reprogram. Additionally, its widespread use could reduce global plastic wastage. American tech giants Apple first implemented this technology in their Apple Watch Series 3 in 2017. Later, they also included it in the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Google revealed the same smartphone technologies in their Pixel 3 in 2017. Microsoft Surface Pro LTE also has the same technology in their device. They also launched support for eSIM on their Windows 10 OS in 2018. Most recently, Motorola Razr (2020 variant) was launched by Motorola with only eSIM support…

2. Dual Lenses Camera:

The trend for the latest smartphone Technologies for photography has seen a steady rise in the past decade. Although South Korean giants Samsung valiantly introduced the rear Dual Lenses Camera in 2007, they did not receive enough prominence until 2016 when their compatriot LG launched their LG G5 smartphone. Nowadays, most smartphones come with dual, triple, or quad-camera setups, where the cameras have depth or monochrome sensors or telephoto or wide-angle lenses. Generally, the dual-lens setup provides features and functionalities that were previously only available on superior high-end DSLR cameras. The smartphone utilises both cameras at the same time to capture magnificent shots.

3. WeChat:

While software may be a stunning inclusion in the list of technologies, it cannot be neglected. Tencent Holdings Limited is more widely known for its game “Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).” However, even before PUBG became a household name, the Chinese multinational Tencent Holdings Limited launched WeChat in 2011. It is a multi-purpose social media, messaging, and mobile payment application available on iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows OS. Moreover, it also has an interesting technological function that allows two users to connect if they shake their phones simultaneously regardless of their location. In short, it is Facebook, PayPal, Linked In, and WhatsApp combined.

4. Automated Phone Calls and Answering Help by Google Assistant:

American tech giants Google have never been the ones to lag behind. Their gigantic research and development enable them to come up with newer and improved smartphone technologies. Google Assistant has been invaluable for many users. Such is its importance that many android smartphones manufacturer include a dedicated Google Assistant button in their devices. The newly launched call screening feature provides you with the opportunity to screen incoming phone calls. The moment you screen it, the Google Assistant will answer the phone call to collect further information from the caller. You will be able to see what is being said by both sides. It also saves transcripts from the entire conversation.

5. Detachable Display Technology by Samsung

South Korean revolutionary innovators have patented a future smartphone technology that can change the entire landscape of how smartphones work. The unique technology demonstrates that a part of the smartphone’s display can be separated from the original body, and the user can wear it on their wrist like a wristwatch. This wristwatch would have two physical buttons and can communicate with the main device through Bluetooth. Moreover, the main device can recharge the removable part when they are connected again. All tech bloggers, reviews, and personalities in the industry are boggled with their abilities. If it can serve its purpose, this technology will wipe out all other smart-watches from the business.

6. In-Display Fingerprint Scanner

Another latest smartphone technology is the in-display fingerprint scanner. Funny how we have moved past using PINs to unlock our devices to using the face unlock feature to enhance our smartphones’ security measures. Now, the in-display fingerprint scanner form of a biometric security system is quite amusing. The everlasting innovation game brings us a security system that uses an optical fingerprint sensor embedded under the screen to collect fingerprint data. The American publicly owned Synaptics provides its Clear ID Optical In-Display Fingerprint Sensors to most smartphones. Its impeccable accuracy has significantly increased its demand. This tech can also be used to verify major financial transactions in the future.

7. Control House Temperature with Smartphones

The widespread use of Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri to control the smart devices in our home is increasingly rising. Meanwhile, many people have wished to control their devices through smartphones. Now, that prayer has been answered. It can be done using Wi-Fi in your home. For instance, an intelligent thermostat called Nest is designed by the same guy who crafted the iPods. It allows you to control the temperature of your house remotely from anywhere in the world. So, you will not incur greater electricity bills. In addition, during cold chilly winter, you can set temperatures to be higher so that you can return to a warm and cosy home. Also, you can lower the temperatures in the scorching summer to return to a fantastic home.

8. Better Home Security with Security Cameras and Smartphones

In recent times, the number of break-ins has been accelerating. People are increasingly concerned with the safety of their loved ones and their homes. To fight these concerning issues, the newer models of motion-activated security cameras come with the ability to control through Wi-Fi. Whenever the camera is activated, you are immediately alerted about the activity. You can also see the live feed of the house. So, it will be easy for you to check if it is your delivery guy, a neighbour, a friend, or an intruder. In case of unwanted people like robbers, you can quickly inform concerned authorities to take action. This facility will ensure that your home is safe from unwanted intruders.

9. Smartphone to Smart Key Technology

It is one of many smartphone technologies that can convert your smartphone into a smart key. Although smart keys have been around for three decades, their uses are increasing only recently. Google recently announced that Android smartphones would be able to lock and unlock certain vehicles. This earth-shattering feature will be available when the Android 12 rolls out. The android users who own vehicles that use near-field communication (NFC) or ultra-wideband (UWB) will be able to control their cars.

Additionally, they will also be able to start their vehicle if they want. German automobile manufacturer BMW will be releasing keys compatible with android. Therefore, the Samsung Galaxy series and Google’s Pixels will receive their digital smart keys later this year. It is a great feature for people who tend to forget their keys here and there.

10. Automatic Smart Pet Feeder Technology

Once considered a future, smartphone technology is now a reality. These latest Smartphone technologies are a blessing for all pet lovers. The automated smart pet feeders allow you to stringently maintain the schedule and manage the feeding times of your pets. You can even control the portion to be served and manage the food supply. Users can control these smart devices through their smartphones. So, even if you are away from home on a short vacation or you are at work, your beloved pet will never miss a meal.

Foremost innovators and researchers are constantly competing to invent the next big thing. With such dedication and hard work, we will likely receive newer technological updates sooner rather than later. Let us wait and see what the future holds.

#ready4tech #mobile #latest technology

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coldfuryllama · 3 years ago

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ApowerMirror 1.6.0.3 Crack With Serial Key(Latest Mac)Free Download!

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mostlysignssomeportents · 5 years ago

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#1yrago Oh for fuck's sake, not this fucking bullshit again (cryptography edition)

America, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and Australia are in a surveillance alliance called The Five Eyes, through which they share much of their illegally harvested surveillance data.

In a recently released Statement of Principles on Access to Evidence and Encryption, the Five Eyes powers have demanded, again, that strong cryptography be abolished and replaced with defective cryptography so that they can spy on bad guys.

They defend this by saying "Privacy is not absolute."

But of course, working crypto isn't just how we stay private from governments (though god knows all five of the Five Eyes have, in very recent times, proven themselves to be catastrophically unsuited to collect, analyze and act on all of our private and most intimate conversations). It's how we make sure that no one can break into the data from our voting machines, or push lethal fake firmware updates to our pacemakers, or steal all the money from all of the banks, or steal all of the kompromat on all 22,000,000 US military and government employees and contractors who've sought security clearance.

Also, this is bullshit.

Because it won't work.

Here's the text of my go-to post about why this is so fucking stupid. I just can't be bothered anymore. Jesus fucking christ. Seriously? Are we still fucking talking about this? Seriously? Come on, SERIOUSLY?

It’s impossible to overstate how bonkers the idea of sabotaging cryptography is to people who understand information security. If you want to secure your sensitive data either at rest – on your hard drive, in the cloud, on that phone you left on the train last week and never saw again – or on the wire, when you’re sending it to your doctor or your bank or to your work colleagues, you have to use good cryptography. Use deliberately compromised cryptography, that has a back door that only the “good guys” are supposed to have the keys to, and you have effectively no security. You might as well skywrite it as encrypt it with pre-broken, sabotaged encryption.

There are two reasons why this is so. First, there is the question of whether encryption can be made secure while still maintaining a “master key” for the authorities’ use. As lawyer/computer scientist Jonathan Mayer explained, adding the complexity of master keys to our technology will “introduce unquantifiable security risks”. It’s hard enough getting the security systems that protect our homes, finances, health and privacy to be airtight – making them airtight except when the authorities don’t want them to be is impossible.

What these leaders thinks they're saying is, "We will command all the software creators we can reach to introduce back-doors into their tools for us." There are enormous problems with this: there's no back door that only lets good guys go through it. If your Whatsapp or Google Hangouts has a deliberately introduced flaw in it, then foreign spies, criminals, crooked police (like those who fed sensitive information to the tabloids who were implicated in the hacking scandal -- and like the high-level police who secretly worked for organised crime for years), and criminals will eventually discover this vulnerability. They -- and not just the security services -- will be able to use it to intercept all of our communications. That includes things like the pictures of your kids in your bath that you send to your parents to the trade secrets you send to your co-workers.

But this is just for starters. These officials don't understand technology very well, so they doesn't actually know what they're asking for.

For this proposal to work, they will need to stop Britons, Canadians, Americans, Kiwis and Australians from installing software that comes from software creators who are out of their jurisdiction. The very best in secure communications are already free/open source projects, maintained by thousands of independent programmers around the world. They are widely available, and thanks to things like cryptographic signing, it is possible to download these packages from any server in the world (not just big ones like Github) and verify, with a very high degree of confidence, that the software you've downloaded hasn't been tampered with.

Australia is not alone here. The regime they proposes is already in place in countries like Syria, Russia, and Iran (for the record, none of these countries have had much luck with it). There are two means by which authoritarian governments have attempted to restrict the use of secure technology: by network filtering and by technology mandates.

Australian governments have already shown that they believes they can order the nation's ISPs to block access to certain websites (again, for the record, this hasn't worked very well). The next step is to order Chinese-style filtering using deep packet inspection, to try and distinguish traffic and block forbidden programs. This is a formidable technical challenge. Intrinsic to core Internet protocols like IPv4/6, TCP and UDP is the potential to "tunnel" one protocol inside another. This makes the project of figuring out whether a given packet is on the white-list or the black-list transcendentally hard, especially if you want to minimise the number of "good" sessions you accidentally blackhole.

More ambitious is a mandate over which code operating systems in the 5 Eyes nations are allowed to execute. This is very hard. We do have, in Apple's Ios platform and various games consoles, a regime where a single company uses countermeasures to ensure that only software it has blessed can run on the devices it sells to us. These companies could, indeed, be compelled (by an act of Parliament) to block secure software. Even there, you'd have to contend with the fact that other states are unlikely to follow suit, and that means that anyone who bought her Iphone in Paris or Mexico could come to the 5 Eyes countries with all their secure software intact and send messages "we cannot read."

But there is the problem of more open platforms, like GNU/Linux variants, BSD and other unixes, Mac OS X, and all the non-mobile versions of Windows. All of these operating systems are already designed to allow users to execute any code they want to run. The commercial operators -- Apple and Microsoft -- might conceivably be compelled by Parliament to change their operating systems to block secure software in the future, but that doesn't do anything to stop people from using all the PCs now in existence to run code that the PM wants to ban.

More difficult is the world of free/open operating systems like GNU/Linux and BSD. These operating systems are the gold standard for servers, and widely used on desktop computers (especially by the engineers and administrators who run the nation's IT). There is no legal or technical mechanism by which code that is designed to be modified by its users can co-exist with a rule that says that code must treat its users as adversaries and seek to prevent them from running prohibited code.

This, then, is what the Five Eyes are proposing:

* All 5 Eyes citizens' communications must be easy for criminals, voyeurs and foreign spies to intercept

* Any firms within reach of a 5 Eyes government must be banned from producing secure software

* All major code repositories, such as Github and Sourceforge, must be blocked in the 5 Eyes

* Search engines must not answer queries about web-pages that carry secure software

* Virtually all academic security work in the 5 Eyes must cease -- security research must only take place in proprietary research environments where there is no onus to publish one's findings, such as industry R&D and the security services

* All packets in and out of 5 Eyes countries, and within those countries, must be subject to Chinese-style deep-packet inspection and any packets that appear to originate from secure software must be dropped

* Existing walled gardens (like Ios and games consoles) must be ordered to ban their users from installing secure software

* Anyone visiting a 5 Eyes country from abroad must have their smartphones held at the border until they leave

* Proprietary operating system vendors (Microsoft and Apple) must be ordered to redesign their operating systems as walled gardens that only allow users to run software from an app store, which will not sell or give secure software to Britons

* Free/open source operating systems -- that power the energy, banking, ecommerce, and infrastructure sectors -- must be banned outright

The Five Eyes officials will say that they doesn't want to do any of this. They'll say that they can implement weaker versions of it -- say, only blocking some "notorious" sites that carry secure software. But anything less than the programme above will have no material effect on the ability of criminals to carry on perfectly secret conversations that "we cannot read". If any commodity PC or jailbroken phone can run any of the world's most popular communications applications, then "bad guys" will just use them. Jailbreaking an OS isn't hard. Downloading an app isn't hard. Stopping people from running code they want to run is -- and what's more, it puts the every 5 Eyes nation -- individuals and industry -- in terrible jeopardy.

That’s a technical argument, and it’s a good one, but you don’t have to be a cryptographer to understand the second problem with back doors: the security services are really bad at overseeing their own behaviour.

Once these same people have a back door that gives them access to everything that encryption protects, from the digital locks on your home or office to the information needed to clean out your bank account or read all your email, there will be lots more people who’ll want to subvert the vast cohort that is authorised to use the back door, and the incentives for betraying our trust will be much more lavish than anything a tabloid reporter could afford.

If you want a preview of what a back door looks like, just look at the US Transportation Security Administration’s “master keys” for the locks on our luggage. Since 2003, the TSA has required all locked baggage travelling within, or transiting through, the USA to be equipped with Travelsentry locks, which have been designed to allow anyone with a widely held master key to open them.

What happened after Travelsentry went into effect? Stuff started going missing from bags. Lots and lots of stuff. A CNN investigation into thefts from bags checked in US airports found thousands of incidents of theft committed by TSA workers and baggage handlers. And though “aggressive investigation work” has cut back on theft at some airports, insider thieves are still operating with impunity throughout the country, even managing to smuggle stolen goods off the airfield in airports where all employees are searched on their way in and out of their work areas.

The US system is rigged to create a halo of buck-passing unaccountability. When my family picked up our bags from our Easter holiday in the US, we discovered that the TSA had smashed the locks off my nearly new, unlocked, Travelsentry-approved bag, taping it shut after confirming it had nothing dangerous in it, and leaving it “completely destroyed” in the words of the official BA damage report. British Airways has sensibly declared the damage to be not their problem, as they had nothing to do with destroying the bag. The TSA directed me to a form that generated an illiterate reply from a government subcontractor, sent from a do-not-reply email address, advising that “TSA is not liable for any damage to locks or bags that are required to be opened by force for security purposes” (the same note had an appendix warning me that I should treat this communication as confidential). I’ve yet to have any other communications from the TSA.

Making it possible for the state to open your locks in secret means that anyone who works for the state, or anyone who can bribe or coerce anyone who works for the state, can have the run of your life. Cryptographic locks don’t just protect our mundane communications: cryptography is the reason why thieves can’t impersonate your fob to your car’s keyless ignition system; it’s the reason you can bank online; and it’s the basis for all trust and security in the 21st century.

In her Dimbleby lecture, Martha Lane Fox recalled Aaron Swartz’s words: “It’s not OK not to understand the internet anymore.” That goes double for cryptography: any politician caught spouting off about back doors is unfit for office anywhere but Hogwarts, which is also the only educational institution whose computer science department believes in “golden keys” that only let the right sort of people break your encryption.

https://boingboing.net/2018/09/04/illegal-math.html

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kairaverma · 5 years ago

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The World of iOS and How it Develops Today

Since the last 70 years or so, mankind has seen a significant leap in the field of technology. It was in 1946 that the ENIAC (the first supercomputer) opened its eyes into this world) and by 1970 we already had a Personal Computer – a desktop PC as we know it today, available. The coming years saw the advent of mainframe and mini computers. Though the Internet has made its presence felt as early as 1969 at DARPA, it became a household name only when Windows 95 came into being. That is when a new technology came into being parallel – the Mobile (somewhere towards the end of the 20th century).

It was the turn of this technology now to occupy the brain and mind of us humans. The mobiles within just two decades have progressed from just a telephone to almost being a palmtop computer. The content that I am typing now may as well be provided as an input to some application which can read it for you, in a voice you prefer.

It was the Symbian mobiles in the beginning, but with Android as an option, the masses forgot the operating system soon that had brought new technology to this world. With Google at its back, Android powered devices took over the world as anything and people loved it. As the users demanded more and more from the hand-held sets, it was the Apple powered devices that proved a threat to the Android. According to a survey Android alone accounts for 51.1 % of the market share but iOS users are loyal to it more than perhaps the Android users and that is the reason why iOS is seeing an increase in its market share since 2017. Today there are a lot of iOS App development companies in India, US, UK and elsewhere that are loyal to this OS. Although, other mobiles are also having their followers who are loyal to them the iOS app development companies in India are flourishing as they are well supported by the elite of the Indian high class. Let’s see what’s new about iOS in the market as of now:

Apple could launch 16-inch MacBook, new iPad Pro this month: Apple is scheduled to host this month's launch event where new MacBooks and iPads are expected. Apple has scheduled a number of products that it plans to introduce to the user during its October 2019 event. These comprise of a 16-inch MacBook Pro with a scissor keyboard, refreshed iPad Pro model along with Apple Tags items trackers. The company hosted an event on October 30, 2018 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York City, and is expected to host the event again this year around the same time. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is rumored to be the same physical size as the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but for a larger display it will feature smaller bezel sizes. While the existing11-inch and12.9-inch iPad Pro models debuted in October 2018, these high-end tablets could be upgraded this time by the manufacturer. Also, Apple can release its item tracker similar to ' Apple Tag ' famous tile items. It's a tiny device attached to items to make them easy to find, it's combined with elements of augmented reality to help users find their lost items easily.

iOS 13.1.3 is the latest software update from Apple to fix iPhone and iPad bugs: With new bug fixes and performance improvements, Apple is releasing iOS 13.1.3 to the public today. The update, in addition to iPadOS 13.1.3, is now rolling out to iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users. Apple says the Mail app's update address issues for Bluetooth connectivity, and more. A summary of what has changed in iOS 13.1.3 follows. iOS 13.1.3 contains bug fixes and iPhone enhancements. The update

fixes an issue that might prevent an incoming call from ringing or vibrating phone.

Helps fix a problem that may prevent the opening of an invitation to a meeting in Mail

Solves a problem in which data in the Health app may not show correctly after adjustment of daylight savings

Solves a problem where Voice Memos recordings may not be downloaded after restore iCloud Backup

Addresses a problem where apps may not be updated during iCloud Backup

Fixes a problem that can stop Apple Watch from successfully pairing

Resolves a problem where alerts may not be received on Apple Watch

Fixes a problem where Bluetooth may disconnect on certain vehicles

Improves the reliability of Bluetooth hearing aids and headsets

Addresses release output for applications using Game Center

Recently, Apple released new versions of iOS 13 at a rapid pace. Apple released iOS 13.1.1 last month and just two days later followed up with iOS 13.1.2. The updates focused on improving reliability and addressing bugs for items like the Camera app, iCloud backups, and more. Finally, one would agree that the users can expect general performance improvements, squashed bugs, and more thanks to iOS 13.1.3. Apple is also currently involved in testing a beta version of iOS 13.2 with its new Deep Fusion camera technology .

iPhone users complaining about iOS 13.1.2 issues: The reportedly rushed release of the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system has posed major problems. Apple support forums and Twitter account contain hundreds of iPhone user complaints about both making and receiving calls. Although the update was intended to bring a range of new features to type, including dark mode and swipe, a number of disruptive bugs have also apparently been introduced. One of the most frustrating is the inability to make calls, though users usually complain about battery drain and overheating.

One of the iPhone users complained about the company’s support forum: "After updating, the telephone is heating, batte ry draining, the worst incoming calls don't sound. What's the worth of a ' mobile ' if it doesn't sound like it?". Reports suggest that after a number of critical security issues that have arisen recently, Apple has been forced to rush the release of the new iOS version. A vulnerability found by the clandestine and prestigious group of security researchers known as Project Zero was among the most troubling.Apple had said at that time that it will not announce, discuss or confirm security issues for the safety of their customers until an investigation had taken place and updates or changes have been made generally available.

The transition to iOS 13.1 is intended to fix many of these vulnerabilities, and the security risks that a known code bug that presents to users once a patch is available is so severe that it is never considered reasonable to postpone upgrading. But the downside of widely reported vulnerabilities may prevent users from downloading the update, leaving hackers and cyber criminals at risk. Apple quickly pushed out another update to resolve the new bugs and patch those in the previous release of iOS version 13.1.1, but this rush seemed to introduce more bugs again.

The process seems to have been replicated with iOS 13.1.2, with users complaining about calls, Face ID, Mail, Messages, and battery leakage problems. How fast these issues will be addressed is not clear. Apple was unable to respond to a request for comment immediately.

Apple slams Google for raising the false alarm on iOS security: Apple has blamed Google for making a false perception that its iPhones are at risk due to security bugs that allegedly penetrate many malicious websites into its iOS operating system. Researchers working in Google's Project Zero team had discovered multiple hacked websites that used iPhone security flaws to attack users who visited these websites, exposing their personal files, emails, and location data in real time. The websites distributed their malware indiscriminately and have been active for years, according to Google. "All evidence indicates that these website attacks were only operational for a brief period, about two months, not ' two years ' as Google implies," according to the iPhone maker. Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) found that there was no target bias because visiting the compromised site was enough for the exploit server to attack the iPhone and mount a monitoring implant if it was successful. "We predict that thousands of visitors per week are visiting these pages," the Google blog post said.

Google researchers also said they found a vulnerability that used end-to-end authentication applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram and iMessage to access all the server files on the victim's iPhone.

Apple said it patched the bugs in February working extremely fast to solve the problem just 10 days after hearing about it.

When Google came to us, we were already addressing the exploited bugs," the company said, adding that its software security teams around the world were continually iterating to introduce new defenses and vulnerabilities for updates as soon as they are discovered.

#App Developers India #India App Developers #Mobile App Development Company #Mobile App Development Company India #Mobile App Development #Best App Developers #Top App Developers In india

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vcymiqjvqplo-blog · 5 years ago

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Perfect Way To Check How To See Who Views Your Instagram Profile Instantly

Theres something every instagrammer wants to recognize: who is searching at my photographs? We conscious in a display-and-tell world, taking into account ihttps://igapers.comdo-i-post-mindsets, remarks, and likes. No person wants to disappear at idiosyncrasy of a #dull picture. But, ever because the advent of instagram tales, which does permit you to see who has visible the films and images you have shared, the concept is starting to unfold that you can additionally recognise who has seen the content who viewed my instagram material you have got posted to your wall. Instagram makes it how to see who views your instagram serene to produce a result pretend, however what occurs bearing in mind a person else pretends to be you? In principle, social media websites taking into consideration fb create it in order that third deeds cant entrance your mystery information, however without our understanding, hackers are taking gain people: robbing non-public history (even the ones utterly good-complicated-and-thoroughly-notion-out passwords) and attainment resolution acquire right of right of entry to to our profiles.

Who Views My Instagram

Within the college and cold deed of mark zuckerberg and the administrators of instagram finding out that you can acquire right of open to this facts, it might be the app itself that, in one of its updates, other the another appropriately you can get who has visible your pix. If a person tells you they could complete it, theyre now not to be rusted. who viewed me on instagram- instantagent don't forget the case of turker bayram, a unfortunately popular but elusive malware developer how to look who views your Instagram who has been how to see who viewed your instagram clever of vicinity his malicious apps within the height charts upon google achievement and the app save. quickly after he creates them and uploads them, there are large numbers of downloads. By the epoch someone figures out whats happening, and after loads of thousands (doubtlessly thousands and thousands) of users are robbed in their personal statistics, google and apple sooner or future delete the apps. This has befell as a minimum two times. A few months in the past, an open-minded developer named david layer-reiss warned us on his weblog nearly bayrams other malicious software. The ios relation became known as who cares when me igapers, and in android, igapers .

My View Briefing

Many human beings say yes that is no quirk of knowing who perspectives every persons profile upon instagram or some extra social networking website online. There's no indicator upon instagram to see who considered your profile, and instagram surely would now not allowance that. In skirmish you want to recognise who's viewing my instagram profile and photographs you how to look who viewed your instagram video could use one of the maximum renowned apps to your cell tool 1. For ios (iphone, ipad) you could use instaview app from mobilearts llc. This app you could download in appstore right now. Instaview calculates your instagram pastime and get archives for users who has interacted together following your profile lately this app displays the list of users who likes you most, primarily based upon interactions which supplementary people have had together in imitation of your instagram account, along in the same way as likes, remarks, snap shots tagged you, in imitation of and messaging. Instaview and netarts llc aren't combined to instagram inc in any manner. 2. For android you can use who regarded my instagram from mobilearts digital ltd. This app is the most accurate quirk to find out who viewed your profile on instagram. who regarded your profile on instagram calculates who viewed my instagram video all of your instagram motion and get facts for each customers who has interacted in imitation of you latterly. Who regarded your profile upon instagram analyses every of the statistics fetched from instagram and every second third birthday celebration sources just about your account. Who considered your profile on instagram is a 3th celebration device and isn't recommended or licensed via instagram. all of this app to be had at stores in your cellular telephone or pill. Who cares afterward me. Those apps determined by pretension of layer-reiss have already been eliminated can you look who views your instagram and, in november 2015, both apple and google withdrew bayrams unique platform, instaagent. It isn't the primary time malware takes higher than a well-liked site (i.E. Instagram, whatsapp, facebook) thus that it will massively rob addict profiles and it wont be the last. These apps forever recompense to the summit of the charts and all now and then beneath the umbrella of the thesame developer. can you see who views your instagram videos Inside the feat of igapers, the sufferer innocently enters their credentials, unaware that the private archives is sent to the attackers server. In place of coming across who has been looking at your instagram?, the cyber-attacker seamlessly accesses the account as if it were their own and posts spam pics at the proprietors behalf.Foto 2_instagram

Final Words

From telegrams to instagrams, the greater technically cutting edge we end happening the greater necessary it's miles to put up with the conversation source, or in this example, the app. igapers is handily one of the many scams who views my instagram meant to understand gain Who Views My Instagram of the extensive endeavor generated through social networks. The maximum worrisome event approximately them is their reputation, usually large and instantaneous, that by the dwindling google or apple are working its too behind due for hundreds of customers. battle these threats by means of staying alert, ignoring untrue promises, and installing a difficult antivirus on every your gadgets.

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asuopceznulr-blog · 5 years ago

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New App To Find Can You See Who Views Your Instagram For Free

Theres something every instagrammer wants to recognize: who is searching at my photographs? We enliven in a display-and-tell world, once ihttps://igapers.com/do-i-post-mindsets, remarks, and likes. No person wants to disappear at idiosyncrasy of a #dull picture. But, ever because the advent of instagram tales, which does permit you to look who has visible the films and images you have shared, the concept is starting to unfold that you can additionally recognise who has seen the content who viewed my instagram material you have got posted to your wall. Instagram makes it how to see who viewed your instagram video smooth to take action pretend, however what occurs subsequent to a person else pretends to be you? In principle, social media websites later than fb make it in order that third activities cant permission your mystery information, however without our understanding, hackers are taking gain people: robbing non-public history (even the ones entirely good-complicated-and-thoroughly-notion-out passwords) and attainment total get right of door to to our profiles.

How To See Who Viewed Your Instagram Video

Within the educational and proud engagement of mark zuckerberg and the administrators of instagram finding out that you can get right of right of entry to this facts, it might be the app itself that, in one of its updates, other the substitute correspondingly you can get who has visible your pix. If a person tells you they could reach it, theyre now not to be rusted. who viewed me upon instagram- instantagent don't forget the conflict of turker bayram, a sadly well-liked but elusive malware developer how to look who views your Instagram who has been who viewed my instagram intelligent of vicinity his malicious apps within the summit charts upon google performance and the app save. quickly after he creates them and uploads them, there are large numbers of downloads. By the mature someone figures out whats happening, and after loads of thousands (doubtlessly thousands and thousands) of users are robbed in their personal statistics, google and apple sooner or future delete the apps. This has befell as a minimum two times. A few months in the past, an protester developer named david layer-reiss warned us upon his weblog approximately bayrams supplementary malicious software. The ios description became known as who cares once me igapers, and in android, igapers .

Learn From Description

Many human beings believe that is no pretension of knowing who perspectives every persons profile upon instagram or some supplementary social networking website online. There's no indicator on instagram to look who considered your profile, and instagram surely would now not allocation that. In suit you want to recognise who's viewing my instagram profile and photographs you how to see who viewed your instagram video could use one of the maximum well-known apps to your cell tool 1. For ios (iphone, ipad) you could use instaview app from mobilearts llc. This app you could download in appstore right now. Instaview calculates your instagram bustle and get records for users who has interacted together subsequent to your profile lately this app displays the list of users who likes you most, primarily based upon interactions which other people have had together when your instagram account, along once likes, remarks, snap shots tagged you, bearing in mind and messaging. Instaview and netarts llc aren't combined to instagram inc in any manner. 2. For android you can use who regarded my instagram from mobilearts digital ltd. This app is the most accurate showing off to locate out who viewed your profile upon instagram. who regarded your profile upon instagram calculates can you see who views your instagram all of your instagram motion and get facts for each customers who has interacted with you latterly. Who regarded your profile upon instagram analyses every of the statistics fetched from instagram and exchange third birthday celebration sources nearly your account. Who considered your profile on instagram is a 3th celebration device and isn't recommended or licensed via instagram. all of this app to be had at stores in your cellular telephone or pill. Who cares later than me. Those apps determined by habit of layer-reiss have already been eliminated can you see who views your instagram and, in november 2015, both apple and google withdrew bayrams unique platform, instaagent. It isn't the primary time malware takes beyond a well-liked site (i.E. Instagram, whatsapp, facebook) hence that it will massively rob user profiles and it wont be the last. These apps for all time return to the culmination of the charts and all now and after that beneath the umbrella of the same developer. can you see who views your instagram Inside the skirmish of igapers, the sufferer innocently enters their credentials, unaware that the private chronicles is sent to the attackers server. In area of coming across who has been looking at your instagram?, the cyber-attacker seamlessly accesses the account as if it were their own and posts spam pics at the proprietors behalf.Foto 2_instagram

Conclusion

From telegrams to instagrams, the greater technically innovative we stop occurring the greater vital it's miles to endure the conversation source, or in this example, the app. igapers is helpfully one of the many scams can you see who views your instagram videos meant to give a positive response help Who Views My Instagram of the extensive interest generated through social networks. The maximum worrisome matter nearly them is their reputation, usually large and instantaneous, that by the point google or apple are lively its too afterward due for hundreds of customers. fight these threats by means of staying alert, ignoring untrue promises, and installing a hard antivirus upon every your gadgets.

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sarahboseman · 6 years ago

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WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT (PART 4)

CHADWICK BOSEMAN X READER

PART 1 - PART 2 - PART 3

WORD COUNT: 3300 but many conversations, very fast to read!

WARNING : SMUT - Cursing

TAGLIST:

@greenswishbish @wakandanmoonchild @tchallaswife @sisterwifeudaku@captiansaveasmut @heyauntieeee @royallyprincesslilly @wakandanblogger@wakandawinning @wakandankings @kumkaniudaku @airis-paris14 @ashanti-notthesinger @zforzathura @90sinspiredgirl @imgabbyrae@brownsugarcocoabutterwildflowers @skysynclair19 @ljstraightnochaser@zxddy-panther @stressedgyal @bubbleboss17 @ovohanna24 @starsshines-blog @leahnicole1219 @texasbama

At the beginning of the chapter, the Reader is at the present time, then she makes a leap of time remembering what happens a few days after the casual meeting with Chadwick and after their conversation at her house … after that message.

I HOPE THE TAGS WORK!!! LET ME KNOW PLEASE! Reblog if you like it ❤❤❤

NOWADAYS

“Can you stop looking at that phone and have fun?“ Aisha tells you trying to get your iPhone out of your hands. “I’m not doing anything wrong!! just checking my e-mails”

“Yes, your damn e-mails … it’s called WEEKEND for a reason Y/N, enough work! it’s Friday night come on!!! it’s me, you, two beers and lots of nice guys having fun. I wanna have fun and you too need it, you must forget and distract yourself!”

Rebounding is not really your lifestyle, you’ve tried several times but it never worked. Your last “love story”, if you can call it that, wasn’t that great. He was a very nice guy, but there was no feeling. You dated a couple of times, but that kiss was just disgusting, too wet, too much tongue, too much of everything.

"I pass thanks, I’d rather be alone than go out with someone like Jordan again”

“Come on, he wasn’t so bad! He was nice, very good looking. Did he sink the pink?” Aisha asks you, bursting out laughing

“AISHA !!! Nope!!! He kissed me once, while he was taking me home and afterwards … I deleted his number”

“Damn … was he so bad??”

“very bad … trust me”

You sip a bit of your cold beer trying to quench your thirst and shake off the heat and, above all, trying to erase the memory of that kiss. The place is really nice, almost in the center of London and outdoors, there’s a bit of background music, soft lights, a very nice atmosphere. It’s crazy hot outside, but for a quiet Friday night it’s a great choice. Full of boys and girls having fun, chatting, just like you and your friend. You really didn’t want to stay home alone, lately you struggle.

Too many thoughts on your mind, you need to stay busy, even if it’s not easy not thinking. By now you’ve resigned yourself, the constant thought of him will haunt you for life. Like a sentence.

Now It’s as if the situation reversed. Now, he is the one who disappeared without saying a word, leaving you with a bad taste in your mouth, without knowing where and how to contact him, write to him, ask him what happened, if you’ve done something wrong, if he changed his mind, if his words were just empty words. It’s as if he wanted you to experience the feelings he felt that day YOU disappeared from his life. It sounded like a kind of revenge and it hurt you.

Since that night in February of 5 months ago, you haven’t seen and heard him. Well, it’s not really correct, you’ve heard him for a few days, then nothing……….. ………………………..

Five days after that message he sent you, after leaving your house, you wrote him, pondering a lot about your decision. At first it was a harmless message, you complimented for Black Panther that you were finally able to see at the cinema … then the conversation continued taking a turn that had nothing harmless.

You opened Whatsapp, clicked on “new message” and in the list you looked for his number already saved.

- “The wait was really worth it. One of the most beautiful movies, and you’re always outstanding Boseman"

His answer doesn’t wait long, despite the time zone.

-“Thanks Y/ really glad u like it … but what a surprise … I wasn’t expecting to hear from you anymore. I had lost hope and didn’t dare to write u.”

-“That was the intention, but I couldn’t not compliment you"

-“Disappear another time then?“

-“And what should I do?”

-“Idk"

-“precisely"

Message displayed and not responded until the next day.

-“Forgive me, but last night I fell asleep while you were writing. Don’t be mad at me Y/N “ -“And btw, you’re very beautiful in the profile picture”

Naturally you wait a long time in answering, even if his compliment leaves you flattered …

-“I’m not mad Chadwick … Last week we screamed against each other all our resentment, hoping it would help us, I don’t know how much helped me. That message left me very perplexed. You told me some very important things, and what should I do now? What are you asking me again?”

-“I’m not asking you anything, I needed to tell you how I felt and what I felt for a long time and that despite everything I still feel, I don’t see any harm in it. I’m tired of keeping it all inside. Whatever it is.“

-“Okay and you’re right saying what you think, but according to you, was it a nice move telling me you’re engaged and when you’re with your girlfriend doing your things you think about me?”

-“My relationship is not so healthy … I would like something more"

-“These are not my business"

Silence for hours

-“You’re right"

-“I know I’m right"

-“Can I call you?“

-“It’s not the right moment …”

-“What are you doing?“

-“A hot bath, I’m trying to relax after a very stressful working day, what are u doing?”

Silence for a few minutes, but you involuntarily know that you’ve caught his attention.

-“I’m in NY, arrived at the hotel a half hour ago, a stressful journey. I rest before the show tonight, I have a live interview“ He writes to you while he takes off his shirt and jeans starting to bother him for the trip. He moves his bag to the foot of the immaculate bed, then throws himself on it and spread out.

-“You’re a busy and successful man now”

-“I’m always Chadwick. But let’s not think about me, you said you’re taking a hot bath?“He writes with a grin on his face.

-“Yes … I’d be trying to do it”

-“Are you naked in the bathtub talking to me then?“

-“I am”

-“Y/N …“

-“What??”

You know perfectly well you DON’T have to do it, you know perfectly well that it’s NOT correct and the right thing to do is to TURN OFF your phone at that moment!

But you don’t. The thought of knowing that somehow you still have some effect on him makes you feel mischievously good. And anyway your ability to complicate your life exceeds all limits.

-“Damn Y/N” You hear him breathing hard, like a resignation.

-“What’s Chadwick? … you never do a bath? It doesn’t sound like an exciting thing “

-“Well … picturing yourself naked, inside the bathtub, beautiful as the sun … yes it is”

-“Be good … “

-“Can I keep you company on the phone?”

It’s time to BREAK OFF the conversation and say goodbye, you have to put it DOWN. What the hell are you doing ???

-“Of course you can keep me company"

-“You’re alone?“

-“Mmm mmm … u?”

-“Thank God yes. Alone for a few days"

-“Chadwick …“

-“I told you I’m not good and it’s not a healthy relationship”

-“So why not disengaged yet??“

-“Habit, I think”

-“Habit isn’t good for love relationships"

-“I know well. It’s all a mess, I have to stop for a moment and understand what to do”

-“it sounds a little like cowardice to me”

-“Maybe I am. It’s not easy”

-“are u tired?“

-“A lot, too much has happened too quickly, I’d like to take a break from everyone and everything, I should leave and turn off the phone”

-“just do it"

-“How despotic"

-“You have to take care of yourself first of all"

-“And who takes care of you?“

Here we go…

-“Not talking about me Chad”

-“But I’m curious"

-“I don’ think you’re in the right position to be"

-“Anyone reach you later or u sleep alone?“

-“Chadwick …”

-“At the party for your promotion you didn’t seem to be in company"

-“I was not”

-“So anyone comes for the night?“

Silence, you don’t answer

-“Y/N? You there? I see you’re online”

-“I sleep alone, nobody comes"

You don’t know why, but it’s like he’s smiling, and looking at the screen of his cell phone with that unmistakable smirk.

Until a few days ago you didn’t even know where he was, what he thought, what he did. You had no contact, maybe you didn’t even want a contact. You’re so torn up with yourself that you don’t know how to behave.

Yet you’re an adult person, impulsive but at the same time very conscientious, you always thinks a lot and evaluate every aspect of things and then throwing yourself headlong. You’re used to making lists of pros and cons before doing anything and taking any decision, even if your instinct has the upper hand (more often than not) …. and your instinct was always right.

But now it seems everything overlaps in logical and illogical reasoning, all seems to be a big contradiction. You think about a thing, and you do exactly the contrary. Your instinct maybe???

Or maybe you too need a trip alone, without your phone. Already you’re imagining yourself lying in the sun in front of the ocean, without worries and thoughts.

He writes you and you answer him as if he were always with you. But years have passed, too many years.

You’re torn, a multitude of sensations invade your mind and your heart, you’re angry, a little disappointed, very jealous of his girlfriend (?????) in love perhaps, surely still attracted, curious, eager …

Your psychologist (speaking about Chadwick who is the topic of your sessions more often than not) has always told you to clarify this story, as soon as possible, and then close it definitively, for your own good, to go ahead and look for a man who loves you and stand by your side.

According to his advice you had to delete his number days ago, breathe and move on. But you know perfectly what your expectations are and you’re now aware that all the money spent on your sessions has been lost.

You’re stubborn, you’ve always been, you’re impulsive despite your weighting, but your instinct have never been wrong.

Water is almost cold, you empty the tank a little and reopen the tap to let boiling water down. You’re not going to get up from there until you feel your legs become jelly. You need to relax. And you have in mind a way to relax as you would, to relieve tension, to let the adrenaline flow, to feel so exhausted as to fall asleep and sleep satisfied for hours … but you lack the raw material, a man. A man worth it, outside and inside the bed.

You could do it alone, but you know it’s not the same thing.

At that impudent thought, your phone begins to ring. You’re tempted not to answer, but you want to hear his voice.

“Hello?”

“Tell me you’re still in the tub”

Shit

“I heard you swallow and gasp at my question, Y/N … are you still in the tub?”

“Yes … I’m still in the tub”

“I don’t think I need to tell you what I’m thinking about and what this moment reminds me…”

No indeed, you don’t need it, you’re thinking about the same thing …

You were both thinking about that night, when after your last semester exam you found yourself together in your bathroom, half drunk, having a bath together.

It was inevitable, at the party someone covered you with beer, and you don’t know what else, overturning a huge glass on you, you smelled of alcohol from head to toe. Chadwick had only offered to help you undress and get you into the tub without you slipping and hurting yourself.

But then you pulled him in with all his clothes on. You kissed and his hands touched you everywhere under the surface of the water.

Somehow you tried to undress him, because the desire to have him inside you was so great. You took his shirt off while he pulled down his shorts and boxers and somehow you found yourself leaning with your back on his chest. Your legs wide open out of the tub and the fingers of one of his hands on your clit, massaging in a circle with constant pressure, while two fingers of the other hand came in and out of you rhythmically, frantically, quickly. The small bathroom amplified the sound of your voice as you called his name over and over as the refrain of a song.

“…I … I think I have the same memory in mind. Chad … ”

You close your eyes and the heat spreads throughout your body at the thought of that moment, and instinctively you start to caress and touch yourself.

“Put me on speaker … I know you need both hands free”

Without thinking twice you do as he asks, placing the phone on a towel on the edge of the tub, near your head, being careful not to drop it. Loud volume.

“Y/N … tell me what you’re doing now”

God bless your new cell phone!! It was like having him right next to you.

“I can’t …” you answer almost moaning

“Yes you can … come on.”

"I’m touching myself”

“Imagining it’s me?”

“Yes …”

“Fuck …”

“I know it’s wrong what we’re doing, but … talk to me please”

“Y/N … You’ve no idea how much I’d like to be there and be able to touch you. Feeling your skin rubbing against mine, feeling your movements against my body while my hands are moving around your soft curves …”

"Yes …”

“Imagine my mouth on your ear, imagine feeling my breath. My lips kissing your neck and me sucking that point that I only know … sliding my tongue on your skin. It’s just me that I know it, right?”

“Just you Chad…just you”

You’re a moaning mess, and you’re not ashamed he hears you.

"Imagine my hands on your breasts, feel my fingers on your nipples clutching and stroking in a circle, can you feel me Y/N? Do you feel my hands and my mouth?”

“Yes, I feel you Chad … keep talking”

And in the meantime you feel that he’s touching himself, you feel his breath being short and breathless, you hear the sound of his hand that, skin against skin, slides up and down.

“I’d like to have you here Y/N, I always want you here, fuck! …”

“Baby, now slide a hand between your legs and with two fingers begin to stroke up and down, when you reach down, press, more and more, a little at a time, until you feel wet”

“I’m … I’m …. already wet”

You hear him smile and moan.

You remember very well his expression lost in pleasure. You liked watching him while you were on top of him. You never took your eyes off him. You looked at him at your every move, when he opened his lips, he closed his eyes …

“Well, now put a finger in while your thumb keeps to stroke you … you feel me, do you like it?”

“I like it, but my finger isn’t enough … it doesn’t do you justice”

“I know … I know … Y/N fuck, I wish you were here to take care of me now. Are you still touching yourself?”

“Yes … I’m almost there”

“Good … I want to hear when you cum”

“I’m coming … ”

You slide off your finger to focus on your most sensitive point. Your fingers continue the massage by increasing the rhythm and pressure. With one hand you widen your lips and with the other continue to massage yourself, imagining that it’s Chad giving you pleasure.

In the meantime you hear him gasp and grumble incomprehensible and stifled words, you hear him calls you as he always did when he repeatedly fucked you leaving you almost senseless.

You feel your stomach, your belly and your legs muscles contracting and your toes curl up.

"I want to hear you call my name”

You don’t even need him to ask you, while you’re coming you start calling his name and his middle name too. You throw your head back enjoying the moment and the longest and most intense orgasm of the last few years.

“Good girl …”

After a few minutes of recovering, with your head still resting on the edge of the tub, you smile and remember that Chadwick is still on the phone.

You remove the speakerphone and put the phone back on your ear

“Hey …”

“Hey, welcome back, you’re all right?” He says sweetly

”Mmm mmm …“

“Fuck, I miss you”

You sigh, closing your eyes, you miss him too, to die for.

"I’m a fucking mess I know. I know that my behavior is wrong, I know I look like a coward, I know I should have disappeared as soon as you left your apartment. I know I shouldn’t have sent you that message. But you … you … you’re so fucking you. It’s always been you. If only I hadn’t seen you the other night, maybe it was better for both of us”

“Already retracting everything?” you say in a muffled tone, stifling a hysterical laugh.

"No, NO! Please don’t get me wrong. I have such a confusion in my mind, I’d like to tell you so many things, make sensible reasoning, but in the end I mix every things … I look like an idiot, I say the opposite of what I’d like to tell you “

You sigh, trying in some way to collect your thoughts and be as understanding as possible, trying to put yourself in his shoes too.

"I got it Chad, no worries. I think we’re both confused and we have to think carefully about what happened to us. About the words we exchanged, and think about the causes and the effects. Both of us had a wrong ideas later found to be wrong. We had a wrong idea of each other. We acted like two kids, maybe we were actually .… You haven’t stopped thinking for a moment, and me neither. So I don’t know … I don’t know what to do”

“I don’t want to lose you again Y/N“

"me neither … bu Chad … you’re engaged”

“It’s a situation to be solved”

“But for the moment you are. And you have to consider what to do. If it’s a relationship that lasts a long time you have to consider whether it’s worth giving up everything or trying to recover the recoverable.”

"But whose side are you on??”

“No one’s side. Believe me, it’s not easy to tell you what I’m telling you. It’s against all my interests, but it’s the most correct and most adult reasoning that I can tell you now “

"I know …”

“Well, here it’s quite late and you have to rest, we’ll talk soon if you want"

“Sure I want … can I ask u something?”

“Shoot”

“Even if we’re far away … Did you like it? Do you still love hearing my voice?”

You smile at his question … “I craved hearing your voice Chad, you know I love it. And yes, I liked it, a lot …Good evening Chad …”

“Good night Y/N”

It’s been a couple of days since that intimate and erotic phone call and you didn’t write to him yet. As usual you told everything to Aisha who cheers for you and makes you think about him and look for a solution to try to stay together. In short, with her fantasies she’s already booked the location for your wedding and chose her dress.

“Since you two have clarified your feelings … let’s say more or less … and you’ve vented, you seem to feel better, you SMILE more and when you name him now, you don’t have that dark gaze, but your eyes almost shine. Almost … without exaggerating ”

It was true, you felt a little better, you were hurt, a lot, but that weight seemed to ease.

That same evening, while you were cooking, you thought of him, you missed him, you missed him so much, that lack was like a stomach grip.

- “I miss you” you texted him

You didn’t think twice about sending him that message. Impulsive, too impulsive.

He too hadn’t made himself heard in the next three days, but you didn’t worry a lot. You were very busy and you thought he was too … trips, interviews, work, commitments and more. He didn’t answer immediately.

You finished eating, and while you were looking for something on TV, you checked your phone opening your Whatsapp conversation list.

Chadwick had read the message but his profile picture was gone.

He had blocked you…

TO BE CONTINUED ….

I HOPE THE TAGS WORK!!! LET ME KNOW PLEASE! Reblog if you like it ❤❤❤

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icarefone-for-whatsapp-trr6 · 2 years ago

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icarefone-for-whatsapp-trzi · 2 years ago

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joshuajmadrid · 2 years ago

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mostlysignssomeportents · 6 years ago

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Oh for fuck's sake, not this fucking bullshit again (cryptography edition)

America, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and Australia are in a surveillance alliance called The Five Eyes, through which they share much of their illegally harvested surveillance data.

They defend this by saying "Privacy is not absolute."

Also, this is bullshit.

Because it won't work.

But this is just for starters. These officials don't understand technology very well, so they doesn't actually know what they're asking for.

This, then, is what the Five Eyes are proposing:

* All 5 Eyes citizens' communications must be easy for criminals, voyeurs and foreign spies to intercept

* Any firms within reach of a 5 Eyes government must be banned from producing secure software

* All major code repositories, such as Github and Sourceforge, must be blocked in the 5 Eyes

* Search engines must not answer queries about web-pages that carry secure software

* Existing walled gardens (like Ios and games consoles) must be ordered to ban their users from installing secure software

* Anyone visiting a 5 Eyes country from abroad must have their smartphones held at the border until they leave

* Free/open source operating systems -- that power the energy, banking, ecommerce, and infrastructure sectors -- must be banned outright

https://boingboing.net/2018/09/04/illegal-math.html

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ruthsheart · 6 years ago

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comfort

While Marco is flying the wolf pack to Scotland, @ava-x-park stays with Ruth to comfort her hysterical best friend. To her surprise, she learns that being a good friend isn’t always gossip, shopping, and compliments.

tw: blood

Ruth: Something was wrong. Something had to be wrong. Marco hadn’t picked up his cell all day. Last night he’d flown off like some geeky superhero in a trench coat, pack of wolves floating around him like little deadly clouds. He’d simply flown off, alone, and left her, alone, and not once had he picked up his cell in twelve restless hours of calling and sobbing into her pillow and smashing whatever she could smash in her anxious rage. The least he could do is send her a text. Hey Ruth, I’m in Edinburgh, be home soon, in his typical careless, no-big-deal way of saying things that mattered. No. Idiot had gone off to be the hero and get his throat torn out as he starved himself of sleep and food, all alone, in boring ol’ Scotland of all places. Selfish jerk would get eaten by wolves and the only thing she’d know for sure was that he never picked up the phone ever again. In the meantime, Ruth had thrown enough fits to exhaust herself and trashed enough of her flat that she couldn’t properly sit or lie down anywhere except the floor. So on the floor she planted herself, pretending to nap between ragged sobs and panicked, ferocious text messaging.

Ava: As Ruth's self-proclaimed best friend, it was Ava's duty to comfort and soothe poor Ruth in her brother's absence - to be a pillar of strength and consolation during Ruth's time of deep distress and loss. To bring a sense of calm and clarity into the midst of the chaos of Ruth's desperate situation.

However, Ava being Ava and Ruth being Ruth, it was never going to be quite that simple.

The little silver spoon sang against the glass cup as Ava prepared some sweet chamomile tea. Stevia, of course, no sugar. Sugar was for breakups and when people died, and as far as Ava knew - despite Ruth's fears for the contrary - no one was dead just yet. There was no sense in adding to the dramatics by giving the poor girl sugar.

"Here you go, darling," she said in a soft, sing-song voice, as she padded back to Ruth. "Usually when mummy feels stressed she has a tramadol and takes herself to bed, but I don't have any tramadol." She took a seat on the floor opposite Ruth and offered out the cup. "So I made some tea. Apparently it's soothing. If it doesn't help, we can move on to wine, I'm sure I saw some Chardonnay in your drinks cabinet."

Ruth: She sniffled miserably as she poked a few more words into a text message. Please don't leave me here alone. I can't do this without you. Send. As Ava's nimble feet moved with an almost inaudible patter across the wooden floor and over the throw rug, Ruth weakly pushed herself up to sitting. Her hair hung limp and tangled over her face. Her wrinkled white blouse was smeared with blood and her jeans had dark mud-stains across the shins. She hadn't changed or showered or eaten in almost 24 hours. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered. Marco was the only person who mattered and he was gone.

"Thank you." She muttered as her hands wrapped around the little cup, her voice low and rough from crying. She didn't want tea, but she was raised to be polite whether she wanted it or not. Instead, she held the heat close to her chest. It was something warm in this cold, dreadful world. "I don't want to sleep. I don't want anything." Everything was wrong, from Ava's adorable little socks to the spinning ceiling fan above their heads. The world was wrong without Marco in it. "Why won't he answer me, Ava?" She already knew the answers. He's focusing on telekinetically flying himself and a pack of wolves. He's too high up for proper cell service, which was spotty over the wild parts of Great Britain to begin with. He didn't want to get distracted and mess up. He'd dropped or forgotten his phone somewhere. He fell, or he was attacked, or he was dead. "Why is he such a selfish jerk?" Her throat squeezed tight and her ragged voice turned to a squeak as she gripped the tea cup tight and sniffled back aching tears.

Ava: "Well, that's what the tramadol was supposed to be for," Ava explained with pronounced patience. She tucked her long legs neatly under herself and rested her now-empty hands in her lap. "At least get changed. A nice, hot shower and some fresh pyjamas. You'll feel a hundred times better, trust me."

At Ruth's questioning, she gave a exaggerated, sympathetic sigh. "Because he's a man," she explained. "And they're all the same. Brothers, boyfriends, dads... they all go to the same school of self-absorbedness and awful communication. It's just what they do, and we love them anyway for some reason. I'm sure Marco will be in touch with you again just as soon as he's finished dealing with those ghastly flea bags. He's probably off scrubbing himself with a wire brush as we speak and he'll be home before you know it." She folded her arms, forgetting herself for a moment and frowning deeply. If her mother were here, she would scold Ava about wrinkles.

"I still don't really understand what that boss wolf was even doing. Like, what on earth was he planning to do with Faye's body? Go to uni and drink at the weekends? Use his new thumbs to finally surf the net on an iPhone? What was the master plan, exactly?"

Ruth: Ruth’s eyes lifted from the little glass cup hugged in her hands to give Ava a deadpan, exhausted stare. She was too tired to argue. Last night, she might have thrown a fit if someone told her what to do, she might have screamed and tossed her mug of tea across the room. She didn’t have the energy to fight like that, not after a long, sleepless night of crying into her throw rug. Now she could only stare with sore, watery eyes, as if silently begging Ava not to force her up from the rug where she will decidedly lay until she dies.

Ruth sipped at her tea, then frowned at the boring herbal taste, like water and leaves. On second thought, that was all tea was, water and leaves. She set the cup aside and drew her knees up to her chest. Her focus faded in and out while Ava chattered on about fleas and scrubbing... Blood and dirt-stained fingers picked unconsciously at the mud on her jeans. Her mouth answered before her mind had even caught up. “He wanted power.” She blinked at the distant invisible place she’d been staring at for minutes before turning to look at Ava. “He was nothing more than an animal before Faye, just a wild dog, but inside Faye, he had power. He could communicate, he could manipulate, he could walk among us and nobody would throw him in a kennel and move him to the zoo. He was angry, and he wanted the power to do something about it.” She thought back to the night in the woods, dancing and feeling each other’s bodies under the full moon. She’d been asking herself the same question for days—what had Ulfric wanted out of that night? Was it really him in control, or had Faye shone through for one evening? Ruth hugged her knees tighter. “He wanted to hurt people. That’s reason enough to destroy him.”

Ava: "Well, he got one thing right, I suppose," Ava mused with a non-committal shrug. "People tend to underestimate the gift of the gab, but if you've got it, you've got an awful lot of people under your thumb. I guess he could talk to us and move around our world and still talk to all of his gross little friends." It was the best of both, really.

Oh-so-casually, she took her phone out of her pocket and brought up Marco's number. There were exactly two WhatsApp messages to him saved in her history: one from like a million years ago asking why his sister wasn't answering her phone, and one from last spring asking him when his birthday was, because she had been tipsy on champagne cocktails with Ruth and thought she was being dreadfully witty. Neither message had elicited a response from Marco, though the two blue ticks confirmed that he'd read them. She keyed in another message.

would u hurry up?? ruth planning ur funeral xx

Still smiling sweetly for Ruth, she put her iPhone away again.

"Anyway, like I said. Men. Even men who are wolves, or dogs, or whatever. Selfish."

Ruth: Ruth sighed, a long dramatic rush of exhaustion. Normally, she'd agree with Ava. They'd laugh about how terribly irritating men were--selfish, rude, ignorant... Ruth couldn't count how many times she'd told Ava stories of how Marco was impossibly frustrating and unkind to her, but for every tale of woe, there were two more stories of his generosity and love. Things had never been easy for them, father always had his expectations of them, but they held strong because they had each other. Without Marco, she would be utterly alone for the first time in her life. He had to come back. She needed him back in her arms, because if he didn't come back, she wouldn't know how to live without her other half.

A silence fell between them, exhausted and painfully aware of itself. Again, Ruth found herself staring at Ava with a blank, lifeless expression of disappointment. Everything was wrong. Words came out wrong, the carpet under her bum sat wrong, Ava's watery tea was wrong, Ruth's aching violated skin was wrong, the air felt wrong. Ava's presence only sharpened that sensation from a dull blade to a slicing edge.

Slowly, Ruth uncoiled herself and fell onto her back. She shut her eyes. For a moment she thought if she pretended to sleep again, maybe Ava would go home, leave Ruth to suffer in loneliness as loudly and as mud-caked as she wants. Then a strange thought popped into her head. Without getting up or opening her eyes, Ruth muttered. "Why are you here, Ava? What do you want?" Her hands felt heavy, as if someone rested a 20 kg weight in each palm. They sank into the fluffy rug, blood-stained fingers curling in on themselves. "I thought we weren't talking anymore."

Ava: Ava watched her friend mope with concern, a tiny crease appearing between her perfectly-maintain eyebrows. Ruth was acting like her brother was already as good as dead. None of them had died yet. They'd all come up against the wolf pack in one way or another, and they were all still alive. Even Des, and all he had to defend himself were flashy lights. Marco could literally move things with his mind. He could even fly. He was going to be fine.

Ruth's question, however, threw her slightly. "Hmm?" She tilted her head to one side and tried not to sound as miffed as she felt. "What d'you mean, why am I here? You can't be all by yourself in this state, can you?" She fell silent for a moment, the hurt worming its way into her chest as she scrambled to find something else to say.

"Of course we're talking, Ruth! What on earth are you going on about? Honestly, all this stress has made you really confused. You're my bestie, babe. Just because we've been, like, super busy all year doesn't mean you're not still my fave, yeah?" She smiled at Ruth's supine form and folded her arms across her chest. "You know, I read this thing on Instagram the other day, about how really close friends can, like, not see each other for ages and then just pick up again right where they left off. I think that's totally us, don't you?"

Ruth: Eyes shut and body laid out like a skinned animal rug, Ruth tried not to sigh too loudly at Ava’s trite response. Tried, and failed. There were nine other people who could have come to comfort her, but Ava was the one who’d come. Ava, who’d been avoiding her for months. She had an angle, a motive, something. She wouldn’t just show up now to play nurse to someone she didn’t want to see without a reason. The idea that Ava was only here to watch her settled bitterly in her chest. Just another watcher, another person she thought she knew, wasting their time making sure she doesn’t do anything reckless. Slowly, Ruth explained with only a little venom. “I don’t need a babysitter. I’m a grown woman. I can eat, and sleep, and poop when I want to. That’s not why you’re here.” Again, she asked. ”What do you want?”

The reply was not what she’d been expecting. Ava, as she always did with her perfect knack for being perfect, smiled and brushed away Ruth’s concerns as easy as swiping left. Ruth’s eyes eased open to stare at the whirling ceiling fan. Confused? God, she really was confused. The world felt like it was crashing down on her head and nobody else could even feel it at all. Was she really losing it this time?

Her face scrunched up as a hiccup of a sob escaped, hot tears spilling free once again. “I’m s-sorry, Ava. I don’t know what I w-was thinking. Of course we’re still besties. Besties forever.” She swiped her hands across her cheeks to brush her fat, heavy tears away. Her fingers left brown smudges across her face. She gasped another quivering breath and squeaked as she stifled another sob. “I thought... I had my accident, and then you s-stopped messaging me, and I... I thought I scared you away. I thought you didn’t like me anymore.” She buried her crumpled, crying face in her hands, too embarrassed to share her gross snotty tears with Ava. “I love you, b-ballerina babe. Please don’t hate me for what I said.”

Ava: Honestly, Ruth's super-suspicious line of questioning was confusing - not to mention the rudest. Here was Ava, making tea and offering a listening ear like the amazing friend that she was, and all Ruth could do was shout at her and like some snappy... snap... McSnappington.

"Well, my darling. You're very upset right now, so I'm going to let that..."

She trailed off when Ruth suddenly dissolved into a puddle of tears and heartfelt apologies, and her own heart softened, kneaded with a strangely upsetting combination of genuine sympathy and gnawing guilt. "Oh, sweetie..." she said quietly, shuffling across the floor to draw alongside Ruth before lying on the floor next to her. "I was scared. Super scared. I wake up one morning to like, fifty billion WhatsApps all telling me to ring back, it's an emergency, you've tried to..." She paused, hesitating and blinking back tears. "That you've tried to... to hurt yourself. And then some of the others are saying it was to do with this... this stupid magic nonsense."

She fought to get a grip on herself before she started crying too. It wouldn't do to cry. This wasn't a big deal. They were best friends, just like they always had been. Nothing had changed.

"T-totally spooked, babe," she went on, with a nonchalance she's perfected over countless years. "And it was so not cute of me to ghost you like that. Completely selfish. I am so, so sorry for being such a hideous flake." She rolled on to her side to face her friend her head resting on her arm. "I love you too, gorgeous. It's you and me, yeah?" She reached out a perfectly-manicured hand and brushed away a tear. "Best friends."

Ruth: Buried in her hands, Ruth tried to swallow down the tide of tears that kept rising up, stinging at her eyes and spilling down her cheeks. She heard Ava move, her motions graceful, quiet, gentle. Everywhere she went was a dance, an expression of her perfect lithe shape. Someone like Des or Imogen would have plopped down beside her like a great sack of potatoes, announcing their arrival with fanfare and perhaps a little endearing clumsiness. But Ava, she moved with elegance, like a flower opening to the morning sun. In many ways, her best friend was like her twin brother, a rather inevitable turn of events considering how close she and Marco were. Just like him, Ava was almost always perfect. She was always smiling, always controlled, determined and practiced, talented and beautiful. Just like Marco, Ava was gifted. Her beauty inspired Ruth, and it tormented her. She could never be that graceful, that naturally smooth and gentle. Wiping her face roughly with long fingers, Ruth sniffled back the soggy tears and blinked at her effortlessly gorgeous friend.

"It was so, so scary." She nodded in mopey, pathetic agreement. "I thought I could make it disappear, get these horrible images out of my head, if I threw it all away and left this awful place, but without the paint..." Without the paint, there were so many other ways to pour her soul out onto the canvas. Her wrists itched painfully where the scars knotted her fair skin. "I wanted to d-do everything on my own, to prove I was s-strong and smart enough to control it, that there was nothing wrong with me. I..." Her throat tightened, but she pushed onward in a small, whimpering voice. "You're right. I can't be alone. I'm not strong enough."

Slowly, Ruth shuffled closer, reaching out to rest a soft arm around Ava's petite waist. "Best friends. No matter what. Even when... when... I'm not..." Even when I'm not pretty, or strong, or smart, or funny. Even when I'm falling apart. Please, please love me. Tell me I'm enough. She wriggled in closer, trying to hide her messy face against Ava's chest.

Ava: Ava shook her head. This was so typical Ruth. So independent and stubborn. So hell-bent on doing everything herself, even when it was a disaster waiting to happen. Still, she couldn't blame her. Their powers scared Ava, too. Ava, as much as she avoided this truth, had been frightened into inaction. Ruth had had the guts to attempt an escape.

"Oh, darling," she sighed. "Your painting is in you, like my dancing is in me. You can bin your paints all you like but I'm afraid there's no running away from how devastatingly talented you are!" She allowed herself to smile again. "Maybe this magic thingy is the same. It just sort of is."

She hugged Ruth close to her, not sure what to say. Her usual go-tos when comforting her friends were to tell them they were just so pretty, that they didn't need so-and-so in their lives anyway, or that they should go clubbing or shopping. Somehow, in the face of Ruth's raw pain, with her friend's thick, tangled hair between her fingers, none of her pre-programmed responses seemed adequate. That quiet, growing panic that had become increasingly familiar to her since beginning her studies at Durham made it's presence known once again, and she fought to contain it.

"Even when you're not quite up to yourself, yes. Of course. What are friends for, after all? Darling, you've been so brave. But the wolf thing is gone now. Marco will be back in no time, all fussing about being hungry and having dog hair on his jacket. Faye will be up and about in no time and we can all get back to normal. That's all we want, really, isn't It?"

Ruth: “Devastatingly talented? That’s your choice of words?” Ruth wanted to slap Ava’s cheeky mouth, so she did, gently. Rolling onto her side, she lifted a hand to pat Ava on the cheek, leaving a muddy smudge in her wake. A smile threatened to pull at her lips as she noticed the dirty handprint on Ava’s flawless cheek, a little bit of artful juxtaposition. At least she’d left her mark somewhere in the world before the end of it all. “Devastatingly something, I wouldn’t say talented, maybe foolish.” Rolling again onto her back, she blinked her aching eyes at the whirling ceiling fan. Her smile faded, sharpening into a little frown of contemplation. Maybe it just is. That bit of logic went against everything the authors had told them, but that could be why it sounded so appealing. Of course, anything sounded more appealing than cursed to die horribly. For some of them, they had taken to their powers like a fish takes to water. For Ruth, it felt more like her powers had taken to her. Overwhelming waves that crashed on her head before receding away into the depths of the unknown future, leaving her smeared with paint, sore and confused. All she could do to control it was keep her paints and pencils nearby for those moments when the levee broke and time came flooding in. Was that what Ava meant by “it just is”?

It was easier to ignore the gnawing fearful questions when she was pressed up against Ava, wrapped in her slender arms with the sweet floral scent of her filling Ruth’s head. Fingers brushed into the thick matted hair at the back of her head. Finally, her ragged breathing began to settle into a rhythm. Her quivering relaxed into a heavy exhaustion. Ava’s fingers curling into her hair sent waves of warm, tingly sedation through her. She snuggled against Ava’s chest, relieved to feel cool skin against her burning hot cheek. Her breath swept across Ava’s skin in quiet little hiccups. Ava’s voice was like a melody, light and dainty as birdsong. Again, the flimsy ghost of a smile floated on her lips. Marco would saunter back in complaining about hair on his jacket as if he’d only been gone minutes, rather than days. “Marco...” Her giggle was a tiny breathless wheeze. “I miss him.”

Faye, too. She missed Faye’s careful fingers, her soft lips, her watchful eyes. That Faye was gone. This new Faye wouldn’t dote on her every movement, wouldn’t drink in her every word like poetry. The wolf was dead. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Ruth nodded against Ava’s chest. “Normal,” she whispered. Her head was immensely heavy. Simply the act of breathing took all the energy she had left after her violent fit of tears. She shut her eyes. “I’m not sleeping.” She insisted in a small groggy mutter. “I’m just resting my eyes for a minute.”

Ava: Ava laughed as Ruth gently cuffed her cheek. So relieved was she to see her friend show even a glint if her usual cheerful banter that she was even willing to let the muddy smudge on her face go. Either way, she was still the cleanest person in the room. That would have to do. "Devastatingly gorgeous, then," she offered.

Ruth had become calm, and Ava shut her own eyes in the soft silence that came with the likely-brief island of tranquillity in the sea of her friend's emotions. "I know you do, babe," she replied softly. "He misses you too. That's why he's going to hurry back."

She opened one eye and glanced down at Ruth's head, profoundly unconvinced by Ruth's claim. "Darling, if I blew on you right now you'd be off. Why don't you go to bed? I can wait here and wake you up if Marco comes back, yeah?"

Ruth: “God, I hope he hurries back.” Ruth grumbled sleepily into Ava’s chest. “I can’t live like this. I can’t keep living like this. Always on edge... waiting for the next attack... the next bout of bad news...” Her voice hummed low as she babbled her drowsy worries. “Every time I think I can trust someone, they hurt me or they leave me, everyone but Marco... but he’s run off, too.” Weakly rubbing her watery eyes, she sighed. “For once, I just want to feel safe, like there isn’t someone waiting to jump at me from the shadows.” She sniffled miserably. “The stress is killing my complexion.” Some mornings she didn’t even recognize herself in the mirror.

Sleep. She was so unbelievably tired. If Marco would just come marching victoriously through her door, she would finally be able to let everything go and let sleep take her. Until then, her thoughts stuttered between sluggish disappointment and frantic bursts of fear and anger. “Noooo...” She moaned quietly, squeezing a little tighter at Ava’s waist as if to hold herself there on the floor with her. “What if he calls?” Her voice began to tighten and turn high-pitched with panic. “What if he doesn’t come here first? What if he shows up on the news? I don’t want to miss anything!” Her breath faltered. Her voice wavered into a plea, rather than a demand. “I can’t sleep. Marco might need me at any moment. I have to... I have to stay... awake.” Again, she hid her face in Ava’s chest, shielding her friend from seeing how her eyes could barely keep open, despite her worried protests.

Ava: Ava sighed deeply. "It's not fair, is it, darling?" She replied. "Do you ever think maybe life would have worked out so much easier if we just... hadn't all gone down to the beach that first night? I mean... " she smiled, abashed. "I only went out that night because I was meant to meet some boy from History of Art - you remember the fit one with the ponytail that dropped out last May?" Her smile faded at the memory, her free hand moving unconsciously to rub at the muddy streak on her face. "Anyway, I stood him up. Got to the bar and just, like, kept walking. And the beach looked so lovely that I wanted to take a picture and put it on my Instagram." She glanced sideways at Ruth and raised her eyebrows. "Should have just gone on the stupid date, shouldn't I?"

She'd gone off on a bit of a tangent, but she didn't really mind. Ruth probably didn't care too much either. The poor girl was almost out cold.

Ah, skin. Something Ava could actually help with. "Perfect, then. We'll do facials at my apartment once all of this is finished... just... just as soon as you aren't muddy anymore." The carpet in her bedroom was cream, after all.

Ruth's sudden protests caused her to sit up. "Ruth. Darling. Marco is going to be such a pain if he finds I didn't look after you properly," she said. "He'll know, too. No amount of eye cream is going to fix this, babe."

Ruth: Ruth remembered the boy with the ponytail. He’d been smart, but lazy, uncommitted. Ruth had several classes with him in her first year. She had glared at him from across the room every time she noticed his nose buried in his phone in the middle of lecture. Maybe all that glaring had injected him with some terrible illness, or maybe he’d finally decided he was too smart for school, either way he’d dropped out suddenly and Ruth had never seen him again. Ava’s chest slid out beneath her cheek as the girl moved to glance at her. Ruth blinked the tears from her eyes and raised her head to meet Ava’s dark, sweet eyes. A slight smile tugged at Ruth’s lips. Ava was so naturally lovely, even smudged with dirt and shadowed with somber emotions. Ruth imagined painting that soft, radiant face, smoothing delicate pinkish porcelain-colored paint onto the canvas with her sharp painting knife to get the clean, flawless reflection of her beauty. “He was pretty, but that guy had no dedication to anything. It’s good you stood up that cheeseball. He’s no good for you.” Even exhausted and upset, Ruth knew without a shadow of a doubt that Ava would have abhorred dating that loser. It was obvious.

“We were star-gazing,” Ruth began in a dreamy, far-away mutter. “Marco and I, we were already at the beach together, looking at the stars. We do that in the summertime when school gets out, just lay back and talk about cabbages and kings while the night turns all around us for hours and hours and hours...”

Every time she thought she had gotten the tears under control, they began to creep back up again. Her eyes welled up with wetness at the simple suggestion that they do facials together, something they used to do regularly before her accident had driven an awkward wedge between them. For perhaps the first time in twenty-four hours, Ruth paused to look down at herself. Her clothes were caked and smeared with dried sticky muck. The dried blood on her hand was falling off in ragged little chips. Her hair hung in thick, matted tangles, rather than her usual luscious waves.

When had she become such a horrible mess? How had she let it get so bad? With Ava here, no less—perfect, gorgeous, well-composed Ava, who never looked less than completely stunning.

Mortified, she hid her face in her hands, wishing she had Cleo’s gift to disappear. “Ohmygod, I’ve lost it. I’ve really lost it. I’m on the floor in day-old clothes with dirty hair and blood and... and Marco’s going to have a cow. Oh god, what do I do? I’m such a mess. No wonder everyone thinks I’m totally mental.”

Ava: Ava smirked. "Yeah, definitely. He probably thought he was God's gift to women, too. The way he used to peek around sometimes in lectures to see if anyone was looking at him. I mean, he was hot and everything, but I'm actually fairly sure that he was so in love with himself that going out with anybody else would have counted as cheating."

As Ruth's eyes began to well up with tears again, Ava lay back down next to her again. "Yeah, and it's like, June now. You'll be doing it again this time next week, I promise. Just lazing about chatting about.... about cabbages in the sky and all those lovely things." Probably twinspeak. She didn't ask.

"You have a little bit, darling," Ava admitted with a twinkly laugh. "It's so not like you but let's face it, you're still hotter than the majority of people on their good days. What you do, is get a shower and have a nap. I don't care which one you do first - although I'm sure you'd be far more comfortable with all this dried muck off you." She got to her feet and put her hands on her hips. "Right. Chop chop. You decide what you're doing first and I'm going to get you a towel and some nice clean pajamas."

Ruth: Ruth sniffled and gasped, trying to suck back the tears, collect them inside herself where no one else could see them. It only made her sounds more miserable as she struggled to breathe. Ava's closeness beside her was a troubling comfort. Rub her face and sniffle all she wanted, she couldn't hide her pathetic sobbing enough for Ava not to notice. Ruth had tried so hard for so long to be strong, to be independent, but her best friend's closeness and understanding left Ruth's exhausted strength feeling as flimsy as a wall of dry leaves. A little shove sent her spiraling off in all directions, scattered powerlessly on the wind. She had missed Ava in her absence far more than she had thought. Being smart and strong was so agonizingly boring sometimes.

She missed facials and shopping and moaning about gross people in their classes. She missed wandering in new places and laughing at each other and staying up until the run rose. She missed riding bikes down hills and splashing paint on each other and arguing over what to eat for lunch. She missed having friends. Without Marco, her life had become lonely and loveless. But she hadn’t truly lost Ava, not like she lost Des all those years ago, only frightened her best friend. She prayed to the heavens that she wouldn’t lose Marco this time. She opened her mouth to argue that Ava couldn’t promise her that it would happen. People kept promising to her that Marco would be back, but they weren’t actually doing anything to bring him home. Hypocrites, the lot of them. Her breath wobbled out a small hiccup. While she swallowed down that wave of tears, she decided she’d argue another day, one where she wasn’t barely keeping herself together.

It’s not fair. Ruth was tired and muddy and fighting to hold back tears while Ava was glowing with laughter and kindness. Ava was effortlessly perfect. Like Marco, she never tripped and fell on her face, never lost her cool. Rory, too. Stupid air signs and their stupid flawless smiles. It’s not fair.

“Th-thanks,” she muttered into her hands. Pulling her fingers away tentatively, she looked down at her hands and grimaced. “Shower.” She nodded. “He can’t see me like this he’ll throw a fit.” She looked around her at the rug, spotted with crumbles and smears of mud, then at her filthy hands, then up at Ava. Her eyes still puffy and watery, she held out her hands for Ava to help her up off the floor. ”Ohmygod I’m so gross.” She whined once she climbed to her feet. Her skin stung as she peeled the jean jacket from her shoulders. In the hours she’d been fussing and screaming and lying there, the jacket had nearly adhered itself to her back. She winced as she dragged it over her aching muscles, then dropped in it a heap on the floor. The white blouse beneath the jacket cling to her skin in filthy patches, splattered with blood. She didn’t hesitate for a second, curling her fingers under the hem and lifting the soiled shirt over her head before throwing it to the ground. She didn’t care what happened to the shirt now. Wash it, burn it, throw it in the rubbish, it was all the same as long as she didn’t have to look at it again. Her steps were slow and unsteady as she fumbled with the button of her skinny jeans while she wandered toward her bedroom.

Ava: "Oh you know he will, darling. He'll come strutting in here and he'll be like..." She plastered an exaggerated frown on her face and deepened her voice. "Oh, Elizabeth, you look just simply frightful, what the devil have these - these nincompoops been doing with you while I was gone? If I can fly to Scotland whilst juggling a pack of wolves, one would think that they'd be able to to look after you between then. I shall have Jeeves lop their heads off!"

She was talking nonsense now. Anything to lighten the mood. Anything to coax her to do something - anything - that wasn't lying on her floor in floods of tears. Ava had no idea what to do with that. She knew how to gently tease and gossip and giggle. She was a good mate. As this conversation went on, however, she was becoming ever more sinkingly aware that she wasn't a particular skilled friend. She'd never really practiced it.

Her existential crisis was put on hold briefly as Ruth undressed right there and then, dripping with her trademark nonchalance at being stood in front of someone as she peeled her clothes off. Soft, tanned skin brushed futilely at patches of dirt and blood, her normally silky dark curls hanging in a matted, scruffy mess around her face as she bemoaned the state she was in. Even filthy and bedraggled, she was gorgeous. Ava was sure that in the same position, she herself would look like something that had crawled out of a swamp. Ruth's dark gaze and fascinating softness would shine even through anything.

She blinked as Ruth turned away and made her way out of the room, and realised that she'd been staring. Ruth probably thought she was being rude. Or worse, creepy. God, she wasn't a creep. She was just - well, tired. They were all tired. It was bound to be making them all peculiar.

Sighing, she got to her feet and picked up the dirty shirt, bundling it up in her arms and hovering for a moment, unsure of what to do. Finally, when Ruth had left the room, she tiptoed to the kitchen to find the bin to dispose of the shirt. And make some more green tea. God, she needed a cup of tea.

Ruth: Ruth winced as her first name left Ava's lips. She could hardly stand it when Marco called her by that name, as much as he was accustomed to using it for some godforsaken reason. When anyone else called her Elizabeth the feeling changed from a frustrated fondness to a sour taste that strangled her throat. Even if it was just a joke, a silly impersonation, Ruth couldn't help but wear a theatrical pouty frown. "I don't need to be looked after," she grumbled quietly. "I just need a slap over the head from time to time." Maybe a kiss on the cheek and a handful of compliments too, but she wasn't going to admit that to anyone. With a small sniffle, she attempted to fix her hair, tucking wild strands behind her ears and combing fingers through thick snarls at the back of her head. She was fine. She could take care of herself, when she wasn't swept away in the floodwaters of her anger and fear. Lifting her chin proudly, she dammed up the levee. She had appearances to keep, a reputation to uphold. Too many people were already questioning her sanity. They couldn't see her like this.

Ruth squeezed her eyes shut as she wriggled out of her tight jeans that gripped at the curves of her hips and thighs. Hopping precariously on one foot, she worked off her tiny striped socks one at a time, then peeled the trousers from her legs. It felt good to be free of the binding clothing that stifled her skin. She left a trail of stripped away clothes strewn about behind her as she meandered toward the bathroom. Her breath froze in her throat as she caught a glance at herself in the mirror, haggard and stained, with dark circles set deep under her puffy pink eyes and hair in an ugly knot at her neck. With a heavy sigh, she started the shower, waiting for the hot water to steam over the horrifying image in the mirror. In the distance, she heard the kettle bubbling to life again. Ruth plucked a cotton pad from the cabinet and doused it in makeup remover before she set to work wiping the streaks of black eyeliner and soft shimmery eyeshadow from her face.

A thought kept flitting in and out of her head as she dabbed at her face. Ava stayed. Even when Ruth looked like a walking nightmare, and wanted to scream at everything and everyone, Ava stayed. Ruth had snapped at her and told her to go, still Ava stayed. She wasn't sure what that meant, but it meant something. Staring at her pinkish, bare face with sunken dark eyes, Ruth was at a loss for reasons. Maybe there wasn't one. Ava didn't need to have a reason to be there. Without a second thought, Ruth padded back to the door to her bedroom so she could poke her head through and call to her friend. "Hey, Ava? I'm glad we're best friends." Then she slipped back to the washroom to climb into the shower.

#ava-x-park #// besties forever //#omg I love these sweet shallow babies

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shiningamongdarkness · 6 years ago

Text

Chapter 01: The Subject

Shining among Darkness

By WingzemonX

Chapter 01. The subject

It was not the first time Dr. Matilda Honey visited the wet and cold Oregon. The first one was during her high school years, to attend a congress of young readers in Portland. At that time, she was a small dwarf of thirteen, or perhaps twelve, walking between a sea of fifteen and sixteen years old giants. However, although her work had led her to tour different parts of the country in the past, it rarely took her to the West Coast since she settled in Boston. The times when she went to those time zones, were used to be at holidays, when she took a plane to go from end to end, from Massachusetts to California, where her mother lived —in fact, adoptive mother.

She was considering taking advantage of this trip and down from that wet and cloudy spot, towards the warm and sunny Arcadia, to spend a few days with her mother, in the same old, but remodeled, white house from the beginning of the past century. Of course, that would be once she had a place in the affair that had brought her there at first.

She rented a car at Portland Airport, and drove almost 50 miles to the southwest, direct to Salem. The rain caught her halfway down the I-5, and that slowed her progress a bit. She was not a complete fan of driving on the wet pavement, especially on the highway. She arrived at the Grand Hotel in Salem a little after eighteen and a half, but only to register and leave his suitcase in room, and minutes later was back on the road.

After flying seven hours, plus the car trip that added an extra hour, anyone would only want to lie in bed to rest and leave any theme to solve for the next day. But Matilda Honey wasn’t anyone. She had a date at seven o'clock, and planned to attend without fail; not for nothing had scheduled it that way, calculating the time that would take all the trip.

Take advantage of every second; a very adult mentality, which she did not take long to assimilate while growing up. Get high grades and skip years, to the point of finishing her postgraduate in Yale at age twenty-two, had not done so lying in bed and resting, for sure.

Her final destination was the community of Eola, which was about six miles from Salem, on Route 22. It was one of those points on the map that many would describe as in the middle of nowhere constituted for only a few houses and few shops. The highlight of that site was undoubtedly the Psychiatric Hospital, built in times when people wanted to have their mental as far away as possible. Although that, it had not changed much.

She called there to notify she was on the way, but it took her longer to communicate with the person she was going to meet than arrives at the place. She parked in the narrow parking lot in front of the three-story white building. Its facade already needed a remodeling, after years of erosion almost guaranteed by the constant rains.

The water did not fall so hard when she got out of the car but was enough to have to cross the small stretch between it and the entrance door covered with her sky-blue umbrella, with white clouds print. It definitely did not make her look very professional, but it had been a gift from one of her children, and that was enough.

Her children.

From time to time, she found herself thinking in that expression, and sometimes even using it when she spoke. The right thing would be to tell them her patients; her children was a term more used by her mother to refer to her students. But both cases were not the same.

She entered through the front door, not without first draining the umbrella to wet as little as possible the floor. Then, she walked down a long corridor with chairs at the sides and the most cliché: a flickering fluorescent lamp on the ceiling. In the end, there was a small reception module, where a skinny young girl with blond hair, in a green nurse suit, was watching her cell phone with interest. She had it hidden, behind the small bar that separated her from the visitors, but it was apparent because of her eyes and movements.

The hallway was all alone, and the sound of her low heels against the shiny polyurethane floor resounded with a clear echo. Matilda stood front the young lady at reception, and she barely raised her face enough to look at her. Despite the makeup she wore, more than one would expect in a nurse on duty, her tired expression, dark eye bags, and slightly reddish eyes, were not completely disguised.

“Good evening,” Matilda said in a neutral tone, but cordial enough. “I am Dr. Matilda Honey of Eleven Foundation. Dr. Scott is waiting for me. We have a date at seven o'clock.”

The nurse did not even mutate. He lowered his gaze, again only the necessary, to the screen of his hidden cell phone.

“There are still fifteen minutes left,” she informed her as if it were the most obvious, but elusive, revelation in the world.

Matilda took a deep breath.

“I know, it was a bit early.” That statement depended heavily on whom you asked because in her original plan she was supposed to arrive at the hotel with enough time to take a bath and rest even for an hour. “Could you check if he could receive me right now?”

She paused for a moment as if the answer to that question were difficult for her to process. Matilda wondered if that lethargy was due to stress, lack of sleep, or perhaps to the effect of some improper substance; she hoped it was not the last one. In the end, the nurse reached for her desk phone, and pressed the receiver between her shoulder and left ear. Her hands were flipping through a small brown notebook on her work area, searching the extension number, maybe.

“Wait a minute, please. The doctor will be here soon.”

Her tone didn’t convey much confidence, but Matilda obeyed and sat down on one of the chairs in the hallway. She placed her briefcase on the floor at her feet, and her handbag in the next chair, and waited.

She waited more than she thought.

The fifteen minutes that separated her from the agreed time passed relatively fast. The following, no so much anymore. Every time she turned to see the blonde nurse, she had her eyes on her cell and showed no interest in the time she's already been sitting there.

Matilda decided that it was an excellent opportunity to check her cell too: an iPhone 7, a Christmas gift from her mother, which she had not told her the price, but Matilda was sure that it was excessive. Although her eagerness to learn and learn made her enthusiastically embrace the computer boom and the arrival of the internet when she was still young, it seemed that the generation gap was finally reached her, with this so-called smartphones. Even so, she was the first to accept her usefulness in matters of communication, and to be alert to her patients and her mother.

She checked a couple of new e-mails that had come while she was flying, none important, and about three hundred messages from WhatsApp and Messenger; the majority, equally not very relevant. The most important was a message from Jane Wheeler, head of the foundation she represented on that trip so you could say she was somehow her boss; although in reality, she was much more than that. The message just asked her how she was and how the trip had been. Matilda replied everything had been excellent and was waiting for them to let her get in. The reply was sent but not read at that time. It did not surprise her; it must have been past ten o'clock in Indiana, and it was Monday. They had agreed to speak on Wednesday, so for the moment she only had to inform her that had arrived safely.

Once she finished checking all her messages, there was still no sign of movement. The wait lasted until twenty past seven. She was about to stand up and ask the young lady for explanations, when a few quiet steps from the left aisle, which likewise reached the reception area, were present in the sepulchral silence.

A tall man in a white coat appeared on the other side of the corner, and he went to the nurse for a few seconds, who quickly used her irritated to point in Matilda’s direction. The man with broad shoulders, a square head, and short black hair turned to look at her curiously through his large round, thick-framed glasses. To Matilda, his appearance seemed curious; it was as if he intentionally wanted to show himself as a sitcom character from the eighties, those who from time to time repeated on television, late at night.

The man approached her, sketching the one Matilda thought was the most genuine smile he could make at that moment, but it was patently false.

"Miss Honey?" He asked in a jovial tone, standing beside her and thrusting his hands into the pockets of his coat. Matilda had already risen from her chair, and at that moment she placed her bag on her shoulder.

“Doctor” she corrected him, more sharply than she had originally intended; perhaps the annoyance of the long wait had influenced. “Dr. Honey, please.”

The man, who by the hanging tag of his right pocket knew that was indeed Dr. John Scott, looked her up and down after this clarification.

“Of course,” he said slowly, more like an involuntary gesture than a real comment. “You are much younger than I expected.”

“People tell me that often.”

And they did it, really.

Dr. Scott cleared his throat a little and then turned in the direction he was coming.

“Well, this way, please.”

He started to walk, and she followed him. Their footsteps echoed in the silent hallway.

"Everything is almost ready," Scott informed quietly, "and the subject has been informed you will talk to her. She seemed to be… moderately interested in it.”

Matilda did not externalize anything visible or audible, but the way he had pronounced the subject had annoyed her considerably. When a person went from being a patient to being a subject, it is a sign that something is not right.

“I hope you have been able to review all the information we gave you about the case, and it has been useful to prepare you.”

“I got all the information I need at the moment," Matilda answered without any trouble, “including the data that you deliberately omitted or decided to ignore in the reports you sent us.”

These words took John Scott by surprise, and stopped him dead in his place; Matilda advanced a few more steps, before realizing it and stopping as well.

“Excuse me?” exclaimed John, incredulously, which provoked a smile of slight satisfaction on the lips of the Californian girl.

"I excuse you," she answered calmly, just before turning back to the path they followed and continuing the advance. She seemed to want to imply she knew exactly where to go. Dr. Scott followed her, a few steps behind. “I need the first sessions to be private, only the girl and me. Without a third person, without cameras, without microphones, and without people looking at the other side of the mirror.”

“I don't think so.”

“It was not a request.”

That was maybe enough to test the tolerance of the good doctor, because at that moment he came forward and stood right in front of her, cutting off the path. Just until then Matilda becomes aware of how tall that man was in comparison to her; at most, she reached the middle of his chest, and he was a little stooped toward her as if he wanted to intimidate her that way. His face, moreover, had let go of any trace of false or true hospitality he had had until a few moments ago.

John Scott took a deep breath, adjusted his glasses with his thick hands, and then began to speak with the utmost tranquility that his very obvious annoyance allowed.

“Let's make it very clear, Doctor.” Sarcasm was strongly attached to that last word. “This girl is my patient, and this is my research. If I agreed to let you see her, it was just for mere courtesy. But whatever you get from your talk, you must share it with my team and me.” Then he pressed his breast with the right thumb of his hand; Matilda thought for a moment in the big and hairy fingers of some primate. “Are we clear?”

“Like the crystal,” she answered with complete calm. Even so, it seemed that the answer had been enough for him because he was quickly ready to turn his back and keep walking. However, Matilda's voice, no longer as quiet as it had been at first, made him stay at only intentions. “But now let me make something clearer."

She stepped fearlessly toward him, facing him without hesitation.

“I am not here to support your research, neither you nor your team. I am here at the direct request of Mr. Morgan, and my sole purpose is to help this girl, whom, from what I had seen, you have endeavored to treat like a laboratory rat during her stay here. And I don’t know who you want to fool, because we both know that this supposed 'courtesy' is just because Mr. Morgan warned you to accept our presence here or he would remove the girl from this place. And by the way, we both know that in all this time you have not been able to get something from her with all your... experiments and methods from over thirty years ago, and you want to see if we can make some progress that you don’t. So, as a thank you for your openness, and as a professional courtesy, I will provide you with all the information I get and feel is relevant or necessary for your research, but no more. And if I feel for a single moment that the best thing for the girl is to get her out of here, I will not hesitate to convey that feeling to her father.”

She paused for a moment. Took a deep breath through her nose, still holding her gaze, and concluded.

“After saying that, I repeat: I need the first sessions to be private; only the girl and me. Are we clear?”

The first visible reaction in John Scott was several stammering, undoubtedly involuntary. Then he cleared his throat tightly and flattened his tie insistently with his large hands.

"All right," he said after a moment. “Let's continue…”

He resumed the march, now with much more hurry. Although he radiated mostly tranquility, a watchful eye would undoubtedly detect that dose of annoyance that had added to its already poor disposition, disguised as a courtesy.

That sure would not make things simpler.

Before following him, Matilda took a few seconds to take a deep breath, and then let the air out in a heavy sigh. Perhaps she had outdone herself a little with his defensive attitude, but many times she had had no choice. It was complicated for her at times that people outside the Foundation, or the kind of people used to help, would take her seriously. Her small and slender complexion, accompanied by her face that radiated a much more childish air than she should have at the age twenty-seven, made people, especially grown men considerably older than her, look down at her with disdain. And when that happens, prostrating before them, and even with a little aggressiveness, has been the only measure that works. If not, and if the situation deserved it really, there were always other methods; her first school principal had lived them in own flesh.

When a person is bad, that person has to be taught a lesson, his father had told her many years ago. Perhaps the only real wisdom that man gave her, though she was sure that it was not his intention.

Her guide took her to another long hallway, but it had no way out. On the left side, there were four wooden doors, all with a magnetic card reader mounted on the wall beside it. On the right side, there were four chairs, just like the ones in the reception waiting area; all four were empty.

"Please, wait here a few minutes," Scott said, heading for the last door.

"I thought everything was ready."

“Almost. I think I had said that everything was almost ready.”

With that one explanation, Scott put his badge on the reader, and a beep, followed by a click on the door, indicated that it was open. He hurried inside and closed it behind him before Matilda made an attempt to even look on the other side.

She had no choice but to sit down again and wait.

It was not one of her primary abilities, but she had the feeling that wait would not be short.

— — — —

The room to which John Scott had gotten so hastily was narrow and with rectangular form. Left-handed just inside, there was a large window that practically covered the entire wall on that side. Through it, anyone could see the adjoining room, at least three times larger, square, with walls, ceilings, and entirely white floors; a person was sitting in the middle of that other room.

In front of the glass, there were two desks, placed next to each other and on each the monitors of two computers, in addition to their keyboards and mouse devices. In these monitors, the same scene of the room visible by the glass was repeated. In turn, in front of each desk, there was a chair. The one closest to the front door was empty. The other was occupied by another man with glasses and white coat, though dark-haired and, apparently, several years younger than John Scott, but perhaps about ten years older than the woman who waited in the hall.

As soon as he entered, that other doctor turned to him with curiously. The annoyance that Matilda had noticed also seemed to have been quite evident to this other man.

"How did it go, Dr. Scott?" He questioned him without many curtsies. “How is the mysterious genius doctor who comes to solve this complicated puzzle?”

Scott snorted, amused and jaded by the comment. His attention focused on the other room, but more specifically on the person sitting there, his hands on his legs, and his gaze on the floor.

"She barely doubles her age," he pointed out. “And she's a complete diva. In addition to letting her come here and see the subject, she dares to put conditions. As if we were the ones who called her.”

The younger doctor smiled.

“Do you think she has experience with cases like this for real?”

“Of course not,” Scott said immediately. “This Eleven Foundation, or whatever they call themselves, is just another group of baggers on the backs of people's fears. If they had the experience and knowledge of other subjects like this, do not you think they had already published something about it long ago? Or have they been able to prove it publicly? No one had ever been so close to scientifically proving the existence of real psychic abilities as we do, and I will not let this little girl who plays to be psychiatrist take the credit.”

He inhaled deeply and exhaled, trying to calm down.

Scott looked once more time at the person on the other side of the glass; she was still in the same position, not moving at all; barely blinking every few minutes.

“But let's see if we can get anything good out of this. Maybe she'll open up more to someone like this doctor. She has a… warmer air, to put it one way. But not with adults, that's for sure.”

The other doctor didn’t comment to contradict or reaffirm his remark, and instead, he merely nodded.

“Won’t you let her in?"

Scott glanced at the time at the bottom of the nearest monitor and corroborated it with his watch.

“Let her wait a little longer,” he added with certain wickedness in his tone.

— — — —

Matilda knew she would have to pay some price for her little outburst if that was the right way to describe it. It was only a few minutes since she met Dr. Scott. But, if she relied on her experience of similar situations in the past and the way he had wanted to make his point clear, she could see that he was the kind of man who did not like a woman, especially one so young, to try to impose on him. No matter how openly many people wanted to present themselves, everyone still had old ideas that governed, even unconsciously, their behavior.

She was accustomed to it, and for the sake of the work she had gone to do, which was what mattered most at the time, she was willing to try to leave things in peace as much as possible, and wait there for the time that the good Dr. John, “I command here”, Scott thought it right.

However, she did not think that such a price would be so long. He had her waiting for a little more than half an hour, without giving any small sign of life. She had arrived at the Hospital before seven o'clock, but it was not until a little before eight o'clock that the door through which Dr. Scott had departed opened and he went out again, now apparently with a much better mood.

“Sorry for being late. Now you can pass.”

“Sure,” was the only thing the young doctor had whispered from her lips. She had many other things in mind that would have liked to share, but preferred to keep them; at least for the moment.

John went to the door next to the one he had just used, and likewise passed his badge on the reader lying on the wall beside him. The door locks swung open, and he pushed it in with one hand, letting the path free.

“I remind you what I told you about privacy, Dr. Scott,” Matilda remarked just as she began to move toward the interior of the room. “From what I discovered, I think she can tell me very easily if you're keeping your word or not. True?”

John was slightly startled by these words, which seemed more like a threat. Matilda was aware of it a second after she had said it, but she did not regret it at all.

She would find out later how he would charge her for that.

Once she entered and left barely enough of the door, she heard how it closed tightly behind her, and the locks were put back on. The room she had just entered was square, a little broad, perhaps five meters by five meters. The walls and ceiling were all painted white, and accompanied by the bright white light that hung from the ceiling they made the whole place shine almost unreal as if it comes from some strange dream. On the wall on her right side, there was a large mirror, which was sure to be double-sided. It certainly looked out on the room where John Scott had gone for half an hour to... God only knew what, to make time. Play solitaire, maybe. People play solitaire still?

In front of the mirror, there was a wooden desk, with a chair on one side. There was also a video camera, mounted on a tripod. And right in the middle was what had brought Matilda to that place.

Sitting on a chair, just like the one behind the desk, was a girl, white-faced, very white. Her head was slightly crouched, but she still looked at her, though her left eye was almost covered by her long straight black hair that fell forward on her shoulders. Her eyes were all black, and underneath these were dark eye bags, an obvious result of some days unable to sleep well. She wore a long hospital white gown and black sandals. She was a little older, twelve or no more than thirteen. She had her hands, thin and fragile in appearance, perched on his legs. What she could see from the look on his face, it seemed cold, slightly cold, almost touching the aggressive feel.

The pallor of his face, his dark eye bags, and the moody vibe she carried around her, were signs of fatigue, annoyance, and perhaps bother. And it was not for less considering the place where she was, and not just for that strange room.

Matilda's face and attitude changed utterly at that moment. She went from being in a practically defensive state to take a much calmer and relaxed posture.

“Hello, how are you?” She nodded without hesitation, sketching her first sincere smile that night. “This is not the nicest place to talk, is it? It would have been better to sit in the cafeteria while we ate and drank something. Do you think the same as me?”

In spite of Matilda's natural cheerfulness, she gave no sign of a response. Instead, the girl stayed frozen, barely looking at her or noticing her presence. It didn’t surprise her; she prepared herself with the idea that it would not be simple.

Matilda went to the table cautiously; the girl followed her with her gaze, barely moving the neck. Matilda left his briefcase and handbag on the desk and then she turned around it. For a moment it seemed like she would take a seat in the chair but, instead, she took it with his right hand, and without uttering a word she began to drag it for the floor toward the center of the room. The chair screeched hard against the floor, almost as if she was doing it by the way. Only at that moment, Matilda could notice a small signal of reaction at the face of that child, although it was practically a gesture of confusion.

Matilda placed the chair right front the other one.

"Can I sit down?" She asked cheerfully, still smiling.

The little girl looked at her out of the corner of her eye and just shrugged in response. Although it was a response of notorious indifference, she decided to take it as consent and sit down.

She adjusted her long olive-green skirt, crossed her legs, and gazed at the little girl in front of her. As soon as Matilda laid her big and bright blue eyes on that pale and stoic face of her, the girl turned away quickly, somewhat intimidated by the sudden closeness maybe.

“My name is Matilda. What's your name?”

“You already know that miss," the dark-eyed girl suddenly snapped.

Well, that was progress. Matilda was surprised to hear that her voice was much softer and sweeter than her almost threatening appearance might suggest.

“You can call me Matilda simply. And maybe I do, but I'd like you to tell me it yourself. You know, to get to know us better.”

The girl looked at her in silence. Though her gaze was still as cold as when she entered the room, Matilda could see how she hesitated between answering her or not. Her fingers, even on their legs, crossed and rubbed together. Nerve sign?

"Samara," she whispered slowly after several seconds of silence. “My name is Samara Morgan...”

END OF CHAPTER 01

Author Notes:

—Matilda Honey is based entirely on the respective character of the film Matilda of 1996. Initially, she was only 6 and a half years old, whereas here she would already be between 26 and 27 years. Her original surname was Wormwood, but here it is speculated that she changed it to Honey at some point after being adopted at the end of the events of the film.

—Samara Morgan is almost wholly based on the respective character of the films The Ring of 2002, The Ring 2 of 2005 and Rings of 2017. Samara would be 12 years old here, as she has in the original movie (before her death). For this, I have transferred its history to the present time, since it originally occurred almost forty years ago. This will bring some changes, and some will be specified in later chapters.

—Dr. Scott is a character from The Ring, but since his participation is minimal and we never actually see his appearance, both his appearance and his personality were adapted by me.

—In the 2002 film The Ring, the location of the Eola Psychiatric Hospital is not explicitly specified. Under the context of the film, it could be speculated that Eola County could be some fictional county in Washington State, invented in the movie. Here, however, I have located it in the community of Eola in Oregon, which is a real site. This was to take advantage of the same names, give it a more accurate location, and also this is due to some events planned for later.

#Matilda Wormwood #matilda #Samara Morgan #the ring #jane eleven hopper #eleven #stranger things #resplandor entre tinieblas #shining among darkness

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