Genius of the Rules-Style System

Chapter 46: Chapter 45 That’s Personal Privacy!

While Cavaleiro was making the introduction, the journalists had already pasted several labels on Zhao Yi--

First, a computer genius who discovered seven vulnerabilities in the iOS system.

Hacking into a Mac isn’t difficult for top hackers worldwide, but they mostly target a single computer, not uncover vulnerabilities in the iOS system.

These two are different.

Hackers’ strategies are unpredictable. They can strike at hardware or software, and most vulnerabilities refer to issues in the code.

Second, he rejected Apple Company.

Apple Company is one of the top tech companies. Many computer science graduates aspire to work for such companies.

Yet, he declined.

Third, he rejected the offer from the University of California.

The reasons are the same as above.

Rejecting one of the top ten universities in the United States is not easy, as elites from the top universities in the country would yearn to get into these institutions.

The computer science program at the University of California ranks among the top five worldwide.

Still, he said no.

The last label is, high school student.

It’s hard to imagine all these labels being attached to a high schooler.

"Is this what a genius looks like?"

Many in the audience marveled as they looked at Zhao Yi on stage.

Cavaleiro stepped down, after all, he wasn’t a professional host.

Then it was the host’s turn.

The host of the show was a briskly professional woman, wearing a professional smile. She knew which questions could be eye-catching.

Her first question was very targeted, "I’m sure everyone here wants to know more about the process of finding the vulnerabilities, can you elaborate?"

"It’s pretty complicated."

Zhao Yi casually stood there with one hand in his pocket, speaking lightly. He was actually a bit nervous, but hadn’t expected to make such a grand entrance. Once he was on stage, his mood relaxed a lot. "I don’t think anyone wants to hear about codes or principles. I just gave it serious effort and some luck, I guess."

The host smiled and continued with her questions, "Can you disclose which grade are you in?"

"Twelfth grade."

"A twelfth-grade student facing the upcoming College Entrance Examination. Then how did you learn computer skills?"

Zhao Yi nodded, "Self-taught, personal interest!"

The host then asked a few more questions, before her questions became more provocative, "About the award money, one million yuan, how do you see that?"

This question is open to interpretation.

The simplest interpretation is a show of gratitude.

But what comes to mind for most people is how they would feel receiving a one million yuan prize, and some people might think the host is asking, "Do you think you deserve this huge reward?"

Zhao Yi’s response was definitely unexpected.

After a pause, he looked up and asked, "How do I see it? If you want to see the money, you have to withdraw it from the bank. You need to make a reservation to withdraw one million all at once."

"Whooosh..."

There was immediate laughter from the audience.

The host, somewhat taken aback, quickly added, "What I meant was, you’re only eighteen and you’ve received such a huge award. Have you thought about how you’re going to spend it?"

Zhao Yi replied earnestly, "But, I haven’t received the money yet."

The laughter continued from below the stage.

The host gave a bitter smile and glanced to the side, bluntly said, "It seems our computer genius can’t wait to get his hands on his prize money!"

"Now, let’s invite Mr. Cavaleiro, Vice President of Apple’s Tech Department, to the stage to present our computer genius, Zhao Yi, with his award!"

Cavaleiro took the stage once again.

This time, he was holding a massive sign that read ’Apple Company, Prize Money: 1 Million Yuan.’

Zhao Yi’s mouth twitched uncontrollably as he looked at the sign. As he received the sign amid the applause from the audience, all he could think of were those newspaper stories about lottery winners wearing masks to claim their five million prizes...lucky...lottery winners?

The design of Apple’s computer is exquisite, couldn’t the award plaque be a little more delicate? Even a certificate or small trophy would be nice!

After receiving the prize sign, it was almost time for Zhao Yi to leave the stage.

The host, unwilling to let go, threw out one last question, "Now? You have received the prize, have you thought about how you’re going to spend it?"

"Sorry, I still haven’t thought about it."

"Huh?"

The host stood there, stunned.

Amidst the laughter of the entire audience, Zhao Yi walked off the stage and returned to his seat in the front row.

He was immediately surrounded.

Ding Lei, who was sitting next to him, began peppering him with excited questions. Other journalists close by also quickly jumped in with their questions.

Zhao Yi was somewhat overwhelmed.

Fortunately, the show wasn’t over yet, and other journalists could only watch as they couldn’t move around freely in the auditorium.

Soon. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

The host announced the final event. They had invited some computer technicians and cybersecurity experts to conduct a security check on the new computers.

Putting it plainly, they gave each person a computer and let them attempt to hack into a target computer on the same local network. ƒreewebɳovel.com

This was a publicity stunt.

Even the world’s top hackers couldn’t break into a brand-new Mac in a short time, especially given that their only tool was a networked computer.

All the computers were new and didn’t have any professional software.

With normal hacking work, the first step would be to download familiar tools, then directly hack into routers or servers, attempting to gain control using the network. All of this takes time.

So the final event was about inviting some people to show off at Apple’s exhibition, proving that the new computers could ensure security.

Cavaleiro made a show of it, saying that whoever can successfully invade the system will be rewarded with a maximum of two hundred thousand Yuan on the spot.

Zhao Yi rolled his eyes upon hearing that. He was just an average programmer, but one way or another, every programmer harbors a ’hacker dream’. He had a good understanding of professional hackers.

Not to mention hackers, even if you asked Cavaleiro, who participates in the development of the iOS, to carry it out, he wouldn’t have enough time to download the software and write the code, even if he knew where the loopholes were.

A break-in?

What a joke!

The majority of the media and computer businesses knew that the final segment was for show, so they quickly lost interest.

However, the audience in the back row was very interested since they could move around and see what the invitees were doing to invade the target computer.

This was a rare opportunity.

Zhao Yi moved over to Cavaleiro. He wanted to ask if there were any more arrangements and to say goodbye to Cavaleiro.

He had already received the money, and Apple had gotten publicity.

It was a win-win.

Time to go.

Cavaleiro was wandering around, introducing the advantages of the new product to the people beside him. On seeing Zhao Yi, he immediately smiled and said, "Zhao, you’re an expert in system loopholes. Why don’t you give it a try?"

An expert in loopholes?

Zhao Yi was a bit upset, but he said, "What if I really succeed? I’ll mess up your exhibition."

"Ha, ha, ha..."

Cavaleiro laughed heartily. He patted Zhao Yi on the shoulder and said loudly, "If you can do it, you’ll be doing us the biggest favor. The whole point of what we’re doing here is to make computers safer."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"If you insist, I might just go for it!"

Cavaleiro promptly put Zhao Yi in front of an unoccupied computer, "Use this one and give it a go. I am really looking forward to seeing what you can do."

"Didn’t you say last night that you hoped you could win more prize money? If you succeed, not only will you get the 200,000 Yuan, but I personally will give you an additional $50,000."

Cavaleiro casually held up a hand.

"Seriously?"

Zhao Yi was a bit skeptical of Cavaleiro.

Cavaleiro pointed to the female reporter nearby. It happened to be Ding Lei who came to interview, "She heard everything. The media will report it."

Ding Lei nodded, pointing to the camera.

Although it was not live, the camera recorded everything.

Cavaleiro represents Apple Company, and the promise he has made will be honored even if he doesn’t pay personally. For their image, Apple Company will definitely pay up.

"Okay!"

This time Zhao Yi believed it.

He sat down in front of the computer, but he was still a little hesitant.

When people saw Zhao Yi sitting at the computer, a large group of people suddenly crowded around.

They were all interested in watching what the brilliant high-school whiz, who had found seven loopholes in the iOS and rejected offers from Apple and the University of California, would do.

Zhao Yi looked left and right, and then made his decision.

Cavaleiro said that finding loopholes was helping Apple, so what was there to hesitate about?

The camera was recording everything.

If he sat here doing nothing, there would be negative rumors in the news.

Zhao Yi took a deep breath and started working on the computer.

First, he downloaded a few utility software tools, which took the most time: fifteen minutes.

Then, he started coding.

That took seven minutes.

Next.

He opened the text interface of the Mac terminal and began typing in commands.

Zhao Yi’s fingers were moving so fast, they were almost a blur. He kept typing commands, and as characters jumped and the screen flickered, the small program he had just coded also ran in the background unnoticed.

About two minutes went by, and a new folder appeared on the computer desktop.

Zhao Yi stopped typing.

He lazily reclined in his chair and double-clicked the folder. It was full of files- photos, videos and mostly incomprehensible files.

The number of files was still increasing.

Zhao Yi opened a photo randomly, showing a couple embracing each other by the beach.

A beautiful beach.

A lovely couple.

The only thing was, the guy looked familiar--

Cavaleiro?

Those standing behind Zhao Yi all turned to look at Cavaleiro at the same time.

Cavaleiro just so happened to be walking by. He noticed everyone looking at him, and was somewhat confused.

Just then, a voice rang out from the crowd, "I get it! I get it!"

"He hacked into that computer and copied all the files from it!"

"That’s Cavaleiro’s personal computer!"

With that bold announcement, the venue immediately started buzzing, almost all the eyes were on them.

At the same time.

Cavaleiro rushed to Zhao Yi’s side in a few strides, watching the photo on the screen. He anxiously shouted, "Zhao! Stop! Stop! Delete everything! Everything!"

"We’re friends, right! Please don’t do this!"

"That’s privacy! Personal privacy!"

"..."