Key Challenge

[akite.livejournal.com]

A bit of post-COTW silliness. Weighing in at


Virus

Fraser walked into the cabin at the end of the day to find Ray, his Ray, knocking his head against the keyboard of their brand new, shipped at great expense, computer. He called out, "Ray? Ray. Ray?"

Finally, he was acknowledged with a grimace.

"Ray, what's wrong?"

"You told me - didn't you tell me that we didn't have this virus thingy? Didn't you tell me that several times?"

"Yes Ray, I did. I ran the virus scan just this morning. You haven't downloaded any e-mail with attachments today, have you?"

"No! Fuck no, Ben."

"Language, Ray," Fraser chided. "What's the problem then?"

"The delete key is stuck, and we're getting these notices in our mailbox. From people we don't even know, saying we sent out this virus."

Fraser fell back into an old habit and scratched at his eyebrow with a thumbnail. "Technically, it's a worm, Ray, not a virus. And knocking your head against the keyboard won't help that." He reached over Ray's shoulder and grabbed the keyboard to save it from further damage. A small bit of something fell out. On closer inspection, it was a piece of corn chip. As Fraser opened his mouth to chastise Ray for eating at the computer, he looked at the monitor. "Oh, dear. Now they're spoofing our e-mail address. I don't like that!"

"Spoofing? What the hell is that?"

Fraser set the keyboard down, reached out and started massaging the tense muscles in Ray's neck before he launched into a totally incomprehensible explanation. It was ten times worse than an Inuit story. At least those were in English. This computer stuff; Ray didn't ever think he'd get the hang of it all, but the hands on his neck, shoulders, down his back made it all fade away.

That is until a slap on his back and Fraser's voice called him back. "So you see? There's nothing to worry about. This worm will cease to spread itself after September 10th, and if we're vigilant until then everything should be just fine."

"Yeah, fine," Ray answered back dreamily. "It time for bed yet, Ben?"

Fraser pulled Ray up and into his arms for a long, long kiss. When it was over, and they pulled apart, Fraser answered, "Yes, I believe it is, Ray. Why don't you shut down the computer and meet me in the bedroom?"

Comments

[duesouthficrecs.livejournal.com]

This fic goes to prove my theory that anything can be educational--I had to look up 'email spoofing'. :-)

Very cute story--I can totally see Ray banging his head into the keyboard!

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

And what IS it?

[akite.livejournal.com]

And what IS it?

Shay, it's when a computer that has the worm or virus hijacks your e-mail address from that person's address book and starts sending out the with your address in the From: spot. I think, at least that's what I've been told. I get rather glassy-eyed myself at the explanations. ::g::

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Duh. I should have known that, because it happened to me!

In any case, I really enjoyed this little tale, even if I am technologically ignorant.

Like Ray.

[akite.livejournal.com]

This fic goes to prove my theory that anything can be educational--I had to look up 'email spoofing'. :-)

I was going from personal experience on this one. It all makes me about as glassy-eyed as Ray. ::g::

Very cute story--I can totally see Ray banging his head into the keyboard!

Thanks, it seemed like the perfect reaction to me.

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

::heh:: Ray sounds just like my partner--he zones out whenever I talk computers, too. Cute bit of domesticity!

[akite.livejournal.com]

::heh:: Ray sounds just like my partner--he zones out whenever I talk computers, too. Cute bit of domesticity!

Heh, mine too. He thinks I'm like a computer goddess or something. (I'm not.) Thanks for commenting.

[akite.livejournal.com]

It was all the corn chips fault*g* We got a sliver of Doritos in our keyboard once and couldn't use the caps key for nearly a week.

At least he was eating corn chips and at the computer and not doing something else. ;) Thanks for commenting.

[chesamus.livejournal.com]

I do computer tech support for a living - I spend more time dealing with "spoofed" email addresses than I do the actual viruses. The explanation is pretty accurate. The virus searches an infected machine for anything that even remotely looks like an email address, forges that address as the new "from" address and sends messages along. The new twist is that it is taking the back end of the address (@livejournal.com for example) and sending out email from admin@ or tech-support@ directing people to bogus links for updates (which then download the virus). Sneaky bastards, but they are paying my salary...

Liked the story BTW. I think Ray would do much better with a Mac!

[akite.livejournal.com]

Liked the story BTW. I think Ray would do much better with a Mac!

Thanks, Chesamus. You know he might at that.

[tikiaceae.livejournal.com]

seems just like what i'd do...

not fraser being practical and calm but poor ray banging on his head on the keyboard.

[akite.livejournal.com]

seems just like what i'd do...

not fraser being practical and calm but poor ray banging on his head on the keyboard.

LOL, I haven't actually done any head banging. Close, though. Glad you liked it.

[stinkybubbles.livejournal.com]

Micro chip, corn chip, what's the difference?

[akite.livejournal.com]

Micro chip, corn chip, what's the difference?


Uh, one can eat and the other you can't? ;) At least I wouldn't care to eat a microchip.