some dummy clicked on an obvious phishing scam and now Shinra's cyber security is crumbling, how is everyone reacting? :D
(Ok ok but this is especially funny because this is pre-Crisis Core, so the late 90s/very early 2000s. Even if Gaia’s tech is more advanced than ours was then, people were still accessing the internet with zero survival instincts. So it’s completely believable that Genesis would be on some questionable Loveless fan forum, annotating a literary analysis while Sephiroth, sitting behind him, notices the flashing [DESPERATE COUGARS IN YOUR AREA] banner Genesis has been ignoring for twenty minutes)
Sephiroth: Um. Genesis? What exactly does “cougar” mean in this context? I’m fairly certain they are not referring to the animal.
Genesis: Hm? Oh, no, they aren’t. Ignore it. It’s just one of those classic pop ups. You know?
Sephiroth: No? I don’t know what that means.
Genesis: Well, sketchy websites sometimes have fake advertisements that pop up trying to bait you into clicking them so they can redirect you elsewhere.
Sephiroth: Elsewhere...where?
Genesis: Depends, really. Gambling sites, scams, viruses, adult video sites, sometimes all four simultaneously.
Sephiroth: I see. And a cougar is?
Genesis: An older woman who prefers younger men.
Sephiroth: …And it’s never actually what’s being advertised.
Genesis: Usually no. Though I did once hear from a friend of a friend that he clicked one and it genuinely was a beautiful older woman seeking intimacy. Apparently they had a lovely evening together.
Sephiroth: That sounds profoundly unsafe.
Sephiroth: I suppose there’s no way to verify the legitimacy of it without clicking.
Genesis: Technically no. Curious?
Sephiroth: About the scam itself, yes. If ordinary people are being tricked into exposing personal information through malicious redirects.
Genesis: Well, in fairness, our systems are significantly more advanced than civilian technology.
Genesis: If it is some sort of malicious phishing attack, there’s no possible way it could penetrate SOLDIER’s firewall. We’re literally the military branch of the world’s largest power company.
Sephiroth: Good point. In fact, if a simple pop up ad could compromise Shinra’s systems, that would say more about Shinra’s incompetence than our curiosity.
Genesis: Exactly! Besides, Shinra is notoriously thorough.
Sephiroth: Right? There’s no way some amateur scam could possibly do any harm. Go ahead and click it.
Genesis: I will. And watch, it’s probably just porno—
*He clicks it. Genesis’ computer instantly shuts off. Then every light in the building dies at once. The entire Shinra HQ plunges into darkness. A security alarm erupts through every floor. Red emergency lights suddenly begin flashing*
Alarm Voice: WARNING. CRITICAL SECURITY BREACH DETECTED. FINANCIAL SYSTEMS COMPROMISED. USER DATA EXPOSED. EXECUTIVE BANKING ACCESS TRANSFERRED. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR.
Genesis: They can’t ....they can’t possibly know it was us, right?
Sephiroth: No, we’re fine. We’ll be okay.
Angeal, barging in: WHY IS THERE A FOUR MILLION GIL CHARGE LABELED “HOT SINGLES”?! WHICH ONE OF YOU MORONS CLICKED THE COUGAR AD?!
*Genesis points at Sephiroth. Sephiroth points at Genesis*
