Eternal Heart

The towering bookshelves, reaching a hundred meters high, stood prominently, their end obscured from view. Only in this grand setting could one truly grasp the boundlessness of knowledge.

Chen Mo walked towards the desk and opened the dark red book. Instantly, Shu Lao's figure materialized in the library.

Shu Lao gazed at Chen Mo and nodded slightly. "You've been working hard, managing to read 100 books so quickly. Now, you have the opportunity to extract a technology. Do you want to proceed with the extraction?"

"Shu Lao, I'd like to ask if there's any computer anti-virus software available here that can eliminate ransomware," Chen Mo inquired. He believed that if he dedicated himself to studying, he could certainly research anti-virus software. However, considering the time constraints and his energy, he deemed it more advantageous to utilize this time to read books and exchange knowledge.

"Which type of ransomware are you referring to?" Shu Lao asked.

"It's the one on the two computers on my desk," Chen Mo replied.

Shu Lao closed his eyes, and after a while, he raised his finger. In the sky above the science library, a massive light curtain descended.

The light curtain displayed the lock screen of the ransomware virus.

"Is this the one?" Shu Lao asked.

"Yes," Chen Mo confirmed.

"Solving this type of computer virus is quite simple. You can do it your self" Shu Lao stated. "Now, I'll give you two choices. The first is to freely choose an antivirus software technology, and Second, I can provide you with the virus code, which will enable you to design your own antivirus program. Once you have the antivirus code, you can share the technology, and in return, you will receive a free random technology selection."

"Shu Lao, are you testing me?" Chen Mo questioned.

"You could say that," Shu Lao replied. "As I mentioned before, the Science and Technology Library isn't meant for you to be lazy. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many books here."

Shu Lao pointed towards the bookshelf that stretched beyond expectation.

"In that case, I'll choose the second option," Chen Mo decided.

After reading nearly a hundred books on computer technology and hacking techniques, along with familiarizing himself with the source code of the ransomware virus, he believed that he could design antivirus programs without requiring an excessive amount of time.

However, the random selection aspect seemed a bit mysterious. He had no control over it whatsoever. If he were randomly given a technology he didn't need or one that was of little use, then he'd have to wait for the next opportunity and rely on luck.

"Not bad," Shu Lao acknowledged with a nod. He pointed his finger at the light curtain, revealing a dense code listed above. The light curtain then contracted, transforming into a book that fell into Shu Lao's hands. He pressed it against Chen Mo's head.

The intricate code engraved itself in Chen Mo's mind, and the essence of the ransomware virus also became clear within his thoughts.

The intricate code was engraved in Chen Mo's mind, and the essence of the ransomware virus became clear to him.

Various ideas intertwined in Chen Mo's mind.

"When you design the program to eliminate the virus, come over and choose the technology. Perhaps there will be unexpected gains at that time," Shu Lao remarked, his words carrying profound meaning.

After leaving the technology library, Chen Mo returned to his seat in front of the computer. Armed with the virus's source code, the next steps became much simpler.

He now had an idea, but it needed to be validated through the program.

As he booted up the computer, Chen Mo began typing the code.

...

The news of the ransomware attack at Binhai University swiftly spread across the internet. In this age of information, events traveled throughout the country in the shortest time possible.

The emergence of this news seemed to sound the alarm for further attacks.

Major universities across China were also reported to have fallen victim the ransomware attacks. The affected universities mourned on social media platforms and forums.

The virus was called 'Eternal Heart,' a variant of the ransomware virus 'Eternal Blue.'

Similar to the previous attack, it mainly spread through email attachments, phishing URLs, malicious downloads from websites, and infected web pages accessed by users.

However, this time there was a difference. Upon infection, the virus would spread throughout the local network of the compromised computer, significantly enhancing its ability to propagate.

Unlike before, where only specific files, videos, or hard drive data were locked, this variant directly seized control of the entire computer system, rendering access to the desktop impossible.

The main targets of the 'Eternal Heart' ransomware variant were major universities and corporations, spreading through their respective regional and corporate networks.

To prevent the infection of the 'eternal heart' within campus networks, many universities opted to temporarily shut down their networks.

The virus continued to propagate unabated, and efforts to stop it seemed futile.

With the proliferation of computer viruses, the internet grew increasingly heated, community grew concerned about their safety. People became cautious and hesitant to click on unknown URLs and software.

This time, a variant of the ransomware virus emerged, proving to be even more formidable than its predecessor. The vulnerabilities from the previous attack had been patched up, and the virus spread at an alarming rate.

The ransomware virus dominated headlines in all news media:

"China shuts Down Virtual Currency Trading Amid Computer Virus Outbreak."

"Eternal Blue Variant: The Eternal Heart Infects Nearly a Million Computers."

"The price of Bitcoin skyrocketed due to the influence of the 'Eternal Heart.'"

On the internet, numerous reports inundated users. In Europe, the first sighting of the new ransomware variant, the Eternal Heart, had a devastating impact. Almost the entire continent fell under its sway. The primary targets of the attack included stock trading centers, banks, government departments, universities, energy companies, subway systems, corporations, supermarkets, and more.

The European stock exchange was forced to halt operations, plunging the stock market into chaos. Numerous banks' computer systems were infected, rendering ATM machines unable to dispense money and disrupting normal banking operations.

The United Kingdom's national healthcare system suffered once again, with the computer systems of its hospitals falling victim to infection, leading to disruptions in emergency services and ambulance dispatch.

Within a single day, the Eternal Heart had spread to the Middle East, South America, Oceania, and Southeast Asia.

As the Eternal Heart continued its spread, the ransomware officially evolved into a global viral crisis, far more terrifying than the previous outbreak. Millions of computers worldwide were infected and locked. Reinstalling the system meant losing all the data stored within.

With crucial information still trapped on infected computers, reinstalling the system was not an option, leaving many anxiously waiting for a solution.

The repercussions of the Eternal Heart affected various sectors. Microsoft's stock plummeted by 2%, evaporating nearly $11 billion of its market value.

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation initiated investigations against global hacking organizations responsible for producing ransomware variants on such a massive scale.

Upon tracing the origins of the 'Eternal Heart's spread, they soon discovered that this had been a meticulously planned operation by veteran hackers several months in advance, making it incredibly challenging to trace.

Network security companies issued urgent warnings, advising users to refrain from opening suspicious emails.

Despite these measures and the avalanche of reports, five days had passed, and the 'Eternal Heart' had infected over a million computers in china. Network security companies could only offer cautionary advice, as there was no effective antivirus software capable of neutralizing the ransomware.

The countdown began for the first batch of infected computers, with only a couple of days remaining. If a solution to eradicate the virus were not found in time, all the data on those computers would be irretrievably lost.

Desperation led many to consider paying hackers in virtual currency, such as Bitcoin, to obtain a key for unlocking their computers.

Since the previous ransomware outbreak, people had recognized the regulatory loopholes surrounding virtual currencies like Bitcoin, which facilitated money laundering, fund transfers, tax evasion, and other criminal activities.

Following the initial virus crisis, market regulators in China progressively shut down virtual currency trading platforms.As a result of this virus crisis, infected computers within the country were left without any means of "redemption."

Some individuals could only pray, hoping for a solution to eliminate the virus and salvage the crucial information stored on their computers. Otherwise, all the critical information stored on their computers would be lost.