Chapter 155 - 123: Hacker Intrusion (Part 2)

"No!"

"I checked everything, and apart from some files from ’Love Advisor Department,’ there’s nothing wrong elsewhere."

Love Advisor Department?

Upon hearing this term, Chen Ba immediately felt a sense of foreboding.

Could this hacker be targeting the new game? But then he found out that Tianba Studio hadn’t even made a demo, and got so mad he formatted Lu’s E drive?

"It’s very possible!"

Yang Dong, who had been woken up from a nap, analyzed the situation after learning what happened: "There are some online informers and so-called insiders, but their sources aren’t very legitimate."

Usually, they’re game diggers!

The so-called game diggers, they dig into game files for new content, analyze it briefly, and then leak it online to gain followers’ attention.

This kind of people is quite annoying to game companies.

After all, when a new version is updated, they’re still brewing the marketing strategies on how to tell the players, yet the leaks are already widespread.

But this behavior is still okay.

After all, these diggers generally only dig into "game local files" and rarely have bad intentions to invade game companies.

But there are some major informers whose sources have major issues, like information on game drafts or development progress... such information might not be obtained through proper channels.

How do they get it?

One way is through internal leaks, with an insider giving out info ahead of time; guarding against insiders is a real challenge.

Another way is through illegal intrusion, using hacking techniques to obtain secret files or information and then selling it to specialized informers.

"Clearly, we’re being targeted."

Yang Dong pondered: "It should be after the new game was announced at the Neon Gaming Expo that someone got interested in our new game, leading to today’s situation."

"As for Lu’s E drive being formatted, it doesn’t seem like venting anger, more like a prank..."

"A prank?"

Lu’s eyes widened: "All my valuable wallpapers and games are gone, and you call that a prank?"

"Enough!"

Chen Ba stopped Lu’s complaints: "Since they didn’t touch critical files, it shows they know boundaries, afraid we’ll retaliate."

"Pay attention to news in the gaming industry these days, see if any major informer suddenly leaks info on ’Love Advisor Department.’"

No doubt.

’Love Advisor Department’ is under tight security, anyone leaking now with accurate info is most suspicious.

Of course!

The hacker may not be the informer, perhaps it’s from someone else who bought the information.

But no matter what, this remains the best way to find the culprit.

"Should we report it?"

"Forget it!"

Chen Ba gestured, suggesting low-key handling of the matter, not publicizing it too widely.

He plans to seek a professional company to upgrade the studio’s firewall and security defenses, and see if a second incident will occur.

If something similar happens again and the upgraded firewall and security measures don’t work, he would consider reporting it and letting professionals handle it.

The hacking incident at Tianba Studio is unknown to the outside world, apart from internal employees.

Chen Ba is waiting, waiting for some informer to leak information on ’Love Advisor Department.’ But after a few days, there was no movement.

Just as he suspected whether the hacker hadn’t leaked any info, his mailbox received an anonymous email.

"What does this mean?"

At first, Chen Ba didn’t realize where this email came from, almost deleting it as spam.

But when he inadvertently glanced at the content, he suddenly became interested.

It was sent by the hacker.

In the email, the hacker candidly acknowledged the mistake, stating that curiosity about the new game got the better of him.

He assured Chen Ba that he wouldn’t leak what he saw. Furthermore, he offered help to Tianba Studio if needed.

Of course, there are conditions.

He wants to take a look at the underlying core source code of ’Divine Grace Continent’ or ’Star Emperor.’

"Dream on!"

Chen Ba didn’t even bother replying, thinking it was delusional. A light apology after invading their studio, then requesting to freeload their source code?

What a laugh!

Besides, so what if he’s a hacker? Even hackers can’t do anything against ’Divine Grace Continent’ and ’Star Emperor.’

If he could get the core code himself, why send the email? Clearly, he already tried, but achieved nothing!

Chen Ba then thought, this isn’t a simple hacking incident.

It appears to be a hacker, but who knows, maybe it’s some animation company behind the scenes!

No need to guess.

’Divine Grace Continent’ caused a stir in the animation industry; those animation companies surely want to make a pirated version.

The result was failure.

Precisely due to cloning failure and inability to crack the game, thus came this hacking incident and the hacker’s email.

"Bring it on!"

Chen Ba was utterly unafraid.

Hacking sounds scary, but what can they achieve from hacking Tianba Studio? He can only cause disruption, gaining nothing.

New game leaked?

Let it leak, which game company hasn’t been hacked before? It’s not a life-threatening matter, just promote it earlier!

Sure enough.

After Chen Ba rejected the hacker’s proposal, the internet quickly exploded with tons of information regarding Tianba Studio’s new game ’Love Advisor Department.’

Even original artworks got leaked.

Lu and Zhong Shengwei were very anxious, but Yang Dong said not to worry, let the leaks happen, all they can disclose are just some original artworks, nothing more valuable.

In a sense.

The things they can leak are only a tiny part of the entire game, what impact can a few pieces of original art have?

As long as the source code isn’t leaked.

During the Neon Gaming Expo, ’Love Advisor Department’ already revealed some gameplay; the info leaked by these informers only helps stir up buzz.

As for the impact?

The biggest effect is everyone realizing ’Love Advisor Department’’s development isn’t as fast as Ba claimed.

Based on time deductions, during the Neon Gaming Expo, the game probably didn’t even have a "new folder!"

The players are quite calm.

Especially the fans active in Tianba Community, they find the leaked news neither strange nor surprising.

"Ba’s empty promises are old hand skills, aren’t they?"

"Tianba Manor’s residents agree, the second phase of the bungalow isn’t completed yet!"

"Invading Ba’s computer, this hacker’s head isn’t functioning right! Apart from empty new folders, what else do you expect to find?"

"Stop the harsh criticism, the guy found a few pieces of original art, he did gain something..."

"Why didn’t hacker bro invade ’Star Emperor’ server and distribute a million Source Stones to everyone?"

"Is there a possibility... even with a million Source Stones, you couldn’t spend it?"

Absolutely right!

When people suggested on the forum that the hacker should invade ’Star Emperor’ server and distribute free Source Stones, Chen Ba was initially a bit uneasy.

But then he thought.

What to be afraid of? ’Star Emperor,’ although an online game, doesn’t rely on in-game purchases; modifying Source Stones is useless!

Even with billions of Source Stones, if you can’t spend them, they’re worthless!

So, in this sense, ’Star Emperor’ is actually the world’s safest online game? Even if the server is hacked and the game temporarily shut down, players can still find ways to spend money!

After all, even if you hack ’Star Emperor’’s game server, what’s it got to do with Xianyu Digital? Can hackers still modify graphics card prices?