Caught in the Metaverse: A Virtual Reality Crime Story
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Chapter 1: The Dawn of Virtual Worlds
In 1996, the digital landscape began to shift dramatically with the launch of Hotmail. This groundbreaking webmail service allowed users to access their emails from any browser, freeing them from reliance on Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Notably, it was available at no cost. That same year also saw the introduction of the first metaverse, WorldsAway.
The Evolution of the Metaverse
The Metaverse isn't a new concept; it has existed for decades. I had the privilege of serving as the engineering manager for WorldsAway. Our team included the Oracles, who played a crucial role in crafting the lore and narrative for our initial virtual world, Khymer. It was essential for the Oracles to maintain the immersive experience, so any disruption caused by engineers could be quite frustrating.
#### Experimenting with Virtual Spaces
Fujitsu initiated another virtual environment called Hotel Silicon, which featured a stage-like area behind a curtain. Access was granted simply through an email account—reminding users of the free and browser-compatible nature of Hotmail. This accessibility opened the floodgates for participation.
The Influx of Users
The availability of a free Hotmail account meant that high school students could join Hotel Silicon without hesitation. Daily around one o'clock, the platform would be bustling with avatars, leading to a noticeable decline in the quality of conversations. Despite this, I took the opportunity to observe how users navigated the space, often keeping Hotel Silicon open in a browser to monitor activity.
Chapter 2: Encountering the Hackers
Among the users were two teenagers who went by the names Cowboy and FU. They were notorious for their foul language and frequent bragging about their hacking skills. Their reckless claims about exploiting vulnerabilities in our code were quite revealing, prompting us to address these security flaws without delay.
The first video, "I Become A Thief In The Metaverse," explores the consequences and experiences of digital thievery in these virtual worlds.
Taking Action Against Digital Crime
As Cowboy boasted about hacking into major retail sites, I knew I had to intervene. Their antics mirrored the alarming incidents reported in the news, where teenagers were caught engaging in similar activities. After some contemplation, I decided to alert the FBI about the situation, given that it involved interstate internet crime.
The Aftermath of Reporting
Following my report, the two young hackers were seen in Hotel Silicon one day and absent the next. Shortly thereafter, my local newspaper covered their arrest, mentioning Cowboy by his online name while referring to FU simply as "his associate." Although the article glossed over our virtual worlds, it served as a reminder of the lessons learned by young hackers today—mostly about evading capture.
The second video, "Thief Catching - Persona 5 Ep. #83 [Blind Let's Play, Playthrough]," provides insight into the challenges of dealing with thieves and hackers in a gaming context.