Capture the ringleader first. The rest will scatter on their own.
— The 36 Stratagems, Capture the Ringleader
Previously on this series:
#5:...
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This is the first time reading one of your strategems, and it really is interesting. Love the story telling narrative, it makes it very interesting and fun to read. Looking forward to the next episode, but for now, let be binge read the previous ones
Haha, you've got a solid backlog ahead of you! The 36 Stratagems series is at #18 so far, plus the original series that introduced all 6 main characters — throw in the preview and recap posts and we're pushing close to 40. Enjoy the ride, and I'd love to hear your thoughts as you go through them! 🙌
Will definitely let you know
The 36 Stratagems series has finally reached #18. As per tradition, the next post will be a milestone recap. I'm going to take a few days off to rest — no rush, steady pace. See you at the next summary post.🤣
Yeah see ya - you deserve that rest!
I want to see your virtual notebook, hahaha🤣
Ah haha, but I also need my rest, I think we both deserve it! ;-) ;-) ;-)
I suspect you're using the 'Advance Secretly by Chencang' stratagem on me, hahaha🤣
I'm definitely using a strategem on you, but I have no idea which one ;-)
The detail that makes this one work: X-Not-ACL: true proves nothing, and the story knows it. Any adversary can type that header. What actually authenticated Leo and Derek to each other was eight exchanges of costly behavior: Derek not blocking the IP, Leo leaving his probe active, each side demonstrating knowledge it could only have from defending, and restraint it would not show if it were hunting. That is the sharpest authentication insight in the series so far. Between two parties with no trusted third party, identity is proven by what you refrain from doing, because an attacker profits from acting and a defender profits from waiting. The claim is cheap; the restraint is expensive; trust follows the expensive signal.
And the ending quietly names the price of that handshake. The moment Leo and Derek established a recognition protocol, they created a new spoofable artifact: the next actor who learns the signature can replay it and inherit the trust. The unattended /pulse/ingestion/ event lands exactly there. Every friend-or-foe protocol you build becomes part of your attack surface the day it starts working.
Authentication by restraint. That's the line. Everything else is just confirming the collision.
And yes — /pulse/ingestion/ already knew.
Really skillfully written this one - "The Third Cup" is also a brilliant "story vehicle", love it!
Suspense rising, drum roll swelling - but first another "recap" tomorrow, looking forward to that :-)
Let me catch my breath, haha — taking a few days off 😂
This was a fun read. It was interesting watching Leo and Derek slowly realize they weren't chasing each other, they were chasing the same thing. The trust between them wasn't built through a conversation, but through the way they each responded technically. That was a nice touch 😄
Haha, thank you, this really made my day. Had a rough afternoon at work — stuff going down at the company — and your comment genuinely cheered me up. Sorry I didn't get to post this week like usual. I think I just need to rest. The half-way summary and Stratagems #19 should be coming soon though. Looking forward to more of your awesome comments! 😄
Well said!
🎉Thank you!😄
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Boss boss! I am alive. It is interesting article. I enjoy that you combine your article with a technical knowledge and storytelling.
Well done — your monthly performance review is outstanding. Double salary this month. 💰🤣🤣🤣
hahhahaha:).