The Houston Record

The Great Security Caper

HOUSTON, TX -- Something is happening in the city of Houston. One of the town's best-known technology companies has been hit with a crime. Research data from Evans Business Solutions has been stolen and passed to their fiercest competitor, Santa Clara-based Extar Systems. The result: their new breakthrough product has been relegated to second fiddle as Extar announces its own identical product, beating Evans to the punch.

Who committed this dastardly crime? Police are investigating, and it could have been an inside job, a business partner, or a hacker. They need your help to uncover clues and unmask the perpetrator.

Although the Great Security Caper has concluded, you can still enjoy the articles on this site and try to uncover the identity of the data thief. If you would like to see who the thief is, please visit the Bytware Caper Conclusion page at bytware.com.

Get started by meeting the suspects and reading the rules of the game.




iPodCongratulations to our winner!

Bytware and The Houston Record would like to extend congratulations to Mr. Alexander Zenta, who correctly identified the data thief and won the drawing for the Apple iPod!



Play again... or for the first time. There's a lot more to see!
The security caper is only part of The Houston Record. This fictional newspaper is filled with nearly 100 pieces of off-the-wall creative writing that you're sure to enjoy. So just because you know who did it doesn't mean there's not still a lot to enjoy here at The Houston Record!

The Great Security Caper: Full time iSeries operator. Part time detective.

Peter Evans Under Increased Scrutiny

HOUSTON -- Evans Business Solutions' Chief Security Officer Peter Evans continues to come under scrutiny from area police and special investigators for his possible role in the Evans/Extar data theft case.

It was recently disclosed that Peter has been seen sporting a silver watch with the name "Extar" engraved near the face. The watch was confiscated by police and examined by forensic experts, and has been traced back to Extar president Jim Tarskan through fingerprints found on the band.





Investigators find the close personal ties between Chief Security Office Peter Evans and Extar president Jim Tarskan very questionable.



Peter's lawyer initially denied any involvement between his client and Extar, saying that the watch was a gift received from a friend several years ago. However, after the fingerprint was found and verified, he then admitted that the "friend" was in fact Mr. Tarskan. Peter still maintains that he had no involvement with any data theft or transfer.

But in this drawn-out case, police are grasping for clues and Sgt. Raymond Edwards says that this is just one in several pieces of evidence that are mounting against the company's CSO.

"We find it highly suspicious that the person in charge of Evans's security operations has close, personal ties to the president of Extar," expounded Edwards. "This fact, along with other evidence that I am not at liberty to disclose at this time, are forming a dark cloud over Peter Evans."

iPod Prize to Be Awarded to Successful Detective

RENO, NV -- Bytware, Inc., world leader in iSeries monitoring, security, and notification solutions and sponsor of the Great Security Caper mystery contest , is pleased to announce that an Apple iPod will go to the iSeries user who successfully identifies the data thief in The Great Security Caper contest.



The mystery game offers readers an opportunity to pick out the person who stole research data from Houston-based Evans Business Solutions and passed it to the company's rival, Extar Systems of Santa Clara, California. Clues are hidden in articles througout this website and must be gathered to pinpoint the guilty party.

Read the articles on the suspects and still unsure who did it? Never fear! Somewhere in this site the precise answer—the guilty party and the tools they used—are hidden in a seemingly non-related article. Find this little tidbit and you'll be in the drawing for sure.

All readers who submit the correct guess will win a prize to be named at a later date. Correct guesses will then be entered into a drawing for the grand prize, an Apple iPod music player.

The Caper has been extended to allow more time for players to read the articles and gather clues. But time is running out! Submit your guess today!

Other Front Page Stories

Connection Made Between Evans Executive and Extar
Evans Business Solutions Chief Security Officer Peter Evans has been linked to Extar Systems in a discovery that police say may be a turning point in the case. :: View full story.

Area Companies Report Strangers Snooping Around
Several companies in the Houston area have reported incidents of probing by hackers in recent weeks. IT managers at several local organizations say that hackers seem to be focusing on specific targets, looking for weaknesses to exploit. :: View full story.

Brookside Village Briefcase Cleared by Law Enforcement
Police announced today that the mysterious briefcase found recently outside the Brookside Village post office has been thoroughly examined and appears to be nothing more than an old piece of luggage that someone tossed out. :: View full story.

Extar Systems Upstages Evans Business Solutions
Santa Clara-based technology firm Extar Systems takes the wind out of the highly anticipated product announcement by Evans Business Solutions. :: View full story.

Security Experts Say Flash Drives Risky
Known by a variety of names including "flash drives," "jump drives," and "mini drives," portable USB memory storage devices make transporting data easy, but not without security risks. :: View full story.

Other Current Story Highlights...

Evans/Extar Case Rocks Stocks
The ongoing investigation into the data theft scandal involving software developers Evans Business Solutions and Extar Systems is beginning to show real impact on investors. :: View full story.

Look Out Papa Smurf! '80s Makes Comeback with a Vengeance
Proving that history is doomed to repeat itself and that some things just never go completely out of style, the toys of the '80s are back. :: View full story.

Evans's Diane Webber to File Huge Tax Return
Reports leaked to the media indicate that Diane Webber, controller of local software company Evans Business Solutions, will be filing a personal tax return that shows an abnormally large jump in income during 2004, possibly linked to Extar. :: View full story.

Kate Hoffman Arrives in San Francisco
IT superstar Kate Hoffman, recently applauded for her quick thinking in a crisis situation at Evans Business Solutions, arrived today in San Francisco, shadowed by undercover agents from the Houston police department. :: View full story.

DOT Heeds Mandate from the People: Lark Lanes on America's Highways
The U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled plans today for the nationwide implementation of "Lark Lanes" on the nation's interstate system, giving seniors on scooters their own express lane. :: View full story.

Major League Baseball Hit with Mascot Steroids Scandal
Just when it looked like it couldn't get any worse for fans of America's pastime, Major League Baseball was again rocked by scandal today when Congress subpoenaed Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster. :: View full story.

Slash Again in Evans Spotlight
Famed hacker and virus author "Slash," who was once a prime suspect in the Evans Business Solutions data theft case, is again under close scrutiny by Houston police. ::
View full story.

Previous Story Highlights...

Kate Hoffman: IT Superwoman Saves the Day at Evans
IT Manager saves local software developer Evans Business Solutions from chaos across the company's international network. :: View full story.

Police Investigate Evidence Found at Evans Offices
Local law enforcement officials are investigating a piece of evidence uncovered earlier this week in the main computer facilities of Evans Business Solutions. :: View full story.

Matt Williams Questioned by Police in L.A.
L.A. city law enforcement officials last night took local waiter and aspiring actor Matt Williams into custody for questioning in connection with the Evans Business Solutions data theft case. :: View full story.

Health Insurance Providers Consider New Approach: Appendage Insurance
Health insurance providers are considering a new "a la carte" style of coverage that would require individuals to anticipate which parts of their body might become injured down the road. :: View full story.

Is Jelly Belly on your Breath?
The candy maker is considering a new approach to marry the consumer's lack of time for breakfast with their desire for a sugar rush. :: View full story.

Bytware and IBM Ink Anti-Virus Distribution Agreement
Bytware, Inc. and IBM signed an agreement this week allowing Bytware's StandGuard Anti-Virus for iSeries to be shipped with all distributions of IBM's new eServer iSeries operating system, i5/OS V5R3 (OS/400 Version 5 Release 3). :: View full story.

Alarm Clock Maker Unveils Shocking New Product
One Japanese company aims to turn "snooze slapping" into a constant revenue stream using a shocking new method. :: View full story.

PETA Plans Focus on Nature with New "Animal-Friendly" Football League
Rumor in the sports world is that PETA is forming a new football league to compete with the NFL, complete with animal-friendly mascots. :: View full story.

Lollapalooza Out, Carbapalooza In
The waning music festival Lollapalooza finally ran out of steam this week as organizers cancelled the entire upcoming summer concert season. But a new festival is ready to step into the empty shoes. :: View full story.

Extar Stock on the Rise
Extar Systems, the California-based software company announced that it has enjoyed a steady rise in stock value since the launch of its new product. :: View full story.

Arrest made in Evans Data Theft Case
Houston police sergeant Raymond Edwards announced in a press conference yesterday evening that an arrest has been made in the data theft case currently under investigation at local software company Evans Business Solutions. :: View full story.

Precious Metal Investors Get Gas, Rejoice
Investors looking to diversify and add stability to their portfolios have long latched on to gold. Now they are abandoning the precious metal in favor of something with even more value: gasoline. :: View full story.

Mydoom.F Strikes iSeries Shops
A new variant of the Mydoom worm recently made its way around the Internet, and this particularly nasty worm caused a great deal of damage to users—including iSeries shops—thanks to its ability to delete files. :: View full story.

Apple iPod to go to Grand Prize Winner
Bytware, Inc., world leader in iSeries monitoring, security, and notification solutions and sponsor of the Great Security Caper of 2004 mystery contest , announced today that an Apple iPod will go to the Grand Prize Winner in the contest. :: View full story.

Area Security Executive Probed in Theft Case
Officers from the Houston police department, along with federal agents, seized documents this morning from the office of Evans Business Solutions' Chief Security Officer, Peter Evans. The seizure comes several weeks after the reported theft of company trade secrets. :: View full story.

After Ted, Other Airlines Consider Offshoots
With the initial positive reaction to United Airlines' new low-cost carrier, "Ted," other airlines are considering similar moves. :: View full story.

Automatic Picture Shaker a Godsend for Polaroid Fans
For decades users of Polaroid's instant camera technology have been shaking their snapshots. Common belief holds that this action helps the photo develop. Now that the popular musical group Outkast has encouraged millions to "shake it like a Polaroid picture," the activity has become the latest craze. :: View full story.

New Reality TV Show to Feature iSeries Operators and Programmers
Programming executives at Aoba Entertainment announced today that they are developing a new reality TV show that will feature iSeries operators and programmers, pitting IT professionals against each other to see who can respond the quickest and most effectively to crisis situations. :: View full story.

Zodiac Zone: Your Horoscope from Madame Gertrude and her Psychic Llama
Don't just sit around waiting for things to happen... find out what the future holds with your personal horoscope from Madame Gertrude and her Psychic Llama.
Take a look at the stars now!