#social engineering attack

[indian-school-of-ethical-hacking]

On Wednesday, Hackers target the verified Twitter account of India's Water resources. Utilized it by posting fake posts related to cryptocurrency with images of Twitter CEO!

[moontowerapologist]

Session 5 is rendering. Definitely in the Top 10 things that were done to me ever.

[ask-the-substitute]

what about Him, is he okay. not a crustacean but not a reptile either.

Depends...

How good is he at sending fraudulent emails to try and get account information?

[century-solutions-group]

Combating Social Engineering

[signode-blog]

Life Can Change Any Moment

BeerBiceps aka Ranveer Allahbadia YouTube Channels Getting Hacked: A Deep Dive into the Incident and Its Implications In the fast-paced world of digital media, creators are often vulnerable to cyberattacks that can derail years of hard work and dedication. One such incident that shocked the Indian YouTube community was when popular content creator Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps,…

[otiskeene]

All About Advanced Persistent Threat (APT): Definition, Types And Examples

Have you ever seen the Netflix series Black Mirror? It’s an anthology that delves into the darker side of human nature, often intertwined with technological advancements. The first episode, titled "The National Anthem," presents a shocking scenario where a Prime Minister is forced into a harrowing situation after a member of the royal family, Princess Susannah, is kidnapped. The episode highlights how a leader's vulnerability can have severe consequences on a national level.

Just as the episode explores a national crisis, there are numerous security threats in the digital space. One of the most severe types is Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), sophisticated cyber-attacks typically supported by organized criminal groups. These attacks aim to infiltrate a network and maintain a long-term presence, causing significant risks for both organizations and governments.

While discussing such topics can be unsettling, it's vital to raise awareness about APTs and their potential impact on our security and privacy. Understanding these threats allows us to better prepare and safeguard ourselves against them.

In this article, we will delve into the concept of Advanced Persistent Threats, exploring their definition, various types, and real-world examples.

What Is an Advanced Persistent Threat?

An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a highly sophisticated cyber-attack conducted by skilled hackers, typically targeting high-profile organizations. Unlike typical cyber-attacks, APTs are not designed to cause immediate damage. Instead, they infiltrate a network and remain undetected for extended periods—sometimes months or even years.

The primary objective of an APT attack is to gain unauthorized access to a network and maintain this access over time, allowing the attackers to extract valuable data or disrupt critical systems. These attacks pose significant risks, including financial losses, reputational damage, and the theft of sensitive information.

Now that we have an overview of what Advanced Persistent Threats are, let's explore the different types of APTs.

Types of Advanced Persistent Threats

Advanced Persistent Threats can manifest in various forms, each posing unique challenges and risks. Here are some common types of APTs:

Account Takeover: This attack involves cybercriminals gaining unauthorized access to an individual's or organization's account, such as email, social media, or banking accounts. Once they gain access, they can steal sensitive data, initiate fraudulent transactions, or spread malware.

Ransomware: A form of malware that encrypts the victim's data, making it inaccessible until a ransom is paid. Ransomware attacks can cripple an organization's operations, leading to significant financial losses.

Data Breach: APTs may infiltrate a network with the intent to steal sensitive data, such as customer information, trade secrets, or intellectual property. Data breaches can result in regulatory fines, legal liabilities, and loss of customer trust.

Social Engineering: In this type of attack, cybercriminals manipulate or deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security. Tactics like phishing emails, pretexting, or baiting are often used by APTs to gain a foothold within an organization.

Business Email Compromise: In this scam, attackers impersonate executives or trusted entities to trick employees into transferring funds or revealing sensitive information. This can lead to substantial financial losses and damage to an organization's reputation.

Understanding these types of APTs is crucial in defending against them. By implementing robust cybersecurity measures, educating employees, and maintaining vigilance, organizations can reduce their risk of falling victim to these threats.

Next, let's look at some real-world examples of Advanced Persistent Threats to better understand their impact.

Examples of Advanced Persistent Threats

Here are a few real-world examples that demonstrate the complexity and impact of APTs:

Hafnium: This Chinese state-sponsored APT group, discovered by Microsoft, exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server to access email accounts and steal sensitive data. Hafnium has targeted various industries, including defense, healthcare, and education.

Stuxnet: A highly sophisticated worm designed to disrupt Iran's nuclear program, Stuxnet was delivered via an infected USB device and targeted the industrial control systems used for uranium enrichment, causing significant damage to centrifuges.

GhostNet: Originating in China, this APT used spear-phishing emails containing malware to compromise computers in over 100 countries. The attackers focused on gaining access to government ministries and embassy networks, turning compromised machines into surveillance tools.

These examples highlight the global reach and potentially devastating consequences of APTs. They serve as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and the need for constant vigilance against these sophisticated threats.

Final Thoughts

The episode "The National Anthem" from Black Mirror is a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of an APT attack. When critical systems and individuals are compromised, the impact can be devastating. To mitigate these risks, organizations must remain vigilant, implement multi-layered security measures, and foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness.

As Robert Mueller wisely said, "There are only two types of companies: those that have been hacked and those that will be."

Hopefully, this exploration of Advanced Persistent Threats will help you better understand and defend against such cyber threats.

[northgazaupdates]

NEW MOTHER AND INFANT TRAPPED IN GAZA

Suad Ahmad @suad-ahmad is an engineer from Gaza. She graduated from university at the top of her class and was rapidly excelling in her career as an instructor, consultant, and team leader. Suad, her husband, and their family were overjoyed to find out she was pregnant. Sadly, this was only a week before occupation began its illegal scorched earth campaign against the people of Gaza. Suad's home and workplace were destroyed, and she and her husband's family were displaced from the north.

On the day she went into labor, Suad had to walk a great distance to the hospital. Upon arrival, she found that the hospital was operating at bare minimal capacity. There was not even a bed for her to use. Suad's baby was born with minimal medical support, and the ordeal was extremely difficult. The occupation then began bombing the vicinity of the hospital. Suad and her baby were in immense danger, with nowhere to turn.

Unfortunately, the situation has only gotten worse. Suad and her infant are now living in a tent in extreme heat. lOF attacks continue, putting their lives in immediate danger. The occupation's blockade on Rafah Crossing and the destruction of roads and infrastructure has led to increased, extreme food scarcity. Suad cannot find enough food to feed herself or her baby. She has not been able to recover from the difficult birth, and her baby is missing out on crucial nutrition needed for neonatal development. Once Rafah crossing reopens, Suad and her baby need to be able to evacuate to Egypt for their health and safety.

You can help make this possible by directly supporting them at the link below. Please, help give Suad and her baby a better chance at life. If you cannot give, please reblog this post and repost the link (https://gofund.me/ebaee2af) across all of your social media accounts.

Thank you

Verified by nabulsi and northgazaupdates

[digitalcreationsllc]

Shadow PC Warns of Data Breach as Hacker Tries to Sell Gamers’ Information

The breach occurred due to a social engineering attack targeting an employee, resulting in the theft of customer data including names, email addresses, billing addresses, and credit card expiration dates.

[communistkenobi]

what an artful form of apartheid apologia. people are lapping this shit up in the notes. Even if we set aside the titanic amount of weaponry and equipment created and built by engineers and chemists, all the mapping software that guides missiles and drones and planes created by computer scientists and geographers for a second (science that the state is very much interested in!), zionist apartheid policy, administrative policies, planning and logistics, urban planning documents, you name it - that all apparently just popped into existence one day. for someone claiming to be concerned about social science academics you sure are dismissing all of their hard work! but if you just frame every academic in Israel as a poor little individual victim being randomly attacked for no reason then it’s easy to hide what’s actually going on, which is academics as a group experiencing the harsh end of a boycott. they are being targeted specifically because they are an intellectual class of a colonial state whose genocide is being live-streamed to the world, but if you obfuscate the academy’s role in training, educating, and providing intellectual architecture for the bureaucratic classes and institutions that make up state governments, then you can frame a principled pro-Palestinian position (boycotting Israel) as misguided, stupid, overzealous, ineffectual, and most importantly, detrimental to the cause of freeing Palestine, all of which is of course so obvious to everyone but Palestinian activists. this is naked concern-trolling for the zionist project of annihilating Palestine and it is no less disgusting than any other zionist cheering on the mass murder of children

[rafeandonlyrafe]

slap

words: 1k

warnings: established relationship, hitting rafe, rafe having a panic attack, brief self harm from rafe (not really intentional), drunk riding? a dirt bike

“rafe.” you say softly, trying to keep your voice steady. “stop that.”

“i-” rafe takes a gasping breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “i can't.”

“you're going to hurt yourself.” your eyes flicker down to his clenching fist, his nails digging into his palm, threatening to break skin. your voice is trembling with concern.

“i can't.” rafe says again, his mouth turning to a frown as he struggles to hold back tears, eyes glistening.

you don't know what to do. you've seen rafe overwhelmed before, but this is a new low, seemingly to lose control over his body. hes always kept it together before, especially for you when you’re around.

you reach out, not sure if it would help, and slap your hand directly across his cheek in a swift, firm hit.

you both fall silent and time seems to stand still as you stare into each other's eyes, both in shock at your action when rafes hands loosen and pull you into him.

“that helped.” he says, tucking his head into the space between your shoulder and neck, pressing a kiss to your skin.

“okay.” you reach around his waist and hold him tightly. “im sorry for hitting you.”

“it's okay.” rafe says, eyes closing, quickly tiring out. 

“let's go to bed, yeah?” it's the middle of the day, but you're ready to retreat into rafes bedroom, especially to get away from ward who didn't let your presence hold him back from shouting at rafe.

“yeah.” rafe grips your hand tightly, needing that connection to you as you head up the stairs.

--

“rafe.” you voice is harsh and controlled, but not a yell. not yet.

“baby-” rafes voice is whiny and slurred from all the shots of alcohol he'd taken with his boys earlier. “what do you want? im going-”

“you're not going anywhere without a helmet on. you already shouldn't be riding drunk.” you place your hands on your hips. 

“im fine.” rafe says, a smile stretching across his cheeks, hoping it will appease you, will make you let this go like you usually do.

“no.” you say harshly. “get off the bike and get a helmet.”

rafes expression hardens as he revs the engine, threatening to take off and join kelce and topper, but you don't care that they already sped away towards the country club without putting any protection on.

rafe opens his mouth to continue to argue, but you cut him off with a slap across his face.

rafe blinks, stunned.

“sorry.” rafe steps off the bike and takes your face in his hands, pressing a kiss to your lips. “ill get a helmet.”

“thank you.” you're still not happy that he's even going, but you know you can't do much to control rafe and you’ve learned to pick your battles.

--

you're sitting on the couch playing on your phone, scrolling aimlessly through social media when you hear the roar of the bike engine returning to tanneyhill.

you frown and check the time, but your mental clock was correct, it's only been around an hour since rafe and his friends left, too early for him to be returning.

curious, you walk outside in time to watch rafe pull into the garage. 

“what are you doing back so early?” you ask as he takes his helmet off. 

“i missed you.” rafe sniffles then pouts, his voice shy and a little sheepish. “i don't like being away from you when im drunk… or ever.”

“aww, whose a softie?” you giggle, wrapping your arms around his shoulder as you melt at his words.

“and i feel bad about being mean to you about me wearing a helmet. i know you were just looking out for me.” rafe ducks his head and presses his lips to your forehead.

“i forgive you.” you wrap your arms around him in a tight hug. “sorry for slapping you.”

rafe shakes his head, dismissing your apology without the need of any further acknowledgement.

“love you so much.” rafe picks you up and carries you inside. you're not worried about him falling or dropping you, he wouldn't allow you to get hurt even in his drunk state.

--

“ahhh!” you scream out, hand reaching out and hitting the figure in the face that appeared from the darkness. you reach up again with your other hand to deliver another slap when a hand emerges from the shadow and grabs your wrist.

“baby, it's me.”

rafes voice cuts through the darkness as you freeze before your body deflates.

“oh shit.” knees buckling as rafe grabs you and pulls you against his chest. “i thought you were an intruder.”

“an intruder?” rafe laughs. “well, that was a good hit. i think you might leave a mark.”

“a mark?” you squeal, pulling away from his chest and looking at his cheek, that does in fact have a red mark in the distinct shape of your fingers.

rafe just laughs, his arms wrapping around you more securely. “dont worry about it.” he says, kissing the top of your head. “its kind of hot that you’re so tough.”

--

“god, shes hot.” rafes voice is loud, almost obnoxious, as he pipes up for the first time since entering the room and plopping down on the couch next to you.

“what the fuck?” you question, dropping your phone as your eyes narrow at him.

“nothing.” theres a smile on rafes face that tells you there's something more as you try to snatch his phone from his hand, but he holds it just out of your reach.

“give it!” you squeal as rafe laughs at your frustration, not fighting too hard before letting you see the screen, opened up to his photo album filled with pictures of you, candid shots, selfies you’ve sent him, and moments he’d captured of you without your knowledge.

“oh my god, you piece of shit!” you join in on rafes laughter, falling into his lap. 

you reach your hand up and playfully hit rafes cheek. “i hate you.” you say, though the affection in your voice betrays your words.

“no you don't.” rafe counters, pressing his lips against yours. “you love me.”

“yeah.” you admit, kissing him back. “i love you.”

sfw tags: @winterrrnight @bejeweledreverie @ladyinbl00d @ethanthequeefqueen @drewsephrry @wearemadeofstardust0

[threatcop-isabella]

We are all aware of various types of attackers who are professional and have the technical expertise to exploit data. They aim at infiltrating protected computer systems and compromising users’ sensitive data. These attackers tend to stay a level ahead of the advanced technologies used to bolster network defenses. However, to deploy malicious attacks, these attackers use a major weapon called social engineering. In this blog, we will go through various types of social engineering attacks and how they are carried out.

Read more at Types of Social Engineering Attacks

[emp-cyber-aware]

There are different types of social engineering attacks that is causing havoc to cybersecurity in organizations. Click to read more about it.

[heyjudeb]

Panic Attack - Jude Bellingham

Summary: Jude comforts Y/N through a panic attack caused by a paparazzi frenzy Word Count: >1k Warnings: crying, panic attack,scared The evening at the restaurant had been perfect. The candlelit dinner, the soft murmur of conversation, and the shared glances across the table had made Y/N feel as if they were the only two people in the world. Jude enjoyed these moments of normalcy, the quiet laughter, and the gentle conversations with Y/N. As the evening got close to an end, Jude realized the commotion going on outside the door. He knew exactly what was going on and didn't want to worry Y/N before he actually saw the crowd, maybe it won't be that bad. But as they made their way to the exit, the flashing of cameras began to pierce through the windows. "Jude-"

"Stay close to me, love," he murmured in her ear, his voice steady despite the chaos around them, gripping her hand a little tighter, and giving her a quick kiss on her temple. "We'll be in the car in no time."

As they stepped outside, the crowd erupted. Questions were hurled at them, cameras flashed blindingly, and the noise was deafening. Jude felt Y/N's hand start to tremble. He knew what was coming. Anytime he hangs out with Y/N outside, he makes sure this doesn't happen. He knows how scared and panicked she gets when being crowded. As an experienced man himself, he knows how out of hand they can be sometimes. He was just hoping this wasn't one of those times. "Excuse me, everyone-" he kept talking some sense onto the paparazzi who didn't budge. Y/N tried her hardest to keep a fake smile on, not wanting to have her panicked face on her social feed forever. Jude could feel her walk getting wobbly, she had a hard time walking straight. But the lights and noise was overwhelming. Her heart began to race, her breaths coming in short, shallow gasps. The world around her seemed to blur, the faces of the paparazzi becoming indistinguishable blobs of light and sound. She clung to Jude's arm, her grip tightening as her panic began to spiral.

Jude quickened his pace, practically guiding her through the throng of people. "Almost there, babe," he assured her. By the time they reached the car, Y/N was barely holding it together. Jude opened the door and helped her inside, quickly moving to the driver's seat. As soon as the doors were shut, the noise outside was muffled, but the sense of suffocation remained.

"Jude," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please, just get us out of here."

"Hang on, sweetheart," he said, starting the engine. He could see her hands shaking, her chest heaving with each breath. "We're leaving now."

The car sped away from the restaurant, the paparazzi gradually disappearing in the rearview mirror. Y/N's breaths were coming faster, her vision tunneling. She was unresponsive, her gaze fixed on some distant point.

"Talk to me, love," Jude said, reaching over to hold her hand. "You're safe now. Just breathe with me, okay?"

But Y/N couldn't respond. Her hands were clammy and shaking uncontrollably, her breaths erratic and shallow. Jude glanced at her, his concern deepening. He found a quiet road and pulled over, turning off the engine.

"Y/N, look at me," he said softly, cupping her face with his hands. "It's okay, baby. I'm right here. Focus on my voice."

She tried to meet his gaze, but her vision was still blurred, her mind trapped in a whirlwind of fear and confusion. Jude held her hands, his thumbs gently stroking her knuckles.

"Take deep breaths, love," he instructed, his voice calm and soothing. "In through your nose, out through your mouth. That's it. Just like that. It's over now, baby."

Slowly, she began to follow his lead, her breaths gradually becoming more controlled. He continued to speak to her.

As she took deep breaths, she started to regain a bit of clarity. Her vision cleared, and the noise of the outside world faded into the background. But then, the weight of the moment hit her, and she began to tremble uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed, her voice breaking. "I’m so sorry, Jude. I didn't mean to... I just... I’m so embarrassed."

Jude's heart ached at her words. He quickly kissed her forehead and cupped her face, his thumbs brushing away her tears. "Hey, it’s okay," he whispered, his voice tender. "You don’t have to apologize. It’s not your fault. I’m just glad you’re okay."

Despite his reassurances, Y/N continued to cry, her sobs wracking her body. Jude leaned in and pressed soft, loving kisses to her forehead, her cheeks, her eyelids.

"Shh," he murmured between kisses. "It’s alright, love. None of this changes how much I care about you."

Y/N’s cries subsided slightly, but her fear lingered. "What if it’s all over the papers? What if everyone sees this?" she asked through her tears, her voice trembling.

Jude shook his head gently, a determined expression on his face. "It doesn’t matter," he said firmly. "We’re together, and that’s all that matters. People can say what they want, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you or how much I want to be here for you." "You'll be talked about because of me," she choked on another sob. "I hate myself for this."

"Shh... my love." Jude kept kissing her trembling hands. "I don't give a fuck about that. Besides, you handled it well out there."

"Why are you so perfect, Jude?" Y/N asked genuinely, feeling like she doesn't deserve his kindness and love for her.

Jude smiled, a playful glint in his eyes. "Perfect? Nah, I just have really good taste in girlfriends."

Despite herself, Y/N let out a small, tearful laugh. Jude grinned wider. "There’s the smile I love."

[ham1lton]

TEN THINGS F1 DRIVER Y/N L/N CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT — GQ.

— part of my maneater series ꕤ

Y/N (throwing her hat in the air with one hand and catching it in the other without looking): see? told you i could do it! not my only party trick.

Y/N: hi gq! i’m y/n l/n, formula one driver and i’m here to show you my ten essentials.

NUMBER ONE: IPAD

Y/N: first, has to be my ipad. this was my first big purchase and seeing my bank account being drained of that money almost caused a heart attack. but this bad boy helps me to organise my life, stops me from being bored on flights, keeps me in contact with my family and lets me write my notes. so yeah, thanks apple. also you guys should sponsor me.

NUMBER TWO: NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES

Y/N: i never used to travel a lot. when i was younger, my family couldn’t afford it so flying around a lot was a big shock to my system. obviously as in f1, drivers are required to fly to different races and it means i had to get over my fear of flying. these help a lot with that. these plus a spotify playlist made by my angsty teenage self will make me forget about the fact i’m flying. these are my favourite ones, i have multiple pairs just in case.

NUMBER TWO AND A HALF: MUSIC.

Y/N: i guess this sort of goes off the second one? but music. i keep trying to bribe the engineers to build a blue tooth radio in the car but to no avail. spotify has been my biggest supporter all of these years. i know i’m sponsored by them now but i have been using my account for almost seven years now? so my algorithm is perfection. it truly has helped me so much. i listen to music on the way to races, on the way back from races, in my house, outside my house, cleaning, cooking and even when i’m in the shower. yes, i’m a shower singer. once i get in there, i’m beyoncé!

OFF SCREEN VOICE: what was the last song you listened to?

Y/N: one second, let me see. it was the twilight soundtrack, in particular, decode by paramore. told you i was an angsty teen!

NUMBER THREE: EMERGENCY BAG

Y/N: okay this sounds bad, it’s not as much an emergency bag as in like medical supplies but more so like extra toothbrush, toothpaste, menstrual products, lotion and other stuff like that. i always carry this with me anywhere in case my suitcase goes missing. it has helped me and my friends out so many times so it’s definitely an essential for me.

NUMBER FOUR: HER CAMERAS.

Y/N: i picked up photography relatively recently and this was the starter camera that the guy in the shop recommended. so this is that camera. for this one, i vlog, which you guys might have seen and this is the camera i use for those videos. i actually don’t record my videos, one of my friends or family or colleagues or whoever will film and i will be in front of the camera. it’s my favourite part when i ask the camera person to reveal themselves and they do their own little introduction. i obviously provide the camera for it. which is this beauty right here.

OFF SCREEN VOICE: who has been your favourite person to film you?

Y/N: i have had a lot of people film me. my most recent being rihanna for my recent holiday vlog! so many people to the point that i genuinely don’t think i could choose a favourite. i mean, i’ve had my sister do it a lot so i guess i can choose her. she knows my angles best!

NUMBER FIVE: LIPGLOSS

Y/N: when i won my first championship and i kissed the camera, the amount of calls from makeup companies my manager received was actually obscene. i think i got so many comments on social media asking what makeup i use and how it stays on throughout the race! to be honest, i don’t always wear makeup but in the original video, i was wearing this fenty gloss. it’s in the shade fu$$y. so, yeah, at least no one can call me a gatekeeper! i always keep it on me. i feel a little more ready to face the world with lipgloss. now, i have my own fenty collection! so check that out.

NUMBER SIX: HER LUCKY SHOES.

Y/N: okay i know i say i’m not necessarily a superstitious person but these shoes have been with me from f3 until now. every race i’ve worn these, i’ve won. so i like having them around. i think they bring luck. i can’t wear them any longer as they’ve worn through the soles now. really annoying but we power through.

NUMBER SEVEN: WINGSTOP BLACK CARD

Y/N: i was really craving wingstop one night. so me and my sister were in london? i think and i vlogged our hunt for wingstop and they reached out to me to give me a black card. i know, isn’t it gorgeous? i was so happy. too bad i have to cut down on what i eat thanks to my nutritionist, but my siblings and friends love this thing.

NUMBER EIGHT: SKINCARE ROUTINE

Y/N: okay, so i’m trying to get more consistent with my skincare but it’s not necessarily working the way i want it to. however, i still stick to the basics. sunscreen, cleanser and moisturiser. i really like keeping my skincare on check as there is this unsaid rule that women have to wear makeup in their jobs and if i keep my skin looking good then i can skirt that rule. i love this cream in particular, it’s moisturising but very light on the skin. best of both worlds.

NUMBER NINE: NECKLACE

Y/N: this was given to me as a gift from my family when i turned eighteen. it was a necklace that i’d had my eye on for a very, very long time. they saved up for so long to buy it for me and it’s become my signature piece. i wear it around my neck constantly. it’s weird having it off my neck to show you.

(she fastens it around her neck quickly)

Y/N: now i feel normal again.

NUMBER TEN: MY PADDOCK PASS

Y/N: i am so bad with keeping my paddock pass on me. for people who don’t know what this is, this allows me access to the garage and things like that. i usually keep it around my neck because if its in my pocket or my bag i’ll forget. my assistant sometimes carries mine. i’m not going to show you my picture because it’s awful. i had woke up really early after no sleep and one of the staff had made me take the picture. now i am forced to wear this monstrosity at work. i keep it hidden as much as i can. last time, lando saw it and laughed so hard he cried so yeah.

author’s note: this was hard as i wanted to keep it as vague as possible so that you can relate it to your own maneater! i’m still taking questions/asks/requests so please send some in!

[coco-loco-nut]

Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?

Pairing: None

Summary: Being a woman in F1 has it's challenges, especially when you are constantly seen as a threat

A/n: McLaren history revision, actually, a lot of it might not make complete logical sense, just ignore that. i’m not great at angst

requests open masterlist ttpd masterlist

_________

You've scared everyone in the F1 world since you started driving in 2014 for McLaren, more dominant than Max Verstappen, the only driver other than Lewis Hamilton to challenge you. Your aggressive driving style and ability to get the most out of your car has lead you to three championships. Men don’t like that.

You are in a bit of a slump this year after moving to Mercedes, not having won one of the first three races, but you are poised for attack, ready to take your place at the top.

“Daddy, who’s that?” you hear a little girl ask as you walk to the paddock.

“Y/n L/n, we don’t like her,” his fragile masculinity practically yells the comment into your ears. With a smirk you look at the pair, walking over and bending to the little girls level.

“What’s your name?” you ask, your voice bordering on being sickly sweet.

“Sarah,” she squeaks, eyes wide with fascination. You remove your team hat and pull out a sharpie from your pocket, signing your hat.

“Don’t let any man tell you you can’t be better than the boys. You can do anything, you’re a girl,” you smile, putting the hat on her head. You wave over your assistant. “Get her sizes and buy her some team gear, charge it to me,” you tell the assistant, who eagerly nods. Of course, the F1 social team caught the incident and posted it.

“Y/n! How does it feel to be in a slump, as some are calling it? Some fans are even calling you washed. Quite sad isn’t it,” one reporter asks.

“You guys keep saying I am in a slump, or I’m being replaced by younger drivers. My bare hands paved their paths, you don’t get to tell me about sad. If you wanted my career to be dead so bad, you should’ve just said so,” you roll your eyes. Nothing makes you feel more alive than driving, but annoying the media is a close second.

“What about your move to Mercedes next year? Why switch?” another reporter asks. Couldn’t you just get to your motorhome without being hounded by reporters for once?

“It was a mutual decision, it was time for us to part,” you walk away, reflecting on the last few months.

You hadn’t planned your exit from McLaren to Mercedes, the scandal regarding your exit being contained by NDAs. You had punched one of the engineers who made a sexist joke at your expense. You promptly decided you didn’t want to be there anymore, especially when they didn’t fire the engineer.

“I feel bad that this is how it has to happen,” Zak said at the end of last season.

“You don’t get to tell me you feel bad, if you actually did he would’ve been fired and I wouldn’t have to leave,” You told him, visibly upset.

“It was one joke and he was reprimanded. You don’t have to leave,” Zak says, you sharply inhale.

“It wasn’t one joke. It had been ongoing for years, it’s a wonder it took me this long to break. What did you want me to do? Laugh until I cry?” you asked Zak, who seemed shocked.

“Then I truly am sorry, I’ll launch an investigation to see why it wasn’t reported to me before. You will have always have a friend here,” Zak tells you, a small comfort.

“Thank you,” you give him a small smile. You spend the whole offseason steeling yourself and working to be the best driver you can be. You stayed longer at the gym and sent more time on the sim.

“Y/n, are you okay?” Daniel asked one day over a glass of wine, he’s known you since you both were karting, and he’s watched you spiral the past few years. Daniel is your best, and one your few friends.

“It’s so hard being a woman in F1. I am a completely different person than I was before I joined,” Daniel doesn’t comment, he knows you felt like a caged animal so you acted like one.

“Why did you leave McLaren?” Daniel asks, knowing you wouldn’t leave unless there was a good reason.

“I signed an NDA, so you can’t share any of this. After I started at McLaren, an engineer was hired who would say sexist remarks all the time. Over time I stopped being nice and just got mean back, and I finally snapped. I gave him a nice right hook to his face,” you sip the wine, giving the shortened version. “Zak didn’t know, no one had reported the engineers behavior, so we signed NDAs and I left.”

“I’m sorry, That plus the media circus of being a woman in F1 can’t be easy,” Daniel sympathizes.

“That’s why I forced myself to be like this. If I can make myself seem untouchable, it doesn’t hurt as much. Being the villain is easier,” you tell him.

“So how will you approach Mercedes?” Daniel keeps you talking, knowing you need a good trauma dump.

“Lay low for the first couple weeks, let the drivers think they took out my claws, hung me to dry. It won’t be enough to ruin my season, but enough to catch them off guard. During the fourth or fifth race, I’ll leap from my gallows and crash their party, exposing the sexism within Formula One,” you smirk.

“The old ‘who’s afraid of little old me’ tactic,” he smiles, enjoying your plan.

“They should be afraid,” you say, explaining your interview with Suzie that is going to break the internet, after all, the NDA only kept you from talking about the punch.

Just like you predicted, the media and fans were divided. Some called for a public apology from McLaren and the FIA for the treatment of female drivers, most called you over dramatic, and said you only wanted to attention to distract from your poor performance and waning stardom. They said not everything is about you and the people who hurt you didn’t do it to hurt you.

You wanted nothing more than to argue back and show the media and fans just how disturbed they had made you, but Toto told you to let your driving do the talking. That race you said one thing to the media, “you wouldn’t last an hour in the asylum where they raised me.”

“Chills, your interview was phenomenal. Thanks for citing me as one of your biggest supporters by the way. Scooch over, let’s see what insecure men are tweeting,” Daniel hands you a glass of wine and sits beside you on your couch, air playing his phone screen.

“I like that one, I’m always drunk on my own tears,” you laugh. Daniel logged into his spam account, letting himself reply to the haters.

“I like this one. Y/n L/n is the kind of person to sue you for stepping on her lawn,” Daniel laughs.

“The reply is better: she’s fearsome, wretched, and most importantly, wrong,” you both think of a funny reply.

You show up to the track and win, and win, and win, until you are holding the trophy for your fourth world championship.

In your post-championship interview with the F1 media team, you make what may be your biggest announcement yet.

“In the wake of people calling me crazy after sharing my experiences as a woman in motorsport, I’d like to make a very special announcement. I am who I am because you trained me to be like this, so to make sure no other girl has to go through what I did, I will be sponsoring two F1 Academy drivers with added mentorship and sponsorship opportunities. I’ve seen the work that Susie Wolff has done, and I cannot wait to help grow the presence of women in motorsport,” you say, sitting beside Susie.

“We will make sure she doesn’t terrorize the girls too much,” she jokes at your request.

“Who’s afraid of little old me?”