Editing 2077: Heist

{{comic
| number    = 2077
| date      = November 26, 2018
| title     = Heist
| image     = heist.png
| titletext = But he has a hat AND a toolbox! Where could someone planning a heist get THOSE?
}}

==Explanation==
In  {{w|heist film}}s, a heist or other crime is carried out, sometimes involving the criminal(s) posing as some type of repairman or similar. The criminal then gains access to their target through the disguise, as humans do not normally critically assess someone if their appearance fit expectations. Due to the prevalence of this trope, [[Cueball]] is concerned whenever somebody comes by to ask for access as he believes the person may be planning a crime, and his inadvertent assistance will make him a "minor character" in the wider heist story. In such movies, minor characters are sometimes held hostage or even killed in the course of the crime being committed, particularly if the heist goes wrong. The risk of being a minor character could also perhaps include the risk of being harmed. In general people would probably prefer to be the main character in a film, rather than a bystander. 

In this case, he is asked to open the server room - ostensibly to allow the fire alarm to be checked. However, gaining physical access to the server allows the criminal to bypass most security features that should prevent unauthorized access to the data (a scenario known as an {{w|evil maid attack}}). If the hard disks are not encrypted it is trivial to copy all files or even remove and abscond with the disk drives - allowing the theft of sensitive information stored on the network. Even if the files are encrypted physical access to the server will allow the attacker to corrupt the system either by installing malware or adding malicious hardware components, which will then allow them to retrieve passwords and/or encryption keys.

Being aware of these dangers Cueball immediately assumes that he (or his employers) are the target of a heist.

The title text seems to be Cueball's internal monologue trying to calm himself down. He points out to himself that the repairman has both a hat (possibly with a company logo) and a toolbox full of tools, then sarcastically asks himself how a thief could possibly get their hands on such a disguise.

This is the second comic in a row to reference a specific movie genre, this one heist movies the previous one, [[2076: Horror Movies 2]], horror movies.

Another explanation is that there is a type of attack against an organization in which someone impersonates a trusted person such as a delivery man to gain access to a computer system.

==Transcript==
:[A man in a cap with a toolbox approaches Cueball, who is shown to be thinking with a cloud like bubble above his head with his thoughts.]
:Man: Do you have the key to the server room? I'm from the building and I'm here to check the fire alarm.
:Cueball  [thinking]: Oh no oh no

:[Caption below the panel:]
:Thanks to movies, whenever anyone asks me to open any door, I immediately assume I'm a minor character in a heist.

<!--Do NOT add a title-text here.-->

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Characters with hats]]
[[Category:Fiction]]