 Is everything wireless in 2070? |
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 Nov 14 2006, 09:28 PM
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#1
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Target  Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: 13-October 06 Member No.: 9,610  |
Are there any non-wireless systems? Would it make sense to even exist? Would shadowrunners ever have to physically hit a datacentre to retieve something?
Or is non-wireless the equivalent of punch-card machines and not having a "network" in today's world? Totally unacceptable from a fiscal/modernization point of view? I mean.. can you reach absolutely ANYTHING, in 2070, via the matrix? Everything? Every computer, every camera, everything? What is the scope of the matrix? What is the point of signal strength for each matrix "node" (forcing you, forexample to get within 100 meters of a security drone to hack into it) when you can just trace that route through any matrix node till you end up at the security drone? (Aka - log on from anywhere - trace/move to whatever system controls those drones, go through that system - hack into that drone). Sam W. |
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Nov 14 2006, 09:35 PM
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#2
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Karma Police Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 1,358 Joined: 22-July 04 From: Gothenburg, SE Member No.: 6,505 |
Yes there are offline systems. And certainly there are wired systems. The extent of that is up to the GM.
The point of being within signal range of something is that you can then use electronic warfare techniques like jamming and scanning. If you want to hack into a drone through the controlling network you need to find that network through the matrix somehow, which may be a longer route. |
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Nov 14 2006, 09:36 PM
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#3
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,150 Joined: 19-December 05 From: Rhein-Ruhr Megaplex Member No.: 8,081 |
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
No.
No.
No.
Still no. I love it when I can be a big help to someone :grinbig: |
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Nov 14 2006, 10:01 PM
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#4
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Target Group: Members Posts: 52 Joined: 17-October 06 Member No.: 9,636 |
Sam is my GM for our games; I can see where his question is coming from, as our team hacker basically just gets into everything and shuts stuff down with ease. Mind you, we are all very new to the game system, so there's still a lot of things we're figuring out (hence all the questions).
A few observations from me Sam; 1) Encryption! I don't think enough things are sending encrypted data. Really, this should be the status-quo for any mid-high level security zone. Drones, cameras, security systems, would all be passing data back and forth to a central hub via encrypted data. Internal security would more than likely be wired, whileas external drones may be wirelessly controlled. 2) I imagine any high security organization will have a battery of programs and full-time hackers and specialists on ECM duty. Perhaps we're simply not adding enough lethality to the mix yet. 3) Not all detection is overt! Just because a person has been detected, doesn't mean the system should respond with alarms and sirens. It could it simply sends a series of programs to trap the intruding avatar and then... WHAMMO. General questions: Logging off: Can a hacker simply log off a system when they've been detected to avoid any repercussions? Like, simply by turning off their comlink or taking off their AR gloves or what have you? It seems to me that this could leave "ghost" traces of their avatar which could invariably give up information to the detector(s). It seems a bit cheesy that if a hacker gets detected they simply boot out and they're safe and sound. I understand that they can take some damage in jumping out in that manner, but still... |
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Nov 14 2006, 10:14 PM
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#5
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,754 Joined: 9-July 04 From: Modesto, CA Member No.: 6,465 |
LOL @ Butterblume. Nicely done!
@ Nerhesi: Not everything is wireless but it seems everything can be wireless. It doesn't make sense to have every system available to anyone with an account/password. Wireless is a convience and only really changes how and where you can access wireless enabled devices and systems. Somenone pointed out from one of my prior threads, that the infrastructure of wired machines still exists we've only added extra ways to reach them. |
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Nov 14 2006, 11:04 PM
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#6
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,150 Joined: 19-December 05 From: Rhein-Ruhr Megaplex Member No.: 8,081 |
I point this out a lot ;):
A hardwired backbone with a myriad of small wireless cells is essential for reaching almost unlimited bandwith. |
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Nov 15 2006, 01:42 AM
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#7
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
True enough. Unfortunately, as written right now, the encryption rules in SR4 make cracking even the toughest encryptions rather trivial. This needs to be addressed by FanPro when they put out Unwired. There is a balance between encryption that is tough enough that it makes sense to use it, and encryption that's reasonable enough that it doesn't spoil the game and setting for Shadowrun players by making things unhackable. FanPro just hasn't published it yet. |
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Nov 15 2006, 05:28 AM
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#8
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,537 Joined: 27-August 06 From: Albuquerque NM Member No.: 9,234 |
If all encryption is hackable by PCs it's effectively useless for any purpose other than making the clueless feel better. It's like buying a better lock for your door when every burglar uses a chain saw. Of course, if all encryption is breakable by PCs it's breakable by everyone else, which means you can't trust anything you contact via the net, anything that you access via the net or any device that contacts the net in any fashion at all. Anyone can listen to anyone else's calls and can impersonate anyone else over the net if they feel like it. |
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Nov 15 2006, 05:34 AM
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#9
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,754 Joined: 9-July 04 From: Modesto, CA Member No.: 6,465 |
Technomancers and Sprites have "unbreakable" encrpytion methods. Perhaps SR4 base Encryption is based on the fact TM/Sprite security is *the best* and other methods only pale in comparision. Realistic or not, it gives TMs a bit more creedence as Matrix masters. Realistic or not, its better that whats been offered in prior SR versions IMO. |
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Nov 15 2006, 01:44 PM
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#10
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 7,089 Joined: 4-October 05 Member No.: 7,813 |
but isn't emergence all about people finding out about TMs? i mean, how could they be used that widely without people even knowing about them? furthermore, a given sprite can only hash one file at a time, iirc. it would take a heck of a lot of sprites to encrypt the amount of data being tossed around in SR. i don't even want to think about how much.... |
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Nov 15 2006, 05:54 PM
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#11
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 393 Joined: 20-June 06 Member No.: 8,754 |
Basically, make everything that NPCs want more convenient and fiscally efficient to be wireless, and everything they want more secure, but less convenient to be wired. Consider that professional hackers are not very common (probably less so than mages), so most things should still be wireless. You should also make use of signal blocking paint for things employees and customers would have no reason to have access to outside of a building.
I also like adding old Matrix "relics" like converted decker terminals as Eastereggs sometimes. |
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Nov 15 2006, 07:03 PM
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#12
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,537 Joined: 27-August 06 From: Albuquerque NM Member No.: 9,234 |
Our network gets attacked about 500,000 times a day. That's today. How many mages have you run into recently, say in the last week? Which seems more likely to be common in 2071, bored teens with a computer or trained magicians? And given the way that SR has stuff set up, why would you possibly need to be a "professional" to break encryption? It's decryption program rating x 2 + response extended test. No skill involved. Enter command and 6-15 seconds later no encryption. So still feeling good about that "secure virtual meeting room" where you meet your Johnson? |
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Nov 15 2006, 07:11 PM
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#13
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Shooting Target Group: Members Posts: 1,754 Joined: 9-July 04 From: Modesto, CA Member No.: 6,465 |
In quite backrooms of course with white-noise generators! ;) |
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Nov 15 2006, 08:06 PM
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#14
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Target Group: Members Posts: 52 Joined: 17-October 06 Member No.: 9,636 |
It does seem like Encryption was put into the game as an after thought. I went and put level 6 encryption rating on my character's personal comlink and I'm appalled by how easily a hacker can get into it. It makes me want a refund on my yeun. :)
However, perhaps we need to house rule Encryption a little bit. Lace it with a bit more... danger. If programs are as "dynamic" as they are now, why couldn't encryption algorithms contain hidden worms and viruses? Anyone attempting to crack an encryption can get infected. Even if they break the encryption itself, their own data and identity becomes compromised - hell, perhaps even their Matrix location or physical location... whatever it is that can be used against the hacker. In my mind, encryption should be a deterrent, not a speed bump... |
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Nov 15 2006, 08:24 PM
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#15
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Target Group: Members Posts: 93 Joined: 9-December 03 From: Greenville, SC Member No.: 5,889 |
You can do that by installing IC on your comlink. It seems like it would be a good idea if you run up against deckers in the opposition on a regular basis. |
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Nov 15 2006, 09:29 PM
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#16
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Neophyte Runner Group: Members Posts: 2,086 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 364 |
In short, you want a Data Bomb program that can spawn malicious agents, and not just inflict boxes of damage. |
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