CPU Controllers

There are myriad advantages to this. The first and foremost is that it doesn't set off any alarms (assuming you do it right). However, it does have problems, of course. Otherwise people will still be doing it.

So how do you do this wonderful thing??

1st:

Get to the CPU

2nd:

You must deceive the CPU into thinking you are a permitted user. This isn't easy. [Deceiving a node has a target number of 10, and is a resisted success test. The node gets dice equal to it's rating times (it's level + 1). An example: A Blue-2 node only gets 2 dice (Rating = 2, Level = 0). A Red-6 node gets 24 dice (Rating = 6, Level = 3).] You can actually do this to any node, but if you do it to the CPU, it works for the entire system.

>>>>>[Natch, doing it to only one node only 
works for that node. Also, until the CPU is fooled, 
the check must be made every time you enter the 
node.]<<<<<
        -- Spunk 

This deception will last until you leave the system.

3rd:

Having convinced the CPU that you are a local sysop, you can do damn near anything. HOWEVER: Failure to convince the CPU (or any node) that you are a valid user will set off a passive alert.

Now, this would be fine if the computer was all there was. However, corps being suspicious folks, often get people to look over things. So, you've got to make your activity look normal. [ This is a Computer Theory test, TN the sysop's Comp. Theory. It's resisted by the sysop's Comp. Theory, to which is added the rating of the CPU, plus it's level. TN is your Comp. Theory.] If it's not normal-looking, the sysop will do things like come and have a look, all the way up to logging you out. This doesn't kick you out, but it will stop the computer thinking you belong, and probably set off an Active alert.

It's not easy. But if you can pull it off, you've got an in on the system. My all time favorite use for this is making other sysop accounts.

Okay, this is a quick sketch of how you can do things like make a system think you REALLY belong. One other side effect of making the Deception test: You can ignore node threshold (after all, if you belong, it won't resist you).