From:	Evan Hughes <ehughes@****.carleton.ca>
Subject:	Re: Trace Back
Date:	Mon, 11 Mar 96 10:26:01 EST

Mark L. Neidengard writes:
> Sure, though calling something a plot device is by no means sufficient by
> itself for motivating something's existence.

In this case, I think it is. Possibly from now on I should put a
warning on plot D. =)

> normally not controllable through the same "channels" that the data itself
> flows. And hence constitutes a much more annoying challenge.

Everything in the Matrix seems to be controlled by software. I think a
majority of the routing is also controlled by software. Which is
inherently Not Secure.

> A mail bomb. Which may or may not work depending on the amount of hardening
> the target system has. Also, some systems are actually too unsophisticated to
> support mail bombs.

True. This was only an idea.


> We want to beware of any one list member munchkinizing their characters, either
> directly or through the intervention of a Third Party(tm). I would like to
> hear some justification for why S-I should invest this sort of effort in
> the Dynamic Duo before I assent to it quietly.

They have been planted by SI as sleepers (after Righteous and Dana went
semiAWOL). They are there to receive a certain Very Important Package
after it has been removed from it's Rightful Owner. They are also a pet
project of SI (ie, they are a Linked Pair), and hence extremely important
(if they fall into the wrong hands, the process involved in building them
may be determined. It is in SI's interests to keep one of their four or
five Linked Pairs safe)

> That S-I should do research in Matrix-related matters is neither anything new
> nor anything unique.

Yep.

> This breaks down when large corporations (who are harder to hack) own the
> major pieces of the backbone web. Ma and Pa might get you across the town,
> or even across the city, but it should not, in general, be possible to cross
> the globe strictly on the basis of parochial net connections.

I thought the major corps DIDN'T own most of the backboning. If they do
entire segments of the Srun universe starts to collapse... (The entire
idea of the matrix with deckers isn't really reasonable, especially if
corps own part).


> Ah, but damage is being done to ShadowLand's credibility as an "equal"
forum
> for data exchange, which would drive potential users away. As I take it,
> the goal of the sysops is to foster free exchange of information, and this
> is hampered by those who would participate on an uneven footing. The more
> uneven the footing, the more worrisome to the sysops.

The field is still even. Everyone can post. When people are stopped
from posting, THEN there will be an uneven footing. Thats when to be
worried.


> > Uh. No. I'm not a munchkin (usually). As everyone says: J&G have corp
> > backing. Just because my characters say or do something, doesn't mean I
> > beleive it. *grin* Which is a good thing, 'cause I've had some pretty
> > gross characters... =)
>
> But it is not legitimate to claim "corporate backing" and then proceed to
do
> whatever you feel like. Certainly there are other characters with corporate
> backing who may not have access to the same "plot device". I think this
> particular excess (totally anonymous signal origins) needs to be corrected.

I am not doing "whatever I feel like". The "anonymous" messages
are
all originating from the same source. Make it just like any other
character, neh?

Also: All messages to Shadowland should be anonymous. What Johnson is
going to post to a board where their source path can be easily picked up?
(ie, all a runner has to do is look at the header and see
"buddy@*****.com") It should be just as it is on Sland in the sourcebooks:
all you see is the TD stamp and the name.


> > Heheh. Sorry. SI has a shit-load of resources (stuff should be
> > happening this summer to make clear how and why -- this of course depends
> > on my summer job situation... =)
>
> My apologies, but I'm not content to wait until summer while some list
> participants enjoy apparently unequal access to world resources. Please
> clarify the reason why S-I is able to cause this nonuniformity.

Because it's a corp with a few hundred million nuyen worth of resources.
It is NOT unequal. ANYBODY can push their own corp forward and have it do
anything that registers as somewhat legit.


***DISCALIMER MODE ON***
J&G are not invincible and are not played as invincible. They are played
as corporate darlings however. Why not? =)



Evan Hughes | Webmaster
Honours Computer Science | Carleton Computer Science Society
http://chat.carleton.ca/~ehughes | http://omega.scs.carleton.ca/~ccss