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Message no. 1
From: JOHANNA BURWELL-KALES <burwell@******.EDU>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 1994 17:58:51 -0700
Remember that maglock passkeys are illegal. So two methods are
available to SR's. One: Find who has a key and kill them, take the key
and voila, door opens.
Two: Go around the door like get a glass cutter and go outside on
the windows. That personally is my favorite method for thwarting them.
Jeez, there are hundreds of ways to get around a maglock. It just depends
on the GM and the players creativity levels. Blasting. cutting, airducts,
killing, glass cutting, and more can be used. Decking is a whole
different matter all together.
;ater
Hey, rent the movie " The Final Combat". Good french film.
Message no. 2
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@***.NEU.EDU>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Mon, 26 Sep 1994 21:13:13 -0400
>>>>> "JOHANNA" == JOHANNA BURWELL-KALES
<burwell@******.EDU> writes:

JOHANNA> Two: Go around the door like get a glass cutter and go
JOHANNA> outside on the windows.

Listen up, people! You've just been given the secret to being a successful
B&E expert. Why go through a lock when you can go around it? Site security
is only as good as the weakest link in the chain-link fence, so find the
weak links and exploit them. A pair of wire cutters and some condiut to
ground out that electrified fence is a hell of a lot cheaper and easier to
get than a maglock breaker that'll let you through the front gate.

--
Rat <ratinox@***.neu.edu> |Happy Fun Ball may stick to certain types
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/ratinox|of skin.
PGP Public Key: Ask for one today! |
Message no. 3
From: "David L. Hoff" <DLHOFF@****.WISC.EDU>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 02:01:00 CDT
Some of you may remember this quote, but the current thread forces me to
repeat it:

My lockpick of choice has always been the Panther Assault Cannon.

--Phoenix

(dlhoff@****.wisc.edu)
Message no. 4
From: Joanna Goodhartz <JGOODHAR@****.STEVENS-TECH.EDU>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 09:25:56 -0400
>
>My lockpick of choice has always been the Panther Assault Cannon.
>
>--Phoenix

Subtle, real subtle. What are you a 'runner or a merc? <g>

Joanna Goodhartz
(.sig in progress - I mean it :)
Message no. 5
From: Stephane Lafrance <Stephane.Lafrance@***.ULAVAL.CA>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 09:51:13 EDT
----------------------[Reply - Original Message]----------------------

Sent by:JOHANNA BURWELL-KALES <burwell@******.EDU>
Remember that maglock passkeys are illegal. So two methods are
available to SR's. One: Find who has a key and kill them, take the key
and voila, door opens.

Two: Go around the door like get a glass cutter and go outside on
the windows. That personally is my favorite method for thwarting them.
Jeez, there are hundreds of ways to get around a maglock. It just depends
on the GM and the players creativity levels. Blasting. cutting, airducts,
killing, glass cutting, and more can be used. Decking is a whole
different matter all together.
;ater
Hey, rent the movie " The Final Combat". Good french film.

=====================================================================
There is a second way to aquire a passkey: play DNA/DOA!

Stephan
Message no. 6
From: "J.D. Falk" <jdfalk@****.CAIS.COM>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 13:59:18 -0400
On Tue, 27 Sep 1994, David L. Hoff wrote:

> Some of you may remember this quote, but the current thread forces me to
> repeat it:
>
> My lockpick of choice has always been the Panther Assault Cannon.
>
Yup, I remember it.

/-----------------\
| J.D. Falk | "My lockpick of choice has always been
| jdfalk@****.com | the Panther Assault Cannon."
\-----------------/ -David L. Hoff
Message no. 7
From: Gian-Paolo Musumeci <musumeci@***.LIS.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 13:46:11 -0500
A friendly reminder of the common adage for determining one's intelligence
quotient:

lines of response
IQ = -------------------
lines quoted + 1

Subtle hint.

/gdm
Message no. 8
From: Stainless Steel Rat <ratinox@***.NEU.EDU>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 15:18:50 -0400
>>>>> "Gian-Paolo" == Gian-Paolo Musumeci
<musumeci@***.LIS.UIUC.EDU>
>>>>> writes:

Gian-Paolo> lines of response
Gian-Paolo> IQ = -------------------
Gian-Paolo> lines quoted + 1

So, let's see... 3 lines quoted, and about 5 lines of response, so that
comes out to 5/4 or 1.25. Hmmm... something is definitely wrong with your
math, because while I've never taken an official IQ test, I'm pretty
certain that my IQ is a little bit higher than 1.25. Maybe you forgot
something, neh?

--
Rat <ratinox@***.neu.edu> |Happy Fun Ball may stick to certain types
http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/ratinox|of skin.
PGP Public Key: Ask for one today! |
Message no. 9
From: Dylan Northrup <northrup@*****.CAS.USF.EDU>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 18:06:01 -0400
On Tue, 27 Sep 1994, Stainless Steel Rat wrote:

[Old equation deleted]

> So, let's see... 3 lines quoted, and about 5 lines of response, so that
> comes out to 5/4 or 1.25. Hmmm... something is definitely wrong with your
> math, because while I've never taken an official IQ test, I'm pretty
> certain that my IQ is a little bit higher than 1.25. Maybe you forgot
> something, neh?

Methinks the equation to be something like this:

/ lines of response \
IQ = ( ----------------- ) * 100
\ lines quoted + 1 /

Ahh, that looks much better.

Doc "do .sigs count :-)" X
*****************************************************************************
* Dylan Northrup <northrup@*****.cas.usf.edu> * PGP and Geek Code available *
*********************************************** via WWW and upon request *
* Will code HTML for food * KIBO #7 * <http://www.cas.usf.edu/dylan.html>; *
*****************************************************************************
-----------------------
Random Babylon 5 Quote:
-----------------------
"I'm waiting...for an apology."
'You'd better check the temperature in Hell first.'
-- Dr. Franklin and Sinclair, "Believers"
Message no. 10
From: "David L. Hoff" <DLHOFF@****.WISC.EDU>
Subject: Re: maglocks...
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 21:01:00 CDT
>>My lockpick of choice has always been the Panther Assault Cannon.
>>
>>--Phoenix

>Subtle, real subtle. What are you a 'runner or a merc? <g>

> Joanna Goodhartz

I am whatever is needed at the time. I understand that being subtle is usually
what is called for on a mission. However, there are some situations where
quickness and firepower are what is needed. Sometimes, "sneak and steal" has
to be replaced with "smash and grab". That is where I may be called upon for
my talents.

--Phoenix

(dlhoff@****.wisc.edu)
Message no. 11
From: Jeremy Smith <jsmith@*****.ORG>
Subject: Maglocks
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 1994 09:53:31 -0500
All this talk of maglocks and passkeys has prompted me to
spount out my own little opinion on the matter.

Sure, you can use a maglock, if you have the money or courage
to actually get one.
But, let's think things out for a second.

If you're gonna need to go in a door, then someone else also uses that
door, right? Well, here's a little hint that can get you
at least _in_ the building, if not in deeper security levels.

You simply set up a watch to the outside of, let's say, Joes Corp.
Doesn't matter how far away you are, just as long as you can see clearly.
(mag 3, anyone?)
So, you just wait there till _someone_ uses their card. Memorize the person.
Wait till he/she goes home from the job, and SCRAG EM.
Of course, this won't work with thumb/retinal scanning, but
can you say "control actions" ? I'm sure magicians love that spell.
Again, I'm saying this could get you in the first door to a building,
not neccessarily into the deeper, more secret inner workings. This
plan would obviously take some time to setup, and would not work all the time
(that guard turns out to be the Super Guard, or you just can't get a good
view of the entrance).

We've also found creating diversions works good (I pretend to be
the lost pedestrian, the 9 stealth phys. adept sneaking in after me).
Waiting for people to come through doors that you just can't get in
also works good (delayed action, troll with axe == dead person).
This is, of course, assuming the enemy doesn't know of your existance.
Having an alarm go off, and then trying to get outta a building
is _really_ fun (I'm just joking, it makes you wanna crap your drawers)

So, don't narrow your view to maglocks. Where there's a will, there's
a way.

P.S. If you get really desperate, try turning someone with a low body
into a really small animal, then get another magician to turn that
animal invisible (notice, I said "desperate").

Jeremy
Message no. 12
From: JOHANNA BURWELL-KALES <burwell@******.EDU>
Subject: Re: Maglocks....
Date: Wed, 28 Sep 1994 15:17:29 -0700
Another way to avoid maglocks and almost all other types of
defense is have a decker on call. While this philosophy may work, could a
company create two seperat computer mainframes. One to deal with the
locks and various other crap and one to deal with the matrix.
Just wondering
Message no. 13
From: Luke Kendall <luke@********.CANON.OZ.AU>
Subject: Re: Maglocks....
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 09:25:02 +1000
JOHANNA BURWELL-KALES:

> Another way to avoid maglocks and almost all other types of
> defense is have a decker on call. While this philosophy may work, could a
> company create two seperat computer mainframes. One to deal with the
> locks and various other crap and one to deal with the matrix.

For sure. The equipment needed to drive just a building and its security
system would be much cheaper and simpler than what's needed to interface
to the matrix.

I'd guess only a large corp that didn't care too much about security
would hang the security system off the publically-accessible matrix;
oh - and those corps that consider their ICE to be sufficient protection.
Like, Renraku.

luke
Message no. 14
From: Neil Smith <NSMITH@***.AC.UK>
Subject: Re: Maglocks....
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 09:41:14 GMT
Luke:
> For sure. The equipment needed to drive just a building and its security
> system would be much cheaper and simpler than what's needed to interface
> to the matrix.

I'd have thought that 25 years after ASIST tech came about, it would
be difficult to get computer bits that _weren't_ 100% Matrix
compatable (RealWorld equivalents are down to single chips _now_).
And if you want the alarms in the building to automatically call
people (ie the fire brigade, building supervisors), then that's a
Matrix connection.

Conclusion? Deckers will always have a place in the B&E world.

Neil.
Message no. 15
From: Gareth Owen <glowen1@*****.NHS.GOV.UK>
Subject: Re: Maglocks....
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 09:56:03 +0100
>
> Another way to avoid maglocks and almost all other types of
> defense is have a decker on call. While this philosophy may work, could a
> company create two seperat computer mainframes. One to deal with the
> locks and various other crap and one to deal with the matrix.
> Just wondering
>

If I was in charge of designing an installation then the computers that
controlled physical security would in no way be connected to the matrix.

Of course, if you can get a decker into the plant....

GLO

--
Gareth Owen | Mail: glowen1@*****.nhs.gov.uk
Message no. 16
From: Stephane Lafrance <Stephane.Lafrance@***.ULAVAL.CA>
Subject: Re: Maglocks....
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 10:05:26 EDT
----------------------[Reply - Original Message]----------------------
Sent by:Luke Kendall <luke@********.CANON.OZ.AU>

For sure. The equipment needed to drive just a building and its security
system would be much cheaper and simpler than what's needed to interface
to the matrix.

I'd guess only a large corp that didn't care too much about security
would hang the security system off the publically-accessible matrix;
oh - and those corps that consider their ICE to be sufficient protection.
Like, Renraku.

luke

=====================================================================
It wouldn't be much cheaper not to interface with the matrix. What
is expensive is protection like IC in the system. Of course, a few
thousands nuyens for matrix connections is not very affordable for a
single person. But for a corp??

Stephan
Message no. 17
From: Gareth Owen <glowen1@*****.NHS.GOV.UK>
Subject: Re: Maglocks....
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 1994 16:27:33 +0100
On the subject of physical security,

Consider, if a computer is attached to the matrix, it can be cracked.
If a computer is not attached to the matrix it cannot be cracked from
the outside (unless someone develops some very sophisticated feedback
tempest type system, <shudder>). It can be cracked from the inside, but
the admins are much less likely to be expecting such an attack unless
there is actually a known physical security breach. Even then they may
not be equiped with the same calibre of ICE as matrix connected systems,
so these independant
nets are likely to be relatively soft targets, if you can get past the
miniguns and claymores.

One other point that strikes me as relevent, corps have limited funds,
their ultimate aim is to make money, so although they may be rich, their
resources are limited, they may underfund certain areas and go for the
budget option. For example, I'm designing a jungle patrol for a corp
at the moment and most of the equipment is being chosen on the basis of
"We need an assualt rifle, OK, what's cheapest". However, the RDF team
that backs up these jungle patrols has very good equipment. "We need
an assualt rifle, OK, what's the most effective, an LMG you say?"

GLO

--
Gareth Owen | Mail: glowen1@*****.nhs.gov.uk
Message no. 18
From: Simon Fuller sfuller@******.com.au
Subject: maglocks
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 18:47:12 +1100
Can anyone tell me exactly how the maglock picking skill works? Is it
rewiring, universal codes or what?
Message no. 19
From: Dennis Steinmeijer dv8@********.nl
Subject: maglocks
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 09:43:33 +0100
From: Simon Fuller <sfuller@******.com.au>
> Can anyone tell me exactly how the maglock picking skill works? Is it
> rewiring, universal codes or what?

I believe there's a section in SR3 that covers this. Basically it comes down
to opening the casing and rewiring the maglock system. You have several
tools that you need which are all present in a standard electronics tool
kit. You have sequencers which are devices that you hookup to the maglock
(again you will have to be able to open it) that try all optional codes
until it finds the right one. Think the kid from Terminator 2 who hacked ATM
machines and electronic passkey systems with a small notebook I believe.

/dev/dv8

"Abashed the Devil stood,...and felt how awful Goodness is,..."
- John Milton, Paradise Lost
Message no. 20
From: Tamino tamino@*******.com.au
Subject: maglocks
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 18:59:19 +1000
At 09:43 AM 23/02/00 +0100, you wrote:
>From: Simon Fuller <sfuller@******.com.au>
>> Can anyone tell me exactly how the maglock picking skill works? Is it
>> rewiring, universal codes or what?
>
>I believe there's a section in SR3 that covers this. Basically it comes down
>to opening the casing and rewiring the maglock system. You have several
>tools that you need which are all present in a standard electronics tool
>kit. You have sequencers which are devices that you hookup to the maglock
>(again you will have to be able to open it) that try all optional codes
>until it finds the right one. Think the kid from Terminator 2 who hacked ATM
>machines and electronic passkey systems with a small notebook I believe.

Notebook?! it looked like an atari 2800 to me...but then I'm blind so
don't quote me ;)



-Tamino ...All too easy

"ISTI MIRANT STELLA" - Bayeux Tapestry
tamino@*******.com.au
Message no. 21
From: Tzeentch tzeentch666@*********.net
Subject: maglocks
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 01:06:38 -0800
From: Simon Fuller <sfuller@******.com.au>


> Can anyone tell me exactly how the maglock picking skill works? Is it
> rewiring, universal codes or what?

I would assume this means knowing how to properly rewire the lock, force it
into diagnostic mode, hotwire it. Since what an maglock actually consistutes
is intentionall left vague (other then the assumption it uses
electromagnetically locked latches) it could range anything from biometric
devices that scan your thermal signature to push-button cipherlocks.

So the actual mechanics would probably vary a lot depending on the access
method of the lock.

Not much of an answer I know... there are a lot of possibilities.

Ken
---------------------------
There's a war out there, old friend, a world war. And it's not about who's
got the most bullets, it's about who controls the information. What we see
and hear, how we work, what we think, it's all about the information!
Cosmo, 'Sneakers'
Message no. 22
From: Dennis Steinmeijer dv8@********.nl
Subject: maglocks
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 10:09:06 +0100
From: Tamino <tamino@*******.com.au>
> Notebook?! it looked like an atari 2800 to me...but then I'm blind so
> don't quote me ;)

Ehm,...my bad. I believe you are right.

/dev/dv8

"Abashed the Devil stood,...and felt how awful Goodness is,..."
- John Milton, Paradise Lost
Message no. 23
From: Gurth gurth@******.nl
Subject: maglocks
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 10:29:17 +0100
According to Simon Fuller, at 18:47 on 23 Feb 00, the word on the street
was...

> Can anyone tell me exactly how the maglock picking skill works? Is it
> rewiring, universal codes or what?

The way I see it, is that if you don't have a passkey/sequencer/etc., you
mess with the wiring. Trying random codes isn't going to work unless
you're _really_ lucky, and I doubt there'd be any universal codes, at
least not for systems that are supposed to be secure. A maglock to keep
casual intruders out might have a universal code (so, for example,
firefighters can get in easily) but the maglock on the corp's mainframe
room will not have a code like that...

--
Gurth@******.nl - http://www.xs4all.nl/~gurth/index.html
I'm talking to strangers to see what I feel
-> NAGEE Editor * ShadowRN GridSec * Unofficial Shadowrun Guru <-
->The Plastic Warriors Page: http://shadowrun.html.com/plasticwarriors/<-
-> The New Character Mortuary: http://www.electricferret.com/mortuary/ <-

GC3.1: GAT/! d-(dpu) s:- !a>? C+(++)@ UL P L+ E? W(++) N o? K- w+ O V? PS+
PE Y PGP- t(+) 5++ X++ R+++>$ tv+(++) b++@ DI? D+ G(++) e h! !r(---) y?
Incubated into the First Church of the Sqooshy Ball, 21-05-1998
Message no. 24
From: Iridios iridios@*****.com
Subject: maglocks
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 07:39:29 -0500
Gurth wrote:
>
> According to Simon Fuller, at 18:47 on 23 Feb 00, the word on the street
> was...
>
> > Can anyone tell me exactly how the maglock picking skill works? Is it
> > rewiring, universal codes or what?
>
> The way I see it, is that if you don't have a passkey/sequencer/etc., you
> mess with the wiring. Trying random codes isn't going to work unless
> you're _really_ lucky, and I doubt there'd be any universal codes, at
> least not for systems that are supposed to be secure.

The manufacturer always puts in at least 1 default "maintenance"
code. Some models may allow that code to be changed, some may not.
But I garuntee that there is at least 1 default code when it's
purchased. This default code is usually 0000 (at least its always
been that on any equipment with security codes that I've worked on).

A smart runner would know what brand/manufacture Maglock he was going
to be working on before hand, and find out any tricks, default/maint
codes, or etc, that might be found for the lock.

--
Iridios
"Accept what you cannot avoid,
Avoid what you cannot accept."
Message no. 25
From: Wolfstar wolfstar@********.net
Subject: maglocks
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 07:08:52 -0500
> From: Iridios <iridios@*****.com>
> The manufacturer always puts in at least 1 default "maintenance"
> code. Some models may allow that code to be changed, some may not.

> But I garuntee that there is at least 1 default code when it's
> purchased. This default code is usually 0000 (at least its always
> been that on any equipment with security codes that I've worked
on).

While true, even the most basic setup with an overseer who has only a
dim
awareness of the realities of security will not buy a lock where the
code
cannot be immediately changed.

> A smart runner would know what brand/manufacture Maglock he was
going
> to be working on before hand, and find out any tricks,
default/maint
> codes, or etc, that might be found for the lock.

And a halfway competent security chief will have a system similar to
the
SecureID system we use to access routers where I work. You punch in a
specific access code into a card about the size of a wallet
calculator, and
it spits back an access code. You punch that code in and, assuming
that
you have the right login or authorization, you get access. If it
fails more
than (I think) 5 times, the card immediately becomes so much useless
garbage. The algorithm used to determine the access code cycles about

once every ten or fifteen seconds, so even memorizing the code is
useless.
And that's a system for accessing an internet router right now; I
don't even
want to think about high-security facility access measures in 2061.

Wolfstar
Message no. 26
From: Iridios iridios@*****.com
Subject: maglocks
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 08:03:14 -0500
Wolfstar wrote:
>
> > From: Iridios <iridios@*****.com>
> > The manufacturer always puts in at least 1 default "maintenance"
> > code. Some models may allow that code to be changed, some may not.
>
> > But I garuntee that there is at least 1 default code when it's
> > purchased. This default code is usually 0000 (at least its always
> > been that on any equipment with security codes that I've worked
> on).
>
> While true, even the most basic setup with an overseer who has only a
> dim
> awareness of the realities of security will not buy a lock where the
> code
> cannot be immediately changed.

Agreed, but sometimes in the rush of installing new security locks
(after somebody pulled an SR) security managers forget to change the
code, sometimes not.

>
> > A smart runner would know what brand/manufacture Maglock he was
> going
> > to be working on before hand, and find out any tricks,
> default/maint
> > codes, or etc, that might be found for the lock.
>
> And a halfway competent security chief will have a system similar to
> the
> SecureID system we use to access routers where I work. You punch in a
> specific access code into a card about the size of a wallet
> calculator, and
> it spits back an access code. You punch that code in and, assuming
> that
> you have the right login or authorization, you get access. If it
> fails more
> than (I think) 5 times, the card immediately becomes so much useless
> garbage. The algorithm used to determine the access code cycles about
>
> once every ten or fifteen seconds, so even memorizing the code is
> useless.
> And that's a system for accessing an internet router right now; I
> don't even
> want to think about high-security facility access measures in 2061.

You are right, that system appears difficult to break. But how hard
would it be for runners to break into your apartment, steal the "code
card", and then torture you or a loved one for your access code? Then
they tie you up (or just plain kill you) and go do the job.

Nothing is 100% secure.

--
Iridios
"Accept what you cannot avoid,
Avoid what you cannot accept."
Message no. 27
From: wishbone@*********.freeserve.co.uk wishbone@*********.freeserve.co.uk
Subject: maglocks
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 14:01:26 +0000
On Thu, 24 Feb 2000, you wrote:

This will always be true. The weakest link in any electronic security system
will always be physical. No matter how secure the electronic encryption
eventually you get down to a code that a human can remember or a physical token
that unlocks the system.

I see the question here being how do you circumvent a locking mechanism by
playing about with a set of wires that lead to a key pad?

The way i see this working is that cheaper maglocs will include the logic
circuitry in with the access pad to cut costs. This would allow a character
with electronics to directly effect the circuit that held the door. As a ref I
would quite rightly stop a character from bypassing a magloced door if the
system had been set up to prevent the logic from being accessed from the access
pad.

Only other thought is that the default state for doors (in most cases) would be
open so they would open in the event of fire, quake, power-cut, other
emergency. So causing a short would shutdown the locking mechanism. But I would
say that is very much up to the ref and down to the nature of the building.

Magloc pass keys (I seem to remember) only work with mag swipe locks (not
voice, kepad etc), and I would presume these use a brute force attack method.
Current day smart cards contain an anti-tampering system that uses one way
hashing algorithms to protect the pin numbers from physical tampering. These
algorithms take (fractionaly) different amounts of time process each key and by
measuring the amount of time each attack takes it is possible to predict how
close the attack was to success. (There is a similar method used by a 3DES
crypto cracking black box used today). I had always assumed that a magloc
passkey would work in this manner.


> You are right, that system appears difficult to break. But how hard
> would it be for runners to break into your apartment, steal the "code
> card", and then torture you or a loved one for your access code? Then
> they tie you up (or just plain kill you) and go do the job.
>
> Nothing is 100% secure.
>
> --
> Iridios
> "Accept what you cannot avoid,
> Avoid what you cannot accept."
--

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about maglocks..., you may also be interested in:

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