I had ideas for 2 new systems the companies could have for higher level missions. At a high level the other missions become pretty easy because of your CPU speed and tracing isn't a problem because you can just put a ton of systems (like all phones) into a bounce, so these 2 systems would create missions where you have to use high speed CPU to do it quickly. But first, there are some other things that would have to be added.
First would be two new commands for the console, one that blocks all attempts to connect (so people cant log onto the server) and one that disconnects all users online. If used in that order, the server would become empty and nobody could connect to it until it's rebooted in the real world (could take 10 minutes).
Second is a concept for virus and antivirus, in my other post I suggested some types of virus but for this i'll just stick with a remote control virus that you copy into a server's files (or more servers), and once logged off you can use the remote control to activate it.
I'll have to mention the antivirus to those who didn't read the other post. It's not together with Proxy, Firewall, etc. It's a file on the server that is always reinstalled 10 minutes after you delete it (logical). It scans for unauthorized files on the fileserver from time to time (maybe 5 minutes) and deletes them. Low versions could miss files hidden with a certain new software, but highest level would still find them and for those you have to use a software that spoofs the antivirus when you run it without it finding any files (going to the console and running it making sure you didn't put unauthorized files yet, then use the spoof program, which is more expensive by the way), that adds another use to the console. After you've spoofed it you can copy the virus (would be good if you could go back without reconnecting...
Also note that if you rename with some program the virus as a file the antivirus would still find it as illegal data and delete it, so you have to spoof it anyway (just in case a mission to do that is made)
Now for the 2 systems. First would be a Monitoring Server, that monitors all servers of the company and blocks use of any illegal software (illegal software = software that's not in the Monitoring Server's fileserver, which has, like, File Copy/Delete, which are put back together with the antivirus in case they're deleted). Monitoring Servers can't have security that stops you from copying files into it, otherwise it'd be impossible to hack, since it monitors itself too.
The other system would be some kind of Lifting Server (don't know a good name) that is contacted once a server in the network fails to load kernel when trying to reboot (when you're crashing it), after contacted the lifting system copies system files to the server that's being crashed and makes it sucessfully reboot. That means you have to hack the Lifting System before crashing another system in the network. It does not reboot itself however, so you CAN crash it.
If a company has a lifting server, the messages shown after shutdown command (considering you deleted system files) would go like this
Shutting down system...
System shut down complete.
Rebooting...
Loading Kernel...
[Failed]
Contacting Lifting Server...
Copying boot.sys...
Copying kernel.sys...
Copying os.sys...
Rebooting...
Loading Kernel...
Loading Operating System...
Starting User Services...
Running Console Services...
Reboot completed.
As for the console command that blocks connections to the server, it only blocks incoming connections. If the server tries to connect to another server, the connection is replied, and thus you cannot avoid the system you want to crash contacting the lifting server by just using the command to block the connection. It would work if you blocked the connection in the lifting server, but you'd have more time if you just crashed it (gives you like a hour instead of 10 minutes)
The missions involving those are high level because they need fast CPU AND PC software. Why PC? You can't use password breaker to hack into the Monitoring Server. The password would be stored in the Administrator's PC, which could be found using the Network Access Server method. MAKE SURE the companies that have Network Access Servers DON'T have monitoring systems, or you won't be able to get into the Name Server to get the administrator's PC, making the hack impossible (unless you guess his IP). Also the Monitoring Server can ONLY have a password screen to log on it, since you can't use software to get into it.
Also since you can't hack the ISM to get the links first the monitoring server link has to be available either at InterNIC or the admin's PC. And the information about the new systems have to be on Uplink Laboratories Research Center to find out the password is on the admin's PC. Knowing the info once you get a 'Software denied by Monitoring Server' message when trying to hack, you'd know what to do, go to admin's pc and get the password and link (consider the hacking experience for players who get high enough to do these missions)
I'll mention some combinations of Monitoring Servers + Lifting Servers that could be used to make different mission levels. Note that the first step of all of them is getting the Monitoring Server password from the administrator's PC.
Also I'll be calling the antivirus as Low (can't see hidden files) and High (can see hidden files). Note that a High antivirus in a Monitoring Server can't be spoofed (to use spoof you have to have the spoof program in the fileserver, to run it sucessfully you have to use the antivirus without it finding anything, and it finds the spoof program), so best you can do is crash the server.
1-Network with 1 monitoring server with no antivirus
Easy, just copy your programs into the file server so that you can use all of them. With no antivirus, they'll stay there forever. You can also crash the server, takes a hour to come back up.
2-Network with 1 monitoring server with a Low/High antivirus
You can delete the antivirus and copy the files, but it's easier to just crash the server.
3-Network with 1 monitoring server and 1 lifting server
No crashing the monitoring server. What you have to do is copy your programs to the fileserver, then you can use them freely since there's no antivirus. Being able to use them, you can crash the Lifting Server and then do the job.
4-Network with 1 monitoring server (Low antivirus) and 1 lifting server
You can delete the antivirus and go for a 10 minute run to crash the lifting server and come back to crash the monitoring server (10 minutes won't be enough to also finish the job). You can also be quick and copy the software to hide files to the fileserver, and then hide them for a permanent solution. If you can, though, is faster to do the 10 minute run.
5- Network with 1 monitoring server (High antivirus) and 1 lifting server
You can't hide the files and you can't spoof the antivirus. The only option is the 10 minute run, in which you'll have to crash the lifting server and come back to crash the monitoring server.
6- Network with 1 monitoring server (Whatever antivirus) and 2 lifting servers
A good company has 2 lifting servers, so if one is crashed the other one heals it. That means you have to crash them at the same time... With the remote control virus. Copy it to both servers and run them, since both get crashed at the same time they cant help each other. You could also block connections in one and crash the other, but in 10 minutes the other one's connection comes back so you don't have time to finish the job. You could wait for it to come back and crash it, but with the virus it's easier.
Additional monitoring/lifting servers would just make the run harder, if pulled too far it won't be possible, I think up to the 6th example is doable. If you wish to put more, do tests to see how much can be done.
Long post, but that's about it.
Last edited by Zephiros on Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:51 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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