cyber attack and defense

[Betelgeuse]

Oddbob and I where talking on IRC and we came up with a cyber attack and defense system.

An arbitrary about of attacking computers can attack a defending computer.
A computer can run so many programs at once (with better computers running more at once)
Programs are data.
There are many kinds of programs.

Attacking programs have the following abilities.
delete data
power down equipment
disable controls
insert data
alter data

Defending programs can
detect intruder
restore data
stop program
alert attacker (so to counter attack)

Attacking and defending programs have cool downs. Each defending program can only handle one attacker at a time. The defender chosen for an attacker is picked from the pool of free defenders. Different attacking programs can have different levels as can different defending programs. A higher level defender has a better chance detecting and stopping an lower level attacker.

Remember programs are data too so attackers can alter the defenders (maybe making them into viruses) among other things.

Any questions?

[Periculi]

Yeah, will you be using the ship's targeting computer for this?

[Betelgeuse]

yes but that is assuming there is an improvement to the targeting system (like select with your mouse, maybe a painting weapon, or maybe even a target the last thing that hit me)

[digdug]

or simply a pop-up menu on a free letter of the keyboard with all the functions for cyber attack-defense ? (like the menu for the domina powers or the wingmens.)

that would be easy to access and fast to use (and probably not so long to implent than a whole new targeting system)

[Betelgeuse]

yes but that is only choosing what to attack with the issue is how to select what you are going to attack.

[Periculi]

It could simply be a matter of distance- you have a hostile hacking program in your computer core which is attached to your communications rig- so anything detected within a set distance would be 'sniffed' for weak com channel security and an attacking hack attempt made. You could get the upgrade model and get filters for who your hacking programs attack. "How do I set my hacking program to not hack anymore CW stations? I can't sell my loot anywhere thanks to your HackFast 90009 software!"

I think we need some better ways to trigger events to make this more functional- a constantly recurring timer check is the only way to really get the enemies to fire hacking attempts right now. Maybe a class of weapons for enemies that had script calls and other handy hooks would help make things like this happen.

[Betelgeuse]

hmm sounds like a good idea but the only problem is wouldn't the programs keep attacking the closest one? or should it be a random target in range?
(range being dependent on the computer or maybe some kind of communications array)

[Periculi]

I suppose for the sake of an easy mod that's not going to require several supercomputers to run hacking simulations for everything in the game you could just target things randomly, if the target even accepts your call.

[Betelgeuse]

hmm just thinking of a good formula to see if the attack is detected.

Att = attacker level (this does not have to be like an item level just a measurement of the attack)
Def= defender level (ditto)

If Att is greater than Def then the chance of detection would be 50*Att/Def otherwise it would be 100-50*Def/Att.

With this formula you will always have a chance of succeeding or failing.