Ship Security Software Packages

snrdg121408

Mongoose
Hello all,

Is there a reason that none of the Common Spacecraft datasheets list Security software in CRB 1st ed./MRB or CRB 2nd ed.?

I think that the inclusion is considered to be too much detail and not normally encountered during play as the most probable reason, unless you are one of the individuals, like me, that feels the to include them.

CRB 1st ed./MRB spacecraft operations indicate that few ship's have anything less than very difficult security protection for external interface connections and internally are running average protection security software on the ship's computer. CRB 2nd ed. indicates the external interface protection is hard and internal protection is average.

Since both rule books agree that computers per the equipment section which I, hopefully correctly, extended to Ship's Computer include Security 0 software would be at no Cr cost

1. Would the security against external hacking attempts include Security software?

My belief is the answer is yes.

2. Would the, if Question 1 is yes, appropriate security package be included at no Cr cost?
 
I would assume any spacecraft rated as operationally ready would have basic security software included. Only if something is in a weird prototype or stolen before completion phase would i not assume such onboard. Other provisions such as vac suits or anti-boarding cutlasses would be extra but not the standard software packages. Unless you want to assume Solomani ships come standard with a Microsoft product, in which case there is no included software and the OS can only handle officially licensed products at 2x the normally listed cost.
 
Hello Torbyne,

Torbyne said:
I would assume any spacecraft rated as operationally ready would have basic security software included. Only if something is in a weird prototype or stolen before completion phase would i not assume such onboard. Other provisions such as vac suits or anti-boarding cutlasses would be extra but not the standard software packages. Unless you want to assume Solomani ships come standard with a Microsoft product, in which case there is no included software and the OS can only handle officially licensed products at 2x the normally listed cost.

Thank you for providing feedback that Security 0 software is probably included with the basic operating system like the software for interface, maneuver, and library.

I am still wondering if the higher Security programs used to block external hacking attacks would also be included as part of the computer's basic operating system .

My guess is that the price would be much higher than x2 if running the latest MS Windows Operating system.
 
The shipyards are businesses. Since the security software is probably necessary to get an insurance, the shipyards keep it an an optional extra in the "De Lux" package, or incase of GSbAG the "Stern Classe" package. Their salespeople have to eat to...
 
snrdg121408 said:
Hello all,

Is there a reason that none of the Common Spacecraft datasheets list Security software in CRB 1st ed./MRB or CRB 2nd ed.?

I think that the inclusion is considered to be too much detail and not normally encountered during play as the most probable reason, unless you are one of the individuals, like me, that feels the to include them.

CRB 1st ed./MRB spacecraft operations indicate that few ship's have anything less than very difficult security protection for external interface connections and internally are running average protection security software on the ship's computer. CRB 2nd ed. indicates the external interface protection is hard and internal protection is average.

Since both rule books agree that computers per the equipment section which I, hopefully correctly, extended to Ship's Computer include Security 0 software would be at no Cr cost

1. Would the security against external hacking attempts include Security software?

My belief is the answer is yes.

2. Would the, if Question 1 is yes, appropriate security package be included at no Cr cost?

1) Yes, it should be. Basic ships security (e.g. overiding the security at an external hatch) should be considered difficult, or at least challenging. Additional equipment and/or software should bump it up into the formidable range. The odd thing here is that today, with aircraft, helicopters, and ships, there isn't a lot of security to stop you once you are onboard. Generally it's physical security. There aren't like places outside to put your key fob in a gulfstream 5, and larger commercial airliners don't have that either. Even things like tanks and military vehicles rarely have ignition switches. Most just keep a lock on the vehicle itself (the hatch, and a padlock at that), and physically guard the vehicle.

With a starship, because it's a bit of a hybrid, I would say there would be some sort of security mechanisms on the external locks, and even additional ones on the bridge. It wouldn't be hard to do that with the level of computerization. I suppose you could make it difficult and install some sort of cut-out device that routes bridge controls through that has to physically have the 'key' placed in it... not impossible, and potentially quite hard to hack if you put another computer in the loop with an encryption key (similar to public/private keys). Just don't lose that key, or your ship ain't goin anywhere for a while! Added costs could be anywhere from Cr10,000, up to say Cr100,000. Would depend on how fancy you want to make it.

2) BASIC security at no charge. Anything else requires more moolah.
 
Someone's probably written an open source variant, in the meantime, even if it has to be tailored to a common design millenia old.

You should vet updates, though.
 
Morning PST ShawnDriscoll,

ShawnDriscoll said:
Those rules are more for Shadowrun/Cyberpunk players than for typical Traveller players.

Today, Law enforcement frequently hack into computers while investigating crimes. Then we have the people who hack into computer systems for the challenge and/or profit in breaking into the system. So I would say that if a Traveller scenario called for breaking into a computer or one of the party came up with the idea to "speed up" the search for data hacking would be employed.

Here is an idea of how hacking into a computer in a Traveller scenario may come about. The party gets hired to investigate an installation or ship that has not be heard from for a period of time. The party arrives to find the location abandoned and when they try to access the computer they are locked out. Someone in the party with computer skills and an intrusion program hacks into the computer to discover what may have happened. Another idea is the party was hired to do a little industrial espionage or be trying to gather intelligence from a rival government.

I'm not sure which Traveller variant, probably GURPS Traveller, has an illustration of a character dressed in dark clothing at what appears to be a computer console with what I call a USB drive extracting or inserting data.

Of course I could be out to lunch, but then again I might suggest the use of hacking, providing my character was not the one doing the hacking since there is a high probably that I'll fail the die roll with any number of bad endings.;-)
 
Hello AnotherDilbert,

AnotherDilbert said:
The shipyards are businesses. Since the security software is probably necessary to get an insurance, the shipyards keep it an an optional extra in the "De Lux" package, or incase of GSbAG the "Stern Classe" package. Their salespeople have to eat to...

I think you are saying that the basic security software package is standard and any other security program is in a higher end packages. The silver package either includes or upgrades Security 0 software to Security 1, the gold package goes to Security 2, and the De Lux package is Security 3.

I appreciate that feedback.
 
Hi phavoc

phavoc said:
snrdg121408 said:
Hello all,

Is there a reason that none of the Common Spacecraft datasheets list Security software in CRB 1st ed./MRB or CRB 2nd ed.?

I think that the inclusion is considered to be too much detail and not normally encountered during play as the most probable reason, unless you are one of the individuals, like me, that feels the to include them.

CRB 1st ed./MRB spacecraft operations indicate that few ship's have anything less than very difficult security protection for external interface connections and internally are running average protection security software on the ship's computer. CRB 2nd ed. indicates the external interface protection is hard and internal protection is average.

Since both rule books agree that computers per the equipment section which I, hopefully correctly, extended to Ship's Computer include Security 0 software would be at no Cr cost

1. Would the security against external hacking attempts include Security software?

My belief is the answer is yes.

2. Would the, if Question 1 is yes, appropriate security package be included at no Cr cost?

1) Yes, it should be. Basic ships security (e.g. overiding the security at an external hatch) should be considered difficult, or at least challenging. Additional equipment and/or software should bump it up into the formidable range. The odd thing here is that today, with aircraft, helicopters, and ships, there isn't a lot of security to stop you once you are onboard. Generally it's physical security. There aren't like places outside to put your key fob in a gulfstream 5, and larger commercial airliners don't have that either. Even things like tanks and military vehicles rarely have ignition switches. Most just keep a lock on the vehicle itself (the hatch, and a padlock at that), and physically guard the vehicle.

With a starship, because it's a bit of a hybrid, I would say there would be some sort of security mechanisms on the external locks, and even additional ones on the bridge. It wouldn't be hard to do that with the level of computerization. I suppose you could make it difficult and install some sort of cut-out device that routes bridge controls through that has to physically have the 'key' placed in it... not impossible, and potentially quite hard to hack if you put another computer in the loop with an encryption key (similar to public/private keys). Just don't lose that key, or your ship ain't goin anywhere for a while! Added costs could be anywhere from Cr10,000, up to say Cr100,000. Would depend on how fancy you want to make it.

In CT they have the Anti-Hijack program that locks, according to the description, access the controls, computer, and the hatch or hatches to the bridge, engineering, and probably other areas.

MgT 1st ed. does indicate that the protection for external attacks is at least very difficult. MgT 2nd. ed. has external security as hard. Internal security is average in both editions.

2) BASIC security at no charge. Anything else requires more moolah.

Do you mean that both the external and internal software package would have be Security 0 for free and any higher level would be an upgrade purchase?
 
Mid morning PST Condottiere,

Condottiere said:
Someone's probably written an open source variant, in the meantime, even if it has to be tailored to a common design millenia old.

You should vet updates, though.

Good advice about vetting software since we know there are individuals that will try to get to anyone's data for any reason.
 
snrdg121408 said:
Do you mean that both the external and internal software package would have be Security 0 for free and any higher level would be an upgrade purchase?

Yes. The security packages (basic ones) would include both internal and external. I would suspect that unless you were paying more, that most of the security would be external. Your internal security would be more about allowing authorized access to the bridge, and perhaps and additional check for the key critcal systems (life support, the reactor, access to engineering, powering up the weapon systems, etc).

There should be some basic security that would stop a 14yr old with his tablet from hacking into your system or just pushing a button and charging the main guns. But anything more than Difficult to break internal, or external security, would be a value-add paid for and/or installed by the owner and NOT be standard equipment.
 
If you want a serious answer, ships software is listed on p113.

The software on p92 is for your laptop. I would interpret Security as the defence against someone hacking you computer using Intrusion software. Any software can of course run on any computer.

Anti-hijacking or anti-burglary software for ships is something else. If there is no specified software you can probably assume that basic functionality is built-in.

As a guideline MgT2 High Guard has:
HighGuard ß said:
Anti-Hijack: This software package constantly monitors airlocks, access to critical areas and attempts to break into computer systems. In the event it discovers an anomaly, the software automatically shuts down access to the affected area, making unauthorised attempts to enter key areas and functions dif cult. This is intended to act as a ward against hijacking but also serves as a strong security system. Any skill check made to gain unauthorised entry to the ship’s computer or any restricted area suffers a negative DM equal to the Anti-Hijack’s software score.
Code:
 Software      Bandwidth  TL   Cost
Anti-Hijack/1    2      TL11  MCr6
Anti-Hijack/2    5      TL12  MCr8
Anti-Hijack/3   10      TL13  MCr10
 
As a general guideline I would use: If the rules say that it is included, it's included, otherwise someone makes a living selling it to you...
 
Hello AnotherDilbert,

AnotherDilbert said:
As a general guideline I would use: If the rules say that it is included, it's included, otherwise someone makes a living selling it to you...
and
AnotherDilbert said:
If you want a serious answer, ships software is listed on p113.

The software on p92 is for your laptop. I would interpret Security as the defence against someone hacking you computer using Intrusion software. Any software can of course run on any computer.

I agree that the Ship Software Table, CRB 1st ed/MRB p. 113, does list the standard packages available.

From CRB 1st ed./MRB pp. 143-144 under Spacecraft Operations; Spacecraft Security; Computers rules:
The difficulty to hack into a ship’s computer depends on the rating of the Security software running on it (see page 92). Few ships have anything less than Very Difficult (–4) Security, but often the security system will apply only to external connections, and a hacker inside the ship will only face Average (+0) Security software.

The spacecraft security computer rule indicates that a ship runs the security software from CRB 1st ed./MRB on p. 92, which is not mentioned in the Computer overview, pp. 107-108, or the Ship Software Table on p. 113. I am fairly sure that the ship's computer includes Security 0 software per the Computer Software Table on p. 92, unfortunately the Ship datasheets do not include any software other than what is on p. 113.

I guess that all the software packages with included are on a ship's computer and everything else has to be purchased.

From one of the earlier replies it was mentioned most Traveller players do not hack into computers during a session. Given the opportunity I would have a character try to hack into a computer to accomplish a goal.

Anti-hijacking or anti-burglary software for ships is something else. If there is no specified software you can probably assume that basic functionality is built-in.

As a guideline MgT2 High Guard has:
HighGuard ß said:
Anti-Hijack: This software package constantly monitors airlocks, access to critical areas and attempts to break into computer systems. In the event it discovers an anomaly, the software automatically shuts down access to the affected area, making unauthorised attempts to enter key areas and functions difficult. This is intended to act as a ward against hijacking but also serves as a strong security system. Any skill check made to gain unauthorised entry to the ship’s computer or any restricted area suffers a negative DM equal to the Anti-Hijack’s software score.
Code:
 Software      Bandwidth  TL   Cost
Anti-Hijack/1    2      TL11  MCr6
Anti-Hijack/2    5      TL12  MCr8
Anti-Hijack/3   10      TL13  MCr10

Thank you for the information that in the new High Guard design rules that the Anti-Hijack program from CT has been reinstated. Unfortunately, that does not help me with rules 1st. ed. CRB/MRB Spacecraft Design, HG Spacecraft Options, Small Craft Deign, and Capital Ship Design which does not have the software.
 
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