Defeating broadband... - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Defeating broadband...

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
irishrover
Aug 17, 2007 23:21:07 There is a simple way to defeat the technology that allows someone to hack almost anything. Custom build some retro technology. For your car, get a good 1950's muscle car with narry a bit of modern electronics.

Put a mechanical autopilot, World War II style, with gears and hydraulics, on your airplane. And get old style controls, with cables attached to the stick...and no computers in the middle.

Keep anyone from resetting your alarm clock--get a wind up or 1950's style electric clock. (And use a mechanical timer or plunger style detonator for the explosives.

Use a mechanical, but very good, lock with key or combination.

Sure, there's thngs you will need with electronics...but there's also many opportunities to skip the elecronics..and if people can hack anything, then this old tech might become popular.
#2
swank76
Nov 28, 2007 22:00:44 This makes an excellent story hook. Have the PCs need some information that is stored in a written format only. Maybe a diary holds the location of a cache of diamonds or the archives of a now-defunct newspaper will provide a clue into a foe's secret family history. In a Cyber-rave game, this is a big hassle for heroes used to hacking computer files or using high-tech shenanigans to complete their missions.
#3
degausser
Nov 28, 2007 23:48:11 Other story hooks /overrides can be done by the GM. A reclusive old nutter lives out in the middle of nowhere and has nothing connected to the modern 'net. Getting information on him will be a *****, and it's not like you can get ahold of any blackmail material on him.

Another thing . . . just because you don't want something to be hacked doesn't mean you have to go retro . . . you can have the same effect with compleatly isolated systems . . . maybe they even run on their own OS, so that it is almost impossible to hack from INSIDE the building.

Actually, building your own OS wouldn't be so hard. I'm not a master programmer, but I'm betting you could easily mess with Unix so that the OS DOESN'T play nice with others.
#4
strange_person
Mar 17, 2008 5:08:24 It's been done.

http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=001005

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 irishrover Aug 17, 2007 23:21:07	There is a simple way to defeat the technology that allows someone to hack almost anything. Custom build some retro technology. For your car, get a good 1950's muscle car with narry a bit of modern electronics. Put a mechanical autopilot, World War II style, with gears and hydraulics, on your airplane. And get old style controls, with cables attached to the stick...and no computers in the middle. Keep anyone from resetting your alarm clock--get a wind up or 1950's style electric clock. (And use a mechanical timer or plunger style detonator for the explosives. Use a mechanical, but very good, lock with key or combination. Sure, there's thngs you will need with electronics...but there's also many opportunities to skip the elecronics..and if people can hack anything, then this old tech might become popular.
#2 swank76 Nov 28, 2007 22:00:44	This makes an excellent story hook. Have the PCs need some information that is stored in a written format only. Maybe a diary holds the location of a cache of diamonds or the archives of a now-defunct newspaper will provide a clue into a foe's secret family history. In a Cyber-rave game, this is a big hassle for heroes used to hacking computer files or using high-tech shenanigans to complete their missions.
#3 degausser Nov 28, 2007 23:48:11	Other story hooks /overrides can be done by the GM. A reclusive old nutter lives out in the middle of nowhere and has nothing connected to the modern 'net. Getting information on him will be a *****, and it's not like you can get ahold of any blackmail material on him. Another thing . . . just because you don't want something to be hacked doesn't mean you have to go retro . . . you can have the same effect with compleatly isolated systems . . . maybe they even run on their own OS, so that it is almost impossible to hack from INSIDE the building. Actually, building your own OS wouldn't be so hard. I'm not a master programmer, but I'm betting you could easily mess with Unix so that the OS DOESN'T play nice with others.
#4 strange_person Mar 17, 2008 5:08:24	It's been done. http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=001005