Computer Hacking

Prerequisite:
Computer
Programming.
This is the skill of gaining illegal
access to a computer system – usually
using another computer over a com-
munications network. A successful
Computer Hacking roll allows you to
gain surreptitious access to a system,
or to find (or change) information on
a system you have already broken
into. On a critical failure, you fail to
gain access and leave some sort of
incriminating
evidence
of
your
attempt.
This skill is cinematic, and simu-
lates the way computer intrusion
works in many movies and novels. It
does not exist in realistic settings!
Realistic “hackers” should learn a
combination of Computer Operation
(to exploit OS loopholes and run
intrusion
software),
Computer
Programming (to write intrusion soft-
ware),
Cryptography,
Electronics
Operation
(Communications
or
Surveillance), Electronics Repair
(Computers), Fast-Talk (to convince
legitimate users to reveal passwords),
Research (to find documented securi-
ty
holes),
and
Scrounging
(to
“Dumpster dive” for manuals, pass-
words on discarded sticky notes, etc.).
Modifiers: Equipment modifiers
(p. 345). -1 to -10 if you have been
away from the field for a long time
and have not had a chance to become
familiar with the changes. Security
measures give a penalty, from -1 for
the cheapest commercial security soft-
ware to -15 for the latest technology.
Some measures resist your intrusion
attempt; treat this as a Quick Contest
of Hacking vs. the effective skill of the
defenses.