From: mfterman@flower.Princeton.EDU (Mutant for Hire)
Subject: Re: Netrunning as an art, not science  
Originator: news@nimaster
Reply-To: mfterman@phoenix.princeton.edu (Mutant for Hire)
Organization: Mutant for Hire, Inc.
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 16:30:58 GMT

Actually, Gibson stated that he got his system for netrunning from
the metaphor of video games, that the hackers really weren't all that
dreck-hot programmers but were more on the order of fighter pilots.
A fighter pilot doesn't have to be able to design and construct a
jet, but merely has to know about effect Y when you push button X.
A good console cowboy would have these hot programmers writing programs
for hir to use, but the cowboy wouldn't necessarily have a really
good idea of how to write them. At best, sie could modify them. Of
course some might prefer to code their own, but the best netrunners
spent their time working on their combat reflexes.

Whether this concept is workable to reality is another matter. I
do like the idea of representing the net in various visual patterns
and using the natural pattern-recognition capabilities of the brain
to figure out where the gaps are, etc. Requires fast reflexes, a
good "eye", and the ability to make instant tactical reactions, which
you could argue are required in many video games. Also the idea that
the network is going to be used for exchanging programs, data, and
execution of code over many machines.

On the other hand, I also believe that any really hot networks, where
the valuable stuff is stored, won't be on the Net. There's also nothing
to say that they can't change the network protocols in a minor manner.
They can conceal the changes from the people working on the network,
because they've modified all the hardware accordingly. It could be as
simple as big-endian versus little-endian or more complex. Generally
something where you have to swap ROM chips or the equivalent.

Another problem overlooked in the books: encryption. Nearly unbreakable
encryption routines are in existance now. Nearly unbreakable means that
you can bust them, but often it will take years or more of computing
time, by which point whatever is encrypted will no longer be relevant.
The Net will be commonly using trap-door encryption systems, at least
until someone makes the P-NP breakthrough. The increase in computer
time can be compensated by increasing the length of the keys.
At this point, its going to be a real pain trying to go into the serious
private data banks because you have to get the decryption key.

All of this does give the other runners something to do finally. Keys,
changes in hardware protocol, and the like have to be stored somewhere.
You want to store the keys somewhere not on the private machines, and
preferably not on the systems at all. ("we have the key, but we need
the key in order to decrypt it") It'll probably be on some ROM chip
somewhere in a tight vault. It does require some fancy work on the part
of the players to figure out how to get at it.

Most likely it'll require some inside help. Corp A sends spies into Corp
B. They are unable to get at the keys and the internal protocols by
themselves, but their spies locate where they are stored and something
of the layout of the place. Runners go in and their decker then makes
the mods to hir setup and jacks into the private network and goes
romping as fast as sie can before alarms are triggered. They break out,
hand goods over to employers.

Note that quite a bit of stuff can be deduced from whatever computers
will be on the Net, it'll mostly be indirect. One officer in Vietnam
was able to predict when a mission was going out, classified or not,
by various little details that indicated that a mission was about to
go out. Canny runners will be able to use that. They'll have to
assemble the jigsaw themselves, but that's why they're paid the money.



-- 
    Martin Terman, Mutant for Hire, Mean Ol' Top, Priest of Shub-Internet
    Disclaimer: Nobody else takes me seriously, why should you be the first?
mfterman@phoenix.princeton.edu mfterman@pucc.bitnet terman@pupgga.princeton.edu
"Sig quotes are like bumper stickers, only without the same sense of relevance"