Computer Use

Use **Computer Use** to access computer systems, write or modify computer programs, and override or bypass computer controlled devices.

**:** Intelligence

**T:** No

**AP:** No

**:** Field Medic, Field Scientist, Investigator, Mage, Negotiator, Techie, and Smart Hero.

## Checks

Most normal computer operations don't require a Computer Use check (though a character might have to make a Research check). However, searching an unfamiliar network for a particular file, writing computer programs, altering existing programs to perform differently (better or worse), and breaking through computer security are all relatively difficult and require skill checks.

 Small office network
 Large office network
 Massive corporate network

This skill can be used for finding files or data on an unfamiliar system. The DC for the check and the time required are determined by the size of the site on which the character is searching. Finding public information on the Internet does not fall under this category; usually, such a task requires a Research check. This application of the Computer Use skill only pertains to finding files on private systems with which the character is not familiar.

 Average
 Exceptional
 Maximum

This application of Computer Use can't be used untrained. The DC is determined by the quality of the security program installed to defend the system. If the check is failed by 5 or more, the security system immediately alerts its administrator that there has been an unauthorized entry. An alerted administrator may attempt to identify the character or cut off the character's access to the system. Sometimes, when accessing a difficult site, the character has to defeat security at more than one stage of the operation. If the character beats the DC by 10 or more when attempting to defeat computer security, the character automatically succeeds at all subsequent security checks at that site until the end of the character's session (see Computer Hacking below).

Breaking into a secure computer or network is often called hacking. When a character hacks, she attempts to invade a site. A site is a virtual location containing files, data, or applications. A site can be as small as a single computer, or as large as a corporate network connecting computers and data archives all over the world. The important thing is that access to the site connects the user to everything within it. Some sites can be accessed via the Internet; others are not connected to any outside network and can only be tapped into by a user who physically accesses a computer connected to the site.

Every site is overseen by a system administrator-the person in charge of the site, and who maintains its security. Often, the system administrator is the only person with access to all of a site's functions and data. A site can have more than one system administrator; large sites have a system administrator on duty at all times. A character is the system administrator of his or her personal computer.

When a character hacks into a site, the visit is called a session. Once a character stops accessing the site, the session is over. The character can go back to the site in the future; when he or she does, it's a new session.

Several steps are required to hack into a site:

Covering Tracks
This step is optional. By making a Computer Use check (DC 20), a character can alter his or her identifying information. This imposes a -5 penalty on any attempt made to identify the character if his or her activity is detected.
Access the Site
There are two ways to do this: physically or over the Internet.
* Physical Access: A character gains physical access to the computer, or a computer connected to the site. If the site being hacked is not connected to the Internet, this is probably the only way a character can access it. A variety of skill checks may be required, depending on the method used to gain access.
* Internet Access: Reaching a site over the net requires two Computer Use checks. The first check (DC 10) is needed to find the site on the net. The second is a check to defeat computer security (see the Computer Use skill description). Once a character has succeeded in both checks, the character has accessed the site.

Locate What You're Looking For
To find the data (or application, or remote device) the character wants, make a Computer Use check. See Find File under the skill description.
Defeat File Security
Many networks have additional file security. If that's the case, the character needs to make another check to defeat computer security.
Do Your Stuff
Finally, the character can actually do what he or she came to do. If the character just wants to look at records, no additional check is needed. (A character can also download data, although that often takes several rounds-or even several minutes, for especially large amounts of information-to complete.) Altering or deleting records sometimes requires yet another check to defeat computer security. Other operations can be carried out according to the Computer Use skill description.

If the character is the system administrator for a site (which may be as simple as being the owner of a laptop), she can defend the site against intruders. If the site alerts the character to an intruder, the character can attempt to cut off the intruder's access (end the intruder's session), or even to identify the intruder. To cut off access, make an opposed Computer Use check against the intruder. If the character succeeds, the intruder's session is ended. The intruder might be able to defeat the character's security and access his or her site again, but the intruder will have to start the hacking process all over. Attempting to cut off access takes a full round.

One surefire way to prevent further access is to simply shut the site down. With a single computer, that's often no big deal-but on a large site with many computers (or computers controlling functions that can't be interrupted), it may be time-consuming or even impossible.

To identify the intruder, make an opposed Computer Use check against the intruder. If the character succeeds, the character learns the site from which the intruder is operating (if it's a single computer, the character learns the Name of the computer's owner). Identifying the intruder requires 1 minute and is a separate check from cutting off access. This check can only be made if the intruder is accessing the character's site for the entire length of the check-if the intruder's session ends before the character finishes the check, the character automatically fails. This application of the skill can be used to intercept a cell phone conversation if the character has a cellular interceptor. The DC is 35, or 25 if the character knows the number of the phone that initiated the call.

 Damage programming | 20 | 10 minutes

A character can destroy or alter applications on a computer to make use of that computer harder or impossible. The DC for the attempt depends on what the character tries to do.

* Crashing a computer simply shuts it down. Its user can restart it without making a skill check (however, restarting takes 1 minute).
* Destroying programming makes the computer unusable until the programming is repaired.
* Damaging programming imposes a -4 penalty on all Computer Use checks made with the computer (sometimes this is preferable to destroying the programming, since the user might not know that anything is wrong, and won't simply decide to use a different computer). A character can degrade the programming of multiple computers at a single site; doing so adds +2 to the DC for each additional computer. Fixing the degraded programming requires 1 hour and a Computer Use check against a DC equal to the DC for degrading it + 5.

A character can create a program to help with a specific task. Doing so grants the character a +2 circumstance bonus to the task. A specific task, in this case, is one type of operation with one target. The DC to write a program is 20; the time required is 1 hour.

Many devices are computer-operated via remote links. If the character has access to the computer that controls such systems, the character can either shut them off or change their operating parameters. The DC depends on the nature of the operation. If the character fails the check by 5 or more, the system immediately alerts its administrator that there has been an unauthorized use of the equipment. An alerted administrator may attempt to identify the character or cut off his or her access to the system.

## Starship Application Checks

Using a starship’s sensors to analyze another ship or object in sensory range requires a Computer Use check (DC 15). This skill can be used untrained. An active sensor scan conducted over a vast distance (for example, across a star system) or subjected to some form of disturbance (such as interference from a solar flare) applies a –5 or higher penalty on the check. Conducting an active sensor scan is a move action.

Routine communications (hailing a nearby ship, using a subspace or dimensional transceiver, and so on) are accomplished with a Computer Use check (DC 10). This skill can be used untrained. Communications sent over incredibly long distances (such as between star systems) are subject to distortion; correcting that distortion to ensure a message reaches its intended destination requires a successful Computer Use check (DC 20). Sending a transmission is a move action.

This skill can be used to prevent a ship or facility from receiving an incoming transmission. The character must be trained to use this skill. An opposed Computer Use check between the individual receiving the message and the individual attempting to jam the message determines whether or not the message gets through. If an unmanned computer receives the transmission, jamming the transmission requires a Computer Use check (DC 15). Jamming a transmission is a move action.

Computer Use can be used to scramble a transmission. The character must be trained to use this skill. This is done with an opposed Computer Use check between the individual sending the message and anyone attempting to intercept or unscramble it. Scrambling or unscrambling a transmission are all full-round actions.

**Table: Feats**