A computer system accessed through Open Computer Lab workstation choice encounter, by hacking the other server there (Halloween 2010 only). You must have a computer equipped to hack it.
Options and results are listed below. "Unplug" is always an option. Each action takes 1 energy and raises the alert by the amount listed below. If your alert gets to 100 you are kicked out of the system.
| Action | Access | Alert* | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevate Privileges | - | variable | |
| Browse Security Logs | Full control | 0 | |
| Browse Public Files | Level 1 | ? | |
| Browse Secure Files | Level 2 | ? | |
| Enter a Code | Level 3 | ? | |
| Automate Entering Code | Level 3 | ? | Only after trying Enter a Code, with automation routine |
| Browse Hidden Files | Full control | ? | With a deep file scan |
* Incognito reduces this - see Alert level for details.
Elevate Privileges
Engage in net combat:
| Level | Defender |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Password Lock (1P,2M,2H,?A) |
| Level 2 | Omnitech Autodefense (3P,3M,3H,?A) |
| Level 3 | Midgard Protector (?P,?M,?H,?A) |
| Full control | Omnitech Autodefense (?P,?M,?H,?A) Midgard Protector (3P,5M,15H,?A) Omnitech Autodefense (?P,?M,?H,?A) |
Browse Public Files
You check over the files. They're mostly designs for posters and meeting minutes stretching back months.
There is a description of how the contest they're running is adjudicated, though. Apparently every day, the person with the most buckets sold gets a ticket, then it reduces their count back to zero.
Whoever wrote out the original plan did it in old-fashioned pseudocode, which is just kind of cute. If you understand the code correctly, they break ties randomly.
Hmmm… from the rest of the information, it looks like they have a couple contests to give out tickets, they're just working on the money first.
Browse Secure Files
You find the database they're using to keep track of who's sold the most buckets. Doesn't really seem like there are any students on there.
You do a quick dump of the data.
(lists Halloween contest leaderboard)
Enter a Code
You put in a random code, trying to validate a bucket that was never sold. It returns a simple error "Invalid Code." You try another few: "Invalid Code… Invalid Code… Invalid Code."
This seems like a good job for an automation routine.
Automate Entering Code
You tweak an automation routine to try different codes. The system's security is bound to pick it up eventually, but it should sneak a code through before then.
You can see that there's a comm process, but you're fairly sure it won't trigger. It's just as well, leaving the system you're hacking your comm number doesn't seem like a great idea.
(lose one automation routine and adds one bucket to your score)
Browse Hidden Files
You take a look through the hidden files. They've hidden a fair bit of garbage to throw you off… the nice sort of touch you'd expect from the professional or the obsessed.
Eventually, you find their operating budget. You scroll down, back in time… lots of small payments from the bookstore, a few larger transfers from the University Student Fund here and there.
Back near the very beginning, you find one truly massive transfer from an account named "Utgard." A quick check on the account number shows, somewhat unsurprisingly, it belongs to Midgard Industries.