Almost every computer system these days has security software to deflect and detect intrusions. In game terms, this software adds to the difficulty of hacking rolls inside the sys­ tem, and raises the amount of time you need to work inside that system (see the sidebar chart).

Depending on the system, its owners, and its contents, this software can range from the virtual equivalent of a cheap car lock to the elite protection of a watchdog pack. As far as a serious hacker’s concerned, all forms of security programs are essentially speed bumps, meant more to slow and discourage violations than stop them cold.

The cold stops come in from sysadmins and trace-and-countermeasures programs. If the software is the speed bump, then these parties are the cops. Once every one to 12 hours, live sysadmins and security administrators perform walkthroughs for backdoors and trespassers. (The more secure the system, the more frequent those walkthroughs become.) If a hacker trips an alarm – that is, botches a roll once inside the system – then the admins and trace programs will come gunning for that trespasser immediately… at which point, the chase is on.