Other Dataplague

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DATAPLAGUE

AFFILIATION
Free use.

MANUFACTURER
Various.

TYPE
Malware.
POWER SUPPLY
Computer system power.

SENSORS
N/A.

SIZE
N/A.

COMPOSITION
Electronic code.

DESCRIPTION
A dataplague - also known as a computer virus - is a type of malignant computer program often used by slicers and other criminals to attack, incapacitate or otherwise infiltrate electronic devices such as computers and droids. At their simplest, dataplagues can be nothing more than self-replicating code, which spreads in the memory banks of an infected system until it has consumed all available storage and run-time, causing the system to crash. At their most complex, dataplagues can be sophisticated artificial intelligence entities, capable of subverting entire networks to their will.

Dataplagues take many forms, and can be used for offensive purposes (IE disabling a system), for monitoring purposes (IE intelligence gathering and data theft), or for subversion (IE taking control of a system either for remote command or - often in the case of droids - changing its allegiance and/or overwriting its personality matrix and memory). These types of dataplague are separated into different "classes"; 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

Infecting a system with a dataplague is simple; the pathogen can be introduced using standard datacard, a connection to a previously infected system, or really any method of electronic data transfer. Once introduced, a dataplague must be given time to take hold, the amount varying depending on the class of dataplague; a class 1 plague will require 1 posting round to take hold, a class 2 will require 2 rounds, and a class 3 will require 3 rounds. If the infection process is interrupted - say, the power is cut, or a slicer begins a counter-dataplague scan - the round count must be reset, or the attempt can be considered a failure.

Once introduced, dataplagues are not simple to get rid of, although this can be accomplished by a decent slicer. 1 posting round is required for a slicer to properly diagnose the type of dataplagues - or dataplagues - present in a system, and additional rounds are required to eradicate the infection. For a class 1 dataplague, 1 round is required, for class 2, 2 rounds, and class 3 will need 3 rounds. If the process is interrupted, the round count must be reset, or the attempt can be considered a failure.

Upon eradication of a class 3 dataplague, 1d6 must be rolled to determine success. If a 1 is rolled, the dataplague is to be considered in remission. At the start of each thread where a droid or other device previously infected with a dataplague is used, roll 1d100; if a roll of 10 or less is made, the previously "deleted" plague will reinfect the droid or other device. Another attempt to remove it can be made using the methods described above.

The creation of dataplagues is considered highly illegal by most Galactic authorities, and beings found to be in possession of dataplague source-code are subject to stiff penalties. They are a favorite tool of slicers and other criminals, however, and many slicers will come up with their own "brands" of dataplague, giving them names and custom graphics.

Of note, noteworthy individual dataplagues must receive their own write-up, with mention of their classification and general effects in the description.

LEGALITY
Illegal. The creation of dataplagues is highly illegal in most of the civilized Galaxy.

INTENT
To introduce mechanics for a common type of software used by slicers.
 
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