Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site moncol.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!petsd!moncol!john
From: john@moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Prefix numbers, or how to destroy a federation starship
Message-ID: <342@moncol.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 30-May-85 11:21:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: moncol.342
Posted: Thu May 30 11:21:59 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 31-May-85 04:11:39 EDT
References: <297@tilt.FUN>
Organization: Monmouth College, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
Lines: 62

>From: kyrimis@tilt.FUN (Kriton Kyrimis)
>Organization: Princeton University EECS Dept
>Message-ID: <297@tilt.FUN>
>
>*** REPLACE PREFIX NUMBERS WITH A SAFER SECURITY SCHEME ***
>
>I was thinking about admiral Kirk's trick of lowering the Reliant's shields in
>STTWOK the other day, and suddenly realised that the federation will soon be
>in for a nasty surprise: it won't be long before some Klingon/Romulan hacker
>comes up with the following piece of code for their battle computer:
>
>[.....]
>
>I refer of course to Kirk's using the Reliant's 4 or 5 digit prefix number to
>lower her shields. Assuming that data transmission and ship scanning is almost
>instantaneous (it seemed so in the movie), then it won't take more than a
>minute or two to figure a ship's prefix number and then ... BANG!
>
>I realise that the whole trick lies in figuring out what lower_shields() does,
>but I wouldn't think that the federation is so spy-proof that they can keep it
>secret for long.
>
>Any comments on that?

The concept of the prefix code is something that never should have been
introduced into the Star Trek universe.

As the quoted article points out, they are a horrible security flaw. *IF* a
Romulan or Klingon attack fleet could get the master list of prefix codes,
all they would need to do would be mount a massive invasion, wait for the
massive Federation defending fleet, and blow the Feds to dust.

Also, the existence of the prefix codes presents a whole new series of
inconsistencies into the Trek universe. Since Kirk assumes Kahn know about
the prefix codes, they must have been used 15 years eariler during the
events of "Space Seed". Kahn would have learned about them when he learned
everything else about a starship. If we accept this, then we can ask a
whole series of questions, such as: "Why didn't Wesley use the codes to
drop the Enterprise's shields in 'The Ultimate Computer'?" or "Why didn't
M5 use the prefix codes to blast everyone in that episode?" or even "Why
didn't Styles use the Excelsior's computer to send the prefix codes to stop
Kirk and company from stealing the Enterprise?" (God, this could go on all
day!)

The prefix code was an interesting plot device which got Kirk out of a sure
no-win scenario. Unfortunately, we are now stuck with the existence of
prefix codes and all that entails.

(The idea of ST IV involving time travel is beginning to sound better all
the time. If only they could go back and erase the existence of Genesis,
prefix codes, et al.)


-- 
Name:		John Ruschmeyer
US Mail:	Monmouth College, W. Long Branch, NJ 07764
Phone:		(201) 222-6600 x366
UUCP:		...!vax135!petsd!moncol!john	...!princeton!moncol!john
						   ...!pesnta!moncol!john
Silly Quote:
		I never wanted to be a barber.
		I wanted to be... a LUMBERJACK!