View source for Talk:Command Navigation Program/Archive 1

==How CNP Infiltration Differs from Infection==

My understanding is that, while the CNP is obviously functional and works as designed, the CNP's backdoors was what made it dangerous. Whether the CNP's backdoors allowed activation of a virus, Trojan, or system command access seems consistent now with our viewing the behavior of a Cylon virus on ''Galactica'' in "[[Flight of the Phoenix]]", although the CNP was never loaded on their computers.

It's reasonable to assume that post-war (modern) Colonial ships were still not easily hackable despite their advancements, so it took the CNP backdoors to make that happen. As far as ''Galactica'' was concerned, it's relatively primitive computers were not as advanced as those used on other Battlestars and were more likely to be directly infected, as done in "[[Scattered]]""--IF they were accessible by [[wireless]]. Obviously the computers were never available for infection until the events of "Scattered".

It's likely that the process of networking ''Galactica's'' computers with hard lines at Gaeta's console (Gaeta mentions in "Scattered" that he would network the FTL computer with the Navigation, Damage Control, and Fire Control computers) also interfaced them to the comm channels of the ship and to ship's wireless by default. Otherwise, Gaeta would not be fearful of simply creating a closed network to make the calculations. Networking any computers on ''Galactica'' would automatically create a wireless portal to them. Interesting Colonial technology in that way; it's like two laptops that automatically form a wireless connection when they want to share data.

So the Raider's programming may be two-fold. Option one: Attempt access to an enemy ship via a CNP backdoor, where it may activate a Trojan Horse program in the CNP or directly command the CNP to stop operation of the ship. Option two: Use First War tactics and attempt to hack and infect a computer that's available by wireless. Just my take on it, but it's consistent with show events. [[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 15:46, 23 September 2005 (EDT)

:Strictly speaking, [[Wikipedia:Computer virus|Computer virus]]es and [[Wikipedia:Computer worm|worms]] are defined by their ability to ''proliferate''. It would be most proper to state that the CNP (or part of it) was a Cylon-designed [[Wikipedia:Trojan horse (computing)|Trojan horse]].

:The Logic Bomb that infected Galactica's systems was obviously very different - either a remote [[Wikipedia:exploit (computer security)|exploit]] or the work of a Cylon agent onboard ''Galactica'', as I speculated on the "[[Scattered]]" page. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 15:53, 23 September 2005 (EDT)

:: A Trojan Horse is typically a malevalent application disguised as a benevolent one, with no "good" code within. Trojans generally do not activate themselves (as viruses do) or proliferate themselves (as worms do). The CNP was a functional program with backdoors that allowed commands, of which shut down commands, commands to activate a hidden virus or worm inside the CNP code, or copy commands to receive and activate a new virus would work. In "Scattered", ''Galactica'' becomes infected by the Cylon virus transmitted by the attacking fleet using old-school War I tactics--that I'm pretty certain of at this point since we have no other data to support otherwise, and fits ''Galactica's'' technology base. Doesn't mean there wasn't someone on the inside that copied back the virus code on a low-level system into ''Galactica'' after the initial purge in "Scattered." We already know of one or two Cylon infiltrators (Godfrey, Biers), and at least 6 others remain at large. The virus created the Logic Bomb...or the Logic Bomb was implanted by an infiltrator, yes, but we have no way of knowing just yet.[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 17:25, 23 September 2005 (EDT)

==CNP on Civilian Ships==

In the miniseries, Doral approaches Baltar with a report he requested: "You asked for a report on how many civilian ships had your CNP program?" Seems pretty clear to me. --[[User:Peter Farago|Peter Farago]] 12:43, 3 January 2006 (EST)

==Still need clarification==

Okay, my thinking was that the CNP backdoors allowed a virus to enter which in turn shut down their systems; I mean when we hear about windows having a flaw, it's "a flaw that a virus could exploit".  Of course I'm not a computer expert, but it seems like a virus exploiting the CNP flaws.--[[User:The Merovingian|The Merovingian]] <sup>([[Special:Contributions/The Merovingian|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/The Merovingian|E]])</sup> 14:03, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

:Well, when you're not inside the castle (like most viruses), your only options are to enter by whatever means are available. But when you have a bad guy who helps '''design and build the castle''', you have the potential not only for intentional design flaws that might be exploited, but also the opportunity to have people inside the castle before the fighting begins. They see the signal flare and they can open the gates (allowing more viruses entry) and/or cause damage of their own. Baltar's Caprica-Six might have inserted hidden commands that shut things down, or that opened up exploits for outsiders to take advantage of, or possibly both. Real-life viruses tend to do the same, opening holes for other viruses even as they are doing damage themselves. Whether or not the hidden programming inside the CNP did the damage itself, or opened up the exploits for the outside viruses to take advantage of, credit for the kill would still likely fall to the CNP programming, for making it all possible. --[[User:Steelviper|Steelviper]] 14:14, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

::I thought it was like programmed in that would do the same thing. I think Six said, I rewrote half your algorthims. --[[User:Shane|Shane]] <sup>([[User_Talk:Shane|T]] - [[Special:Contributions/Shane|C]] - [[Special:Editcount/Shane|E]])</sup> 16:34, 17 April 2006 (CDT)

:::Six was referring to Baltar's programming of the CNP itself, of which he wasn't doing a very good job at perfecting. Six made it work, but she also added a bit of extras. If the CNP was a castle, Six added a special magician that, on the Cylon's command, turned its "king" (commander/pilot) into a jester and surrendered the castle instantly. --[[User:Spencerian|Spencerian]] 16:43, 17 April 2006 (CDT)