| Password protected downloads? |
Fri, 24 September 2004 14:55  |
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| wumpus |
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Messages: 114
Registered: September 2004 | |
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Are there any plans to protect the m-file-download with a per-player password, possibly using the same login information as for these forums?
As an added feature, it would be nice if I (as a player, or game host) could authorise some other player to download my files (EG: for replacements, team play, "omniscient" races, etc).
Motivation for this question is 3-fold:
* the recent "What to do?" poll.
* there is a whole lot of meta-information that can be gleaned from M files, starting from something as simple as the file size.
* without going into details at this time[1], I am able to get a lot of very specific information out of M files[2]; I want to be able to release some of this work "into the wild" at some point in the future, without irrepairably damaging the stars! we all enjoy.
Greetings to all 
-- Michael `Wumpus' Zinn
This space reserved for future development.
[1] The vagueness is intentional. If you (hi #stars! denizens) already know more, I'd ask you to let me do the announcing when I feel the time is right.
[2] Don't worry, I am not now playing[3] in any stars! games at the moment, nor will I be unless and until a method to protect access to the M files is provided.
[3] I'm observing 3 and "universe building" for 2 more; 2 of the observed games I'm keeping what I gather completely to myself, and the other I'm working with various teams and the host-approval on some "approved" player aids.
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| Re: Password protected downloads? |
Fri, 24 September 2004 17:23  |
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| wumpus |
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Messages: 114
Registered: September 2004 | |
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The crypto question is neither here nor there; if/when I release anything, it will be open source, so even if I could ask for the password, anyone could just take the code and remove the password check.
Anyway, I myself want to play some PBEM (or, more correctly I suppose, "PBAH" - Play By AutoHost) again some day 
BUT, if Ron says no such protected-file-download is ever going to happend, then my code just disappears into the dusty archive of might-have-been software in my backups. It wouldn't be the first ,p
Michael "Wumpus" Zinn
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| Re: Password protected downloads? |
Wed, 02 March 2005 07:44 |
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This has really been an issue for a long time, Wumpus has been aware of it for at least a year.
Recently, a howto was posted on a russian site which changes the exe so any password with the exception of the right one allows a person to load the m-file.
regards,
donjon
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| Re: Password protected downloads? |
Thu, 03 March 2005 01:31 |
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| vonKreedon wrote on Thu, 03 March 2005 04:11 |
So now the option for alliances that are sharing information via .M files is that the allies have to mail each other the files, rather than sharing the file passwords, unless they want the allies to be able to submit turns. Also, what about the situation where allies are sharing information via .M files and one of the allies stops playing?
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For team games the situation is not quite so grim, as autohost supports the sending of turn files to multiple email addresses.(assuming you get your turn file via email...sorry Gakl) I use this myself when hosting. With an accomodating host this could also be made to work for "normal game" alliances.
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You can always cheat by modding your own x files and so there is no difference? 
