Hide process

[Takoma]

Can we have a way to hide processes? Like do what most systems do, add a system process you can see. Like if you noticed system is using bandwidth, something is wrong. Would be a nice feature to have. Also, prevents people from finding who is running what process instead of bouncing too often. This can also fix the problems of people deleting other people's processes.

[Exousia]

Often suggested, often rejected and/or debated. Time will tell on this one.

[pondmonkey]

if a processes was hidden it wodnt come up as using cpu/ram/bandwith. it would act in the same manner as a hidden file.

[Takoma]

umm, cpu/ram/bandwidth will still show usage. It's just hidden. Now, that's the first clue something is not there. that's why it's more balance with showing certain clues that it has been tampered....

[Takoma]

I know quite a lot of things about computers. Ok, right now, there's no such thing as a kernel available in task manager. The only thing that even remotely resembles the kernel is the total usage of cpu/ram/bandwidth. Now if you hide a process, you can merge it with another process. Mostly renaming the process to mimic something that is normally running in background. A proper way to actually hide is running a rootkit into the kernel. Now imagine the unused computer resources as your indication of idle processes or other things. Now you will notice if the numbers of all running processes does not equal to the remaining available resources. This is also a game, so I know this is not supposed to run like a real computer or else I would have suggested adding a bunch of processes the server runs and allowing us to hijack those processes to hide our activities.

If you still question my knowledge on computers, ask a question and i'll respond as quickly as possible.

And hidden files can be detected. A bit-image copy and running detection algorithms to find hidden partitions. But the problem, these aren't running, so they are easier to hide. Processes are harder, but can be masked with other processes. Like unnamed processes running.

[Exousia]

<words> ...  Ok, right now, there's no such thing as a kernel available in task manager. ... <words> ...  A proper way to actually hide is running a rootkit into the kernel. ... <words>

All operating systems have a kernal, therefore I think it safe to assume that you're speaking within the realm of Hacker Project rather than reality. Additionally, I assume that you're talking about Hacker Project task list when referring to "task manager" rather than Windows Task Manager. If one or both of these assumptions are in error, then I have to give you a history lecture. If they are accurate assumptions, then, yes, the Kernal process is currently "hidden" for all intents and purposes. The socket file "/root/OS/os.sock" terminates the kernal process, however. In theory, all of our virtual servers have kernals.

It has been suggested many times that we formalize the kernal and allow its version to be researched in order to expedite processes such as deletes and grant research bonuses. If we formalize the kernal even on a fundamental level (meaning that it does not grant any bonuses) then we can introduce rootkits whose version must defeat the kernal version in order to hide/mask/protect processes.

I know this probably isn't exactly what you were thinking, but it was a thought based on previous suggestions and the current thread discussion.

Of course then we'd have to introduce root-kit anti-virus programs.