unforum

[Euchre]

Group 7 access is lower than Group 6. In the original film they needed the higher level Group 6 access to regain the ability to operate the Tron program. Elevation of privileges is one of the primary methods of hacking a system. They did not use Group 7 access from a 'remote' terminal to forge their Group 6 access, they used a 'direct terminal', or more in the parlance of the systems common at the time they used a system console which is connected directly to the primary system. Major systems back then consisted of large single systems with many users on separate peripherals (keyboard, display). The laser bay system apparently needed direct access for it's level of work. The programmers with Group 7 access are at least one layer separated from the primary system, and of course Flynn would have to be using remote access like an old dial up connection and using something like Telnet.

If you want to review the info and context more, start watching the DVD (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition) from Chapter 4 onward.

Class dismissed.

[legioss]

 Bits info?

[Clu]

[FSURobbie]

I'm with Euchre, I believe Lora had higher access then Kevin or Alan. Lora, a researcher, was working on one of Encom's top projects while Kevin and Alan were run of the mill programmers. Sure, we don't see them as that but Encom did. Dillinger didn't even pay attention to Allen or the Tron program he was developing. Further, how could Kev, with no access, fudge a high level pass if that was what Group 7 was? Why not immediately fake a lowly Group 6? If Group 6 was the lower level why couldn't he fake one of those once his high level Group 7 got locked out?

I guess people could argue both ways but to me it was pretty obvious Group 7 was on the low end of the totem pole.

[Clu]

[enaxor]

Re: Bits info?

[madopal]

Re: Bits info?

[Nighthawk]

Re: Bits info?

[emeraldbeacon]

We're also assuming that real world logic applies to a movie that came out in 1982. It seems pretty straightforward that Group 7 is, in the real world, less important than Group 6, but back then, someone may have never done their 'fact checking', and assumed higher number = more access (hence, 7 was locked out, but lower-access 6 was not).

Impossible to say without asking the filmmakers directly, what their INTENTIONS were for group levels, and access restrictions... real-world examples aside.

[Euchre]

Um, OK...

So Bradley and Flynn were using Group 7 access writing games and software utilities with a higher level access than a researcher working on a technology that would change travel, shipping, and storage (particle based matter transmission and storage)? Sure, game development must be a higher priority than a technology that I'm sure others would literally kill for.

Also note that Lora and her team were still perfectly able to run their software for their test right after Alan visited Dillinger to consult about the Group 7 lockout. Subsequently Dr. Gibbs comes to dispute the lockout with Dillinger, to which Dillinger responds that he can't be bothered to keep track of 'every little software project' his employees are working on. Doesn't make Group 7 sound too important to him, does it?

[FSURobbie]

[madopal]

[legioss]

 Movie Files Source Links

[Guest]

You know, it could just possibly be that since it's "group 7" and not "level 7" that all groups have the same priority and power, just that they are different sections of the company, and that they needed a "group 6" just to get back into the system.

[KiltDaddy]