How is cheating possible?
 

This is not a troll. I think it's important to discover how the recently-discovered cheating was perpetrated. Early in Stormbinder's thread, now closed, I speculated about the possibility of hacking the 2h file, to which Zen responded:

So how was it done?

Re: How is cheating possible?
 

well, personally i've suspected for a while that esben's security had been compromised. Other than that, I have no idea how he accomplished it, other than through using a hex editor http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Re: How is cheating possible?
 

Early on Norfleet spoke of some skill with hex editing. I doubt that discussions along those lines will occur outside of the dominions beta forum at most.

Re: How is cheating possible?
 

Well, so long as it happens somewhere, that's good. It's not a comfortable feeling to think that there's another Norfleet out there waiting to happen, or even Norfleet himself, under a new name tomorrow.

Kudos to Stormbinder, BTW, for his achievement. It took a lot of hard work and a thick skin to the jibes of Norfleet's supporters to pull this off. The end result is an invaluable service to the Dominions community and I, for one, would like to express my gratitude. Thanks, Stormbinder.

Re: How is cheating possible?
 

Thank you for your kind words, Zapmeister. I really appreciate it.

Re: How is cheating possible?
 

Yes Sir. Well worth the effort. Cleaning house is good for everyone.

RE: Zap and the topic heading...

I believe that we would all like to know how it was done. I recognize that Gandalf said it would be kept out of public eyes; I'm not sure I want to go wandering into the alley where I will find that answer.

Re: How is cheating possible?
 

I guess hexedit the 2h file so that your commanders have iligal orders. Would work, if they aren't checked on server

Re: How is cheating possible?
 

Sure. But finding that answer is a pre-requisite for closing the vulnerability. And after that vulnerability is closed, it no longer matters if everyone knows the details.

But I have no problem with this happening behind closed doors, if that's the way the Powers That Be want it.

Re: How is cheating possible?
 

Two problems:

1) The 2h file is encrypted and checksummed;
2) The format of the 2h file prior to encryption is not public knowledge.

Re: How is cheating possible?
 

While I'm not a cryptanalyst, http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif I suggest you search the net for "chosen plaintext attack".

Apologies to the Moderators if mentioning this is a no-no.