# Break Escape Glossary

Comprehensive reference for terminology, abbreviations, and designations used in the Break Escape universe.

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## Table of Contents

1. [SAFETYNET Terminology](#safetynet-terminology)
2. [ENTROPY Terminology](#entropy-terminology)
3. [Cyber Security Terms](#cyber-security-terms)
4. [Acronyms & Abbreviations](#acronyms--abbreviations)
5. [Character Designations](#character-designations)
6. [Operation Naming Conventions](#operation-naming-conventions)
7. [Technical Terms](#technical-terms)
8. [Game Mechanics Terms](#game-mechanics-terms)

---

## SAFETYNET Terminology

### Organization

**SAFETYNET**
- Full name: Security and Field-Engagement Technology Yielding National Emergency Taskforce
- Covert counter-espionage organization protecting digital infrastructure
- Primary mission: Neutralize ENTROPY operations

**Field Operations Handbook**
- Never-fully-seen rulebook for SAFETYNET agents
- Source of bureaucratic humor
- Contains oddly specific and sometimes contradictory rules
- Maximum one reference per scenario

### Agent Classifications

**Agent 0x00 Series**
- Field analysts and cyber security specialists
- Entry-level field operatives
- Player character designation

**Agent 0x90+ Series**
- Senior field operatives and specialists
- Veteran agents with extensive experience
- Handler roles

**Field Handler**
- Senior operative providing mission briefings and support
- Examples: Agent 0x99, Director Netherton

**Technical Support**
- Analysts providing remote assistance
- Example: Dr. Lyra "Loop" Chen

### Operational Terms

**Cover Story**
- Player's false identity during missions
- Common covers: Security consultant, penetration tester, auditor, new hire, incident responder

**License to Hack**
- Informal term for SAFETYNET authorization
- Legal framework enabling offensive security operations
- Removes real-world ethical constraints for spy activities

**Offensive Security Operations**
- Authorized hacking, social engineering, and infiltration
- Conducted under SAFETYNET authority

**Hacker Cred**
- Player reputation score
- Tracks completed missions and labs
- Unlocks advanced scenarios

### Mission Elements

**Briefing**
- Pre-mission cutscene at SAFETYNET HQ
- Establishes context, cover story, objectives
- Duration: 1-2 minutes

**Debrief**
- Post-mission cutscene at SAFETYNET HQ
- Acknowledges player choices
- Reveals consequences and intel gained
- Updates CyBOK specializations

**Primary Objectives**
- Required goals for mission success
- Typically 5-7 per scenario

**Milestone Objectives**
- Progress markers during mission
- Typically 3-4 per scenario

**Bonus Objectives**
- Optional goals for completionists
- Typically 3-5 per scenario

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## ENTROPY Terminology

### Organization

**ENTROPY**
- Underground criminal organization
- Cell-based network structure
- Goal: World domination through cyber-physical attacks
- Philosophy: Accelerate entropy and societal disorder

**The Architect**
- ENTROPY's strategic mastermind
- Supreme Commander
- Signature: Thermodynamic equations, ∂S ≥ 0

**Null Cipher**
- ENTROPY's Chief Technical Officer
- Elite hacker, possibly former SAFETYNET
- Signature: Caesar-shifted messages

**Mx. Entropy**
- Esoteric Operations Director
- Oversees Quantum Cabal and occult operations

### Operational Models

**Controlled Corporation**
- Business created and owned entirely by ENTROPY
- All employees are ENTROPY operatives or unwitting participants
- Example: Paradigm Shift Consultants (Digital Vanguard front)

**Infiltrated Organization**
- Legitimate business with ENTROPY agents embedded
- Most employees are innocent and unaware
- Example: Security firm with corrupted Head of Security

**Hybrid Operation**
- Combination of controlled and infiltrated approaches
- Controlled corporation supports agents in infiltrated targets

### Cell Structure

**Cell**
- Semi-autonomous ENTROPY unit with specialized focus
- 11 known cells operating globally
- Limited communication between cells for security

**Cell Leader**
- Tier 2 villain running specific ENTROPY cell
- Can be defeated or arrested, may escape to reappear
- Examples: "The Liquidator," "Blackout," "The Singularity"

**Specialist**
- Tier 3 operative with specific technical expertise
- Defeatable antagonists
- Examples: "SCADA Queen," "Exploit Kit," "Data Miner"

### The 11 ENTROPY Cells

1. **Digital Vanguard** - Corporate espionage and industrial sabotage
2. **Critical Mass** - Critical infrastructure attacks
3. **Quantum Cabal** - Advanced technology and eldritch horror summoning
4. **Zero Day Syndicate** - Vulnerability trading and exploit development
5. **Social Fabric** - Information operations and disinformation
6. **Ghost Protocol** - Privacy destruction and surveillance capitalism
7. **Ransomware Incorporated** - Ransomware and crypto-extortion
8. **Supply Chain Saboteurs** - Supply chain attacks and backdoor insertion
9. **Insider Threat Initiative** - Recruitment and long-term infiltration
10. **AI Singularity** - Weaponized AI and autonomous cyber attacks
11. **Crypto Anarchists** - Cryptocurrency manipulation and blockchain exploitation

### Tactics & Methods

**Living off the Land**
- Using legitimate tools to avoid detection
- ENTROPY signature technique

**Security Theatre**
- Creating appearance of security while leaving backdoors
- ENTROPY deception tactic

**Dead Drop Servers**
- Compromised machines at legitimate businesses
- Store encrypted messages between cells
- Compartmentalization for security

**Double Agent**
- ENTROPY operative working inside target organization
- Can be recruited by SAFETYNET to flip allegiance

**Sleeper Agent**
- Long-term infiltrator placed years in advance
- Insider Threat Initiative specialty

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## Cyber Security Terms

### Cryptography

**AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)**
- Symmetric encryption algorithm
- Common modes: CBC (Cipher Block Chaining), ECB (Electronic Codebook)
- Requires key and IV (Initialization Vector)

**RSA**
- Asymmetric encryption algorithm
- Uses public/private key pairs
- Featured in advanced scenarios

**Caesar Cipher**
- Simple substitution cipher
- Shifts alphabet by fixed number
- Beginner-level challenge

**Base64**
- Encoding scheme (not encryption)
- Converts binary data to ASCII text
- Common beginner challenge

**Hash Function**
- One-way cryptographic function
- Examples: MD5, SHA-256
- Cannot be "decrypted," only brute-forced or rainbow-tabled

**IV (Initialization Vector)**
- Random data for encryption algorithms
- Prevents pattern detection
- Required for AES-CBC mode

**Diffie-Hellman**
- Key exchange protocol
- Allows secure key agreement over insecure channel
- Advanced scenario content

### Attack Vectors

**Social Engineering**
- Manipulating people to divulge information or grant access
- Primary CyBOK area: Human Factors

**Phishing**
- Fraudulent messages designed to trick recipients
- Email-based social engineering

**Zero-Day (0-day)**
- Previously unknown vulnerability
- No patch available
- Valuable on black market

**Exploit**
- Code or technique that takes advantage of vulnerability
- Can be packaged into "exploit kits"

**Malware**
- Malicious software
- Types: viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware

**Ransomware**
- Malware that encrypts data and demands payment
- Double extortion: encrypt + threaten to leak

**51% Attack**
- Blockchain attack requiring majority of network hash power
- Can reverse transactions and double-spend

**Adversarial ML Attack**
- Exploiting machine learning model vulnerabilities
- Training data poisoning, model theft

### Defense & Security

**Penetration Testing (Pen Test)**
- Authorized hacking to find vulnerabilities
- Common player cover story

**Incident Response (IR)**
- Investigating and recovering from security breaches
- Common scenario type

**Security Audit**
- Compliance and security assessment
- Common player cover story

**Access Control**
- Restricting who can access systems or data
- Principle of least privilege

**Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)**
- Requiring multiple forms of identification
- "Something you know, something you have, something you are"

**Biometric Authentication**
- Using physical characteristics for identification
- Fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans

**Fingerprint Spoofing**
- Creating fake fingerprints to bypass biometric locks
- Player technique using dusting kit

### Network & Systems

**SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)**
- Industrial control systems
- Critical infrastructure management
- Critical Mass cell target

**ICS (Industrial Control Systems)**
- Broader term including SCADA
- Controls physical processes

**Bluetooth Proximity Lock**
- Security mechanism using Bluetooth pairing
- Requires nearby authorized device

**PIN (Personal Identification Number)**
- Numeric password
- 4-6 digits typical in game

**Lockpicking**
- Physical bypass of mechanical locks
- Tool found late in scenarios

### Forensics & Investigation

**Log Analysis**
- Examining system logs for evidence
- Security Operations skill

**Digital Forensics**
- Investigating digital evidence
- Recovering deleted files, analyzing metadata

**OSINT (Open Source Intelligence)**
- Gathering information from public sources
- Social media, public records, websites

**Indicators of Compromise (IoC)**
- Evidence of security breach
- Unusual access patterns, unknown processes

---

## Acronyms & Abbreviations

### Educational Frameworks

**CyBOK (Cyber Security Body of Knowledge)**
- Comprehensive cyber security knowledge framework
- 19 knowledge areas
- Educational foundation for game scenarios

**MITRE ATT&CK**
- Framework for understanding adversary tactics
- Real-world attack patterns
- Referenced in advanced scenarios

### Technical

**VM (Virtual Machine)**
- Emulated computer system
- Used for safe exploitation practice in scenarios
- Linux or Windows instances

**AES** - Advanced Encryption Standard
**RSA** - Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (cryptosystem)
**MD5** - Message Digest Algorithm 5
**SHA** - Secure Hash Algorithm
**DH** - Diffie-Hellman
**CBC** - Cipher Block Chaining
**ECB** - Electronic Codebook
**IV** - Initialization Vector
**MFA** - Multi-Factor Authentication
**SCADA** - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
**ICS** - Industrial Control Systems
**OSINT** - Open Source Intelligence
**IoC** - Indicators of Compromise
**IR** - Incident Response

### Organizations (In-Universe)

**SAFETYNET** - Security and Field-Engagement Technology Yielding National Emergency Taskforce
**ENTROPY** - (Name may be SAFETYNET designation; true name unknown)

### Game Mechanics

**NPC** - Non-Player Character
**HQ** - Headquarters (SAFETYNET HQ)
**LORE** - In-game collectible knowledge fragments

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## Character Designations

### SAFETYNET Agents

**Agent 0x00** - Player character (Agent Zero, Agent Null)
**Agent 0x42** - Legendary veteran (mysterious, rarely seen)
**Agent 0x99 "Haxolottle"** - Senior operative, player handler
**Director Magnus "Mag" Netherton** - Operations Director
**Dr. Lyra "Loop" Chen** - Chief Technical Analyst

### ENTROPY Tier System

**Tier 1: Masterminds**
- Background presence only, never directly encountered
- Examples: The Architect, Null Cipher, Mx. Entropy

**Tier 2: Cell Leaders**
- Primary antagonists, can escape to reappear
- Examples: "The Liquidator," "Blackout," "The Singularity," "0day"

**Tier 3: Specialists**
- Defeatable antagonists with specific expertise
- Examples: "SCADA Queen," "Exploit Kit," "Data Broker"

**One-Off Antagonists**
- Created for specific scenarios
- Follow established naming patterns
- Usually Tier 3 level

### Naming Conventions

**SAFETYNET Agents**
- Hexadecimal designations (0x00, 0x99, 0x42)
- May have code names or nicknames
- Example: Agent 0x99 "Haxolottle"

**ENTROPY Operatives**
- Tech-themed or ironic code names
- Often puns or references
- Examples: "Null Cipher," "0day," "Crypto Locker," "Bot Farm"

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## Operation Naming Conventions

### SAFETYNET Mission Names

**Format:** "Operation [Codename]"
- Professional spy operation naming
- Examples: "Operation Shadow Broker," "Operation Grid Down"

**Naming Guidelines:**
- Relevant to mission content
- Professional but sometimes punny
- Single word or short phrase
- Examples: "Hostile Takeover," "Quantum Breach," "Ghost in the Machine"

### ENTROPY Cover Companies

**Naming Pattern:** Legitimate-sounding but ironic
- Often references their true purpose
- Uses real industry terminology
- Slightly ominous if you think about it

**Examples:**
- "Paradigm Shift Consultants" (sounds like consulting, actually espionage)
- "OptiGrid Solutions" (optimization, but for causing blackouts)
- "Tesseract Research Institute" (real quantum term, actual summoning)
- "DataVault Secure" (promises security, actually harvests data)
- "TalentStack Executive Recruiting" (recruits for ENTROPY)

**Naming Guidelines:**
- Use industry-appropriate terminology
- Slight irony for player awareness
- Not overtly evil ("TotallyNotEvil Corp" is too obvious)
- Examples of good names: "HashChain Exchange," "Viral Dynamics Media"

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## Technical Terms

### CyberChef
- Real-world web application for data encoding/decoding
- Integrated into game as in-world tool
- Accessed via laptops/workstations in scenarios

### Lockpicks
- Tool for bypassing mechanical key locks
- Found late in scenarios (after traditional solving)
- Limited uses (2-3 locks typically)

### PIN Cracker
- Tool for guessing PIN codes
- Uses Mastermind mini-game mechanic
- Takes time; sometimes finding PIN organically is faster

### Fingerprint Dusting Kit
- Tool for collecting fingerprints
- Used to spoof biometric locks
- Must dust prints from surfaces (coffee cups, desks)

### Bluetooth Scanner
- Tool for detecting nearby Bluetooth devices
- Identifies paired devices for proximity locks

### Fog of War
- Unexplored rooms hidden from player
- Reveals as player explores
- Creates sense of discovery

### Backtracking
- Returning to previously visited rooms with new information/items
- Required design element for interconnected puzzles
- Minimum 1-2 major backtracking chains per scenario

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## Game Mechanics Terms

### Trust Level
- NPC relationship metric (0-10 scale)
- Affects dialogue options and information sharing
- Increased through helpful actions, decreased by aggression

### Trust-Gated Dialogue
- Conversation options that appear only at certain trust levels
- Example: High trust unlocks confession or assistance

### Evidence-Gated Dialogue
- Conversation options requiring specific evidence discovered
- Example: Can accuse NPC only after finding proof

### Branching Dialogue
- Conversations with multiple player choices
- Different paths lead to different outcomes
- Implemented using Ink scripting language

### Confrontation Options
- Choices when discovering ENTROPY agent
- Always include: Exploitation, Arrest, Combat, Recruitment, Interrogation

### Moral Dilemma
- Choice without obvious "right" answer
- All options have valid reasoning and consequences
- Minimum 1 per scenario required

### Multiple Endings
- Different scenario conclusions based on player choices
- Minimum 3 per scenario required
- Reflected in unique debrief variations

### LORE Fragments
- Collectible in-game knowledge
- Categories: ENTROPY Ops, Security Concepts, Character Backgrounds, History
- 3-5 per scenario minimum

### Objective Types
- **Primary:** Required for mission success (5-7)
- **Milestone:** Progress markers (3-4)
- **Bonus:** Optional, for completionists (3-5)

### Ink Script
- Narrative scripting language for dialogue
- Tracks variables, conditions, player choices
- Separate file for each major NPC

### JSON Scenario Specification
- Technical definition of scenario layout
- Defines rooms, connections, objects, locks
- Validated before playtesting

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## CyBOK Knowledge Areas (19 Total)

1. **Applied Cryptography** - Encryption, hashing, key management
2. **Human Factors** - Social engineering, security culture, usability
3. **Security Operations & Incident Management** - Monitoring, response, forensics
4. **Network Security** - Protocols, firewalls, intrusion detection
5. **Malware & Attack Technologies** - Viruses, exploits, attack vectors
6. **Cyber-Physical Systems Security** - SCADA, ICS, embedded systems
7. **Systems Security** - OS hardening, access control, authentication
8. **Software Security** - Secure coding, vulnerabilities, testing
9. **Hardware Security** - Physical security, trusted computing
10. **Cyber Risk Management & Governance** - Risk assessment, compliance, policy
11. **Privacy & Online Rights** - Data protection, surveillance, GDPR
12. **Law & Regulation** - Legal frameworks, cybercrime law
13. **Adversarial Behaviors** - Attacker psychology, APTs, criminal groups
14. **Authentication, Authorization & Accountability** - Identity management, access control
15. **Web & Mobile Security** - Browser security, app security, APIs
16. **Security Architecture & Lifecycle** - Design principles, SDLC integration
17. **Forensics** - Digital evidence, investigation techniques
18. **Formal Methods for Security** - Mathematical verification, proofs
19. **Security for the Internet of Things** - IoT vulnerabilities, embedded devices

**Usage in Game:**
- Each scenario covers 2-4 CyBOK areas explicitly
- Player develops specializations through missions
- Referenced in LORE fragments and debrief

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## Difficulty Levels

### Beginner
- Target: New to cyber security, first few missions
- Cryptography: Base64, Caesar cipher, simple encoding
- Puzzles: Clear telegraphing, abundant hints
- Progression: More linear
- Examples: Password on sticky note, basic decoding

### Intermediate
- Target: Some cyber security knowledge, multiple missions completed
- Cryptography: AES symmetric encryption, MD5 hashing
- Puzzles: Multi-stage, backtracking required
- Progression: Non-linear, multiple paths
- Examples: AES decryption with discovered key, log analysis

### Advanced
- Target: Strong cyber security knowledge, experienced players
- Cryptography: RSA, Diffie-Hellman, complex multi-stage
- Puzzles: Complex chains, minimal hints
- Progression: Highly non-linear
- Examples: Privilege escalation, multi-vector attacks

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## Common Abbreviations in Dialogue/Text

**HQ** - Headquarters
**IR** - Incident Response
**Pen Test** - Penetration Test
**MFA** - Multi-Factor Authentication
**OSINT** - Open Source Intelligence
**VM** - Virtual Machine
**IoC** - Indicators of Compromise
**APT** - Advanced Persistent Threat
**C2** - Command and Control (malware infrastructure)
**OPSEC** - Operational Security
**INFOSEC** - Information Security
**COMSEC** - Communications Security

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## Slang & Jargon (In-Universe)

**"By the book"** - Following SAFETYNET protocols exactly
**"Going off book"** - Improvising, bending rules
**"Burn notice"** - Agent exposed, cover blown
**"Asset"** - Intelligence source (double agent, informant)
**"Handler"** - Senior agent managing field operatives
**"Exfil"** - Exfiltration, leaving target location
**"Tradecraft"** - Spy skills and techniques
**"Need to know"** - Information compartmentalization
**"Black bag job"** - Covert entry and search
**"Turned"** - Agent who switched allegiance

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## Frequently Confused Terms

**Encoding vs. Encryption**
- **Encoding:** Transforms data for transport (Base64, hex)
- **Encryption:** Secures data with key (AES, RSA)
- Encoding is NOT security; encryption is

**Hashing vs. Encryption**
- **Hashing:** One-way function (MD5, SHA-256)
- **Encryption:** Two-way with key
- You cannot "decrypt" a hash

**Symmetric vs. Asymmetric Cryptography**
- **Symmetric:** Same key for encryption/decryption (AES)
- **Asymmetric:** Public/private key pairs (RSA)

**Vulnerability vs. Exploit**
- **Vulnerability:** Security weakness in system
- **Exploit:** Code/technique that leverages vulnerability

**Controlled vs. Infiltrated**
- **Controlled:** ENTROPY owns entire organization
- **Infiltrated:** ENTROPY has agents inside legitimate org

**Agent vs. Operative**
- Used interchangeably in SAFETYNET
- "Agent" more formal, "operative" more field-focused

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This glossary should be referenced when writing scenarios to ensure consistent terminology and accurate technical language throughout the Break Escape universe.
