Security Documentation for MTG Commander Networking

This section covers the security aspects of the MTG Commander game engine's networking implementation. Security is a critical consideration for any multiplayer game, especially one that involves hidden information and competitive gameplay.

Overview

The security implementation for the MTG Commander game engine focuses on several key areas:

  1. Authentication and Authorization: Ensuring only legitimate users can access the game
  2. Hidden Information Management: Protecting game-critical hidden information
  3. Anti-Cheat Measures: Preventing and detecting cheating attempts
  4. Network Security: Securing communication between clients and servers
  5. Data Protection: Safeguarding user data and game state

Security Components

Authentication

The Authentication system ensures that only legitimate users can connect to and participate in games. It covers:

  • User identity verification
  • Session management
  • Credential security
  • Protection against common authentication attacks

Anti-Cheat

The Anti-Cheat system prevents players from gaining unfair advantages through technical means. It addresses:

  • Client modification detection
  • Memory manipulation prevention
  • Network traffic validation
  • Anomaly detection and response
  • Enforcement of game rules

Hidden Information Management

The Hidden Information system protects game-critical information that should be hidden from some or all players. It covers:

  • Player hand protection
  • Library content and order security
  • Face-down card management
  • Selective information revelation
  • Server-side information control

Security Testing

Security testing is a critical aspect of ensuring the robustness of our security measures. For details on how we test security features, see the Security Testing Strategy.

Implementation Principles

Our security implementation follows these core principles:

  1. Defense in Depth: Multiple layers of security to protect against different types of threats
  2. Least Privilege: Components only have access to the information and capabilities they need
  3. Server Authority: The server is the single source of truth for game state
  4. Secure by Default: Security is built into the system from the ground up
  5. Continuous Improvement: Security measures are regularly reviewed and enhanced

Future Enhancements

Planned security enhancements include:

  • Enhanced encryption for sensitive game actions
  • Two-factor authentication support
  • Advanced anti-cheat measures using machine learning
  • Improved security testing automation
  • Expanded security documentation and best practices

This documentation will be updated as security measures evolve.