Burner CommLinks..., From the "Less Shadows" thread Options

[kzt]

Of course, 65 years in the future, it's feasible to assume software is much mroe stable, and after two (three when counting Deus' first appearance) great to global disasters related to faulty computer security, people should be a tad more security-conscious.

That makes perfect sense. Can you find any evidence of this in the rules?

[hermit]

Yes. There're no rules for random crashes anywhere. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[CanRay]

Yes. There're no rules for random crashes anywhere. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Main Rulebook, Page 55 and 56. Glitches and Critical Glitches!

Don't get more random than that!

[hermit]

Glitches are user-triggered, not due to the hardware he uses.

Also, there're no rules for incompatible software, cyberware or hardware, crappy hardware or degeneration of software, security faults and exploits that have to be patched or the software (like a firewall) becomes useless ...

[CanRay]

"A glitch is a mistake, error, fumble, or random fluke that causes the action to go wrong in some way."

I'd call a Illegal Software Action to be a Random Fluke.

And for the Critical Glitches, BSoD. Which, if you're in VR, means you can't reach the CTRL+ALT+DEL keys, while your Icon just hangs there, a simple target for the IC.

As for the rest...

Now you have just given me so many evil ideas!

I'll also take this time to point out that there's no rules for Cheap Knockoffs, either, and yet we can be sure they exist as well.

Well, except for those cheap Hong Kong BTLs that will fry you, but that's a different story.

[Nightwalker450]

Also, there're no rules for incompatible software, cyberware or hardware, crappy hardware or degeneration of software, security faults and exploits that have to be patched or the software (like a firewall) becomes useless ...

I believe this was stated to be coming in Unwired.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif) Waiting Anxiously

[hermit]

Cute. A bit too ... today .. for my taste, but cute.

[b1ffov3rfl0w]

Why do people buy low-end, poorly put together laptops and desktop computers and then expect me to support them.

Ooh, ooh, pick me!

Because you are a professional Tech Support Guy and that's your job?

I really don't get why people who do tech support are so often like this. If computer users all decided they were going to install Linux on their own boxen and learn how to do all the stuff they wanted their computers to be usable for, everyone working in tech support (okay, 90% of people in tech support) would be frothing milk. Plus it makes you look like a genius and a hero!

If, on the other hand, you're doing tech support for free, you should probably not do that, since it seems like a source of stress for you.

EDIT: Okay, that came out a bit more sarcastic and dickish than I meant, so, sorry. Anyway, the thing is, people buy those because they can't pay for better stuff or they don't know that the stuff isn't good, just like with other things. And also there's still a pretty common bias against knowing about computers as opposed to, say, cars. I see less of it now, living where I do, but I'm pretty sure it's still around.

[CanRay]

Because you are a professional Tech Support Guy and that's your job?

EDIT: Okay, that came out a bit more sarcastic and dickish than I meant, so, sorry. Anyway, the thing is, people buy those because they can't pay for better stuff or they don't know that the stuff isn't good, just like with other things. And also there's still a pretty common bias against knowing about computers as opposed to, say, cars. I see less of it now, living where I do, but I'm pretty sure it's still around.

Yeah, it is. And, were I paid appropriately for the work I did, I'd have less to complain about.

But, for a job that is very technical, that requires extensive interpersonal relation skills, and has stress levels above that of Bomb Disposal Experts (No, I'm not joking, I just wish I could find the article that quoted that), the pay sucks.

And, because "Computers are the future! Get into computers for a good job!" happened when I was approaching College, there I went. And half-way through my courses, there goes the DotCom Bubble, "POP!". No jobs for you save for Tech Support which will eat you up and spit you out in less than a year (Which is exactly what it did.).

Had I gone into the Trades, or Business, or the Traditionals... Hell, if I had gone straight from High School into Data Entry...

Damnit, now I need a drink, and the Rum is gone. Even the cheap Synthrum! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dead.gif)

It's almost enough to make me want to get a Cyber-7 and deck myself a career!

[Fortune]

Shrug. Don't like your job? Change it! I know for a fact that Canada has a multitude of options for people that would like to change careers. Some of these even pay you while you retrain. Reach out and touch someone to find out all about it.

[CanRay]

Which is not a discussion for here and now.

Back to Burner CommLinks! What do you think, folks, various cheaper versions hitting the market to compete for them? Or will they become more expensive after Emergence?

[Fortune]

Which is not a discussion for here and now.

Of course not. I just figured if things were really 'that bad', you might like to know there are options.

Another option, of course, is to just be an idle bum such as myself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[CanRay]

Of course not. I just figured if things were really 'that bad', you might like to know there are options.

Another option, of course, is to just be an idle bum such as myself. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

You know what, screw it all!

I need to hunt me up a Johnson's phone number, and become a Shadowrunner! That's what I need to do!

[b1ffov3rfl0w]

Or, spend years and years in grad school, then get a part-time job tutoring high school kids! And then get work as a temp! Yay!

[Tarantula]

It's life-reatening to have your link hacked. Someone might then turn it into VR mode and fry your brain (using an attack program and doing stun damage, a hacker can, thanks to damage overflow, actually kill, it just takes time).

No, it isn't. Most users wouldn't be walking around or even working in VR. Most people would probably use AR. A hacker cannot force you into VR mode, no matter how much they hack your link. Its a choice your persona makes, not other personas. As long as you don't go VR, you can NOT ever die from the matrix.

[CanRay]

No, it isn't. Most users wouldn't be walking around or even working in VR. Most people would probably use AR. A hacker cannot force you into VR mode, no matter how much they hack your link. Its a choice your persona makes, not other personas. As long as you don't go VR, you can NOT ever die from the matrix.

Not that'll stop the Firewall Software Advertisers from insinuating that it's POSSIBLE anyhow.

Gotta get those sales up somehow! Keep those Sheeple scared!

[Tarantula]

Heh, money scares people the most. Ruin your credit, your bank history, and steal all your monies.

[Cthulhudreams]

Sorry, but the car anology won't work with me. I'd take a '57 Chevy El Dorado against a '07 Chevy Impala any day of the week. Modern car technology has made things worse from my point of view.

Bad comparison. The real basis point for comparison is the 2008 BMW 3-series - the biggest selling medium car in europe. Or perhaps a honda accord euro. i imagine many, many, many people would take the 3 series over the 57 car as a 'daily drive' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Fix-it]

Yeah, it is. And, were I paid appropriately for the work I did, I'd have less to complain about.

But, for a job that is very technical, that requires extensive interpersonal relation skills, and has stress levels above that of Bomb Disposal Experts (No, I'm not joking, I just wish I could find the article that quoted that), the pay sucks.

I'd rather be EOD. at least then you can fight fire with fire.

[CanRay]

I'd rather be EOD. at least then you can fight fire with fire.

I'd rather be EOD, at least then I can blow drek up!

I grew up in a mining town, and now live in a city surrounded by farms. I miss the occasional earth-shattering ka-boom!

[cndblank]

I could also see people only having instant access to non critical stuff on their comm unit.

Say access to a couple of hundred nuyen credit per day without special authorization. Of course the special authorization has to be non VR.

You keep all your valuable stuff in your Bank's system and connect to it to when you need to do something critical. While someone could still hack your comm unit, they wouldn't be able to do much besides down load your address book and day timer. Perhaps some form of hardware security chip like on a certified cred stick. To access your bank account you have to have the security chip, access to your comm unit, and have a voice print or retina print (all it takes is a good camera on the comm unit to take a picture of your eye).

The point is that while they can't stop someone from hacking a comm unit, they can make it not worth their while. I mean a good hacker could eventually get enough control, but is it going to be worth it to get a couple of hundred?


And like the credit card companies of today, if you did get your back account cleared out, they would make good your losses, because they can't afford for people to be worried about how safe their credit accounts are when accessed through their comm units.

[CanRay]

That makes sense. A lot of Debit (Bank) cards today have a set limit per day. Any more, and you have to talk to the nice teller and show some physical ID of some sort.

So, for the shiny, happy SINner, they'd have that nice defence put into place by the Bank. (Good luck hacking a BANK! If you can do that, you might as well hack yourself some (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) in the first place.).

But I doubt the Black Bank Accounts will have those kinds of security. Of course, if you're using the First Bank of Yakuza, then you're likely using a FastJack Special Firewall, with Added Slamm-O Security Updates!

[Blade]

Right now there aren't any guidelines concerning the rating of the commlink and firewall of Joe Average. Until then, it's up to the GM depending on two things : game balance (how easy he wants the hacking to be) and fluff consistency (if the GM thinks hackers are common, it'd be ridiculous if everybody paid with rating 1 commlinks).

[hermit]

Right now, it seems pretty much up to interpretation whether or not a hacker can force a hcked commlink to put people into VR. I know there'll be ghosthacking rules in Unwired, though, which wouldn't really make much sense if you couldn't force people into VR to play that psychotropic simsense. Nor would simsense spam in spam zones. People don't usually walk around in VR.

[wanderer_king]

UMMM... I would say there is a good probability that Joe Schmoe will not have a sim module or sim rig... which means no forced VR for you.... SIM modules/rigs doesn't seem to be the kind of thing that slots carry. And to kill them (I have to check that one to confirm) they MUST be hot sim... and your average slot will not have that for sure. (Hot sim is a commlink/SIM Rig/module modification that is illegal and would probably be frowned on by the all know, beneficeint Corp.)