Agent tutorial? Options

[braingoblin]

Howdy, I'm gonna be playing a hacker for the first time in a SR4 game soon and I'm a little confused about agents.

Are agents basically matrix drones, just without the ability to jump into them like a rigger can jump into a drone?

Can someone give me some examples of how you might use an agent properly?

And, like drones, I'd hafta buy the agent program multiple times so I'd have more than 1, correct?

I looked through the forums, but wasn't having any luck on finding basics on using Agents. If someone knows of a thread that I overlooked, please help a n00b hacker out so I don't get my team slagged, heh.

[DireRadiant]

First you name your agent "Smith" and then your golden.

For a Hacker Agents make great support and help in defense.

While you are busy doing Hacking, have your agent constantly browsing and analyzing the node looking for threats to you. If you are detected, you can have the Agent fight while you try to get away. Or have it help you fight. If you are offline for any reason, have your agent look up stuff for you while you party. All the tedious tasks that don't take your Hackers awesome skills to do, have your agent do them instead.

[Cthulhudreams]

The biggest thing is that the agent can take a second round of actions for you. Just think 'what else could I be doing here?' Legwork - you have the agent browse, scanning, spoofing your matrix trail, defrauding your lifestyle so you live for free, all that kinda shiz.

[deek]

Yeah, load up your Agent with a handful of programs and you basically can tell it to go do something for you. Its a pretty efficient use of your time to multi-task.

For instance, I just recently had my Agent do a data search for some research information. Its a Rating 3 with a Browse 3, so it gets 6 dice to make the test. Now, my character is a mage, so I didn't spend any points in Data Search, so this was actually a cheap way to get some computer/hacking skills without spending my BP on skills that I'm likely not going to use.

But, you could also arm your Agent with Analyze, Armor and Attack and have it scan your home node. If any intruders hit it, you just have the Agent engage in cybercombat.

Arm your Agent with Exploit, Analyze and Stealth to target a node and hack it...lots of things you can do in addition to just having it back you up in cybercombat. Just note, they have the same access id as you, so if they are tracked, it still comes back to your home node.

But as a non-hacker type, they are very useful for a lot of matrix related tasks!

[CodeBreaker]

My Technomancer mostly uses his Agent programs to sit about in my comrades (especially that pesky Cyber-Sam who keeps forgetting to turn his wireless off) 'links. They arent really designed to do anything other than watch for an enemy hacking. Got them scripted so that if they do detect something is up they ping me so I can either slave my friends 'links to my brain (Lets see you get past that, you sneaky little hacker!) or I jump into the node and get ready to lay the smackdown.

Or I use them to spread my homemade viruses about the place. My technomancer has a habit of releasing ASIST Viruses that makes everyone it comes in contact with suddenly break into dance. Mainly because I find it amusing.

[braingoblin]

well. the theme of my hacker is basically a parody of a wow player, with an idea of 1 agent that was a priestess (scanning, browsing, using medic on him, etc) and another agent that was is a rogue for stealth actions in other nodes while the hacker is busy in the real world. Its all supposed to parody an adventuring party.

Any suggestions on how to use a stealth agent properly?

[braingoblin]

hehe, nevermind, i took forever in replying and my questions were already answered. Thanks!

[BlueMax]

My Technomancer mostly uses his Agent programs to sit about in my comrades (especially that pesky Cyber-Sam who keeps forgetting to turn his wireless off) 'links. They arent really designed to do anything other than watch for an enemy hacking. Got them scripted so that if they do detect something is up they ping me so I can either slave my friends 'links to my brain (Lets see you get past that, you sneaky little hacker!) or I jump into the node and get ready to lay the smackdown.

Or I use them to spread my homemade viruses about the place. My technomancer has a habit of releasing ASIST Viruses that makes everyone it comes in contact with suddenly break into dance. Mainly because I find it amusing.

A TM who uses agents instead of, or in addition to, sprites? Tell me more.

[braingoblin]

A TM who uses agents instead of, or in addition to, sprites? Tell me more.

Sounds like the agent was simply a purchase based on after saying "Damnit steve! We're running here! Turn off your wireless!" the 10th time. That agent sounds like a babysitter, haha

[CodeBreaker]

He actually uses both Sprites and Agents. As a technomancer I find I dont actually have a lot of use for all that nice shiny Nuyen the Johnson keeps throwing at us, so its either pass it on to the team or I horde it all up. Instead I decided to buy some toys, i.e Automated Sniper Drones, some high rating Agent programs and one or two spare cars ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) ).

The Agents do all the things I dont really want to waste a Sprite Task on such as sitting in nodes doing basic scans and the like, maybe sometimes spread some code about to set up a Botnet while I have a snooze. As a metaphor consider it this way, I use my Agents as your basic police forces and my Sprites as SWAT. The Agents do most of the grunt work, patrolling the streets (commlinks), watching out for bad things going down. The Sprites follow me about and help me when I need to pull off my epic hack, or are mobilised whenever the Agents have trouble holding off the Combat Hackers. I also have a habit of slotting my Sprites into my drones to make what would normally be a dogbrain stupid attack drone into a killing machine. Add in my Biowired up Sniper skills and some Sniper drones, and using a camo-stealthed flying drone as a signal booster I can sit on top of a building half a mile away and pick off any resistance that my more active friends are having trouble with.

Sure, its not optimal at times (If I wanted to I could be much better at actually getting into systems, but honestly, after your dicepools are so high having the ability to do something other than make all the badguys smartguns drop their clips is nice) but I get to watch peoples heads explode through a smartlink.

Plus I run Tacnets, have Machine Sprites sit in when the Armourer is fixing things along with a Tutor Sprite if we ever need one. My party is getting used to having a fair bit of support from me.

[BlueMax]

He actually uses both Sprites and Agents. As a technomancer I find I dont actually have a lot of use for all that nice shiny Nuyen the Johnson keeps throwing at us, so its either pass it on to the team or I horde it all up. Instead I decided to buy some toys, i.e Automated Sniper Drones, some high rating Agent programs and one or two spare cars ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif) ).

The Agents do all the things I dont really want to waste a Sprite Task on such as sitting in nodes doing basic scans and the like, maybe sometimes spread some code about to set up a Botnet while I have a snooze. As a metaphor consider it this way, I use my Agents as your basic police forces and my Sprites as SWAT. The Agents do most of the grunt work, patrolling the streets (commlinks), watching out for bad things going down. The Sprites follow me about and help me when I need to pull off my epic hack, or are mobilised whenever the Agents have trouble holding off the Combat Hackers. I also have a habit of slotting my Sprites into my drones to make what would normally be a dogbrain stupid attack drone into a killing machine. Add in my Biowired up Sniper skills and some Sniper drones, and using a camo-stealthed flying drone as a signal booster I can sit on top of a building half a mile away and pick off any resistance that my more active friends are having trouble with.

Sure, its not optimal at times (If I wanted to I could be much better at actually getting into systems, but honestly, after your dicepools are so high having the ability to do something other than make all the badguys smartguns drop their clips is nice) but I get to watch peoples heads explode through a smartlink.

Plus I run Tacnets, have Machine Sprites sit in when the Armourer is fixing things along with a Tutor Sprite if we ever need one. My party is getting used to having a fair bit of support from me.

Gotcha. My game has three TMs and I am always interested in helping them find more to do.

BlueMax

[BlackJaw]

How you handle agents and software in general is altered by how much of Unwired you have.

In theory, the agent you purchased came with copy protection and a unique purchase ID based on the SIN you used to buy it.

While the Copy protection is in there, you can only ever have one of the agents. No copies.
If you crack the agent you can remove the copy protection, letting you make multiple copies and run them all over the place, but with once exception: you can still only run 1 of those agents in any given node (although I think you can run them as much as you want on your own commlink.) Note that the custom ID in the agent is something you will want to remove if you are using it for hacking and don't want to leave a trace if you agent program get's captured. The "This agent is registered to Bob Hobowack" is not something you want floating around. Either way, if you crack the agent it will no longer auto-patch which means you will have to self Patch the bugger or it will degrade. Alternatively you can buy an illegal version of an agent (A Mook) so that these troubles aren't built in, and you won't have to crack it.

You can purchase more agents in order to run more of them on a node at the same time.

Also note that IC and agents are almost the same, but IC can be launched automatically when an intruder is detected on a system.

I personally like to use Agents with Replicate, Stealth, Exploit, and Attack to spread as viruses through enemy systems after I break in. It lets me crash not only a security node, but most of the equipment connected to it... the sensors, locks, and sometimes even drones. At the very least it distracts the security hackers when they find their whole system under attack instead of just one guy slinking about... still it's not exactly subtle so it's the kind of thing I do when subtle isn't the idea.

Oh, and note that Agents are not as smart as drones. Drones have a whole computer running them and can interpret their environment thanks to a whole lot of sensors. Agents are very simple programs that run on the 2070 version of a cellphone/laptop. In general they follow a list or "Script" of actions that can be about as complicated as a list of "IF X THEN DO Y." If you want smarter agents, you need to load them with the Adaptability Autosoft. Hopefully your GM doesn't make you script out the entire complex agent setup when you say, send it out to Browse for info.

Good agents I have:
Fido: Browse, Adaptability, Stealth (search checks on various topics)
Crash.Worm: Replicate, Exploit, Stealth, Attack (spread to all connected devices, then attack the OS of the device you are on.)
Blinder.Worm: Replicate, Exploit, Stealth, Negator AR Software (Spread to all connected nodes, and run Negator AR software while Stealth in order to conceal the Shadowrun team from the senses of security guards.)
Netmaker.Worm: Replicate, Stealth, Exploit, Scan (Scan for commlinks, try to hack the commlinks only once, replicate onto the commlink if connected, Slave back to host commlink, begin again.... easy way to make a quick network of bots inside busy places full of consumer grade commlinks... like Clubs. I tend to have it only scan for commlinks because I don't want it to attack the building's security nodes. I also only have it exploit once, so if it doesn't get in, I assume it's a nasty firewall and move on instead of risking detection. The goal is to infect a lot of low grade commlinks for Denail of service attacks against a stronger commlink.)

Good IC I have:
Guard Dog: Analyze, Homeground, Stealth (inspect most recent unchecked user, then reinspect users based on the oldest first. Sound alarm if trouble detected. Keep running at all times.)
Attack Dog: Armor, Expert Offense, Attack, Cascading (attack who it's launched at. Good auto-load IC because it will work on agents and sprites as well as hackers and technomancers.)
Black Dog: Armor, Expert Offense, Blackout, Cascading (attack who it's launched at. Good for throwing at enemy hackers. I call the Black Hammer version Hellhound.)
Bloodhound: Track, Exploit, Adaptability (track who it's launched at, and try to get into their system and open a connection back to me.)

Of course all their loaded programs can further be modified with Program Options like Optimized, Ergonomic, Armor Piercing, Mute, etc.

It can get very complicated. The game I play a hacker in, we mostly ignore or gloss over the Program Options as we aren't an overly matrix focused group, and I now know more about 4ed hackers then the GM.

[CodeBreaker]

One of the nice things about slaving my friends 'links to my brain is that according to the rules (Atleast as I read them) it means that the only way anyone can break into them is by spoofing my Access ID to access it. Now I am not sure about the next bit, but reading the Spoofing action text in SR4A, spoofing can only be done on something with a Pilot rating or is a Peripheral device. I aint sure, but I am quite certain that a Commlink is neither of these things.

And Unwired says that a normal hacker cannot hack my living persona node. So I am fairly certain that means that unless the enemy hacker is a Technomancer himself my friends Commlink is completely and utterly secure from any outside hacking attempt. And then the Owner of the Slaved Commlink simply makes sure that all his kit is DNI/Skinlinked and he is completely safe from hacking attempts.

Feel free to poke holes in this though.

(EDIT: I apologise that thats a bit Offtopic, if you want I will pull it into a different thread for any discussion on it)

[Wiseman]

One of the nice things about slaving my friends 'links to my brain is that according to the rules (Atleast as I read them) it means that the only way anyone can break into them is by spoofing my Access ID to access it. Now I am not sure about the next bit, but reading the Spoofing action text in SR4A, spoofing can only be done on something with a Pilot rating or is a Peripheral device. I aint sure, but I am quite certain that a Commlink is neither of these things.

I don't have SR4A yet (waiting for the hardcopy), but by my understanding you're mostly right. I understood slaved nodes to only have a few methods of access.

1) Gain access to the "master" node (pretty impossible to a non-hacker against a bio-PAN)

2) Gain physical access to the device and take a -2 DP to hack it (hope the player is unconcious though, and if he is why bother hacking his smartlink)

3) Spoof the access ID of the master node. This would require the hacker first locate your node (which is always in hidden mode), perform a Matrix Perception Test, and then spoof commands to the cyberware.

So given the above, this seems to fit what you're saying EXCEPT that I would consider cyberware to be a peripheral device as far as the Matrix is concerned. A hacker is not spoofing commands to your commlink (bio-PAN), they're spoofing commands to the cyberware PRETENDING to be your commlink.

No doubt though that this is far more secure than letting the minor diagnostic computers broadcast in open wireless.

[toolbox]

3) Spoof the access ID of the master node. This would require the hacker first locate your node (which is always in hidden mode), perform a Matrix Perception Test, and then spoof commands to the cyberware.

So given the above, this seems to fit what you're saying EXCEPT that I would consider cyberware to be a peripheral device as far as the Matrix is concerned. A hacker is not spoofing commands to your commlink (bio-PAN), they're spoofing commands to the cyberware PRETENDING to be your commlink.

He's not talking about spoofing cyberware; he's talking about spoofing commands to teammate's slaved commlinks as if they came from the TM's bio-node. The question is if a commlink (which is not a peripheral device and has no Pilot rating) can be spoofed. If it can't, this is very secure; if it can, less so.

[CodeBreaker]

I don't have SR4A yet (waiting for the hardcopy), but by my understanding you're mostly right. I understood slaved nodes to only have a few methods of access.

1) Gain access to the "master" node (pretty impossible to a non-hacker against a bio-PAN)

2) Gain physical access to the device and take a -2 DP to hack it (hope the player is unconcious though, and if he is why bother hacking his smartlink)

3) Spoof the access ID of the master node. This would require the hacker first locate your node (which is always in hidden mode), perform a Matrix Perception Test, and then spoof commands to the cyberware.

So given the above, this seems to fit what you're saying EXCEPT that I would consider cyberware to be a peripheral device as far as the Matrix is concerned. A hacker is not spoofing commands to your commlink (bio-PAN), they're spoofing commands to the cyberware PRETENDING to be your commlink.

No doubt though that this is far more secure than letting the minor diagnostic computers broadcast in open wireless.

Agreed, however in my example this is the current topology of the Slaved networks -

My Bio-Node. Master Node, basically unhackable unless I am up against a technomancer
My Friends Commlink. Slaved to My Bio-Node. From my reading of the rules an enemy hacker cannot spoof any commands to this Commlink because it is neither a peripheral device nor does it have a Pilot rating.
My Friends Kit. Everything here is wired directly to his brain with a DNI connection or wired/skinlinked to his Commlink, which means its unspoofable unless the enemy hacker is in direct contact with the Slaved Commlink.

So, the enemy hackers options should all be cut off. He cant hack through the Slave because he cannot hack into the Master Node (My Bio-Node). He cant hack into the Slaved Commlink unless he gains direct access to the commlink itself, and thats not really an option open to a hacker when lead is flying. He cannot spoof commands to the Slaved Commlink because the 'link is exempt from the spoof action (See above). He cannot spoof commands to any peripheral devices that are wired/skinlinked to the Slaved Commlink just because he cant, not without direct contact anyway (See above why thats not a good idea).

The only way I can see an enemy hacker disrupting this would be to use Jamming tech to disrupt my Bio-Nodes subscription to the Slaved Commlink.

[deek]

This all rides on not being able to spoof a slaved node...anyone have access to unwired to paste some RAW?

[braingoblin]

This is all been super helpful information. I think I should've just made this thread called "Help a n00b hacker" or something....because I got a lotta questions.

Like starting loadout gearwise. Seems like everything I've seen says "GET THE FAIRLIGHT, NOVATECH NAVI OS, UPGRADE THEM, BUY ALL PROGRAMS AT RATING 6!" That just sounds boring to start out with EVERYTHING AWESOME. Am I wrong here? My dwarf hacker is a 20-something geek named Banhammer, his skills are geared toward finding exploits and hacking on the fly via AR hacking mostly so he can run with his team on missions.

Any suggestions for a gear load out? Or is it pretty much 'twink it all out' at character creation?

[deek]

This is all been super helpful information. I think I should've just made this thread called "Help a n00b hacker" or something....because I got a lotta questions.

Like starting loadout gearwise. Seems like everything I've seen says "GET THE FAIRLIGHT, NOVATECH NAVI OS, UPGRADE THEM, BUY ALL PROGRAMS AT RATING 6!" That just sounds boring to start out with EVERYTHING AWESOME. Am I wrong here? My dwarf hacker is a 20-something geek named Banhammer, his skills are geared toward finding exploits and hacking on the fly via AR hacking mostly so he can run with his team on missions.

Any suggestions for a gear load out? Or is pretty much 'twink it all out' at character creation?

IIRC, the commlinks and OS available can only be upgraded to 5's, based on chargen availability limits. But yeah, there is really no "strategy" to building a great hacker to start...at least from an equipment standpoint. You want the best rated commlink you can buy and you want the highest rated programs (all of them, both common use and hacking) that your commlink will allow. Now, getting into unwired, you can add some more fun to the common builds by adding program options to a lot of your programs.

I mean, who doesn't want the Mute option on their Exploit program?

But, generally speaking, almost all hackers are going to have a similar starting build when looking at the commlink, OS and programs. Just set aside the nuyen and "get'em all".

[CodeBreaker]

The target of a spoof attempt must either have a Pilot rating or be
a peripheral device. Most often you will spoof a drone or an agent, but
you may also use spoof to do things like unlock doors, get free cab rides,
and make the McHugh’s autocooker prepare your soyburger exactly
the way you like it.

Slaving
One node, the slave, may be linked to another node, the master.
In this setup, the master is given full admin access to the slave.
When slaving a node to a master, the slaved node does not accept
any Matrix connections from any other node but the master and
instantly forwards any connection attempts to the master.
Hackers have three options when faced with a slaved node.
First, they can hack in directly to the slave with an additional
threshold modifier of +2, though this requires a physical (wired)
connection to the device. Second, they can hack the master node
(thus gaining access to the slaved node—and any other slaves—
as well), though this node is usually more secure. Third, they can
spoof the access ID of the master node and then spoof commands
to the slave.

Ok, so it seems my method isnt completely secure. The enemy Hacker could potentially grab my Access ID and spoof commands to the slave, maybe. It isnt really that clear...

But if we go from that to get my Access ID the enemy hacker still has alot to do. As any good Technomancer does I run every run with a stupidly high Stealth rating (Stealth 6 + Threading + Sprite Aid). This can easily push my Stealth to 15. So just to get my Access ID with a Matrix Perception roll they are looking at rolling against my Hacking + Stealth (19 or so) or my Firewall + Stealth (20 or so). Your every day hacker is going to have one hell of a time getting my ID so they can spoof a Command to the Commlink.

Hmm... not sure. Your thoughts?

(I really am sorry for setting up a second conversation in your Thread dude (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif) , if it gets annoying I will throw up my own)

[toolbox]

That sounds about right. As the TM, be sure to spoof a new AID for yourself every chance you get in downtime if you're really paranoid. You probably don't want to do it midrun because you'll lose all your subscriptions, but if someone does manage to grab your AID and start spoofing your slaved nodes/gear, it'll mean he has to start from scratch next time.

[deek]

Yeah, I agree, getting your Access ID will be tough. And seeing TMs basically change their AccessID every morning they wake up, there's a smaller window of opportunity to hack (which makes probing even more difficult).

What would be more probable, is if the hacker setup a honeypot or was monitoring a node the TM was accessing, thereby getting your Access ID indirectly through the Access Logs.

But either way, slaving to the TM bio-PAN is one of the safest and sound methods to keep everything on lock-down...no argument there!

[Wiseman]

He's not talking about spoofing cyberware; he's talking about spoofing commands to teammate's slaved commlinks as if they came from the TM's bio-node. The question is if a commlink (which is not a peripheral device and has no Pilot rating) can be spoofed. If it can't, this is very secure; if it can, less so.

Ah, makes sense. Still doesn't stop them spoofing a command though. Once a node is slaved, isn't it then by definition secondary or peripheral?

First, they can hack in directly to the slave with an additional
threshold modifier of +2, though this requires a physical (wired)
connection to the device. Second, they can hack the master node

Just to correct myself (as i'm at work without books), I was wrong when I said -2DP, as this clearly states its +2 threshold.

Third, they can
spoof the access ID of the master node and then spoof commands
to the slave.

Ok, so it seems my method isnt completely secure. The enemy Hacker could potentially grab my Access ID and spoof commands to the slave, maybe. It isnt really that clear...

But if we go from that to get my Access ID the enemy hacker still has alot to do. As any good Technomancer does I run every run with a stupidly high Stealth rating (Stealth 6 + Threading + Sprite Aid). This can easily push my Stealth to 15. So just to get my Access ID with a Matrix Perception roll they are looking at rolling against my Hacking + Stealth (19 or so) or my Firewall + Stealth (20 or so). Your every day hacker is going to have one hell of a time getting my ID so they can spoof a Command to the Commlink.

I think here we're on the same page exactly. It can be spoofed, but it requires them to obtain your access ID, not to mention finding your commlink first (which a bio-PAN if I remember right always runs in hidden). So throw a scan test on top of the above.

Point being this is a legitimate (and good) defense, still not unhackable though, but way better security. This is exactly why the Matrix Specialist is so important, even without the unhackable bio-node, it can be a pain to try to go through the master node (with more than likely: better system attributes, better IC, and better/skillful users), and its almost as much pain to go around it.

Edit to avoid double post:

Can you slave cyberware to a commlink and then slave the commlink to another comm in a daisy chain? I didn't think this was possible as the cyberware would have more than one master node technically, and it clearly says it can only be slaved to one.

Meaning you can slave as many devices to one node as you need to, but you can't slave a device to multiple nodes, or am I missing something?

[Wiseman]

Ok, I ended up double posting anyway. Sorry

That sounds about right. As the TM, be sure to spoof a new AID for yourself every chance you get in downtime if you're really paranoid. You probably don't want to do it midrun because you'll lose all your subscriptions, but if someone does manage to grab your AID and start spoofing your slaved nodes/gear, it'll mean he has to start from scratch next time.

Just wanted to comment that changing your access ID means you're logged off every node you're accessing. So if they do start spoofing your access ID and you change it, his commlink is no longer slaved to you. (at least until you re-establish it, which might be too late).

Edit: re-reading the quote above I see where you said the same thing, my bad. Think i'm just going to quit posting my foot in my mouth.

[toolbox]

Ah, makes sense. Still doesn't stop them spoofing a command though. Once a node is slaved, isn't it then by definition secondary or peripheral?

I don't believe a node is ever actually redefined as a peripheral device, no - those are two separate classes of Matrix-active devices. That said, the previous quoted rules make it clear that you can spoof a slaved commlink regardless, so the question's answered.

Just wanted to comment that changing your access ID means you're logged off every node you're accessing. So if they do start spoofing your access ID and you change it, his commlink is no longer slaved to you. (at least until you re-establish it, which might be too late).

Yeah, that's why I said you don't want to do this midrun.