comStar Firewall alert - PhaseThrough

Matrix overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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account. Makes life a bit harder for those of us who prefer not to
leave a data trail, but there are ways around it.
For the average Joe, the entire system is convenient and
practically invisible. His paycheck is deposited into his account
electronically. The government gets first dibs, with taxes automatically
calculated, filed, and paid promptly, without any thought from
Joe. After that, his regular bills are paid, set up for automatic debits
that don’t require any attention on Joe’s part. When Joe catches the
bus to work in the morning, the bus fare is automatically paid via his
commlink—same thing for the soy-kaf he grabbed from the street
vendor at the bus stop. All of these transactions take place real-time,
and smart consumers utilize money-management software to ensure
they don’t overextend themselves.
> Registered credsticks may be out, but you can still use (and misuse)
certified credsticks. Most banks will accept them and they do provide
a measure of security, since it allows shadowy folks like us to hide
our cash transactions. Or if you’re truly paranoid, many of the greymarket
banks will issue anonymous credit and ID tokens.
> Mr. Bonds
> ID tokens?
> Sticks
> Anonymous ID tokens are basically a statement issued by a bank
that says you’ve verified your ID with them, and they’re vouching
for your ID and cred. Let’s say you want to buy a medkit. You don’t
want to worry about having your data harvested by some corporate
marketing bots or ID thieves. So you slot your ID token from the
Malaysian Independent Bank at the online sales store. Your token
says ‘yes, she’s a real person and authorized to purchase this item.’
Nothing else. No name, no SIN, nada. The credit is transferred and
you’ve left no data trail … I’m sure you can see how sweet this really
is. You’ll find it at the shadier banks, for us criminal types, and
at the really high-roller institutes, for all those super-rich who can
afford privacy.
> Mr. Bonds
> Yeah, but you won’t see wageslaves walking around with them,
which means you’ll get some funny looks if you try to use them
in person. Now for online transactions, they work just fine. If you
want to blend, though, you better load some of that nice anonymous
cred onto your ‘link and accept the data trail.
> Pistons
> In many areas, SINless workers are paid in certified cred (if not
by barter), allowing those barrens area sweat-shops to thrive.
Of course, there’s almost no way they can use their hard-earned
money legitimately. Grey market shops and gang-controlled
‘distribution networks’ accept cert cred almost exclusively.
Subsistence-level barter systems are also common.
> Fatima
> Of course, in some backwater places, they still do use corp script,
archaic metal or paper currencies, or even trade in items of value, be it
gold, telesma, medical supplies, or whatever. If you plan travel outside
of the sprawls, be sure to check what type of currency to bring.
> Traveler Jones
Unwired
Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9