comStar Firewall alert - PhaseThrough

gaMe inforMation
The Hacker’s Handbook is designed to give player characters
more options for using the Matrix with their games, expanding
the opportunities for both hackers and non-hackers to interact
through the Matrix. The rules and material presented in this
chapter can add depth to a campaign, making shadowruns more
challenging and rewarding for clever players and gamemasters.
BUYing a Better Hacker
Not every character is cut out to be a hacker, and not every
hacker has the time and Karma to be the best in every possible
corner of the Matrix. There’s no shame (well, okay, maybe a little)
in paying another hacker to do what you can’t do, or what you
could do if you had the time and equipment. What follows below
is a list of common services hackers are hired to perform and the
usual street costs and availability for them. A hacker player character
looking to do a little freelancing in the downtime between
runs might look for some of these jobs herself.
anonymization
When somebody in 2070 wants to call a friend, he simply
dials his friend’s commcode. The commlink then connects to the
MSP that issued the commcode and retrieves the access ID of the
receiver. Using that access ID, it establishes the data request connection
to the commlink receiving the call. In this process, the
receiving commlink is aware of the access ID of the sending commlink
(see Data Exchange, p. 53).
Anonymization services work as mediators between the two
participants of a commcall or any other data request. The data
package is received by the anonymizing node and then forwarded
to the receiver using the anonymizer’s access ID as sending ID
(see Proxy Servers, p. 104). A trace will not reveal the access ID of
the original sender, but rather the access ID of the mediator. To
retrieve the real access ID, one must hack the proxy server node. If
multiple proxy servers are used, each must be hacked.
Hacker Services Availability Cost
Unwired
one-time commcodes
Some shadow MSPs offer one-time disposable commcodes—
commcodes sold in advance that, once activated, can be used only
once (for a single message or call). As soon as the call/message
ends, all record of the commcode and the access ID that used it
are securely deleted. Any attempt to track it will lead to the MSP’s
node (one of many that are unadvertised and changed often), but
even if this node is hacked no data trail to the original caller can
be found.
numbered credit accounts
Characters who are looking to keep their financial transactions
confidential may take advantage of a numbered credit
account offered by numerous grey and black-market Matrix banks.
These institutions promise complete anonymity and confidentiality;
all account transactions are handled via account number, an
account code name, and heavy encryption. Though often pressured
by governments and megacorps for facilitating money laundering
and tax evasion, these banks are usually reliable at deflecting law
enforcement.
one-time credit accounts
Like numbered credit accounts, one-time accounts are arranged
as a single deposit and single withdrawal, completely
confidential and with all records of the transaction immediately
erased.
escrow accounts
Escrow services, also offered by shadow Matrix banks, act as
a secure middle-man between two parties who don’t trust each
other—such as a runner team and Mr. Johnson. The escrow service
holds on to one party’s credit (or sometimes, goods) until the other
party completes its part of the deal to the first party’s satisfaction,
then sends the held money/goods on to the second party. If either
party fails to follow through on their end of the bargain, the es-
Hacking a passcode 12R Hacking skill x 500¥
Setting up a hidden account 16F Hacking skill x 1,000¥
Copying a certified credstick 24F Half the amount (in real nuyen)
Spoofing a lifestyle (1 month) 16F Half cost of lifestyle for 1 month
Jacking a vehicle or drone 8R Hacking skill x 200¥
DOS attack on an individual (1 hour) 8F Hacking skill x 200¥
Tracing a datatrail 6R Hacking skill x 100¥
Renting a botnet 10F Number of bots x Cost of bots x 0.5¥ an hour
Buying a botnet 15F Number of bots x Cost of bots x 5¥
Anonymizing proxy service 4 Number of reroutes x 10¥ per day
Anonymized commcode (calls/messaging) 4 Number of reroutes x 5¥ per day
One-time disposable commcode 4 10¥
Numbered credit account 4R 100¥/month
One-time disposable credit account 6R 10% of the deposited amount
Escrow service 8R 10% of the deposited amount
Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9
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hacker’s handbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .