Runner's Companion.pdf - Free

Simon Wentworth (order #1132857) 9survival tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Physical sensorsThere are two basic ways to counter electronic sensors likecameras, laser beams, fingerprint scanners, and radar sensors. Themost direct is to hack their controlling nodes (p. 221, SR4) andcontrol their output, erasing any trace of the runners or loopingthe data output from the time before the runners arrived. Thistransfers the problem of physical sensors to the realm of Matrixsecurity, which is often easier to handle if a good hacker is present.However, it might be tedious to hack every single sensor node, iftaking control of the security node is too dangerous.The other way is to fool the sensors by altering the physicalreality. This might be a simple latex or nanopaste facemask for acamera, an artificial fingerprint or retina for the respective sensors,or insulated clothes for thermal sensors. Unfortunately, all thesethings have to be prepared beforehand, which leaves the mostpotent weapon against physical sensors: magic. Physical illusionspells like Improved Invisibility, Silence, Physical Mask, and TridPhantasm (pp. 201–202, SR4) are able to fool almost every sensorout there. The drawback, though, is that patrolling magicians andspirits can easily detect these measures.Magical PatrolsMagical security is often one of the biggest problems for runners.This is mostly because the creator or summoner immediatelyfeels any attack on a ward or the death of a spirit, not to mention thepresence of a sense link between every spirit and its master. However,there are some ways to get around patrolling spirits and wards.The easiest way to avoid them is to use physical disguises. Apatrolling spirit will not sound an alarm if it does not recognizethe sarariman moving through the corridor as a runner in disguise.Illusion spells only work if they are covered by the ExtendedMasking metamagic (p.60, Street Magic), or the spirit will simplysee the spell in astral space. One of the best ways to dispose of spiritswithout notifying their master is to cast the Influence (p. 203, SR4)spell on them and order the spirit to go to Antarctica.The runners can easily ignore wards if they do not have anyspells sustained or foci active. This is sometimes not an optionif the runners rely on spells to fool physical sensors. In this case,the spellcaster has to fool the ward (p. 124, Street Magic) to allowthe spells to pass the ward. To do this, the magician has to knowin advance the signature of the ward’s creator or that of a personallowed to pass the ward.Matrix SecurityThe best tool against detection in the Matrix is a good Stealthprogram. A better way, however, is to not have to hack in in thefirst place (see Social Engineering, p. 91, Unwired). Obtainingvalid passcodes before the run is often easier than one might think.Even a low-level passcode from, for example, cleaning personnel,should not be ignored. Even in the Matrix, it’s a good idea to weara disguise. At worst, it will do nothing. At best, it will sow confusionand buy more time.A good hacker should always know that her first priority in arun is to not set off an alarm. If the Matrix of a facility is on alert,the physical intrusion will most likely get much, much harder.GETTING ROUND BORDERS AND SECURITYThe gear in the following section assists in countering some ofthe most common security measures at border crossings and customschecks. Note this does not in any way diminish the need for otheressentials such as having a valid SIN and travel documents (or goodforgeries arranged through a fixer or a forger). In many countries,bribery and intimidation might be possible, but, in most industrializednations, it’s almost guaranteed to get you into trouble.Characters interested in forging their own documents maywant to review The Forger’s Art, pp. 95–96, Unwired.Anti-MAD SystemsLow-frequency jammers and electromagnets, anti-MAD systemsdistort the magnetic fields used to detect metallic items. Thisresults in a direct degradation of the system and reduces the ratingof the scanner. High-energy jammer fields are detectable andhighly illegal; while most border guards won’t have short-rangeEM sensors, airports and spaceports normally do.Jammer, hand-held: Similar to a directional jammer, a handheldanti-MAD jammer reduces the rating of devices in a directline of sight. Most users will trigger it just before an individualpasses through the MAD sensor and deactivate it afterwards. Therating of effected MAD systems is reduced by the rating of thehand-held jammer. The hand-held jammer has an effective rangeof 10 meters and must be recharged after three minutes.Jammer, single use: This omni-directional jammer isdesigned for short-term disruption and burns out the internalRunner’s Companion