I am asking about the other programs like rust and medic.
Most of the advanced programs are garbage - especially for their 8 karma cost.
Abduction: Unnecessary for the most part: Upgrading your sensors is pretty cheap in nuyen
Authority: Almost useful, until you remember that the spoof action is directed against the device itself - which usually doesn't have that many defense dice - especially when you use direct connection. Still, it's one of the more useful APs
Cascade: Failing Attack actions is bad as you receive matrix damage. Before you have gained any useful bonus you either managed to crack it yourself or your home device is in dire need of repair
Eguchi Smile: Nice limit increase for social skills - until someone uses a matrix perception on you. Garbage
Fnord: Potentially very, very potent for hacking hosts and fooling the patrol IC. If you want to hack a lot, you should get this.
Medic: This program doesn't make sense: Matrix damage is always targeted at devices. If it could heal core damage, it would be useful.
Nyetworking: Noise penalties are easily overcome and don't work inside hosts. Also you have the same penalties when you try to do anything to the target.
Poke: Crashing programs is usually a waste of time and so is this AP
Psychotropic Biofeedback: Heavily depends on GM fiat since no clear mechanical effects are given. If they rule that aversion to the matrix means the target instantly logs out, this is a neat AP, but that's not a given.
Rootkit: Like Fnord potentially very useful - provided you stay in one location long enough for it to matter
Rust: Garbage. You should not let anyone damage you in the first place. Waiting for them to whittle down their attack attribute will have you taken out before they lost more than three points
Shunt: Risky, but might be worth it - Core Damage can be healed naturally or through Munge
Spotter: Garbage: Aim already raises your accuracy and passive sensor targeting gives you easily all the accuracy you need (not to mention that weapons can be modded to be always accurate)
Teergrube: You don't want to be marked. Garbage
Uncertainty: This is could be actually useful - provided your opponents are dumb enough to slave their equipment to a host (hint: that's very bad for the host, as equipment can easily be stolen and used for direct connections)
WTLM: Solid dice bonus to social skills, this is actually useful.
