[VajraSupremus]

I think one of the reasons why the Grid is being swapped into a Pre-Crash likeness is because of an attempt to subjugate a huge threat; the Emerged.
Thoughts to the contrary, anyone?

[SpiderWord]

It could be. I am not an Expert on this topic but if you red some of the recent Publications it could make sense. In one the last Sourcebooks it is described how Dissontants screwed up the Matrix in Geneva and even tried to pull some nice Dissonace there. It could be probable that due to this "Threat" Corps are taking some countermeasures.

[VajraSupremus]

Not to mention A.I's have been very mum as of late. Where is Pulsar? Other than all the N.G.I(Naturally Generated Intelligences. Term for spontanteously self-aware Intelligences sprouting from simple utilities and such) that are PC's, not much is being said of them, other than Cerberus and his work in interpreting and retrofitting the E-ghost phenomena.

[Mirikon]

Except that the new grid doesn't slow the technomancers down that much. And all anyone else has to do is get new programs to match the new protocols. While a compartmentalized grid does (theoretically) help defend against a city-wide breakdown like you see in Geneva, it isn't clear that the Dissonance couldn't screw with the new grid, especially since it caused major weirdness with a node that had an OS that could only count.

No, I don't think it has anything to do with clamping down on technomancers and AIs, but more to do with controlling the flow of information, and being better able to secure areas against hackers of all sorts.

[Kat9]

Sorry, I seem to not be up to date with the lore. What is this in reference to?

[Mirikon]

Corporate Intrigue, Dreaded Palace chapter, in the intro shadowtalk.

[VajraSupremus]

Hmm, probably. I got the idea from seeing the story about Netcat going in VR through the new system and then getting caught by KE. It's one of the Hidden Fictions.

[Mirikon]

You got the wrong idea, then. That wasn't a TM thing, it was a GOD agent in the node thing. GOD apparently will be patrolling the various networks, and there is going to be cooperation with local cops, so when they trace your hacking attempt, they get the nearest squad car to jump to your location, wherever that is.

[VajraSupremus]

...I really hope that falls flat on its hoop. I do NOT need GOD snooping around on me when I'm Immersed.

[Mirikon]

Yeah, the whole point of this new Matrix isn't an anti-techno thing, it is an anti-hacker (of any sort) thing. That'll make life a lot harder for everyone, not just hackers. Think about it, what do you do when your hacker can't get into the building security to unlock doors or blind the security cameras? What do you do when you need to get that datafile off the encrypted server? What do you do when a spider starts turning the defenses against you? Without a hacker in system, your options go from 'bad' to 'worse' to 'we're totally fragged'.

[VajraSupremus]

Knowing the Black/Grey Hat communities, they're going to learn how to bypass these systems soon enough. Hacker House probably has prototype Forms and Utilities ready to start Alpha testing.

[Mirikon]

Knowing the Black/Grey Hat communities, they're going to learn how to bypass these systems soon enough. Hacker House probably has prototype Forms and Utilities ready to start Alpha testing.

The programs aren't the issue. Before, the one thing you could count on was jurisdictional issues. In other words, if you went through an Ares system to get into a Shiawase system, then even if the Shiawase spiders spotted you, they couldn't backtrace through the Ares system without there being big problems, since extraterritoriality extends online. Even if they ignored that and traced you, there was a decent chance that you could get away before any corpsec showed up. Even if they sent out local cops, it still would take a while for proper authorities and whatnot. But if GOD is patrolling everything, and has close cooperation with the local cops, that is all gone.

To put it another way, picture a run against Aztechnology, where they can keep chasing you after going into Horizon property.

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

Or, more appropriately, Aztechnology reaches Horizon and passes the 'pursuit' baton.  It's no longer AZT actively chasing your hoop, it's Horizon.  I can still see advantages to such (there are always rivalries and the like which will interfere to a point), but it sounds like it'll be less a violation against that one corp and more a violation against the Corporate Court itself.

Of course, I can see that breaking down at the sharp end, because in order to acquire cooperation, you might have to reveal what the thieves stole ...

[Mirikon]

Indeed. And GOD doesn't have nearly enough spiders to patrol the entire matrix worldwide, even in the public grids. Good news, your likelihood of meeting a GOD agent while hacking will be about the same as meeting an Air Marshall on a flight being hijacked. Bad news, even if normal spiders trace you, they'll be able to get your local PD to get to you, quick, though if you're on extraterritorial property, you may have a few more minutes before the dogs are on your trail.

[Aryeonos]

Wait, does this mean I can't hack from home anymore?