Since
apparently people misinterpreted the Necktap as a fancy useless monitor...
Necktap (updated version)Currently, hacking is a clumsy and unskilled maneuver. Despite what the movies may show, it's not necessarily about your computer specifications, it's not about how fast you can type, it's not about human action, it's about delivering prepackaged exploits and hoping to high heavens that they haven't patched your exploit or backdoor yet.
This is unacceptable in every sense of the word. We cannot continue relying on this method.
Enter the Direct Neural-Spinal Interface Tap, or "Necktap" as it's lovingly called in informal settings by our engineers and testing operatives. How it works is quite straightforward; current cybernetic tech allows neural input/output for controlling of and sensor input from, respectively, prosthetics. So if we just apply this same tech to the spinal cord, we can essentially "hijack" the senses of the brain and receive input straight from it. Then we have the Necktap plug into the computer, and "translate" incoming data into a form that works with the brain - "cyberspace", as we call it - where things traditionally only seen on screens as numbers and code are translated into visual analogies; a datastream may literally be a stream. Viruses/Securities look like [friendly/hostile] entities doing their thing; datavaults look like actual vaults, and whatnot. It's all rendered in wireframe and the like, of course, as we're not exactly going to be spending money and space on putting top-tier graphics power into the Necktap.
To the layman, this may look like just a fancy monitor. But it's so much more than that.
Putting our operatives "into" Cyberspace unlocks a world of possibilities; they're no longer constrained by the monitor and keyboard. They can directly interact with Cyberspace, and thus the system network, without being constrained to individual and restrictive commands. They can actually see what's going on in the depths of the network, and know so much more than they'd know if they tried interpreting endless strings of numbers and letters on a screen.
But, most importantly, Cyberspace represents the end of the clumsy exploit method used currently. Through a combination of small precise viruses (easily stored on our operatives' personal data storage devices [that they must have since how else would they steal data]) and (also more importantly) human innovation and improvisation, our operatives will be able to hack on the fly. They'll be able to actually duel with security software and the like using Cyberspace. They'll be able to easily control the network from within. Gone will the days of "plug your portable drive into the computer, hope the exploit isn't patched, then wait a minute or too until it downloads the data"; our operatives will have an actual role in hacking.
TL;DR The Matrix/Cyberspace from Shadowrun. Operatives could easily control networks and hack into networks; and not rely on single-purpose (single-purpose as in "steals the data and does nothing else") stored pre-made exploits that can be patched. Also open to a lot of possibility in the future, from spells cast through Cyberspace, moving people/supplies through it, and much more.
EDIT: Happerry edited his last post, so I'm putting the votebox here as well to reflect the changes.
Design 1
Ghost Bullets (0):
Video Game Pockets (1): Doubloon-Seven
-Use Magic Bonus on this Design (0):
Black Screen (0):
Scrying (0):
Ward (0):
Necktap (2): Chiefwaffles, Happerry
Design 2
Ghost Bullets (0):
Video Game Pockets (2): Chiefwaffles, Happerry
-Use Magic Bonus on this Design (2): Chiefwaffles, Happerry
Black Screen (0):
Scrying (0):
Ward (0):
Necktap (0):