From:	The Wyrm Ouroboros <oroboros@******.COM>
Subject:	Re: Idea to bounce off people
Date:	Fri, 15 Sep 1995 14:27:15 -0700

> In the peice I'm currently working on, I've included a peice of tech
> called a fiber-optic tap. This isn't a standard tap as one you attach
> across a line and read from it (everybody swears that's impossible, but
> read "Shadowplay" by Nigel Findly) but a device where you must cut the
fiber
> optic, and stick each end into it. The device then filters out the channels
> you want to listen to, and sends the data via some means (wire, radio, etc..)
> to a computer (...cyberdeck, trid, etc..).

First off -- 'piece'. Second, okay, I can see your 'modified' version Very
doable.

> I'd like some discussion on it. For example, would the standard data
> protocal used in the SR universe be able to detect the line being cut?
> Or would it dismiss it as a "problem" and tempoarly re-route it (much the
> same way the internet does). Would the security routines detect the drop
> in resonance caused by the tap in the lines, much the same way a bug detector
> detects the increased resistance of a bug on a copper line.

Detect the line being cut? Depends. Is the fib-op line the only one leading
out from that location? Then obviously, yes. If it's one of a few, then it'll
still be detected -- but all you'll get is a 'Optic line #4 temporarily offline,
successful reroute.' If the person's paying attention, they might be tipped
off, esp. if they're suspicious. Yes, the security routines would detect the
tap; that's what a rating for the routines (and for the tap) is for.

> Would anything detect the tap if it were to be placed on a line that was
> shut down? (Like between a switched off trid and the wall.)

Depends. If the tap is in place before the routines have taken a baseline,
then the tap would be _included_ in the baseline -- and thus effectively
invisible. But if the baseline has already been taken, well, then.....


--
Ouroboros
The (Dead) Wyrm of the .Net