Editing Software (section)

== Infomorph Software ==
Infomorphs lack bodies and so obviously cannot benefit from any augmentations designed for physical morphs. Many augmentations, however, are at least as valuable to an infomorph as they are to individuals sleeved in physical morphs. Also, there are a number of specialized software routines that are only or primarily useful to infomorphs, such as one that helps the infomorph make better use of the sensors and robots that are accessible from their server.
There are three types of software useful to infomorphs: Software plug-ins, upgrades, and eidolons. Software plug-ins are programs that anyone can use, they are simply “plugged in” to the infomorph so that the infomorph “carries” them along if they move. Upgrades are embedded routines that must be optimized and formatted for the infomorph’s particular mind-state in order to function; they are the equivalent of augmentations for infomorphs. Eidolons are shell programs that the ego runs in and which function as virtual morphs (essentially variant infomorphs). Eidolons can be found on the Morphs page.
Especially crowded, cheap, or poorly maintained devices may not be able to run some of the more expensive plug-ins, upgrades, or eidolons.

=== Acquiring Software ===
Infomorph software may be purchased and downloaded just like other pieces of software, or acquired via rep and favors.
Most commercially produced software comes loaded with digital protection schemes that prevents it from being ﬁleshared with others. These digital locks might included a limited number of installations, anti-copying measures, or persistent online authentication. These digital restrictions may be defeated with a Programming Task Action with a timeframe of 60 days. In some areas, monitoring AIs will scan for software that show signs of piracy or tampering to enforce copyright legalities. Hacked software is also sometimes remotely deleted or disabled by its copyright owners.
At the gamemaster’s discretion, open source or pirated versions of this software may be available online, if one knows where to look (requiring a Research or Networking Test). Characters must be cautious with free versions, however, as they may be glitchy or loaded with malware.

=== Restricted Software ===
Certain controlled jurisdictions, like the Planetary Consortium or many hypercorps, outlaw particular software without special authorization. In these areas, it is not uncommon for monitoring AIs on public and private servers to periodically scan any active infomorphs for this software. In other areas, only AGIs and/or forks are restricted from this software; human-ego infomorphs may use them freely.
No security is ever perfect, however. Characters can use a digital veil (below) to evade these ﬁlters.

=== Programming Software ===
Skilled programmers can write their own software. The character must succeed in a Programming Test with a base timeframe of one week for plug-ins, one month for upgrades, and 6 months for eidolons, per cost level of the software. A Trivial plug-in has a timeframe of 1 week, for example, a Low upgrade takes 2 months, and a Moderate eidolon requires 18 months.

=== Detecting, Hiding, and Removing Plug-Ins and Upgrades ===
Anyone with security or admin access to the device on which an infomorph is running may attempt to scan the infomorph’s shell for plug-ins and upgrades. The digital veil (below) conceals plug-ins and upgrades so that they will not show on standard scans.
Detected plug-ins and upgrades may be forcibly removed from an infomorph by someone who has completed a successful cyberbrain hack on the target with a Complex Action. Infomorphs may of course remove plug-ins and upgrades from their code, unless they are trapped within a lockbox or similar server; follow the same rules for installation to remove.

=== Software Plug-Ins ===
Plug-ins are simply programs attached to the mindstate emulation software, so that the ego may access them immediately. A plug-in requires a Complex Action to install; once installed, it is “carried” by the infomorph, so that if the infomorph moves to another device, the plug-in moves with it. Plug-ins may be deleted with a Quick Action. Almost any software can be installed as a plug-in, including standard programs, scorchers, and skillsofts (the latter require virtual skillware to run). Other active infomorphs (including AIs and muses) cannot be attached as plug-ins, as they require their own mind-emulation suite. An inactive infomorph, however, could be attached, just like any other electronic data. The following are some of the most common and widely used plug-ins.
'''Autodelete:''' Though infomorphs can voluntarily delete themselves, there are some cases where a device’s permissions may not allow it or the infomorph may be trapped on a lockbox. To prevent capture, interrogation, or slavery, the infomorph can activate the autodelete plug-in as a Quick Action, which then attempts to delete the ego, even if it is running on a device that would not ordinarily permit it to do so. Auto-delete plug-ins may also be programmed to activate in response to certain inputs: for example, a perceived code phrase, a detected cyberbrain hack attack attempt, a designated time period, or upon failure to receive a periodic message.
To successfully delete the ego on a system where deletion privileges are denied, the installer of the plug-in must make a successful Infosec Test. If the system is actively monitored, this is a Variable Opposed Infosec Test against the monitor. If only the installer succeeds, the infomorph is deleted immediately. If both the installer and monitor succeed, the infomorph is corrupted but not fully deleted. At the gamemaster’s discretion, the ego may still be treated as a gamma fork or its digital remains prodded and analyzed via Psychosurgery with a –30 modiﬁer. If the monitor alone succeeds, the auto-deletion fails and will not work again on that device. If both fail, continue to make the test again each Action Phase until one or both succeed.
Forknappers and interrogators routinely check their victims for this plug-in, so it is usually concealed with a digital veil (below). A detected plug-in may be eliminated via standard brainhacking.
This plug-in is commonly used on forks—often without their knowledge. Some polities, in fact, legally require forks to be equipped with this plug-in. '''[Low]'''
'''Copylock:''' This plug-in has two uses. The ﬁrst prevents an infomorph from voluntarily copying/forking itself. This also prevents the ego from resleeving into a physical morph. This is a common plug-in used on forks, indentures, or people that really don’t trust themselves. This feature can be disabled with the proper passcode used by the installer.
The second use is to make it more difficult for an active infomorph to be involuntarily copied. This is a common precaution infomorphs take when running on untrusted devices against the threat of forknapping. Anyone that brainhacks this infomorph and attempts to make an involuntary copy suffers a –30 penalty to the Infosec Test needed to accomplish this task (in addition to the normal –30 modiﬁer for brainhacking).
Either of these features can be disabled with the proper passcode used by the installer. '''[Low]'''
'''Digital Veil:''' This code masks the presence of any installed plug-ins and upgrades (including itself). The character must choose which are hidden (any installed after the veil is installed are not hidden unless the veil is re-installed). Anyone attempting a standard scan on the infomorph for plug-ins and upgrades will fail to detect the concealed software. At the gamemaster’s discretion, an Excellent Success on the scan may pick up an anomaly to warrant deeper analysis. A more thorough and lengthy scan (an Infosec or Programming Task Action with a –30 modiﬁer and a base time of 60 minutes) will reveal the presence of 1 plug-in or upgrade, plus 1 per 10 points of MoS.
This plug-in also applies a –20 modifier to psych scans performed on the infomorph. It is illegal in many habitats and polities. '''[Expensive]'''
'''Emergency Backup:''' This plug-in automatically broadcasts a copy of the infomorph’s ego through the mesh to a predetermined secure storage site every 48 hours. This interval may be voluntarily modiﬁed, keeping in mind that ego broadcasts tend to be intentionally limited as a precaution against interception/forknapping and that such transmissions hog bandwidth. To use this upgrade, characters must either purchase backup insurance or arrange for a private server to store the backup copies of their ego. To prevent ego theft, the backup copies are transmitted using quantum cryptography. To intercept and make use of an ego backup sent in this fashion, the would-be thief must somehow gain access to one of the quantum keys used in the exchange. '''[Moderate]'''

'''Hacking Alert:''' This plug-in launches a suite of running processes running that monitor the simulated mind-state and keep track of any lost time, inconsistencies in events, or other evidence of involuntary brainhacking or psychosurgery. If the character is mind hacked or subjected to involuntary psychosurgery, the hidden/ covert intruder or psychosurgeon must make an Infosec or Psychosurgery Test at –30. Cyberbrain hackers suffer the usual –30 subversion modiﬁer, but a hidden intruder receives their standard +30 bonus. If the test does not score an Excellent Success (MoS 30+), the victim is alerted immediately (or when they next awake). Alerted infomorphs do not receive information on what has been changed (beyond the obvious), they are only informed that their mind was involuntarily altered.
Note that psychosurgery or memory hacking can be used to make a victim forget the hacking alert warnings. Unless the hacking alert plug-in is also disabled or hacked, however, it will retain a log of the warnings. '''[Low]'''
'''Persistence:''' This software makes it more difﬁcult for the ego to be forcibly shut down when brainhacked. Apply an additional –10 modifier to the intruder’s Infosec Test (in addition to the standard –30 modiﬁer for brainhacking). '''[Low]'''

=== Upgrades ===
Upgrades are infomorph enhancements that are sufficiently integrated into the user’s simulated mindstate that they must be personalized for that ego. As a result, it is next to impossible for infomorphs to share the code for an upgrade once it is integrated into their shell; each upgrade is customized for that particular ego. Upgrades may be included when generating alpha or beta forks, but not with delta or gamma forks, as their mind-states are too different for the same upgrade to function.
Gamemasters that wish to keep upgrades simple can allow them to be integrated into an infomorph without a test, much like implants and physical morphs in the core book. For gamemasters that want to highlight the process, however, or in situations where the characters are doing it themselves, upgrades require a procedure involving mapping of mind-state functions, customizing and formatting software patches, and careful installation. Treat this as a Programming Task Action with a time frame of 1 day per cost level of the upgrade (1 day for Trivial, 2 days for Low, and so on). Lack of access to a standard software suite (Cost: High) for integrating upgrades results in a –20 modiﬁer. Most upgrades are installed in a simulspace environment using time dilation. The following upgrades are used by infomorphs all across the solar system.
'''Active Countermeasures:''' This code helps an infomorph resist brainhacking by installing additional ﬁrewalls and layers of security applications within the infomorph’s digital mind. The infomorph (or anything else serve as active security for its mind-state) receives a +10 modifier on attempts to zero in on spotted intruders.
''Defensive Mode:'' The countermeasures may also be triggered into a more secure defensive mode with a Quick Action. While defensive mode is activated, the infomorph and its active security receive a +10 modifier on attempts to lockout intruders or resist entrapment, puppeteering, or scorching. The defenses provided by this mode are sufficiently intensive, however, that they cause minor delays to any mesh actions undertaken by the user. As a result, the infomorph suffers a –1 reduction to Initiative. '''[High]'''
'''Impersonate:''' This upgrade provides the user with a library of mannerisms, vocal patterns, and other social cues. This aids Impersonation Tests, even when communicating verbally or via avatars, providing a +10 bonus. The processor in this upgrade can also help analyze a target’s mannerisms and duplicate them more effectively. To duplicate someone’s patterns, the character must ﬁrst observe their interactions and make a Kinesics Task Action Test with a timeframe of 1 hour. Success allows them to accumulate a sufficient quantity of data to allow this upgrade to duplicate this person’s phrasing and patterns of digital activity; increase the modifier for Impersonation Tests to +30 to impersonate the target. Note that this upgrade does not provide the character with the skills, memories, or other traits of the ego they are impersonating.
This upgrade can also be set to randomize the emotive patterns exhibited by the user, so their phrasing and mannerisms do not identify them as anyone. This applies a +30 modiﬁer to the Deception or Impersonation rolls in Opposed Tests when someone else is trying to use Kinesics to identify the character’s true identity. '''[High]'''
'''Increased Speed:''' Infomorphs already have a higher innate speed than physical morphs, but some individuals need even more speed, and specially optimized code makes that possible. This upgrade increases the user’s Speed by +1. Since even basic infomorphs possess a Speed of 3, this upgrade increases the infomorph’s Speed to the maximum of 4. No other Speed modiﬁers may be used in conjunction with this upgrade. This upgrade does not provide extra Speed for cyberbrained characters. '''[Expensive]'''

'''Mental Repair:''' This upgrade continuously monitors and analyzes the user’s mental patterns, then corrects and adjusts the user’s mental processes to counter psychological stress. In effect, the character’s mind beneﬁts from continuous unconscious psychotherapy and heals mental stress far more rapidly and easily than normal. The character automatically makes a Willpower x 3 Test once a day. Every success eliminates one point of stress. If the character has already beneﬁted from psychotherapy that day or any other effect that healed stress, trauma, or disorders, the test is not made. This upgrade has no effect on trauma or disorders. '''[High]'''
'''Mental Stability:''' This upgrade bolsters the mind’s capacity to handle mental shocks and makes it less vulnerable to emotional distress. The user’s Lucidity increases by +5, which also increases Trauma Threshold by +1 and Insanity Rating by +10. This upgrade has no effect on the user’s WIL or their rolls to resist stress. The user is no more likely than before to be able to resist mental stress. However, they can now handle more mental stress before suffering any form of instability. '''[Expensive]'''

'''Panopticon:''' The ubiquity of sensor system found in almost all habitats and spaceships means that any transhuman could theoretically monitor a dozen or more different locations to see what is occurring there. Unfortunately, most transhuman minds are simply not adapted to process that much data or to deal with so many different sources of information all at once. As a result, even infomorphs must normally switch their attention between the various locations and vantage points they are observing. Watching multiple views of a single location is no problem and usually provides the character with between +10 to +30 to their Perception Tests. Viewing different locations at one time, however, is far more difficult and taxing, requiring a Detailed Perception Quick Action for each. Alternatively, the character can passively observe many locations/sensor feeds with
automatic Basic Perception, but this imposes a –20 penalty to all of these Perception Tests due to distraction.
The panopticon upgrade mitigates this limitation with sophisticated algorithms that help the ego analyze and process sensory input. The infomorph can use Detailed Perception on three locations/ sensor feeds at once (increase this to 5 locations if the character also has multi-tasking) without any penalty. Alternatively, the infomorph only suffers a –10 distraction modifier when using Basic Perception to view multiple locations and feeds at once. This upgrade is common among habitat cyberbrains, as each multi-tasking module beyond the ﬁrst allows Detailed Perception to be used on another 2 areas at once. '''[High]'''

=== Additional Upgrades ===
The following physical augmentations are also available as infomorph upgrades, with the same effect and costs:

* Eidetic Memory
* Endocrine Control
* Hyper Linguist
* Math Boost
* Memory Lock
* Mental Speed
* Oracles
* Parallel Processor
* Skillware