Newsgroup Filter

Newsgroup Filters are so common that the price above reflects the fact that some software manufacturers include them in their interface software! A newsgroup filter is a dedicated program that will log on to specified newsgroups, skim the news and interest groups, and record information pertinent to its search parameters. It will do this even when the user's not with the deck; you call into the Net, start up the Newsgroup Filter, and it does the rest! you can go off and do other things in the meantime.

The filter requires several things from the 'runner: any passwords required to get into specific newsgroups, and the parameters of the search. These are the newsgroup ID numbers (Net locations) of those to be searched, and keywords that define what the used s interested in. These keywords can be vague or specific—for instance, giving the filter the key-word Arasaka is telling the filter to record any and all articles and files bearing the name Arasaka. On the other hand, specifying Arasaka, Militech, 9-19-2021, will net all articles and files dealing with Arasaka and Militech combined on September 19, 2021.

The Igor program can act as a newsgroup filter, if you tell it to. (Of course, Igor can defend himself against attack, too.)

If a newsgroup filter is encountered and destroyed by any program using the Doppleganger function, or by Vampire Il, any passwords the filter contained can be reconstructed by the destroying program.

Options: Memory, Recognition, Movement, Pseudo-intellect, Endurance.

Source

 * Rache Bartmoss Brainware Blowout, pg.81