The Data Pool is unhackable...but that’s probably a lie. There are old school Netrunners called Crystaljocks who hack using a regular computer. While it’s slower than hacking with your mind in VR using a cyberdeck, a Crystaljock has more of an understanding of the written code than a regular Netrunner, and could hack in multiple programming languages. One of the big things noted in the corebook is that many tech companies shifted to this new programming language called META, and that’s supposedly what the Data Pool is programmed in. It’s also pretty much intentionally incompatible with cyberdecks in order to avoid a repeat of the DataKrash on this rebuilt version of the internet.
Ziggurat is probably fully aware that Crystaljocks are capable of hacking them, but here’s the thing: Being a Crystaljock isn’t considered cool. They rely on the general public being so uneducated that they don’t even consider there could be a way to hack it, especially if that way is deemed so outdated that no one even bothers anymore. Maybe UR is just waiting for someone to figure it out. Maybe calling it unhackable is just a test to see how unsophisticated this next generation of Netrunners has become, and if there’s any runners that can actually adapt to the changing technology anyway even if it means using less sophisticated tools to do it. UR knows a bit too much about Rache Bartmoss, and possibly shares his views on Netrunning- despite being a greedy corpo who’s definitely making a lot of sweet eb off of people’s private information.
