netrunners

Netrunners are a fictional archetype prominent in cyberpunk settings, particularly within the tabletop role-playing game Cyberpunk 2020 and its successor, Cyberpunk RED, as well as the video game Cyberpunk 2077. These individuals are skilled hackers who navigate the vast, interconnected digital world known as the "net" or "cyberspace." Their expertise lies in penetrating secure computer systems, extracting data, manipulating information, and engaging in digital combat against other netrunners or automated security programs.

Netrunners typically operate using specialized neural interfaces and cybernetic implants that allow them to directly connect their minds to the net. This direct interface grants them a heightened ability to perceive and interact with digital environments, often described as a disembodied consciousness within a virtual space. Their activities can range from corporate espionage and data theft to sabotage and the retrieval of sensitive information for clients, making them valuable, albeit often dangerous, assets in the shadowy underworld of futuristic urban sprawls.

The risks associated with netrunning are significant. While inside the net, a netrunner is vulnerable to digital attacks, which can manifest as severe psychological trauma, sensory overload, or even brain damage if countermeasures fail. The constant threat of detection and the pursuit by corporate security forces or rival netrunners are ever-present dangers, requiring constant vigilance and a mastery of their digital craft. Despite these risks, the allure of power, wealth, and forbidden knowledge continues to draw many to the dangerous profession of netrunning.