Preface: This FAQ covers the different random spawns you may encounter while mining Data Nodes with the new tools introduced in the Update 53 hotfix. It does not detail the process of data mining or the tools required to do so. There is an excellent guide by Aquatium that explains how the Data Miner tree works. If you aren't familiar with how this new content works, read it here.
Introduction: With the Update 53 hotfix, the Data Miner tree has been given a new use, and offers new content available to all levels, with increasingly valuable rewards that can be obtained as you reach higher levels. Lower level players will often gain $info and experience from nodes, and will sometimes encounter waves of enemies. Defeating these enemies will produce a Data Cluster, which can be looted like any normal container, and usually contains either $info, code bits, code fragments, or an Experience Code Amplifier, which when used will give you an amount of experience equivalent to 10% of the XP needed to reach your next level.
Possible Encounters: Depending on the specific tool you are using, you have a chance of spawning one or more hostile NPCs while tapping a node. The more powerful the tool, the more difficult or numerous these spawns can become.
Basic Tools: These tools include Data Taps, Data Siphons, and the Data Extractor 2.0. All of these tools can be looted from NPCs and containers, and can also be decompiled and crafted.
Advanced Tools: Two tools are available to very high level players, and can only be crafted by someone who has first created the schematics for these tools and learned the recipe for that tool from the schematic. These tools are Data Extractor 3.0, and Data Scrambler 0.4.
Basic Spawns: These spawns have a chance of appearing regardless of which tool you use.
If anything new is discovered or anything in this list is incorrect, please post here and I will correct it. Once I get screenshots working on Vista I'll post pics of the different items too.
Hope you find it helpful!
Introduction: With the Update 53 hotfix, the Data Miner tree has been given a new use, and offers new content available to all levels, with increasingly valuable rewards that can be obtained as you reach higher levels. Lower level players will often gain $info and experience from nodes, and will sometimes encounter waves of enemies. Defeating these enemies will produce a Data Cluster, which can be looted like any normal container, and usually contains either $info, code bits, code fragments, or an Experience Code Amplifier, which when used will give you an amount of experience equivalent to 10% of the XP needed to reach your next level.
Possible Encounters: Depending on the specific tool you are using, you have a chance of spawning one or more hostile NPCs while tapping a node. The more powerful the tool, the more difficult or numerous these spawns can become.
Basic Tools: These tools include Data Taps, Data Siphons, and the Data Extractor 2.0. All of these tools can be looted from NPCs and containers, and can also be decompiled and crafted.
Advanced Tools: Two tools are available to very high level players, and can only be crafted by someone who has first created the schematics for these tools and learned the recipe for that tool from the schematic. These tools are Data Extractor 3.0, and Data Scrambler 0.4.
Basic Spawns: These spawns have a chance of appearing regardless of which tool you use.
- Gang Members: Typically Blackwoods or Furies, you will encounter a wave of 3 one-chevron gang members equal to your level, then a wave of 2 two-chevrons equal to your level, then finally a single three-chevron that is two levels above you.
- Loot: $info, code bits, code fragments, an Experience Code Amplifier, or a Portable Signal Booster.
- Other Exiles: Like the gang member spawns, you may also spawn several waves of Exiles, usually Lupines or Blood Drinkers. They work much like the gang member spawns in which you will get several waves of enemies of increasing difficulty.
- Loot: $info, code bits, code fragments, an Experience Code Amplifier, or a Portable Signal Booster.
- Security Programs: Usually spawns Tactical Security guards. Works similarly to the previous two spawns.
- Loot: $info, code bits, code fragments, an Experience Code Amplifier, or a Portable Signal Booster.
- Low-Level Data Sentries: Spawns about a dozen Data Sentries or Data Simulacrum that are several levels below the player's level. They usually do very little damage and are easy to solo. They usually come in one single wave.
- Loot: $info, code bits, code fragments, an Experience Code Amplifier, or a Portable Signal Booster.
- Data Sentries: These Data Sentries start off as a manageable group of three to five, but an additional one usually spawns after one is killed. The final wave pits you against a Data Sentry that is usually three levels above yours.
- Requires: Data Extractor 2.0
- Loot: Data Extraction Permission Set. This is used to code the schematic for the Data Extractor 3.0.
- Pandora's Box Spawns: Waves of enemies from either the first or second Pandora's Box arc will spawn in the same fashion they do when normally summoned. Soloable by a high-level player.
- Requires: Data Extractor 2.0
- Loot: $info, code bits, code fragments, an Experience Code Amplifier, or a Portable Signal Booster.
- N30 AG3NTs: These pale Agents somewhat resembling Neo arrive in waves of three. Can be soloed by a skilled player. Two or more redpills makes this trivial.
- Requires: Data Extractor 3.0
- Loot: Quicksilver luggable. The luggable will flag you for PvP, so be mindful of nearby hostiles when you attempt to loot it. The luggable will give you several passive bonuses, but its true use is in the recipes it contains. Right-click the Quicksilver in your inventory and select Use. You will receive:
- Recipes for Quicksilver Gloves (male and female)
- Recipe for Quicksilver Pill
- Quicksilver Fragment x2
- Zero One Taskmasters: Two Zero One Taskmasters will appear. After defeating them, you will face about five Zero One Soldiers, and then two more Taskmasters and about five Soldiers. Definitely not soloable. You will need several people to beat them.
- Requires: Data Extractor 3.0
- Loot: Recipes for IS Regen Pill and Inhaler. (Unconfirmed)
- Tengu and Gargoyle: A level 60 Tengu and Gargoyle, as well as about a half dozen level 55 exiles spawn. Absolutely un-soloable. Takes about a dozen people to clear before the timer expires.
- Requires: Data Extractor 3.0
- Loot: Overdrive luggable. This luggable will flag you for PvP and provides passive bonuses. Use it to receive:
- Recipes for Overdrive Bandanna (male and female)
- Recipe for Overdrive Injector
- Overdrive Fragment x2
- Wasteland Corrupter: Spawns a level 100 Wasteland Corrupter and several Corrupteds about 3 levels higher than the player. The Corrupters require Insecticide to kill, and a lot of it.
- Requires: Any tap. (Thanks LoTekGhost)
- Loot: None? (Possibly bugged.)
- Corrupted: Spawns two Corrupted, usually one or two levels below the player.
- Requires: Data Extractor 2.0(?)
- Loot: None. (Except for possible Corrupted Code Fragments from the Corrupted themselves.)
- Agents: Either two level 55 Agents, or one level 65 Agent.
- Requires: Data Extractor 3.0
- Loot: Data Scrambling Permission Set (from the 2x 55 Agents, used to code the Data Scrambler 0.4 Schematics), or Data Scrambler Security Key (from the level 65 Agent, used to craft Data Scrambler 0.4s after the schematic has been learned). (Thanks Aquatium & Croesus!)
- Level 100 Agent: One level 100 Agent. Obviously difficult.
- Requires: Data Extractor 3.0
- Loot: Overdrive, Optimization, or Quicksilver luggables.
- Level 255 Agent: Spawns and just falls over dead.
- Requires: Data Extractor 0.4?
- Loot: Whatever $info the Agent had in his pocket.
If anything new is discovered or anything in this list is incorrect, please post here and I will correct it. Once I get screenshots working on Vista I'll post pics of the different items too.
Hope you find it helpful!
Helpful Links: 
