Computer spike

Computer spikes, also known as data spikes, were electronic devices that, upon insertion into a computer, allowed the user to access classified data and programs. Spikes could be set to initiate a program or be operated manually, and plugged into the same kind of sockets as scomp links. They were often used in infiltrations and thefts.
==Description==
Computer spikes
 were handheld, vaguely cylindrical devices designed for hijacking computer systems. They could be inserted into a target computer by an astromech droid, or be inserted and operated manually. They could be used in infiltrations or to open locked doors. Spikes were also a common tool in starship thefts, used to overload the target ship's defences.Pirate's Price Spikes can also be used as data rods.
==History==
Computer spikes were in use by the end of the Republic Era. In 19 BBY, during the issuing of Order 66,Star Wars: Galactic Atlas mind-controlled clone troopers onboard the Tribunal used a data spike to manually open the door of the medical bay former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano had sealed herself inside with three astromech droids in order to perform emergency surgery on Clone Commander Rex to remove his behavioral modification biochip and free him from the brainwashing. The clones succeeded in getting the door open, however, the efforts of droids RG-G1 and CH-33P were able to reseal the door, and Tano was able to fight off the attackers with some last-minute assistance from Rex. The attacking clones eventually cut the door out of the frame with blowtorches, but by that time Tano and her allies had finished what they needed to do inside the room, and successfully fought their way out.
Shortly after the rise of the Empire, the Clone X trooper CX-2 got intel from Ciddarin Scaleback, who told her Phee Genoa had contact with Omega. After tracking Phee down, CX-2 snuck onto pirate's starship, the Providence, and planted a computer spike into the ship's navigation computer and discover that she frequently visited Pabu, which he discerned was where Omega was hiding.
During the early rebellion against the Galactic Empire, members of the Spectres rebel cell hijacked the Imperial Communications Center on Lothal so they could send an anti-Imperial broadcast. During the raid, Sabine Wren and C1-10P "Chopper" plugged a Q-bazik data spike into the communication tower's computers in order to carry out the hijacking.
Later, during the Galactic Civil War, Chopper was himself hijacked by Imperial controller LT-319 during a mission to the moon Killun 71. After the crew of the Ghost had subdued the rogue droid, Captain Hera Syndulla used a data spike while hooking Chopper up to her ship in a successful ploy to both undo the hacking and destroy LT-319 and his ship remotely. Kay Vess also used one extensively to open doors and containers. When she did not use the spike, it was used as a makeshift hairpin.Star Wars Outlaws
After the Galactic Civil War, Axe Woves, a Mandalorian resistance fighter, used a computer spike to open a door to get inside of an Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser.
The slicer DJ handcrafted his own computer spikes that could temporarily befuddle bio-hexacryption.Star Wars: The Last Jedi: The Visual Dictionary
==Behind the scenes==
The first canonical appearance of a computer spike was in the Star Wars Rebels season 1 episode "Call to Action." They were first identified as computer spikes in the accompanying episode guide on StarWars.com.
==Appearances==
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*Star Wars Rebels webcomic
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*Star Wars Rebels: Battle to the End
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*Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novelization 
*Darth Vader (2015) 2
*Doctor Aphra (2016) 3
*Star Wars Outlaws
*Aftermath: Empire's End 
*Battle of Jakku — Last Stand 4 
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*The Mandalorian Season 2 3
*Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition 
*Pirate's Price 
===Non-canon appearances===
*The Sims 4 Star Wars: Journey to Batuu
==Sources==
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*Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Incredible Cross-Sections
*Star Wars: The Last Jedi: The Visual Dictionary
*Cyphers and Masks
*Gadgets and Gear
*Star Wars: The Mandalorian Handbook
==Notes and references==