All things hacker

This section is dedicated to explaining all things a hacker can do from the normal non-hacker all the way to the Electronics Expert. Here you'll find out exactly what each type of hacker can do and how to gain that ability.

We've divided this section into six parts.
The Non-hacker
The Hacker
The Advanced Hacker
Elite Hacker
Data Corruption
Electronics Expert

The Non-Hacker

This is your basic soldier without any certifications in hacking. The Non-Hacker can disable door IFF systems and hack into a Control Console. The "Non-Hacker" is represented by a Yellow Hacking symbol above his or her name and their REK displays a yellow light pictured above.

Door IFF Systems:
To disable a door security IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) system simply equip your Remote Electronics Kit or REK for short and fire it at the IFF panel. A Non-Hacker takes exactly 6 seconds to disable the IFF of a door.

Note: Notice the keyword here is disable. "Hacking" into a door does not just affect you or your empire. Disabling the security IFF of a door completely overrides the ability of the security system to determine IFF signatures. Because of this, once a security IFF has been disabled anyone from any empire can pass through the door. A door security IFF will stay disabled for a few minutes while the system reconfigures itself.

Hacking into a Control Console:
To hack an enemy Control Console or CC for short, simply equip your REK and fire it at the CC of an enemy base. Their are some exceptions to this such as you must have a linked base.

Note: It will take a full minute from start to finish for a Non-Hacker to hack through a CC. If you hold the fire button the entire time you will not be interrupted when you are shot, healed, or repaired.

The Hacker

A basic soldier with only the hacking certification which can be purchased from a Certification Terminal for three certificates (certs) can disable doors and hack through Control Consoles slightly faster than a Non-Hacker. In additional they can also disable the IFF system on lockers as well. A "Hacker" is represented by a Red hacking logo above his or her name and their REK displays a red light as indicated in the image above.

They can disable door IFF systems in 4 seconds.
They can hack through a CC in 40 seconds.
They can hack into lockers in 10 seconds.

Advanced Hacker

The advanced hacker is an accomplished hacker and can hack through any enemy systems including equipment terminals, vehicle terminals, and even enemy vehicles. Most people that wish to achieve hacking skills typically stop at the Advanced Hacker as it offers you everything you could possibly truly desire from the Hacking lines. Anything after this point is just extra benefits but this truly is the desired hacking skill range for most. An Advanced Hacker is represented with a purple hacking symbol and a purple light out of their REK.

They can disable door IFF systems in 2 seconds.
They can hack through a CC in 20 seconds.
They can hack into lockers in 6 seconds.
They can hack into equipment terminals in 6 seconds.
They also hack or "jack" as it's called in the game, any enemy vehicles. The time it takes to do so varies depending on the vehicles. As a general rule, the bigger it is - the longer it takes.

Expert Hacker

The expert hacker is the most accomplished hacker of all and can hack through any enemy systems. An expert hacker is represented by a blue hacking symbol and a blue light from their REK.

They can disable door IFF systems in 1.5 seconds.
They can hack through a CC in 15 seconds.
They can hack into lockers in 4 seconds.
They can hack into equipment terminals in 3 seconds.
They also hack or "jack" as it's called in the game, any enemy vehicles. The time it takes to do so varies depending on the vehicles. As a general rule, the bigger it is - the longer it takes.

Additionally, the Expert Hacker has the ability to purge any virus uploaded by someone with the Data Corruption certification and they can increase the pain fields in both the Spawn Room and the Generator Room.

Purging a virus
If your base was infected with a virus from someone with the Data Corruption certification, the base emergency lighting will turn into an annoying green color. To repair this issue, an Expert Hacker can use their REK on the main console located near the main lobby of all facilities. The purge takes a couple of seconds and you'll effectively restore the base back to its normal state.

Increasing the pain field
To increase the pain field of the Spawn Room:

Find the Matrix panel near one of the respawn tubes. If you look just slightly above the panel, you'll see a small black circle. Aim your REK at this circle and use the fire button to begin increasing the pain field. The process takes about a minute and there is no confirmation to you or anyone else. The only way you'll know it has worked is by this small icon located on the overall continent map as part of the base icons.

To increase the pain field of the Generator Room:

Find the console panel just through the doorway to the Generator. It looks similar to a base main console. Point your REK at this console and begin the process of increasing the field. Like increases the pain field in a Spawn Room, this process takes a minute and the only proof it was completed is another base icon that looks like this. Do not mistake this icon for a downed generator icon.

Data Corruption

Data Corruption specializes in chaotic hacks known as viruses. The Data Corruption hacker can use a new type of REK called a T-REK.

By using this T-REK on a main console located near the lobby of all facilities, the hacker can upload one of various viruses to the base computer system which can disable many defensive attributes the base itself affords its inhabitants. Use of the T-REK displays a green hacking icon above the player's name and a green indicator light is shown while it is in use.

Uploading a virus into a Main Console:
To upload a virus into an enemy base, simply find the main console near the lobby of the facility. Once you have, whip out your T-REK (yeah we said that) and fire it at the Main Console.

Once you do this, a menu will pop-up on your screen. The Menu lists all of the various viruses you can upload.

The listing image above is pretty self-explanatory.

Unlock all doors provides access to the entire base. We don't really recommend you choose this virus because as soon as you hack the base all doors become unlocked anyway. Not to mention just about every other virus is more efficient.

Our picks are Disable Enemy Radar and Disable Linked Benefits. Play around to see what you like but you can never go wrong with disabling the enemies radar.

Electronics Expert

The electronics expert is an all in one certification which includes both the Expert Hacking and Data Corruption certificates. They can do everything the game has to offer regarding hacking and virus uploads. Their REK is still displayed with a blue icon and their T-REK is still displayed as green.

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