How can I hack and what is hacking for?
Created 4 years ago Updated 1 year ago
Hacking is a useful gameplay option that grants you the ability to reach and collect valuable information from afar, to infect networks and manipulate whole groups of objects and enemies.
Cyberdeck
In order to access quickhacks you must have a cyberdeck with quickhacks installed on it. With a cyberdeck installed, activate the scanner (press TAB key / Left Bumper / L1) and aim at the object you want to hack.
Scanner
There are two tabs in the scanner menu: Data and Hacking. In order to navigate between tabs press Z key (Right Bumper / R1). Data tab represents the most valuable information about the target, whilst the Hacking tab describes the chosen quickhack (if any available).
Scanner highlights
Check the list below to find out what each of the scanner highlights means:
Gold - job-related items
Red - danger
Green - devices that can be hacked
Blue - interactive objects
Quickhacks
Once you activate a quickhack (F key on keyboard, X button on Xbox or ◻ on PS controllers), you will see an icon displayed above the target. It indicates how long it takes for the quickhack to be activated and then how long it will remain active. While you are in a Scanner menu, the time is slower, make sure to exit the Scanner for a quickhack to be executed quickly.
Quickhacks can be either pre-installed in your Cyberdeck (device quickhacks), unlocked by perks (vehicle quickhacks) or found throughout the world and slotted into your cyberdeck (antipersonnel quickhacks).
RAM
Each quickhack requires available RAM units to be used (Cyberdeck RAM is located on top of the scanner menu). RAM recovers automatically over time.
Attributes and Perks
Assigning attribute and perk points into Intelligence directly affects your proficiency in using quickhacks as well as RAM cost and recovery rate. It also allows you to unlock special abilities such as Quickhack Queue (allowing you to upload multiple quickhacks to a single enemy) or Overclock Mode (allowing you to use your Health to upload quickhacks when RAM is insufficient).
Note: it is possible to open Hacking tips by pressing U key (Left Stick / L3) in each Quickhack menu.