Crackers

What is a "Cracker"?
The Cracker is your most powerful weapon in your arsenal of Software. It is your primary offensive against other IPs.

Your Cracker is what's needed to successfully break into someone's system. This is known as 'Brute-Force', the most common yet most important method of hacking in the game. In order to hack another IP address, you must have a Cracker running that is either equal or higher than the level of your victim's Hasher.

For example; If I have a 10.0 Cracker, but my victim has a 10.1 Hasher, then I cannot hack my victim. However, if I have a 10.1 Cracker and he has a 10.1 Hasher, then I CAN hack my victim. See how it works?

In order to STAY connected to that IP, you must make sure that a) your Cracker stays running and b) that you keep your Cracker higher than your victim's Hasher.

Crackers play a crucial part in your missions, as they determine what mission level you are on.

1.0 - 3.0 = Mission Level 1 3.0 - 6.0 = Mission Level 2 6.0 Onwards = Mission Level 3

Your Cracker also plays an important part in the Storyline. Once you research your Cracker to a high enough level, you will get a message stating that you are able to attain the Doom Virus.

Where can I get the Cracker?
You should already have one, but in the instance that you don't, simply head on over to the Download Center and download it from there. Logs are not recorded, so don't worry about clearing them.

How do I research my Cracker?
To research a piece of Software, head to the University tab on your side-menu, then from there select the piece of Software you wish to research. Follow through and research the Software.

It says I have no software to research!
This is because you have not bought the License.

Alternatively, you can go into your Software tab on the side-menu, and click the little blue circle icon that's located next to the Software's name. From there, you can buy the license, (If you haven't already), and research the software following the steps I have provided above.