The world of Fallout, especially the most recent entries, offers numerous minigames to help break up the monotony of exploring a post-apocalyptic wasteland. One such minigame is hacking, and it’s probably the toughest of them all. Here is how to hack in Fallout 4!
How to Hack Terminals in Fallout 4
When you first attempt to unlock a terminal in Fallout 4, it can appear completely foreign. It’s a jumble of letters, numbers, and symbols, with the odd random word thrown in for good measure. You’ll primarily want to focus on those seemingly random words, as they’re the password attempts to unlock the computer.
Start by choosing one word. If it’s the correct password, that’s fantastic! You can move on with the area. But it’s likely not. Instead, upon selecting the incorrect password attempt, you’ll notice a pop-up at the bottom right of the terminal. The pop-up notification indicates your choice’s overall “Likeness” to the correct password.
Essentially, the “Likeness” score determines the placement of letters within the correct password. So, for example, if you choose “Miles” in the screenshot above, it’s incorrect. It may give you back a Likeness score of 1, which means one letter in “Miles” is in the same position as the correct password. If you look down further, you’ll note “Money.” Both “M” letters in “Money” and “Miles” are in the same position, which would lead us to a Likeness of 1.
If you receive a Likeness score of 2, two letters in your password attempt will correspond to the actual password. Again, using the same examples, a 2 could mean the “M” and “E,” both of which are in the same order in both “Miles” and “Money.”
Furthermore, it never hurts to scroll your cursor through each line in the terminal carefully. You’ll note certain sections highlighted as you pass over them, and if you select these highlighted portions, they may remove incorrect password attempts or reset your number of attempts. They’re secret codes hidden throughout.
Related: Is Fallout 4 Worth Playing in 2024?
What Skills Affect Hacking?
The primary skill that affects hacking in Fallout 4 is known simply as Hacker. It’s an Intelligence skill you may unlock early on in the game, with four ranks available. These include:
| Rank | Requirements | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | INT 4 | Knowledge of cutting-edge computer encryption allows you to hack advanced terminals. |
| 2 | INT 4 / LVL 9 | You can hack Expert terminals. |
| 3 | INT 4 / LVL 21 | You can hack Master terminals. |
| 4 | INT 4 / LVL 33 | When hacking, you never get locked out of a terminal when things go wrong. |
If you intend to play an Intelligence build of any kind, even if it’s only a minor part of your overall build, it’s worthwhile to reach Intelligence 4 and max out Hacker. The fourth-rank ability of never being locked out of a terminal is infinitely useful across the Commonwealth!
Furthermore, do yourself a favor and seek out the Science Bobblehead in Vault 75. It permanently adds an extra chance to every terminal hacking attempt.
Before you can delve in with your new hacking skills, here’s what’s included in the next-gen update for Fallout 4!
