Hacking is an activity in The Sims 2: University, The Sims 3 and The Sims 4 that can be performed on a computer.
The Sims 2
"Grade Hacking" is an action available on college computers in The Sims 2: University after a Sim joins a secret society. While hacking, a Sim's class performance will slowly rise, however there is also a risk of getting caught, and that risk generally increases the longer the Sim hacks. Having higher logic skill reduces, but does not eliminate the chance of getting caught. If a Sim is caught hacking grades, the police will come and fine them, their class performance will be lowered to its original level, and the police officer may pull out a repo-izing gun and confiscate the computer. While hacking, a display in the top-right hand corner of the screen will show the Sim's risk level and the number of security alerts that have been tripped, which allow the player to estimate the chance of being caught. Closing this display will end the hacking session. Players should note that this display may be lost if they switch away from the hacking Sim.
Notification
Risk level
This is the level of risk the sim has from `Minimal to Considerable. which is the value known for indication of police and repo chance.
Security Alerts Triggered
The value for ALL triggered security alerts.
When Bust
The notification will read:
Looks like <Sim Name> needs to beef up those logic skills a little more before trying to hack into the college's grade system again. <Sim Name> is busted! <Sim Name> loses all the grade bonus gained during this session
Notification preview during session
- Hacking Grades
- Close this box to Log Out
- Risk Level : <LVL>
- Security Alerts Triggered : <ALR>
The Sims 3
Three Sims hacking at the same time.
Sims with the computer whiz trait or in the investigator profession[TS3:A] can hack in The Sims 3. With just the computer whiz trait, hacking can only be done between 9 pm (21:00) and 7 am, whereas investigators can hack anytime. Depending on the number of times a Sim has hacked before, a set amount of money is put into the household funds every 15–60 minutes (depending on quality/price of computer used). The amount of money the Sim gets depends on how accomplished a hacker is. A high level hacker can earn 4,000 simoleons a night and more. Hacking is a hidden skill, so the only way the skill gaining is shown is by the amount of money coming in, there is nothing about it in the skill journal.
There is a chance of the police sending a virus to the Sim's computer and breaking it. If this happens and the Sim repairs the computer and keeps hacking, another virus is likely to be sent.
The holo-computer introduced in Into the Future cannot be broken by a virus, and Sims gain more simoleons than normal while hacking with a holo-computer.
Rebellious Sims will receive the moodlet "Fight the Power" after hacking.
When hacking, the computer's screen animation is referencing the defense systems of the United States of America. Something that looks like an NSA logo can be seen too.
The Sims 3: Late Night
Separately from the regular hacking, a Sim in The Sims 3: Late Night can "Hack Into VIP List" with a computer. If it succeeds, the Sim can later get past a barrier rope and into a VIP section. This type of hacking does not have any requirements.
The Sims 4
Sims that have reached level 2 in the programming skill unlock the ability to hack on the computer, to earn some money. At first, they only have Llamacorn Listserv as a target, but as they raise their programming, more various targets to hack appear. There is a cooldown of 24 hours after the Sim has hacked a server/account, to prevent abuse. The Supercomputer is an exception, and it takes 7 days to attempt to hack it once more. If Supercomputer hacking fails, the computer the hack was attempted from will be broken. Hacking has a higher chance to succeed when the Sim in question is focused. The time at which the hacking is initiated seems to not change the outcome of the process. At Level 8 of programming, Sims learn to hack faster, speeding up the process passively. A computer upgraded with ECC RAM and IP Spoofers will perform better at hacking.
Hacking Targets
| Name | Programming Level Required |
|---|---|
| Necromancy | 1 |
| Llamacorn Listserv | 2 |
| Lothario Trust Funds | 3 |
| Landgraab Systems | 5 |
| National Sims Security Agency | 7 |
| Plumbook | 9 |
| Crumplebottom Servers | 10 |
| Supercomputer | 10 |
Gallery
