Fallout 4: Terminal Passwords and Hacking Guide
Fallout 4: Terminal Passwords and Hacking Guide
Quick Links
- The Importance Of Hacking
- How To Hack A Terminal
- Password Likeness Explained
- Hacking Skill And Perks
- Other Hacking Aids
- Hacking Fun With Nick Valentine
- Additional Hacking Tips
An open-world game like Fallout 4 has tons of secrets and hidden information stored away for those who are vigilant enough to find it. From unmarked locations with notes and loot stashes to mysterious terminals inside old, dusty bunkers, Bethesda did a fantastic job at hiding away its lore and precious valuables.
An open-world game like Fallout 4 is a treasure trove of secrets and hidden information. From hidden loot stashes to mysterious terminals, Bethesda has crafted a world full of thrilling discoveries.
In order to get more out of the game’s secrets, hacking is an essential skill. Although it’s often underrated, unlocking terminals can make a huge difference in how you fight your enemies as it allows you to control their security systems. Moreover, some of the most precious things tend to be stored away behind locked magnetic doors, so having a high hacking skill is definitely a plus.
Hacking may not be the flashiest skill, but it’s the key to unlocking the hidden wonders of Fallout 4. From taking control of security systems to accessing precious loot, hacking is a game-changer in the Commonwealth.
Updated on July 17, 2023 by Quinton O’Connor: We’re pretty happy with how much information this guide provides, but we realized it might not be a bad idea to spruce up its formatting for an easier reading experience. We hope you like the result!
- Persona 5 Tactica: All You Need to Know
- The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom – Lomei Labyrinth I...
- FF14: Get Every Blue Mage Spell
The Importance Of Hacking
A lot of people tend to prioritize lockpicking over hacking. However, hacking can actually be a major advantage for just about any type of character build. Many locations around the Commonwealth have terminals that allow you to unlock new areas, control security systems, or even activate robotic helpers to fight for you. Moreover, much of the game’s lore and secrets are found on these terminals scattered all around the world, so hacking them for more information will give you hidden knowledge and can even start secret quests for you. Terminals can also point you to locations where you can find something significant such as loot, so there’s no real reason to ignore hacking.
Forget lockpicking, hacking is where it’s at in Fallout 4! Terminals hold the keys to hidden areas, security systems, and even secret quests. Don’t miss out on the lore and precious loot that await those who master the art of hacking.
How To Hack A Terminal
For those who would rather master the art of hacking on their own, rest assured once you understand the mechanics of it, it’s not as convoluted as it might seem.
- Find yourself a terminal you need to hack.
- Make sure you have a high enough skill level to hack it.
- Interact with the terminal.
- You’ll be presented with a screen filled with gibberish. One of the words on that screen is the password. Selecting a word counts as one attempt.
- At the top of the third line, you’ll see the number of attempts available for the terminal, which will update after every failed attempt.
- If you fail all attempts, you need to wait a short moment for the terminal to reset.
You’ll be given four attempts to find the correct password, with each word you select counting as one attempt. If you fail all four attempts, you’ll be temporarily locked out of the terminal.
Hacking a terminal doesn’t have to be rocket science. Just follow these steps: 1. Find a terminal. 2. Make sure your hacking skills are up to par. 3. Dive into the virtual world of gibberish and select words as your attempts. 4. Watch your attempts and choose wisely. Remember, patience is a virtue. Wait for the terminal to reset if you fail all attempts.
Password Likeness Explained
Every word you select in this minigame will give you a Likeness rating. A word’s Likeness refers to the number of letters that align with the correct password. Both the letter itself and the position of said letter must match the correct password to increase that word’s Likeness.
Password Likeness Example Let’s say a computer has the password “COPY.” You select the word “COLD” on the terminal. It would display a Likeness rating of “2,” as the letters “C” and “O” are in the same spot.
However, if you selected the word “PICK,” you’d get a Likeness rating of “0.” While “PICK” has a C in it, it’s not the first letter of that word.
Using this information, you’ll need to deduce which letters are shared among each of the words you’ve selected, compare them to your remaining options, then make an informed guess. Thankfully, you can cut through a large chunk of this tedium by selecting certain characters present in this terminal interface.
Special Terminal Characters 
Amidst the jumble of characters in the terminal are sets of characters that can be selected to make this minigame much easier. If you select a group of symbols enclosed within a complete set of brackets— (), [], {} or <> — the terminal will either reset your available number of tries or delete words that are not the correct password. Selecting a set of brackets does not consume any password attempts, so you’ll want to select these brackets whenever possible to increase your odds of finding the correct password.
Figuring out passwords doesn’t have to be a guessing game. Pay attention to Likeness ratings and use special characters wisely. Keep an eye out for those handy brackets that can save the day!
Hacking Skill And Perks
Hacker Perk
| Rank | Description | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You can hack Advanced terminals. | INT: 4 |
| 2 | You can hack Expert terminals. | LVL: 9, INT: 4 |
| 3 | You can hack Master terminals. | LVL: 21, INT: 4 |
| 4 | You can no longer be locked out of a terminal. | LVL: 33, INT: 4 |
The hacking skill is affected by the Hacker perk in the Intelligence perk tree. Leveling up this skill allows you to hack higher difficulty terminals. Every terminal in the Commonwealth is ranked by a specific difficulty tier: Novice, Advanced, Expert, and Master. Novice terminals will be available for anyone by default, but access to Advanced terminals or above needs to be unlocked by leveling the Hacker perk.
Want to become a hacking mastermind? Pump up your Intelligence and unlock the Hacker perk. With each rank, you’ll gain access to higher difficulty terminals. The more you hack, the greater the rewards!
Other Hacking Aids
On top of the Hacker perk, there are two additional tools that can help you boost your hacking skills effectively.
| Hacking Aid | What It Does | How To Obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Science Bobblehead | Permanently provides an extra chance of guessing a password | Find it in Vault 75 |
| ‘Close to Metal’ Perk | Grants another additional guess and reduces lock-out timers by 50% | Gain the highest possible affinity rating with Nick Valentine |
Want to be a hacking prodigy? Grab the Science Bobblehead and unlock the ‘Close to Metal’ perk. With these aids, you’ll be deciphering passwords like a champ!
Hacking Fun With Nick Valentine
If you can’t be bothered to invest in the Hacker perk, but would still like to easily access the many terminals of the Commonwealth, an easy way to do this is to simply take Nick Valentine along with you as your companion. He becomes available as a companion after you rescue him during the main quest of Fallout 4 and investigate Kellogg’s house in Diamond City. Valentine can be asked to hack any terminal regardless of difficulty level. However, the higher the difficulty, the higher the chance of him failing and being locked out permanently.
No Hacker perk? No problem! Just bring along the charming Nick Valentine as your companion. He’s an expert hacker, but be warned, even he can have trouble with the trickier terminals.
Additional Hacking Tips
If you’re struggling to complete the hacking minigame, here are a few tips: – If you only have one attempt left, exit the terminal and interact with it. This will restart the minigame, giving you four attempts once again. – When your attempts reach two or one, start selecting bracket groups. You’ll either get your attempts reset or certain passwords will be removed, narrowing your options drastically. – Ask your companion, preferably Nick Valentine, to hack the terminal. They have a chance of automatically hacking it for you.
Hacking giving you a headache? Here are some pro tips to save the day: restart the game to get a fresh set of attempts, rely on bracket groups, and don’t forget to ask your faithful companion for help!
Next: Fallout 4: Every Companion Perk And How To Unlock Them
