Hacking

Getting illegal access to a cockpit using grinder and welder (hacking mechanic)

Hacking is a game mechanic that transfers ownership of a functional block from players or NPCs to the hacker. Ownership controls who can use a block in Survival Mode.

Hacking is used in situations where you can’t use the Control Panel Screen to transfer ownership legally, typically due to piracy. In short, you “hack” a functional block by grinding away all of its Computer parts, and then rewelding the block.

How to gain ownership of a block?

Tooltip in the HUD showing functional and hacked thresholds of a block

To gain ownership of a functional block:

1. Use a handheld Grinder (Tool) on it to disassemble the computer parts in the block.
2. Keep an eye on the tooltip on the HUD, it shows your hacking progress.
   • A red horizontal marker indicates the functional line. When a block is grinded (or damaged) below that line, it stops functioning.
   • A dark blue horizontal line indicates when the block is "hacked", that is, it has lost all Computer components and ownership.
3. Use a handheld Welder (Tool) to weld the computers (and other components) from your inventory back in until the block becomes functional again.

Welding the Computers back in is the act that assigns ownership to the hacking player.

Why do I need hacking?

When pirating a ship or station owned by players or NPCs of an enemy faction, you will be unable to open doors, to access cargo containers, to take the ammo out of turrets, to use the cockpit, to change thruster or gyro settings, and so on. To be able to interact with pirated blocks (beyond destruction), you need to hack them.

Is hacking “illegal”?

Hacking is technically illegal, but the game does not keep a “report” on players, nor is there an NPC police force. Hacking blocks belonging to an NPC faction will damage your reputation with them, however.

In multiplayer, when someone begins grinding a block that is owned by someone else and not shared with them, the block will transmit a HUD signal through the ship's antenna (if one is installed on the same grid). This signal can be relayed through friendly antennas (if any are in range) to the block's owner, letting them know that hacking is in progress (if the victim is online).

The player TomasSE is on a ship owned by you and grinding down a door. The antenna relay broadcasts the hacker's name to you.

What can be hacked?

Only functional blocks and grids have ownership and can be hacked. Hackers transfer grid ownership to themselves on the Control Panel Screen after all functional blocks have been hacked.

Decorative blocks and armor cannot be hacked nor owned.

Why can’t I hack this?

The owner of a Safe Zone can disallow grinding and welding inside. In this case, you cannot hack any blocks inside the Safe Zone, either.

Alternatives (Mods)

Some mods simplify the hacking rules so you do not have to hack all functional blocks, but only certain control blocks:

• Easy NPC takeovers
• Hostile Takeover