Offensive Programs

                                    

Battering Ram	Beam Cannon	Blaster	Kraken

Maniac	Shuriken	Shocker	Worms

Summary

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Offensive programs are the basic tools of hacking. Viruses such as Beam Cannon, Worms, or a mighty Kraken have the potential to overwhelm any Security Nodes on a network by sheer force. This method of attack is referred to as "Brute Force" and differs significantly from the more subtle Stealth hacking.

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• Beam Cannons are the basic virus, focusing on a node until it is captured.
• Shurikens are similar to Beam Cannons, but attack all connected nodes simultaneously.
• Worms can replicate themselves, quickly spreading throughout a network.
• Blasters are extremely powerful and stun nodes for a short time, but are slow to install and fire, and take up more space.
• Battering Rams target Code Gate filters and Guardian shields.
• Shockers stun connected nodes, preventing attacks and regeneration.
• Krakens start from the netConnections and head straight for the Core, combining their strength as the tentacles meet.
• Maniacs deliver massive kamikaze attacks, but can only be used once and take up a large amount of disk space.

Statistics

Each program takes a certain amount of time to be installed on a node, during which the program is not active. However, if the node is recaptured by the network in that time, the program will be lost. Each program also takes a certain amount of disk space, which it occupies in program libraries once it is compiled. Finally, each program also takes a certain amount of time to assemble in the Compiler. Programs can be compiled instantly by using Credits.

Offensive Program Statistics

Program	Install Time	Disk Space	Compilation Time
Beam Cannon	1.0 Seconds	1	20 Seconds
Shuriken	1.0 Seconds	1	30 Seconds
Worms	1.0 Seconds	3	1 Minutes
Blaster	5.0 Seconds	6	5 Minutes
Battering Ram	2.0 Seconds	5	10 Minutes
Shocker	0.5 Seconds	6	8 Minutes
Kraken	1.0 Seconds	7	8 Minutes
Maniac	0.5 Seconds	15	30 Minutes

Attack Priorities

Different programs have different methods of attack, and may have additional, special abilities such as stunning or attacking every connected node. When an offensive program has a choice of which node to attack, it will select a target using the following criteria:

Priority list: (Updated for Patch v1.025 - see Patch Notes)

1. Security Nodes with a Strength value - These are Sentry, Turret and Black ICE nodes. Other Security Nodes (Guardian, Scanner and Code Gate) are considered regular nodes in this regard.
2. The Core (including an upgrading Core.)
3. Black Nodes - Nodes with an installed antivirus.
4. Partially Black Nodes - Nodes where an antivirus is currently being uploaded.
5. White Nodes and Upgrading Nodes - Nodes which are upgrading and Nodes where an antivirus is not present. (Including upgrading Security Nodes, but not including an upgrading Core.)
6. Nodes under the Wraith effect.

Note that this is void for programs which always target all connected nodes.

Trivia

The Brute-Force attack was most likely named after the real life Brute-Force attack, where decoders would try many passwords or passphrases with the hope of eventually guessing correctly.

Hackers Wikia - Programs List
Programs	Nodes	Gameplay
Offensive Programs	Battering Ram   Beam Cannon   Blaster   Kraken   Maniac   Shocker   Shuriken   Worms
Defensive Programs	ICE Wall   Protector
Stealth Programs	Access   Data Leech   Portal   Wraith
A.I. Programs	A.I. Beetle   A.I. Hawk   A.I. Squid