Data items

Data items are generally found in pcs, laptops and cellphones. They might also be found as random loot on enemies.

Data items can be read in the library after Doug Schultz awakens and has set up his decryption system, which he will do one day after he is revived. He will wake up the day after you tell Davis Cray that you brought back the medicine. You will receive a quest for this on day 3.

There are 150 data items to be unlocked, but there are way more that can be found. Each 10 unlocked data items are worth experience as a repeatable goal. Therefore they are a source for some Stat / Skill points and additionally all 150 are needed to unlock the achievement "H4ck3r".

Each of the data items is secured with an password. The "software" provides you with the length of the password and some suggestions.

There are 3 stages of password strength. The first will set you up with the missing letters, which you have to set to the right order like this: The missing letters are "een" and the word has 5 letters. The set letters are Qu_ _ _.

This would naturally lead to the password "Queen".

The next stage is similar to the first but instead has l33t speak in it. That means that some letters are replaced by numbers. 0 = o 1 = i 3 = e 4 = A 5 = s 6 = G 7 = T 8 = B Watch out, in the game the number 1 and the small L (l) look extremly similar.

The third stage is way more difficult. It mixes l33t speak in BUT it won't tell you what the missing letters are. Just some set letters (often in l33t speak) and the right length. This can be quite exhausting but, the missing letters will never be in l33t speak!

Message 146 to 150 contain an encrypted message. The exact message is at the end of this page.

Passwords
(further pws will be added later)1

The secret message:
The encryption method is: "Its a shift 1 with some substitutions. You shift everything back 1 letter. You sub the numbers for letters. It's just 733t substitution for the numbers. Simple, but there is a twist. The tricky part to throw you off: If when shifting back 1 letter you land on anything that is replaced by a number you shift back two. For example 3=E so when you shift back an F you have to go back 2 so its a D. "

The message reads: "haRdCoRe! ThedeVSloVeYoU! MoniToR The CaReTakeR The CRoWS MiGhT Be neXT ThankS To kiCkSTaRTeR BaCkeRS BeaR allieS UnloCked!

The capitals are all the things that are just a single shift back. Anything lower case was a number or a double shift. It's just a system to keep track of things and I'm too lazy to clean it up."

This was solved by DrunkZombie, bigbadslog and hothmonster! It was posted on the | Irontowerforum. All credit to them, as i did not solve this part at all.