Watch Dogs 2 is an open-world multiplayer game set in the bustling city of San Francisco. However, in this futuristic world, all home systems, lifestyle technologies, and even city infrastructure are centralized through a single operating system called CTOS. Because of this, everything can be hacked in Watch Dogs. Everything can be used as an advantage against the opposition.

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Dedsec hackers can override vehicle controls, machinery, security cameras, and event intrude on the privacy of residents through indoor cameras. At a push of a button, they can take control of traffic lights, hack into bank accounts, and even cause underground steam pipes to explode. Here are the 10 of the most useful hacks in Watch Dogs 2.

10 Electro-Shock Device

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The ElectroShock Device is a hackable grenade that stuns everyone within an area. It is non-lethal so it doesn't kill anyone. It is silent as well, so infiltrating hideouts is made easier with the electroshock device. That's not to say it's ineffective against vehicles - the electroshock device will disable vehicles, and stun the people inside. Its huge area of effect can also work against multiple vehicles. As opposed to traditional explosive grenades, the electroshock device has the same results with fewer deaths and significantly less noise.

9 Hijacker

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Lockpicking a car draws too much attention. By the time the car door is opened and ready for "commandeering," cops would already be on the hijacker's tail. Each time a hacker decides to take a car, he always has to be ready for the possibility of a police chase. With the Hijacker skill, however, the hacker can simply hack the car and unlock it from the outside. No lockpicking or brute force needed. That way, stealing a car is just as easy as opening the door and driving away.

8 Improved Profiler

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Hackers don't have time to go out of their way to siphon the bank accounts of everyone they encounter. Hackers have missions to do, and places to be. The improved profiler however immediately shows which civilians are worth it. It's a convenient tool that highlights who and where the civilian is.

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Usually, the highlighted civilian would have $400 or more in their bank account, or give access to unlock a new car. The improved profiler is a nice investment of skill points that hastens the cash-grabbing of the hacker, allowing them to buy more clothes and weapons.

7 Security System Shutdown

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This enables the hacker to turn off security systems such as hidden cameras and motion sensors. Doing so will let the hacker slip in and out of a place undetected. Reinforcements are less likely to be called, and enemies won't be alerted of the hacker's presence. Disabling the alarms will also allow the hacker undetected access to certain areas in the hideout. Without the ability to shut off security systems, alerted enemies and reinforcements would be inevitable since a lot of objectives are behind security systems.

6 Chopper Retreat Exploit

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When a hacker is able to evade all ground units of the San Francisco Police Department, the pesky chopper will still be on their tail, reporting their position in real-time. This results in a never-ending police chase in pursuit of the hacker. Though one way to evade this is to hide under a roof, the chopper can change altitudes to get a visual on the hacker. Hacking the chopper's controls will force it to retreat thereby eliminating the eye in the sky. This will allow the hacker to evade the SFPD much easier.

5 Steam Pipes and Other Explosives

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Once the chopper is taken care of, ground units will still be in pursuit. Triggering steam pipes is one of the most effective ways to eliminate pursuing cops and gangs. It programs a proximity that, when entered, triggers an explosion that totally destroys most vehicles.

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On roads, it is enough to eliminate rivals and cause a catastrophic distraction. Other explosives that can be found in alleys and near neighborhoods such as electrical boxes can also be triggered to stun/kill enemies in an area. This is useful when fending off pursuers on foot.

4 APB: Suspect Located

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A lot of hackers use this tool on civilians for fun. Seeing cops pull over and chase down a resisting civilian is one of the most amusing things about Watch Dogs 2. When used in gang hideouts, however, it creates an exchange of bullets between the SFPD and the gang it's used on. Oftentimes, the cops will call for reinforcements to take down everyone shooting at them. Not only does this eliminate a couple of gang members, but it also creates a huge distraction that allows the hacker to go about the objective without firing a shot. Alternatively, when infiltrating the SFPD, a gang can be called to rough them up as well.

3 Massive Vehicle Hack

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Massive Vehicle Hack is like a mini portable traffic lights hack. It has vehicles in a wide radius drive in random directions, causing collisions and loss of control for pursuers. In addition to triggering explosions from steam pipes, massive vehicle hack creates collisions and chaos behind the hacker as they overtake different vehicles, moving or parked. This makes it harder to catch them since the pursuers would also be likely to have their controls overridden.

2 Massive Communication Disruption

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Massive Communication Disruption is a very flexible tool that is used for a lot of situations. It can be used offensively and defensively. With enemies, this tool triggers ear-damaging feedback on every enemy within a wide radius that has comms; thus stunning them.

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This allows the hacker to get the upper hand on groups of enemies, and even take out heavily-armored juggernauts. In addition, this tool blocks 911 calls from civilian witnesses thereby preventing unnecessary police chases. Similarly, it interferes with requests for reinforcement and back up as well.

1 Blackout

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Blackout kills all the lights and disables all systems within an area. Just like Sombra's EMP, the blackout affects all electronics such as security systems, robots, explosive hazards, gates, and doors. In addition to lurking about unseen in the dark, the blackout allows the hacker to operate more seamlessly in a bricked environment. The blackout is also useful against enemy players since it prevents them from triggering certain explosives that can be used against the hacker. Because the systems are down, the hacker can lie low untouched behind shut down doors. Using blackout in conjunction with massive communication disruption is a deadly combo to get away unseen, and isolate the opposition against the hacker.

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