Cyber Crime scenarios (Stealth Virus etc.)
What TornLife's research has established about Cyber Crime scenarios (Stealth Virus etc.), and the questions players asked about it.
What TornLife has verified
- Stealth Virus is part of the older "Virus" crime line (Simple Virus -> ... -> Stealth Virus), run via a computer/laptop page rather than the Crimes 2.0 interface. In December 2024 a developer said Virus Programming is one of the oldest crime areas and will eventually move into a new crime instead of the laptop page, implying it was not yet migrated into Crimes 2.0. (confirmed by Torn; Stealth virus coding time, )
- The crime sequence (as described in a 2015 bug report) is: switch on the computer and insert the (Simple) virus disk into the CD drive; transfer the virus to the target's bank account; the virus returns the target's account number and funds are transferred from their account to the player's, raising the player's money. (documented; Stealth Virus, )
- Programming the Simple Virus item has a base coding time of 100 days, reducible by several percentage bonuses applied one after another (e.g. 50%, then 50% of the remainder, then 20%, then 10%) rather than added together, as of December 2024; a developer confirmed this multiplicative stacking is intentional for now. (confirmed by Torn; Stealth virus coding time, )
- Success/failure of a Stealth Virus attempt is shown as a colour: green indicates success, blue indicates a failed attempt (without jail). Players report getting mostly blue results, i.e. frequent failure, even with substantial nerve bar size and crime-experience merits/perks. (player reports; Stealth Virus and Intelligence, )
- On success, Stealth Virus transfers money from the target's bank account into the player's own account (one documented example added $2,696) and grants crime experience. (documented; Stealth Virus, )
- The wiki states Stealth Virus gives more money and more Crime Experience than any other Virus crime (including Simple Virus), which is why Simple Virus is rarely performed once Stealth Virus is available. (documented; Simple Virus › Usage / Historical Notes, )
- Torn staff (bogie) stated directly that the Stealth Virus crime does not result in jail. (confirmed by Torn; Stealth Virus and Intelligence, )
- The Torn Wiki (2022 capture) confirms the Stealth Virus crime cannot send a player to Jail or Hospital, unlike the Simple Virus crime, which can land a player in jail. (documented; Simple Virus › Usage / Historical Notes, )
- The Stealth Virus item is obtained by programming it on a Personal Computer, Laptop, or Gold Laptop, but only after completing the "CMT2560 Algorithms and Advanced Programming Education" course; it cannot be found through city finds. Base programming time is 100 days. (documented; Stealth Virus › Obtaining, )
- A Stealth Virus can also be obtained by trading with other players, as an alternative to programming it yourself. (documented; Stealth Virus › Obtaining, )
- The wiki lists six virus items players can code: Simple Virus (needs CMT1520, 10 days, sells $500), Polymorphic Virus (CMT2530, 25 days, $4,500), Tunneling Virus (CMT2530, 40 days, $10,000), Armored Virus (CMT2560, 60 days, $75,000), Stealth Virus (CMT2560, 100 days, $200,000) and Firewalk Virus (CMT2560, 120 days, sells $100). (documented; Viruses, )
- Per the wiki, viruses (the coded Tool items) have no use in Crimes 2.0 except two specific Organized Crime 2.0 scenarios: the Firewalk Virus is used in the Blast From The Past scenario and the Stealth Virus is used in the Stacking the Deck scenario. Their main historical use is Crimes 1.0's 'plant a computer virus' crime. (documented; Viruses, )
- To produce any virus a player must have completed CMT1520: Introduction to Computing; advanced viruses (Polymorphic, Tunneling) additionally require CMT2530: Intermediate Programming, and the highest tier (Armored, Stealth, Firewalk) require CMT2560: Algorithms and Advanced Programming. Coding is done by switching on a Personal Computer or Laptop and choosing the virus to code. (documented; Viruses, )
- The education course 'Fundamentals of Computer Architecture' reduces heat generated by Cracking rig components and unlocks two short courses enabling CPU overclocking; an honor bar unlocks at Cracking level 100, another for successfully guessing 250 password characters. (confirmed by Torn; Crimes 2.0 : Cracking, )
- A developer stated Virus Programming is one of the oldest systems in the game and is slated to eventually be moved into a new crime rather than being handled via the Computer/Laptop page, with bonuses moving toward additive stacking (rather than multiplicative) 'as we replace areas'. (confirmed by Torn; Stealth virus coding time, )