Hacking

Hacking is an activity in The Sims 2: University and The Sims 3 that can be performed on a computer.

The Sims 2
"Grade Hacking" is an action available on college computers in The Sims 2: University after a Sim joins a secret society. While hacking, a Sim's class performance will slowly rise, however there is also a risk of getting caught, and that risk generally increases the longer the Sim hacks. Having higher Logic skill reduces, but does not eliminate, the chance of getting caught. If a Sim is caught hacking grades, the police will come and fine them, their class performance will be lowered to its original level, and the police officer may pull out a repo-izing gun and confiscate the computer. While hacking, the chance of being caught can be seen in the top-right hand corner of the screen. Players should note that this display may be lost if they switch away from the hacking Sim.

The Sims 3
Sims with the Computer Whiz trait or in the Investigator profession can hack in The Sims 3. Hacking is only possible between 9 pm and 7 am. Depending on the number of times a Sim has hacked before, a set amount of money is put into the household funds every 30 minutes (20 with the Genius trait). The amount of money the sim gets depends on how accomplished a hacker he/she is. A high level hacker can earn 4000 simoleons a night and more. Hacking is a hidden skill, so the only way the skill gaining is shown is by the amount of money coming in, there is nothing about it in the skill journal. There is a chance of the police sending a virus to the Sim's computer and breaking it. If this happens and the sim repairs the computer and keeps hacking, another virus is likely to be sent.