Part 1: Basics
Upload viruses to hacked servers and they earn for you in the background, using that server's hardware. Run your Collector to harvest. 10-minute minimum between collections. Four virus types total: three earn cash or BTC, one (DDoS) is attack-only.
✓ verified empirically confirmed in-game
§ legacy from HE legacy code, verified live for stated range
⚠ assumed extrapolation, not yet verified
WAREZ
Sells pirated software
using the server's bandwidth
Uses: NET (Mbit/s)
Earns: Cash ($)
Requires: Torrent on your server
SPAM
Sends spam emails
using the server's memory
Uses: RAM (MB)
Earns: Cash ($)
No extra software needed
MINER
Mines cryptocurrency
using the server's processor
Uses: CPU (MHz)
Earns: Bitcoin (BTC)
Requires: BTC Wallet on your server
DDOS
Botnet slave node
used for DDoS attacks
Attack only
No passive income
Requires: DDoS Breaker + 3 slaves
Each income type uses a different hardware stat (Warez=NET, Spam=RAM, Miner=CPU), so they never share earnings. Only same-type viruses split. ✓ dev-confirmed
One earner + one DDoS can both be active. The Hacked Database lets a warez/spam/miner and a DDoS virus run on the same target simultaneously. What still doesn't work: stacking two of the same type from your own installs.
Warez needs a Torrent on your server. No torrent, no earnings. Higher tier = more income. Aim for Fotoshop CS6 (v3.0); it's 3x the starter rate.
| Torrent Name | Ver | In-Game | Earning Rate | |
|---|
| F.L.I.E.N.D.S |
1.0 |
$0.1/GB |
$1.00/Mbit/hr |
Starter |
| Winblows 8.1 |
2.0 |
$0.2/GB |
$2.00/Mbit/hr |
2x |
| Fotoshop CS6 |
3.0 |
$0.3/GB |
$3.00/Mbit/hr |
3x |
Miner needs a Bitcoin Wallet on your server. No wallet, no BTC.
Spam: No Requirements
Spam runs with no extra software. Easiest virus to start with. Branch into Warez and Miner once you have a Torrent and BTC Wallet.
When multiple viruses of the same type are on one server, the earnings are split equally between all of them.
| Same-type viruses | Your share | Visual |
|---|
| 1 (solo) |
100% |
|
| 2 total |
50% |
|
| 3 total |
33% |
|
| 10 total |
10% |
|
Different types don't interfere.
A server with 5 warez + 3 miners + 0 spam? Your solo spam keeps 100%. Only same-type viruses share.
Practical tip: Before uploading, check what's already on the server. If there are 3 warez but 0 spam, place spam instead.
Spam is gated by target RAM. Most NPCs have 8.2 GB (good for spam), but a handful sit at 1.5 GB or 500 MB — check RAM before placing spam.
Collector Bonus
bonus % = collector version number
| Collector Version | Bonus | Example: $1,000 base earnings |
|---|
| v5.0 | +5% | $1,050 |
| v15.0 | +15% | $1,150 |
| v25.0 | +25% | $1,250 |
Upgrade your Collector first. It's a flat % on every dollar across every virus and server. Nothing else has this kind of reach.
| Virus Version | Multiplier | Bonus vs v1.0 |
|---|
| v1.0 | 1.02x | baseline |
| v5.0 | 1.10x | +8% |
| v14.0 | 1.28x | +25% |
| v18.0 | 1.36x | +33% |
Don't obsess over virus version.
v1.0 to v18.0 is +33%. Solo vs. 2-way split is 3x. A v1.0 alone beats a v18.0 sharing with one other. Server choice matters more than version.
Higher versions cost more resources.
Filesize and RAM requirements increase with version. Use lower version viruses for faster uploads at the cost of slightly lower earnings.
5% Bonus Chance
Each virus has a 5% chance (1 in 20) of earning double on any given collection. This is random and per-virus. You'll see "BONUS!" in your collection log when it happens.
10-Minute Minimum
You must wait at least 10 minutes between collections. Viruses accumulate earnings the longer you wait. No penalty for waiting.
Hardware Snapshot at Install
Viruses lock in the server's hardware when installed. If the server is upgraded later, your virus still earns based on the old hardware. Reinstall your virus after any hardware change to capture the new stats.
DDoS Wipes Viruses
When players complete DDoS missions against NPCs, the attack destroys hard drives, wiping all virus files. The NPC resets its hardware but the viruses are gone. Expect to reinstall periodically. It's normal upkeep.