3. Operation—Boxing Day

There are four additional ctOS boxes to find; seek these out in any order you like. Gang activity is a constant in these areas, so you may experience flare-ups between the 580s and Tezcas factions, which can nullify any “Ghost” related infiltrations into restricted areas. These are presented in case you wish to return when the situation quiets down.

ctOS Box 1: The box closest to the previous objective is just north of you, in Woodland. Approach the Spanish-style bungalow, and trace the locked box to the roof of the adjacent home. Climb the roof, or better yet, launch the drone. Hack the security router linked to the box and begin a Network Bypass hot spot.

Network Bypass 1: Activate puzzle. 2: Turn x2. 3: Unlock. Turn x2. 4: Unlock. Turn x3. Resets in 25 seconds. 5: Unlock. Turn x2. 6: Unlock. Turn x2. 7: Unlock. Don’t turn. 8: Unlock. Turn x2. 9: Unlock. Puzzle complete.

Now simply hack the accessible ctOS box and uncover more clues.

ctOS Box 2: The box is located in an alley and unloading zone behind some businesses across the road from (north of) the gas station, near the Total Motors showroom. This is a known gang hideout.

Infiltration Points Southwest Alley: There’s a guard here and a second guard (and sometimes a dog) in the northwest corner of the ground-level area. This provides quick access to the objective. Northwest Alley: Jump the concrete wall to the northwest, heading south, and infiltrate the alley from this direction. Watch for a foe (possibly a guard or dog) just on the other side of the wooden fence; you can leap on him silently if you need to. Northeast Roof Access: In the small parking area with the rustd-out car shells, climb the trash bins before reaching for the roof. The foe on the roof can easily spot you, making this a route to take if violence is on your mind.

POIs and Objective Points ctOS Box 2 This is on the ground level, inside the alley and close to a collectible. You only need avoid or neutralize one guard, assuming you don’t attract the one (or two) guards on the roof.

Paths to Completion

This is a small-scale restricted area, with the ctOS box positioned for an easy infiltration. However, taking to the roof allows you to remove all threats in the vicinity.

Infiltrate with Due Care

Enter via the southwest alley opening, tasing the closest guard and the second foe (guard or dog) before running in and accessing the ctOS box. Optionally take the ladder or metal stairs to the roof and tase the last guard (or guards; there may be two up here) before you’re spotted.

Enter from Anywhere

Drop in the RC Jumper and follow the same route as the previous path. You can also simply fly in using the drone, over the building to the south with the graffiti on it, directly to the ctOS box.

Gang Warfare

Enter via IP3, remaining on the roof with enough firepower to rid the immediate area of foes. Watch the metal steps; reinforcements can access you from here. After you shoot any faction members you need to, dash in and complete the objective or set up a drone to do the job.

ctOS Box 3: wThe box is located within the Elmhurst District, on a roof of a Spanish-style home. However, there’s a closed-circuit box you need to physically unlock first. This is in a restricted area—part of the 580s’ territory—in the backyard of a Craftsman bungalow behind the Spanish house. Though there’s usually only one guard and two dogs in the initial restricted area, expect at least two more hostiles to show up from other restricted areas if you or your victims make a noise, and more after that if you stick around.

Infiltration Points West Bungalow (Northwest and Southwest): Approach from either side of the small Craftsman-style bungalow to the west (heading east); you’re close to the closed-circuit box and have a good view of the guard. North Fence: This area can be described as “porous”; it’s easy to leap the fence to the north, land in the backyard, and pummel or tase the guard and any dogs. It’s the backup that arrives afterward that’s the problem, so hack that closed-circuit box quickly. East Spanish House (Northeast and Southeast): Access the backyard of the bungalow, which offers reasonable views of the dogs and guard when neutralizing them. South Yard: The neighbor’s yard to the south has a tall mesh fence with a large gap in it; this offers yet another way in. The dog behind the fence is a problem, though. Use the junction box on the open storage area to attract and electrocute it. Neighbor’s House (Southwest): The upper deck, ladder to the roof, and the flat roof make this area a good location if violence is on your mind. Stand your ground here. Otherwise, this offers a great view of the backyard if you’re piloting drones.

POIs and Objective Points Closed-Circuit Terminal This is attached to the rear of the Craftsman home to the west. It requires a physical hack from you or your RC Jumper. ctOS Box 3 This sits atop the front of the roof of the Spanish house. Accessing it can be tricky if there’s violence going on; place a vehicle near the carport so you can climb onto its roof (or climb the stack of wood onto the carport from the neighbor’s house to the south). Or fly here using the drone to hack the box.

Paths to Completion

There’s a constant gang presence here, so removing close threats and completing the objective wins over sticking around to neutralize everyone.

Playtime Is Over

Approach from IP3, hiding behind the child’s playhouse. Attract the guard by zapping the junction box on the post of the open storage area nearby, then explode it. Step in, tase both dogs, and manually unlock the CCT before any reinforcements spot you; complete the objective.

A Remote Rover

It’s relatively easy to distract the guard away from the area near the CCT. Then drop in the RC Jumper to do the hacking for you. After power is restored, use the Quadcopter to fly atop the roof of the Spanish home to hack the actual ctOS box.

A Hostile Takeover

Ascend the neighbor’s property to the southwest. Kill everyone from your rooftop sniping spot or lob grenades down. After a break in the action, complete the objective; use the RC Jumper and drone so you can stay in relative safety on the roof.

ctOS Box 4: Approach the last of the ctOS boxes by maneuvering to its location from either the freeway or the Elmhurst neighborhood (between restricted areas) close to a small tunnel under the freeway, to the water tower. Climb the ladder, then leap to the sheds at the base of the freeway wall. Peer over into a backyard.

The last ctOS box is positioned on the freeway wall, linked to a security router that requires you to solve a Network Bypass hot spot. Fly your drone to the electrical pylon just north of the water tower. View the nodes from the freeway, looking east.

Finally, hack the last ctOS box and gather the intel. DedSec solves the reason why the scam is working—but not for long. The neighbors are now getting a discount! The operation concludes.

Network Bypass 1: Turn x3. 2: Unlock. Turn x3. 3. Unlock. Puzzle complete.