Hacking: Fortify (DXHR)

Hacking: Fortify is one of many augmentations available in Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

Description
Increases a node's rating to slow down trace attempts.

Activation Cost: 2 Praxis Points

Fortify 1

 * Upgrade Requirement: Hacking: Fortify Augmentation
 * Upgrade Cost: N/A
 * Use: Adds one point to a node's rating
 * Activation: Automatic
 * Energy Consumption: None

Fortify 2

 * Upgrade Requirement: Fortify 1 Upgrade
 * Upgrade Cost: 1 Praxis Point
 * Use: Adds two points to a node's rating
 * Activation: Automatic
 * Energy Consumption: None

Fortify 3

 * Upgrade Requirement: Fortify 2 Upgrade
 * Upgrade Cost: 1 Praxis Point
 * Use: Adds three points to a node's rating
 * Activation: Automatic
 * Energy Consumption: None

In-Game
This augmentation allows the player to fortify already-hacked nodes, increasing the amount of time it takes for the terminal's security systems to hack them and thus increasing the amount of time it takes for the player to be traced when detected. By default the player will always have one already-hacked node when entering the hacking map.

Fortifying works the same as capturing an enemy node. It takes time, depending on the security level of the node, and has a chance of detection, also depending on the security level of the node. This chance can be reduced with points in the Hacking: Stealth augmentation. It is possible for a node that is being fortified to be captured by the enemy security before the fortification completes, thus it is advisable to begin fortifications prior to or immediately upon being detected. The security level of a node is only in effect when the trace first reaches that node - therefore a node must already be completely fortified before the enemy security begins capturing it.

Higher levels of fortification add increased levels of security to a node. The maximum level of this augmentation therefore turns a Level 5 node into a Level 8 node, making it significantly harder to capture. However, as higher levels of nodes also take longer to fortify, the player can achieve the same result by fortifying large quantities of low-level nodes as well.

This is a passive augmentation and does not have an energy cost or need to be activated.