Terminal A terminal is an electronic device that is used to interface with various computers , such as those programmed for controlling turret s , opening safes and doors , storing information , and activating robot s and other special equipment . Some terminals have been rigged as traps . The operating system of a terminal is the Unified Operating System , published by RobCo Industries . Some terminals function autonomously , like bulky laptops ( e . g . : Doctor Lesko ' s portable terminal ) ; while others are dumb , i . e . they use the computer mainframe which they are connected to for processing and data storage . The typical terminal has a keyboard for typing commands and a monochromatic monitor for displaying data . " Fallout " and " Fallout 2 " . The terminals in " Fallout " and " Fallout 2 " can be used with the Science skill if it ' s high enough . In " Fallout " it is also possible to exploit back doors in computers to gain access , such as playing a game of 21 . " Fallout 3 " , " Fallout : New Vegas " , and " Fallout 4 " . " Fallout 3 " , " Fallout : New Vegas " and " Fallout 4 " share a common terminal gameplay mechanic , with differences noted later . Purpose of terminals . Terminals are generally used to find information about a particular quest or character . This information may be usable in some practical way , or it may be for background and atmosphere . Controlling defense systems . Each of the three games features some interaction with a terminal and a defense system . Each game lets you deactivate any attached turret or defense system . " Fallout 3 " and " New Vegas " also feature terminals that control turret targeting : if targeting is disabled , the turret will shoot at everyone within range , not just the player . In each game , there are more specialized version of this . For example , in " Fallout 3 " in the Robot Repair Center there is a terminal that can set off a pulse explosion disabling every robot in the area . There is also one in Fort Constantine that launches the fort ' s ICBM if the player has the Fort Constantine launch codes ( the launch appears to be abortive ) . There is also one in SatCom Array NW - 05a that allows the player to launch a nuclear strike from the Highwater Trousers orbital weapons platform , though the nukes are relatively small and there is no way to aim them ( they explode harmlessly some distance from the player ) . In addition , all games but in particular " Fallout 3 " and 4 feature terminals that can be used to open a protectron holding container , gaining a potential ally for upcoming firefights ( though the protectron can still turn on you for various reasons , depending on the game ) . " Fallout 4 " also lets you install different personalities into the Protectron , which change its skin , dialogue , and weapon loadout . In " Fallout 4 " , terminals can be built at settlements in Workshop mode , as long as the player has at least 1 rank in the Hacker perk . These terminals can then be connected to other electrical objects such as lights and speakers to provide additional control options . Opening doors and safes . Terminals are commonly used to open safes , giving an alternative to lockpicking the safe . To get maximum XP , you can pick a lock first , then hack the terminal which would have unlocked it . You could also hack the terminal but not unlock the safe / door etc . before exiting and then lockpicking it . Terminals are also sometimes used to unlock or open doors ; an example is the terminal used in the " Fallout 3 " Tenpenny Tower quest to let ghoul s in from the Metro . Secured terminals . Most terminals are secured . To access them you either need Usually only one or two of these options are available . Passwords . There are various ways of getting a password to a terminal . The two most common ways to get a password are that someone tells you the password or that you find an item describing the password , such as a holotape . Hacking terminals . One way to deal with secured terminals is to hack them — if you can . This works only under the following conditions : In " Fallout 3 / New Vegas " , there are items to help boost your science skill ; e . g . the Vault 101 lab jumpsuit , the vault lab uniform , The Surgeon ' s lab coat , and most types of scientist outfit that can be found later in the game ( with the exception of Doctor Li ' s outfit ) will add + 5 to your Science skill . Lesko ' s lab coat adds + 10 . Hacking a terminal yields XP , depending on the difficulty level of the terminal . The hacking game is similar to , a board game . You will be presented with a list of words , all of the same character length , interposed with random characters . The length of the words is determined by the difficulty of the lock . The number of words you get is determined by how high your Science skill is ( for " Fallout 3 " or " New Vegas " ) or how high your Intelligence is ( for Fallout 4 ) . One of the words is the correct password , and your goal is to guess it . You choose a word by clicking on it . If you didn ' t guess correctly , the terminal will display " x / y correct " where x is the number of correct letters , and y is the word length . A letter is correct only if it is in the right spot . For example , if the password is " RELEASED " and you choose " DETECTOR " then you will be told that there are 2 / 8 correct because there are ' E ' s in the 2nd and 4th place for both . The words have other letters in common , like ' R ' , but it is in the first spot in one word , and the last in the other . You have four attempts to select the correct password : if you fail , in " Fallout 3 / New Vegas " you will be permanently locked out ; however , if you have the Computer Whiz perk , you will get another try . In " Fallout 4 " , you will only temporarily be locked out , for ten seconds ; the maximum rank of Hacker will remove even this lockout . There are also things you can do with the characters that are not part of words . Clicking on matching brackets ( i . e . ( ) [ ] { } < > , even with other characters between , but not a whole word between ) can remove a dud password or reset the number of remaining guesses to four . The brackets must be of the same type and on the same line . Although you cannot match brackets with a whole word between them , you can match brackets separated by the dots that appear when a dud word is removed ( < . . . > ) . Also , two or more opening brackets can be matched to a single closing bracket ( " [ [ ] " on a line gives you two chances ) , but the opposite is not true ( " [ ] ] " only gives you one chance ) . When you scroll across this type of entry from left - to - right , the entire entry will be highlighted letting you know if you ' ve found one or not . Previous choices are displayed on the right - hand side of the terminal . To get to the hacking mini - game quickly , you can click the startup screen on the terminal to skip to the next screen . Click once more to load the hack screen instantly . ( Note : in " Fallout : New Vegas " if you back out after your first hack attempt prior to " locking " computer , you must wait even longer for the initial key in prior to the mini - game ) Terminal types specific to particular games . " Fallout 3 " . " Mothership Zeta " terminals . There are terminals scattered around the alien ship " Zeta " , in the " Mothership Zeta " add - on . They are used by the aliens for security purposes , and with the required Science skill , ranging from 25 to 75 Science , you can hack them . There are a few choices available once hacked : Set it to blow up in a small amount of time , set a proximity charge , and unlock the door . These terminals can also be destroyed . Encrypted terminals . Sometimes terminals have options that can ' t be used until you have the correct encryption key , and will be presented as gibberish . An example of this are the terminals used by Chinese remnants in the Capital Wasteland - but the terminal encryption key is usually nearby . " Fallout : New Vegas " terminals . Suspicious terminals . Several suspicious terminals can be found at H & H Tools Factory on the top floor . They are equipped with " Hidden Network Drives " that can be accessed through the player ' s Pip Boy . " Fallout 3 " and " New Vegas " terminals . Trapped terminal . A terminal can also be a trap in disguise . If triggered by activating the keyboard , the terminal will become electrified ( not harming the player ) , and then the rigged frag grenade will detonate . A trapped terminal has a broken rear , and a small antenna on the back , sending or receiving from an unknown location ; see picture to the right . Also , all terminals with traps on them are plainly called " terminal , " as with the normal " Click / press ' A ' / ' X ' to Activate terminal . " Disarming a trapped terminal demands an Explosives skill of 45 . In " New Vegas " , it requires a skill of 60 . It is disarmed by activating the rear of the terminal rather than the front . A frag grenade was used to create the trap , and you will get the one used to rig the terminal when you disarm it . After disarming , these terminals cannot be used for anything except re - arming with any type of grenade , a fruitless gesture since it is not a trap any non - player character could spring . It is not possible to use these terminals for informational purposes . List of hackable terminals ( " Fallout 3 " ) . For the Data Miner achievement / trophy , you need to find 50 terminals to hack . List of hackable terminals ( " Fallout : New Vegas " ) . For the Hack the Mojave you must hack 25 terminals < section begin = " locations " / > < section end = " locations " / > List of hackable terminals ( " Fallout 4 " ) . For the RobCo ' s Worst Nightmare achievement / trophy , the Sole Survivor must hack 50 terminals . < section begin = " locations Fo4 " / > < section end = " locations Fo4 " / >