Byte Thief

Sneak your way through 8 levels of a high security computer, avoid detection, and make off with valuable data. The daemons you'll encounter mostly don't know you're there, but will detect you if you're not careful. Each type has its own behavior and detection criterion. The first time a daemon detects you it'll become alerted to your presence. If it detects you while it's already alerted then your trace will increase. They'll also become alerted and increase your trace if they happen to bump into you. You can bump into daemons to terminate them, but that will also increase your trace, and will increase it by more if your target is alerted. If your trace reaches 100% you'll be forcibly logged out, so don't let that happen.

File Types

Most files are picked up automatically when you move over them. Links are the one exception and cannot be picked up.

• Links (.LNK) - Using them allows you to move to the next level, but you'll have collect multiple keys to unlock them first. On the last level you'll also have to collect all data before leaving.
• Keys (.KEY) - Pick up to unlock links. Every level has 3 keys. If there are no alerted daemons you'll need to collect 2 keys from that level to use links, and if there are any alerted daemons you'll need all 3.
• Logs (.LOG) - Reduces trace when picked up. You won't be able to pick them up if you're already at 0% trace.
• Data (.DAT) - The final level (level 8) has 3 data files. You'll need to collect all of them before you can use a link to leave and claim victory.
• Tokens (.TOK) - Rumor has it you can use these to gain access to powerful limited use abilities, but that's not implemented in this version of the game. Currently they're useless.
• Unknown Files (???) - Some files are initially unknown, but will be identified if you move next to them.

Keyboard controls

• Arrow keys or numpad or wasd or vi keys - Movement and location selection
• . or > - use a link to move to the next level if you've collected enough keys to unlock it (or examine the destination of a link while in examine mode)
• Enter - confirm your starting location when entering a level or start a new game after winning or losing
• x - toggle examine mode
• m - show event log history
• Escape or backspace - exit out of a mode or dialog or open the game menu
• / or ? - open the help dialog

Mouse controls

You can examine things by mousing over them. You can move by clicking on an adjacent square. You can use links by clicking on your square while standing on a link (or examine inside a link by clicking on it while in examine mode). Other controls are mapped to clickable buttons.