Key data - locations from 1 to 12 Watch Dogs 2 guide, walkthrough

Last update: 08 December 2016

Key Data is the most important category of secrets present in Watch Dogs 2. Finding these elements is required if you are planning to unlock some of the most advanced abilities - without Key Data, you won't be able to conduct research, even if you have the necessary amount of research points. The game always reminds what kind of data is necessary to buy an ability (an example on the screenshot above), and additionally, you can ask for its approximate location.

The map above shows the locations of all Key Data. Reaching almost every one of them is very troublesome, sometimes requiring a special travel route, skillful hacking, or using jump and quadcopter. The guide to reaching key data 1 through 12 can be found below. Secrets 13 through 24 have been described in the next chapter.

Note - Key Data placed in suitcases has to be reached personally, or using the Jumper. In case of electronic devices that need to be accessed, you can use a quadcopter, and perform remote hacking.

• Key Data 1 - Palo Alto
• Key Data 2 - Yerba Buena Island
• Key Data 3 - Stanford University
• Key Data 4 - Alcatraz
• Key Data 5 - Gates Houseboats
• Key Data 6 - Embarcadero Center
• Key Data 7 - SFMOMA
• Key Data 8 - Nudle Park
• Key Data 9 - Chinatown
• Key Data 10 - Lombard Street
• Key Data 11 - Coit Tower
• Key Data 12 - Horseshoe Bay

Key Data 1 - Palo Alto

Begin near a big building, and locate a small area with various boxes (visible on the screenshot). You can use a forklift to move the boxes, or destroy them by ramming them with your car. There is a closed circuit terminal behind the boxes that needs to be hacked.

Activate the quadcopter, and fly to the building's tower. Find the antenna visible on the screenshot, and press the hacking button to download the data.

Key Data 2 - Yerba Buena Island

The key data are located in the suitcase visible on the screenshot, which is located in a restricted area on the Island. Nearby enemies (and guard dogs) can be attacked or eliminated using hacking (e.g. hacking the vehicles and running them over). You can also choose the jumper and try to reach the suitcase without being detected (in this case, begin with a recon)

Key Data 3 - Stanford University

Investigate the lower levels of the university, and locate a ventilation shaft from the screenshot. Open it, and enter the ventilation shaft using the jumper.

Inside the shaft, there is a terminal that can be hacked. It will begin a mini-game focused around a network bypass. Now, activate the quadcopter and start flying around the building with the intent to solve the further parts of the mini-game (manipulating next nodes). The two nodes underneath white vans can be accessed by reparking the vehicles (one of such vehicles is seen on the screenshot).

The last mini-game fragment is located by the green door visible on the screenshot. Once you complete the mini-game, return to Marcus and enter the newly unlocked door. The suitcase is in the small room.

Key Data 4 - Alcatraz

Key Data is behind one of the walls in the main building of the prison. Begin with reaching that roof (a ladder will help you access it). You'll find a small hole (in the center of the screenshot) which can be accessed using a jumper.

Once reach the interior, use the hacking mode to find the suitcase. Jumper needs to be placed in the location from the screenshot. Make a remote hacking to reach the key data.

Key Data 5 - Gates Houseboats

Search for a forklift parked near the building, and take it over. Place it near one of the walls, and move the mechanism as farthest as possible. The screenshot above shows a correct placing of the machine.

Activate Jumper. You need to make two far and accurate jumps using the gadget. First, jump to the highest point of the forklift (screenshot), then jump to the roof.

There is a door on the roof. Hack it in order to open it, and drive Jumper through a small hole on the right. You'll find yourself in a small room with a closed circuit terminal (screenshot). Hack it.

Once you're successful, drive the Jumper to the previous room and use hacking to unlock a small grate. You can now pick-up the key data - the download location is shown on the screenshot.

Key Data 6 - Embarcadero Center

The secret can be accessed from the east, by driving to an underground parking lot which entrance is shown on the screenshot.

Once you reach your destination, look for a gate that can be unlocked. There are a few guards in the immediate distance from the key data (the suitcase can be seen on the attached screenshot), and you can get rid of them easily by firing a weapon at the neighboring red containers, or by hacking the parked cars and using them to run down the guards. Once the area is secure, go get the suitcase.

Key Data 7 - SFMOMA

Find a narrow alley between the buildings. There is a guard post in the alley, manned by a single guard. Eliminate him in any way you see fit (a stealth kill is advised).

Enter the alley, and investigate a group of containers. There is a van in the dark blue container. Hack the vehicle (Vehicle Directional Hack is required) to enter the van and put it in reverse so it drives out of the container. You can now enter the container and pick up the secret.

Key Data 8 - Nudle Park

You need to infiltrate a small square, which is a restricted area. There should be only one enemy present, and his elimination is not mandatory. Visit this location using Jumper, and investigate the orange container visible on the screenshot. Jump on the boxes that partially block the entrance and enter the container. All is left to do is to pick up the suitcase with key data.

Key Data 9 - Chinatown

Choose an alley between the buildings and reach a yellow ladder (screenshot) that will allow you to enter the roof. Once you're up there, look for a closed circuit terminal, and hack it.

Switch to Jumper, and make sure that you've activated Speed Boost, as it will be necessary for making a very far jump. Start on the highest place on the roof, and investigate a narrow slit shown on screenshot 1. Once you release the Jumper, activate the boost and aim at the slit. If everything went smoothly, you'll land in the right location (screenshot 2). All is left to do is drive through a short ventilation shaft - the hackable device is at the end.

Key Data 10 - Lombard Street

Key data is hidden on one of the buildings by Lombard Street; you can use the quadcopter to get there. Place the quadcopter in the location shown on the screenshot (the secret is under the wooden installation), which will allow remote hacking, and acquiring the data.

Key Data 11 - Coit Tower

You need to infiltrate a small restricted area that is guarded a few gangsters. Enemies can be eliminated through e.g. environmental traps, or by focusing on stealth - in this case, consider using Jumper. The suitcase is marked by a red rectangle on the screenshot - it's a wooden installation between the stairs and the hedgerow.

Key Data 12 - Horseshoe Bay

The secret is located on the top of huge scaffolding underneath the highway. Sadly, to acquire it you'll need to enter a guarded area. Try to eliminate some of the guards, as in case of an open confrontation you may have to take part in a massive shootout. Make sure to eliminate the guard marked on the screenshot, who travels on the top of the scaffolding. Eliminating him will greatly facilitate acquiring the data.

Activate the jumper and reach a container group shown on screenshot 1. Jump on those containers and face the scaffolding (screenshot 2), where the aforementioned guard was making his rounds. You'll need to get some speed and jump on the scaffolding. A successful accomplishing of this action should be possible with only Enhanced Spring, but if you're still having problems, buy Acceleration and use an afterburner.

Once you jump to the scaffolding, reach the outermost end. Along the way, there will be a few smaller jumps to other elements of the scaffolding. At the end, jump to a lower level (attached screenshot) - the suitcase can be found there