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The Central Operating System, officially shortened to CTOS, is a highly advanced digital information system designed to manage the infrastructure of a metropolitan region. Developed by Blume Corporation engineers, it was originally installed in Chicago during the events of Watch Dogs.

After its destruction, a new version, CTOS 2.0, was installed in various regions in America, such as San Francisco, Chicago, and Delaware. CTOS 2.0 served as its replacement during the events of Watch Dogs 2 in San Francisco. Years later, a new version CTOS 3.0 was unleashed in various metropolitan regions the world. It was seen during the events of Watch Dogs: Legion in London and beyond.

About

CtOS Map

An introduction to what the CTOS controls

The CTOS is highly advanced digital information system which is connected via a very complex interconnection of electronic systems. These electronic systems include computer servers, sensors, technological gadgetry and databases, that interact to manage the city-wide infrastructure of Chicago. Many systems are connected and controlled by CTOS servers, such as subway lines, traffic lights and surveillance cameras. Unfortunately, the CTOS is also the core weakness of the city, as it can be hacked into using backdoor programs or facial recognition malfunctions, and used as a weapon against the city and its inhabitants. CTOS also manages to obtain and store data of Chicago inhabitants, which it does via various methods, such as by retrieving user information stored on CTOS connected consumer electronics and by using Chicago's mass surveillance system. All of the information gathered by CTOS is stored in the control centers (data servers) located throughout Chicago.

Along with being able to tamper with the CTOS telecommunication towers, Aiden Pearce is able to access the information and the mechanism responsible for accessing and storing it in the control centers. Communication sites are placed between the control centers to promote the effective and efficient transfer of data over large distances. Although CTOS is successful in reducing the crime rate of Chicago, it does not protect the city as well as Blume claims. CTOS is also tied to a space satellite, which functions as a safety measure intended for the remote shutting down of the entire system if deemed necessary.

Successors

CTOS was upgraded to CTOS 2.0 with assumed upgraded security features after Aiden Pearce rebooted it. CTOS 2.0 was then installed in several other cities, including San Francisco and Oakland. Furthermore, by the time Watch Dogs: Legion takes place, CTOS 3.0 had become the dominant CTOS operating system worldwide, with use in major cities across the world, including London.

Controversy

One question that is frequently asked about the CTOS is: Who controls the system that controls Chicago? One negative that has been noted about the CTOS is that large businesses could use the data stored by CTOS to maximize profits. It has also been noted that control of the system could fall into the wrong hands, like those of hackers such as Damien Brenks, T-Bone, Aiden Pearce and Defalt.

The fact that control of CTOS could fall into the wrong hands has clearly been brought to the public's attention by a hacking collective known as DedSec. The group hacks into the system and misappropriated its abilities to use it for its own purposes, such as invasions of privacy or data collection, simultaneously emphasizing the enormous power and security flaws of CTOS.

Systems controlled by the CTOS

Gallery

Vehicles

Personnel

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Trivia

  • The CTOS is mentioned in an Easter Egg in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
  • Despite being called the "Central Operating System" in-game, in the eBook Watch Dogs //n/Dark_Clouds by John Shirley, it is referred to as the "City Operating System".
  • CTOS vehicles are rare to come by after completing every district access mission.
  • CTOS is the main antagonist of the Alone Digital Trip, where it takes over the city with an army of robots in a twisted form of martial law.
  • In Watch Dogs 2, the Profiler has been redone to look more visually pleasing, including an emoji to reflect the NPC's general mood. Vehicles also have their own UI box which states: company name, logo, car make & model, car category, and also its license plate number.
  • While the Chicago Police extensively relied more on CTOS scan, the San Francisco Police rely more on 911 calls and rarely seem to use CTOS scans.

See also

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