Plot Synopsis

Host Brian Brushwood shares helpful "hacks" he has gathered from scientists, specialists, spies, criminals and con artists, showing viewers how they can "hack the system" and learn the skills to beat the system. Along the way, Brian goes inside the industry, exposes ways to level the playing the field, and demonstrates his secret techniques. In each 30-minute episode, Brian delves into a different topic, including: personal security, as he reveals ploys that keep personal information protected -- from the workplace to home; surviving a natural disaster, as he demonstrates how to make a stove, gas mask and smoke flare, all using items that can be found around the house; crime, as he helps viewers spot bogus valets, sneaky street performers and tactical thieves; travel, as he explores ways to upgrade flights, beat airport aggravations and shave time off travel; winning, as he goes through various real-life scenarios, from getting the dream job to winning big at the races; and restaurants, as he shows the subtle psychological manipulations that restaurants employ to get you to empty your pockets demonstrates how to turn the tables on the restaurant to get the most bang for your buck. Nat Geo first aired HACKING THE SYSTEM as half-hour special, "Hacking the System: Hack Your Car," on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 9pm ET/PT, more than 10 months before the official series premiere.