Games are being shipped with Kernel Anti-Cheat-level software or even later via updates!
Riot Games, EA and even other developers are guilty of turning to the all-seeing eye.
But what is a kernel anti-cheat, and why does it make games have bad reviews?
Kernel Anti-Cheat Breakdown
Inside your machine, programs operate within layers of access to the hardware. On your outer layer you have applications that just access app data. Followed by an inner layer where they have access to device drivers. But Kernel Anti-Cheat software accesses the inner kernel layer at the very core.
This is within the core of the OS and allows the software to monitor essentially everything on your machine! Although VAC is used for anti-cheat, it only operates on the outer layer, not having access to the OS or hardware.
However, a lot of cheats developed currently are made to operate at the kernel level. Therefore, unfortunately, these are able to go undetected by VAC anti-cheat software. This is done via manipulation of system calls between the user and kernel level. These calls are requests for applications to hardware, like accessing RAM.
But Kernel Anti-Cheat lies on its system calls, duping the VAC system. So companies have these inner-layer anti-cheat systems so they can catch them out at the same kernel level.
Although this comes at the cost of giving away all your privacy and free access to your system! Both kernel cheats and anti-cheats can do some real damage to your PC at a whim simply because they have the house keys and are inside already.
An example would be Valorant’s anti-cheat, which has reportedly caused plugged-in devices like microphones and wheels to brick as the kernel anti-cheat freaks out over the unrecognised hardware!
Safety At A Price
Although it sounds rough from that example, this inner layer of anti-cheat does work more often than its VAC counterpart. It’s been reported that games with this higher level do catch out more cheaters than their counterparts.
But I do not care; I am not downloading. Was going to grab Virtua Fighter 5 on PC until I saw it had a Kernel Anti-Cheat added to the game. However, this was added in after it had already been released via an update!
Look, I had a rootkit installed on my old rig because of a botched-up SFV update. I do not trust game companies to not blunder basic security protocols. m I could not care less about cheaters; I just want to play the game without being spied on and my machine slowing down!
If there is a cheater, I will grab a clip and report him. Then the online game company should do the rest, and/or I just block that player. Also yeah, fighting games do have cheaters, but it’s very obvious and actually somewhat funny to take on.
Although AI cheaters are getting scary now, with players online using AI to dupe their gameplay into looking realistic!
Just how long until you cannot tell the difference between a player and a sophisticated bot?
In summary, yeah, Kernel Anti-Cheat works, but if it’s not for a highly competitive game, do not bother!
