Difference between revisions of "Valve Anti-Cheat"

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(Small grammar and organization changes. Add section headers. Remove technobabble included by someone who clearly did not know what they were talking about.)
(Changed some things based on Steam articles. Removed stuff about the bots, that shouldn't really be specifically mentioned (+ some stuff about Valve's decisions which is speculation). Changed OS header because it's not just about Linux.)
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== Functionality ==
 
== Functionality ==
VAC-bans are engine-wide, applying to all games running on a single engine. For example, users that are banned on ''[[Counter-Strike]]'' or ''[[Half-Life]]'' will be banned on all games running the [[W:GoldSrc|GoldSource]] engine. However, they can still play games and connect to secure servers on games that do not use the same engine. VAC-banned players are still able to play on all VAC-insecure servers on any game.
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VAC-bans can apply to multiple games, even if you didn't cheat in them<ref>[https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4044-qdhj-5691#eligible Steam support article] - ''I've been VAC banned''.</ref>. For example, users that cheat in ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'' will be unable to play ''[[w:Counter-Strike: Source|Counter-Strike: Source]]'', ''[[w:Half-Life 2: Deathmatch|Half-Life 2: Deathmatch]]'', and ''[[w:Day of Defeat: Source|Day of Defeat: Source]]''. VAC-banned players are still able to play on all VAC-insecure servers on any game. If a Steam account has a phone number attached to it, any account also using that phone number will also be VAC banned, even if the other accounts do not own the game. However, this feature is not enabled for all games and is used at the discretion of the developer.
  
In the past, those who were VAC Banned had all non-purchased items deleted from their [[Backpack|backpack]]. In the current version of ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'', users who are VAC banned '''do not''' lose any items in their backpack. Instead, all items they have are stuck inside of their backpack and cannot be traded away, placed on the [[Steam Community Market]], or transferred to other accounts in any way. This is done to prevent players from trading the items to another account and cheating again. These users are still able to purchase items off of the Mann Co. Store, and use said items freely.
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In the past, those who were VAC banned had all non-purchased items deleted from their [[Backpack]]. In the current version of ''Team Fortress 2'', users who are VAC banned '''do not''' lose any items in their backpack. Instead, all items they have are stuck inside of their backpack and cannot be traded away, placed on the [[Steam Community Market]], or transferred to other accounts in any way. This is done to prevent players from trading the items to another account and cheating again. These users are still able to purchase items off of the [[Mann Co. Store]] and use said items freely.
  
VAC bans are non-negotiable. With few exceptions that may occur due to account theft of very rare false positives. VAC targets cheats that tamper with the client, it does not secure against vulnerabilities server-side.
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VAC bans are non-negotiable, however, if a VAC ban was issued incorrectly it will automatically be removed. The VAC system checks if any foreign processes are hooked into the player's local game binaries.
  
== Effectiveness Against Bots ==
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== VAC functionality on different operating systems ==
The delayed ban system of VAC has proven to be ineffective against bots, which can be replaced quickly by their hosts, making bans effectively worthless when they happen. Valve has recognized this, and they have adopted an approach of combating vulnerabilities inside the TF2 client itself, instead of focusing on the VAC system.
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The versions of VAC on Linux, Mac, and Windows are identical. This means each version of VAC works the same regardless of the platform it's running on. This originates from VAC being designed as client-level only, meaning that it can be easily maintained on various operating systems without harming security.
 
 
== VAC Functionality on GNU/Linux ==
 
Contrary to several rumors originated by the fact that TF2 botting software is Linux-exclusive, the versions of VAC on Linux, Mac and Windows enjoy a level of complete parity. This means each version of VAC works the same, independently of the platform it's running on. This parity originates from VAC being designed as client-level only, meaning that it can be easily maintained on various operating systems without harming security or infringing on the user's privacy by installing a rootkit.
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
* [[Valve]]
 
* [[Valve]]
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== References ==
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<references />
  
 
[[Category:Valve]]
 
[[Category:Valve]]

Revision as of 00:00, 2 August 2021

Message displayed to a VAC-banned client.

Valve Anti-Cheat, abbreviated as VAC, is an anti-cheat solution developed by Valve Corporation as a component of the Steam digital game distribution platform.

Functionality

VAC-bans can apply to multiple games, even if you didn't cheat in them[1]. For example, users that cheat in Team Fortress 2 will be unable to play Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, and Day of Defeat: Source. VAC-banned players are still able to play on all VAC-insecure servers on any game. If a Steam account has a phone number attached to it, any account also using that phone number will also be VAC banned, even if the other accounts do not own the game. However, this feature is not enabled for all games and is used at the discretion of the developer.

In the past, those who were VAC banned had all non-purchased items deleted from their Backpack. In the current version of Team Fortress 2, users who are VAC banned do not lose any items in their backpack. Instead, all items they have are stuck inside of their backpack and cannot be traded away, placed on the Steam Community Market, or transferred to other accounts in any way. This is done to prevent players from trading the items to another account and cheating again. These users are still able to purchase items off of the Mann Co. Store and use said items freely.

VAC bans are non-negotiable, however, if a VAC ban was issued incorrectly it will automatically be removed. The VAC system checks if any foreign processes are hooked into the player's local game binaries.

VAC functionality on different operating systems

The versions of VAC on Linux, Mac, and Windows are identical. This means each version of VAC works the same regardless of the platform it's running on. This originates from VAC being designed as client-level only, meaning that it can be easily maintained on various operating systems without harming security.

See also

References

  1. Steam support article - I've been VAC banned.