{"id":666805,"date":"2025-05-03T15:42:42","date_gmt":"2025-05-03T12:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-riot-games-is-fighting-the-war-against-video-game-hackers\/"},"modified":"2025-05-03T15:42:42","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T12:42:42","slug":"how-riot-games-is-fighting-the-war-against-video-game-hackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-riot-games-is-fighting-the-war-against-video-game-hackers\/","title":{"rendered":"How Riot Games is fighting the war against video game hackers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23a25368312\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a23a25368312\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-riot-games-is-fighting-the-war-against-video-game-hackers\/#%E2%80%98We_can_just_make_them_look_like_fools\" >\u2018We can just make them look like fools\u2019<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-riot-games-is-fighting-the-war-against-video-game-hackers\/#Contact_Us\" >Contact Us<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-riot-games-is-fighting-the-war-against-video-game-hackers\/#The_cheaters_toolbox\" >The cheater\u2019s toolbox<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-riot-games-is-fighting-the-war-against-video-game-hackers\/#The_future_of_cheating\" >The future of cheating<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p id=\"speakable-summary\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For as long as there have been video <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/game\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"7\" title=\"Game\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">game<\/a>s, there have been people willing to find ways to cheat. Hobbyists have long dedicated themselves to finding vulnerabilities in games, often with the goal of developing cheats that they could share or sell. But ever since online competitive gaming became a legitimate profession, that hobby-hacking has morphed into an entire industry that aims to sell an unfair advantage to those willing to pay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Developing and selling video game cheats <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vice.com\/en\/article\/inside-the-worlds-largest-video-game-cheating-empire\/\">can be a lucrative business<\/a>, and video game developers have in recent years had to beef up their anti-cheat teams, whose mission is to ban cheaters, neutralize the software they use, as well as go after cheat developers. <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/levvvel.com\/games-with-kernel-level-anti-cheat-software\/\">More companies<\/a> are taking the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/kernel-anti-cheat-online-gaming-vulnerabilities\/\">somewhat<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/gaming\/2022\/09\/eas-new-anti-cheat-tools-dip-into-the-dreaded-kernel-mode\/\">controversial<\/a> step of deploying anti-cheat systems that run at the kernel level, meaning they have the highest privileges in the operating system and can potentially monitor everything that h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ens on the machine the game is run on.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most prominent kernel-level anti-cheat systems is <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/support-valorant.riotgames.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360046160933-What-is-Vanguard\">Vanguard<\/a>, developed by Riot Games, which makes <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/tracker.gg\/valorant\/population\">popular<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/activeplayer.io\/league-of-legends\/\">titles<\/a> such as multiplayer online battle arena game <em>League of Legends and <\/em>online first-person shooter <em>Valorant<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Essentially, Vanguard \u201cforces cheats to be visible,\u201d said Phillip Koskinas, the director and head of anti-cheat at Riot who <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leagueoflegends.com\/en-au\/news\/dev\/dev-vanguard-x-lol\/#:~:text=an%20anti%2Dcheat%20artisan\">describes<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/mirageofpenguins\/\">himself<\/a> as \u201can anti-cheat artisan\u201d who was \u201cput on this earth for the one singular purpose of banning cheaters from online video games.\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks to Vanguard and the anti-cheat team led by Koskinas,\u00a0 Riot bans thousands of cheaters on <em>Valorant<\/em> every day, according to a chart shared with TechCrunch.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1405\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png\" alt=\"a graph showing the number of cheaters banned by day and the type of bans,\" class=\"wp-image-3002458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png 1405w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=150,66 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=300,132 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=768,337 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=680,298 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=1200,526 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=1280,561 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=430,189 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=720,316 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=900,395 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=800,351 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=668,293 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Vanguard-Bans-Per-Day-April-2025.png?resize=708,310 708w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1405px) 100vw, 1405px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-element-caption__text\">A chart showing the number of cheaters banned per day, and the type of bans, on riot games\u2019 first-person shooter valorant. <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Riot\u2019s efforts seem to be working. As of early 2025, the percentage of <em>Valorant<\/em> \u201cranked\u201d games \u2014 meaning competitive matches \u2014 that have cheaters is now less than 1% globally, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/playvalorant.com\/en-us\/news\/dev\/vanguard-hits-new-bans-per-second-record\/\">the company says<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an interview with TechCrunch, Koskinas detailed the various strategies that the anti-cheat team at Riot uses to fight cheaters and cheat developers: leveraging the security features in the Windows operating system, fingerprinting cheaters\u2019 hardware to stop them from reoffending, infiltrating cheat communities, and playing psychological games in an effort to discredit cheaters.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-we-can-just-make-them-look-like-fools\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%98We_can_just_make_them_look_like_fools\"><\/span><strong>\u2018We can just make them look like fools\u2019<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much of Koskinas and his team\u2019s efforts stem from Vanguard having the deepest level of access to a gamer\u2019s computer. To weed out cheaters, Vanguard takes advantage of some of the security features already built into Windows.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, Koskinas explained, the anti-cheat software \u201calmost universally\u201d enforces some of Windows\u2019 most important security features, such as <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/security\/hardware-security\/tpm\/trusted-platform-module-overview\">Trusted Platform Module<\/a>, a hardware-based security component, and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows-hardware\/design\/device-experiences\/oem-secure-boot\">Secure Boot<\/a>. These two technologies check if a computer has been modified or tampered with, such as by malware or a cheat, and prevents it from booting if so. Then, Vanguard checks that all of the computer\u2019s hardware drivers, which allow the operating system to communicate with the hardware, are up to date to identify additional hardware that can enable cheating. Finally, Vanguard prevents cheats from loading and executing code in the kernel\u2019s memory.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBasically, all the security features that Microsoft and hardware manufacturers have leveraged to protect the operating system, we use or enforce,\u201d Koskinas told TechCrunch. \u201cWe have to have a playground where we can play. We have to enforce a certain level of security.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But fighting cheaters is not just about <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a>; it\u2019s also about understanding the cheaters themselves and how they operate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Koskinas\u2019s team has a \u201creconnaissance arm,\u201d he said, whose primary responsibility is to obtain and catalog threats, which sometimes involves acquiring cheats. The team obtains cheats in part by using sock puppet identities that have infiltrated cheater and cheat developer communities for years, akin to undercover operations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019ve even gone as far as giving anti-cheat information to establish credibility. We\u2019ll masquerade as though it was something we [reverse engineered], and explain how an anti-cheat technique works to demonstrate that we know stuff,\u201d said Koskinas. \u201cAnd then leverage our way into something in development, and then sit there until it launches, allow it to acquire users and then ban everybody.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-block block--callout block--right has-green-500-background-color\">\n<h4 class=\"block--callout__title\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Contact_Us\"><\/span>Contact Us<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>\t\t\tDo you develop cheats, hack video games, or work in anti-cheat? We\u2019d love to hear from you. From a non-work device and network, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram and Keybase @lorenzofb, or email.\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some cheat developers try to stay undetected by only selling to a few customers, essentially marketing their product as high-end, or \u201cpremium\u201d cheats, as Koskinas calls them. These premium cheats can cost thousands of dollars, and are sold to only a handful of customers, said Koskinas. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cheat makers use this strategy to reduce the risk of selling to a Riot undercover employee, but also to customers who will be more careful about blatant cheating and exposing the cheat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These developers are essentially selling \u201cthe reputation of being undetected,\u201d said Koskinas. One of Riot\u2019s anti-cheat team\u2019s \u201cstrongest weapons,\u201d he said, is discrediting cheat developers publicly by, for example, banning all their players, or <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/deteccphilippe\/status\/1882295015986327651\">leaking screenshots<\/a> showing they are inside their Discord channels.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe can just make them look like fools,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Koskinas and his team also have to be careful not to come down too hard. By letting a little cheating happen, within reason, Riot can slow down gamers from getting better cheats. \u201cIf we hit every player every time, they will just change cheats until they find the one that isn\u2019t detected,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo keep cheating dumb, we ban slower,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To stop repeat offenders, Vanguard can \u201cfingerprint\u201d the hardware that a cheater uses \u2014 effectively uniquely identifying their device\u00a0\u2014 to make it harder for that player to obtain a new cheat and continue cheating.<br \/>In a more psychological strategy, Koskinas and his colleagues also troll cheaters publicly by <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/deteccphilippe\/status\/1883945555102957617\">calling them<\/a>, among other things, \u201ca brainless pathogen,\u201d who have an \u201cinability to get good at this video game.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nq6DmUF1Dzk\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=nq6DmUF1Dzk<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_cheaters_toolbox\"><\/span><strong>The cheater\u2019s toolbox<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks to all these techniques and strategies, most cheaters can now be roughly divided into two categories. The first, representing the majority of cheaters, is made up by those who are \u201crage cheating\u201d by using cheap tools that are easy to detect. Riot employees sarcastically call these cheats \u201cdownload-a-ban,\u201d according to Koskinas.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA lot of cheaters, if you think about it, they\u2019re kind of young,\u201d he said. \u201cA lot of them haven\u2019t grown up yet. The way they engage with games is by cheating, and a lot of that behavior is like the power you feel when you do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey\u2019re going to come back, they\u2019re going to get banned, and they\u2019re just going to do that every weekend for the next two to three years\u2026 And then, eventually they\u2019ll hit puberty, and that\u2019ll hopefully do,\u201d Koskinas said, smiling.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second category comprises those few who use premium cheats that are harder to detect. These tools are known as \u201cexternal\u201d cheats, Koskinas explains, because they depend on using actual hardware, not just software.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg\" alt=\"a screenshot showing a schematic revealing how direct access memory cheats work\" class=\"wp-image-3002344\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg 1920w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=150,84 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=680,383 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=1280,720 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=430,242 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=720,405 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=800,450 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=668,375 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=1097,617 1097w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/riot-dma-cheats.jpeg?resize=708,398 708w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-element-caption__text\">A schematic showing how DMA cheats work (Image: Riot Games)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One type of external cheat relies on a direct memory access (DMA) attack. DMA cheats require players to use specialized hardware \u2014 think high-speed <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crystalrugged.com\/knowledge\/what-is-pcie-slots-cards-lanes\">PCI Express cards<\/a> \u2014 that exfiltrates all of <em>Valorant<\/em>\u2018s memory to a separate computer that can scrutinize the game on dedicated hardware, outside of the purview of Vanguard.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By doing this, the cheater\u2019s separate computer can be used to identify other players; in-game objects like walls, ammunition and weapons; and identify precisely where players and items are in the map. This can also include objects that are not visible to gamers. Then, using the firmware installed on the cards, the cheat creates a radar on a second screen that they can look at to spot rival players \u2014 even if they are hidden \u2014 to gain an unfair advantage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A more advanced version of this type of cheat, according to Koskinas, relies on HDMI fusers, which overlay what\u2019s read by the separate computer back on the cheater\u2019s main screen. This way, the cheater doesn\u2019t have to look between computer displays to see where their opponents are, letting them focus on the display they are playing the game with.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These techniques allow the cheater to see through walls \u2014 known as \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/wallhack#:~:text=Noun,making%20them%20transparent%20or%20nonsolid.\">wallhacks<\/a>\u201d \u2014 and grant what is referred to as \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/github.com\/ryanjpwatts\/esp-analysis\">extra-sensory perception<\/a>,\u201d essentially superpowers within the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think we detect the majority of it today, but it\u2019s kind of iterative,\u201d said Koskinas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then there are screen reader cheats, where a computer\u2019s HDMI output is sent to a second computer that detects and classifies what is on the game\u2019s display, such as the head of an opponent player. The second computer then sends back an instruction to an Arduino mini-computer for controlling robotics, for example, which is connected to the cheater\u2019s mouse and lets the player automatically aim at other players \u2014 a type of cheat known as an \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/aimbot\">aimbot<\/a>.\u201d As Koskinas put it, \u201cbasically the mouse, for all intents and purposes, is being governed by a machine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the cheat performs well, it can be hard to detect, but Koskinas said that in the long run, the cheater \u201cdoesn\u2019t look like a human player\u201d because of how accurate they are aiming and shooting at their rivals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou have to humanize [the cheat] to a degree where the advantage is imperceptible from what a human can do,\u201d said Koskinas. \u201cAnd once you\u2019re there, you\u2019re not really cheating enough to make it worth it for most users.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even then, this technique is popular, Koskinas concedes. The downside is that it requires a potentially expensive second PC with a fast graphics processor to quickly classify what\u2019s happening on the screen and send the instructions back.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Harsh Reality of Valorant Hacking\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3fBT5mwR-Qk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_future_of_cheating\"><\/span><strong>The future of cheating<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Koskinas says he often worries about the use of AI for screen classification, to learn what human inputs look like, and how to reproduce them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s already here,\u201d he said. \u201cEspecially in <em>Valorant<\/em> with those bright outlines, you can almost do it with just an algorithm [\u2026] You could just actually discreetly say if the percentage of this box is enough purple, press the fire key.\u201d<strong> <\/strong>For context, characters in Valorant have <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/imgur.com\/a\/valorant-agents-categorized-by-color-schemes-sazTL0k\">distinct and vivid color schemes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite the security and privacy risks associated with anti-cheat technology having kernel-level access, Riot has no plans to move away from its approach for its anti-cheat engine, at least for Valorant. Otherwise, it would make it too easy for cheaters to use kernel exploits, according to Koskinas.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>, Koskinas is trying to be more transparent about Riot\u2019s anti-cheat efforts, including publishing <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leagueoflegends.com\/en-au\/news\/dev\/dev-vanguard-x-lol\/\">several<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/deteccphilippe\/status\/1883945555102957617\">blog<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leagueoflegends.com\/en-us\/news\/dev\/dev-vanguard-x-lol-retrospective\/\">posts<\/a> on how the company goes after cheaters, as well as talking to journalists. The idea, he said, is that because Riot has \u201cthe most invasive anti-cheat by asking people to have a service running at all times,\u201d players deserve to know how the company is using that privilege.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe best thing I feel like we can do in asking for that level of access and being around like that, is being as transparent about the opacity as we can,\u201d said Koskinas.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re not telling you what\u2019s under the hood, but we\u2019ll tell you almost anything else,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/category\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Technology<\/a><\/span> category.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/05\/03\/how-riot-games-is-fighting-the-war-against-video-game-hackers\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For as long as there have been video games, there have been people willing to find ways to cheat. Hobbyists have long dedicated themselves to finding vulnerabilities in games, often with the goal of developing cheats that they could share or sell. But ever since online competitive gaming became a legitimate profession, that hobby-hacking has&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":666806,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/valorant-gameplay.png?resize=1200,675","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[156063,74581,61594,156064,10751,101821,119849,73092,72287,102831,121104],"class_list":["post-666805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-anti-cheat","tag-cheating","tag-exclusive","tag-games-hacking","tag-gaming","tag-league-of-legends","tag-riot","tag-riot-games","tag-security","tag-valorant","tag-vanguard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/666805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=666805"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/666805\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/666806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=666805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=666805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=666805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}