The game developers once again talked about how the new anti-cheat system called Mail.Ru AntiCheat works. According to Crytek employees, the game initially developed its own level of protection against cheaters with each update, but practice has shown that it was not as effective as it should be.
Earlier, from publications on the game's website, it became known that Mail.Ru developed its own system that performs all the calculations on the server side and thus can quickly track down any hacking attempts. After the introduction of the new anti-cheat system, the number of complaints to technical support about violations decreased and about a million accounts of violators were blocked. MRAC is currently being improved and supplemented with new information about all kinds of cheats and vulnerabilities.
According to experts from the MRAC system, the “lifetime” of cheating accounts today is only about five minutes. It is also known that the cheat library within the system itself is constantly updated and new search algorithms are being improved. As a result, any violator is automatically sent to the ban a few seconds after the appearance in the game. “Immunity” is considered an ideal situation - when a sign of some kind of malware is loaded into protection, at first thousands of accounts are banned for it, and then the number of bans is reduced to almost zero.
Today, a new video appeared on the game's website, which describes in detail the MRAC itself. In the video, both Crytek employees and developers from Mail.ru focus on the features of the system.
I want to draw your attention to anti-cheat, actually ask about the possibility of replacing Myac with EAC.
Here is a little about him:
In this topic, we will look at the EAC (Easy Anti Cheat) anti-cheat. There, as there is no Russian FAQ, we will try to put together all the information we know. First, let's talk about the program - this anti-cheat is perhaps one of the best and constantly updated anti-cheats, which is used on many popular servers, including the cyber arena. Easy Anti Cheat is a client-server program, so using it on your server is possible only by purchasing a license, which will cost those who wish:
50 game servers - 75 euro / month.
100 game servers - 125 euro / month.
150 game servers - 175 euro / month.
EAC currently supports the following games:
Counter-Strike 1.6
Counter-Strike: Source
Counter-Strike: Pro Mod
Team Fortress 2
Possibilities:
Memory scan, checksum check, anti-aimbot, block access to the kernel and much more
- Improved system for taking game screenshots
- Protection against reverse engineering
- Player statistics online
- Prevent replacement of sprites and sounds
- Forced installation of 32bit textures for all players (Counter-Strike 1.6)
Setting up and running EAC
To begin with, let us remind you that EAC works only with servers where the license for the program is installed. You will not be able to use this anti-cheat, for example, when playing on your own server. After downloading the EAC, you will see one exe file, you need to run it. Since EAC is a portable program, no installation is required.
The correct sequence of actions for successful EAC integration:
Launching Steam
EAC launch
Launching CS/CS/CS/TF2
After launching EAC, you should see the following window:
You will see a list of servers available for connection. To select, simply click once on the corresponding icon and Easy Anti Cheat will display information about the number of people playing on the server. After that, you can start the game.
Problems and Solutions
1) Problem: I have one of the following errors:
- Every time I start the client, it asks me to update and nothing happens
- Anti-cheat won't start at all!
- I have problems with initialization when starting the game
- My game freezes when I launch EasyAntiCheat!
1) Solution: Some antiviruses and/or firewalls prevent EAC from working properly.
There are antiviruses that recognize EAC as malware, and this is not strange, since anti-cheat scans memory and intrudes into game processes for control. If your antivirus blocks EAC, try disabling it for a while, download EAC and run it, then resume the antivirus. The same goes for the firewall - it can block the ports that EAC uses to connect. Try disabling it for the duration of the EAC startup. An alternative to disabling the antivirus/firewall is to add EAC to the trusted or allowed list.
2) Problem: Even when starting the game, Easy Anti Cheat gives the following error:
"Error getting required access privileges!
Please run Steam as administrator."
2) Solution: For Windows 7 64bit, it is sometimes necessary to run Steam as an administrator.
First, close Steam, right-click on the shortcut and select "Properties"
In the properties, open the "Compatibility" tab and at the very bottom check the box next to "Run this program as an administrator". Click OK.
3) Problem: Ventrilo/TeamSpeak/Mumble doesn't work for me after I start Steam as administrator!
3) Solution: In order for these programs to use hotkeys, run them as administrator too.
4) Problem: I updated my antivirus and now it detects Easy Anti Cheat as a virus!
4) Solution: As we wrote above, due to the specifics of the work of the EAC, antiviruses give false alarms.
Either disable activirus for the duration of EAC startup, or add an exception for EAC in the antivirus settings.
5) Problem: Every time I start EasyAntiCheat it asks me to download the latest version, but I have the latest one!
5) Solution: Your browser may be downloading the client from a cached copy
Clear your browser's temporary files.
6) Problem: Server message: Easy Anticheat not enable on server.
6) Solution: The EAC server does not immediately take control of the game server, because EAC is a client-server program and this process takes some time. You just need to wait a few minutes.
Everyone who knows what EAC is, please also unsubscribe
It really works, getting around EAC is much more difficult and expensive, almost impossible!
Thank you in advance!
The VAC ban is final, non-negotiable, and cannot be removed by Steam Support.
If you are mistakenly subjected to a VAC ban, it will be lifted automatically. If you would like to discuss the VAC system with the Steam community, you can do so.
FAQ:
What is VAC?
VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat - Valve Anti-Cheat) - automated system, created to detect cheats on users' computers. If a user connects to a VAC protected server from a computer that has recognizable cheats installed, they will be banned by VAC and will no longer be able to play the game on VAC protected servers.
The VAC system reliably detects cheat programs by their signatures. Any third-party game modifications made by the user to gain an advantage over others are classified as a cheat or hack and result in a ban by the VAC system. These changes include the replacement of executable files and dynamic link libraries.
Individual server admins can ban a specific player, but they cannot ban a cheater using the VAC system.
The following actions Not lead to blocking by the VAC system:
- Using chat programs similar to X-Fire or Overwolf
- Hardware Configuration
- Update system drivers such as video card drivers
How can I avoid a VAC ban?
To exclude the possibility of blocking your account, use only verified computers to play on servers protected by the VAC system. If you can't tell for sure if any cheats are installed on the computer you're using, refrain from playing on secure servers.
Be vigilant when installing any modifications, such as scripts or custom skins. Only download user-generated content from trusted sources. Hackers can maliciously disguise their cheats as mods to get other users banned.
For more information about protecting your account, please see our Account Security Best Practices article.
Additional information on Valve's guidelines can be found in the Steam Service Subscriber Agreement.
If I'm banned by VAC, what does that mean for my account?
For more information on how a VAC ban affects your account, please see the article.
How to inform Valve about a new cheat?
If you have information about new cheat programs, especially private ones (not available on public websites), and can provide links to them or the executables themselves, please send an email with all the information to the email address:
All letters will be reviewed by the staff responsible for developing the VAC.
How to report a cheater?
If it seems to you that there was a cheater in the game with you, let us know about it, follow the instructions in the article.
Note: The VAC system does not block users based solely on complaints. When deciding to block a user, other factors are also taken into account.
What games are VAC protected?
The list of games protected by the VAC system can be found in the Steam store at the following link.
If I'm banned, can I play on insecure servers?
Yes, if the game provides such an opportunity.
Some VAC-protected games allow the existence of non-VAC-protected servers. Banned users can still play on insecure servers for the game they were banned for cheating. Please keep in mind that not all games have unsecured servers.
Will I be harmed if the person I gave my game library to is cheating?
What is the difference between a server ban and a VAC ban?
A VAC ban makes it impossible to play on all secure servers on Steam, while server admins can ban someone from their servers, but it's not as severe as with VAC. Valve cannot prevent bans on custom servers. The server owner has the right to block any player for any reason.
If you find yourself banned from a large group of community servers, it's highly likely that you've been banned by a third party system such as Steambans or Punkbuster. These third party systems are used by multiple servers and share a common database of banned players. These systems are not affiliated with Steam in any way, and we cannot help you with issues related to them.
You will only be banned by the VAC system if you connect to a secure VAC server from a computer with cheat programs installed.
Most servers, not even most, but almost all servers are visited by players who use cheats. And only from three to seven percent of servers put high-quality anti-cheats on themselves. But still. No matter how the anti-cheat product is created, its own anti-cheat will be written for it, this is just a problem of time. But today, we will understand the standard systems for fixing cheats on CS servers. So, let's look at such a VAC system. VAC - Valve Anti-Cheat, this anti-cheat developed by Valve, is a server protection module against cheats, it is distributed between game clients through a secure channel of the VAC server. That is, players do not need to download third-party software and install it in addition to the game. If a new VAC module appears, the cs servers automatically download the update and install it in the background. This is very convenient, since you do not need to update with a key, or follow the admins for the latest patches. So VAC is the main licensed version of anti-cheat for your server. But let's take a look at how the VAC system works on your cs server and how it tracks cheaters. First, the vac starts scanning the buffer memory of the player's computer for running cheats, it does not scan the hard drive. If nothing is found, then it skips to the server. Another main feature is the verification of the cd-key license key with the official database of all keys. The point is. What if a player with a licensed control was caught with a cheat automatically, then he gets banned not only for one cs server, but also for all servers connected to the VAC protection system. So we do not advise you to use cheats on such servers. If you get on this list, there will be no going back. There is really one problem, and it lies in the same memory scan. The system may mistakenly consider a running program as a cheat, and ban you. Valve strives to improve its system by monthly testing for different programs, so that when the program checks for cheats, it classifies third-party software as trusted, and cheats as forbidding. And thus bypassed by good gamers.
We also note that VAC has a method of dealing with cheats, like a wallhack. The VAC has an integrated blocker for this cheat. The essence of protection lies in the fact that this blocker checks all the points of sight where it is directed. And it works according to the system "If I see, then ban, otherwise kick." The system works stably and allows you to track all wallhackers who dare to look through the wall. But if such a situation that a hole was found in the operation of this blocker, and in latest versions wallhack cheats, bypass exists this algorithm protection. But, as you know, VAC does not sleep, and more than once releases patches for the jambs that have arisen in the code.