Thread: VAC2 hits NS

I am not sure it will do any good at all.

From Steam's VAC2 FAQs

http://forums.steampowered.com/forum...hreadid=282892


Once again, just a reminder of the VAC 2 GOLDEN RULE!

"Here is a very basic bottom line rule about "will VAC ban me" ...

If you do ANYTHING that modifies the executable files (.dll, .exe) Valve supplied to you, you will be banned"

Because Ns is not a Valve Game, as valve does not provide the .dlls, and i am not sure but i think also the .exe, VAC2 might not work.

So i don't think it will work, here the whole faqs anyway.
(note i just copyed and pasted, so it will be a little messy, i will fix it later.)

Code:

 VAC 2 "Questions" Thread - UPDATE #6 - 20 June 2005

VAC 2 "Questions" Thread - UPDATE #7 - July 18, 2005 USPT

OK,

For some reason we've been inundated with queries about TeamSpeak Overlay.

I've sought clarification on the issue.

7.4) Will using TeamSpeak Overlay get me banned?
No.

Once again, just a reminder of the VAC 2 GOLDEN RULE!

"Here is a very basic bottom line rule about "will VAC ban me" ...

If you do ANYTHING that modifies the executable files (.dll, .exe) Valve supplied to you, you will be banned"

Latest Questions Submitted to Valve:

Standard rules apply - I've forwarded these to Valve. If they feel they can answer these at this time they will and I will update the "Questions" thread ASAP.

7.5) Will Xfire (the popular in game and out of game IM and friend finding program) cause any problems with VAC 2?

7.9) CAL just released a special server plugin that goes into memory of the server and i think when a user connects it also goes in users memory, because then the user is unable to run certain cvars. Will this plugin be considered a cheat?

A response on these two is just being clarified at the moment - please be patient.

Q) Will using CPL GUI get me VAC 2 banned?

Q) Will the use of manufacturer DLLs like Nvoglnt.dll and Atioglxx.dll or utiities like ATI tools get me VAC 2 banned?

Q) Is there a way you can use a different OpenGL driver that the one that was supplied with the program if it is obtained from Nvidia or ATI? Would doing so result in a VAC 2 ban?

Q) What if the user contracts a malicious virus - that is not necessarily the user's fault? The .dll and .exe type files tend to be prime targets for viruses. Will I be VAC 2 banned?

Q) Will Non-Source servers using VAC1 currently automatically be upgraded and turned on to VAC2 without consent from the server owner?

Q) Question about :
http://www.nonatainment.de/portal/D...=7&tabid=19

dxtweaker is a program which alters directx settings. It allows the user to tune his DX, and can come in handy especially for developers/benchmarkers. It also has a wireframe mode. Will this 'tuning' be detected and banned by VAC 2 accordingly?

Q) Will Vac2 support Hardware Bans, so Cheaters would need to buy a new CPU/HD + a new CDkey to be able to play again, like Punkbuster does?

Question Categories

Questions are in sections so they are a bit easier to read:

    * 1. VAC 2 - Functionality
    * 2. VAC 2 - Technical
    * 3. VAC 2 - Bans
    * 4. Scripts/Console Commands - Will VAC 2 ban for...
    * 5. Custom Content - Will VAC 2 ban for...
    * 6. Cheats - Will VAC 2 ban for...
    * 7. 3rd Party - Will VAC 2 ban for...
    * 8. Other Operating Systems - Will VAC 2 ban for...
    * 9. VAC 2 - And other cheat detection technologies

Last edited by Better|Off|Dead on 07-19-2005 at 03:45 AM

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1. VAC 2 - Functionality

1.1) Will VAC 2 support all Valve games or just Source games?
All Valve games.

1.2) Will VAC 2 support third party mods?
To be determined.

1.3) When connecting to Source games will there be a bar that indicates VAC is downloading and the time remaining? (sort of like with HL based games)
To be determined.

1.4) Will VAC be available on all servers or just those in the USA?
All Source Servers. (HLDM servers TBD)

1.5) Will VAC 2 have server admin functions "similiar to x-spectate" that allows server admins to detect/observe possible new "hacks/cheats/exploits" and then provide a channel for a "bug/detection report" to the VAC 2 Team for review?
VAC Bans will NEVER be subjective to human judgement, nothing like this would ever be implemented/allowed.

1.6) Will VAC 2 have a built in admin function that can take auto-screen shots that can be stored on the server for admins to look at?
No.

2. VAC 2 - Technical

2.1) How often will VAC 2 be updated?
<<This information is never disclosed>>

2.2) Does VAC 2 only scan for known cheats, or does it have heuristics?
<<This information is never disclosed>>

2.3) Will VAC 2 scan my hard drive or just memory?
Memory.

2.4) How will servers enable VAC 2?
UPDATE JULY 25: VAC 2 protected servers are secure by default.

2.5) Will VAC2 be aggressive in keeping itself up-to-date against new hacks and/or cheats?
To be announced.

2.6) Will VAC decrease performance in any way?
It's unlikely that players will see any change in how their games run.

2.6) Is Valve willing to release any news on the actual technical workings of VAC2 authentication and updates? will it work on the current content server system?

Why I ask is there is a relatively large community of players in South Africa using ADSL which is often heavily capped on international traffic, this is the reason we don't use VAC1 as it is impossible to authenticate when capped.

3. VAC 2 - Bans

3.1) How long will a VAC 2 ban last?
When a cheat infraction is detected, the offender will be permanently banned from playing on secure servers.

3.2) Will VAC 2 ban by Steam ID or IP?
Steam ID.

3.3) Will the bans be delayed or instant?
VAC Bans are always delayed (no change from VAC 1)

3.4) What recourse will I have if I feel the ban is un-justified?
There is no recourse if a player gets vac banned. If you contact support you will just be told that you will not be unbanned.

3.5) Will accounts banned for one-year under VAC be unbanned when their time is up, or will those bans be switched to permanent once VAC 2 is released?
All existing bans (5-year and 1-year) will end on their scheduled dates.

3.6) Will VAC 2 Share VAC 1's ban list (in addition to its own)? Visa Versa?
All existing bans will remain with their ban period intact.

3.7) Does VAC ban by game or the entire account?
To be announced.

3.8) Will VAC 2 scan for cheats when on insecure servers and carry over that ban to secure servers?
To be announced - but why take a chance?

3.9) If VAC 2 bans users for using something like HLIRC, HLAMP or similar, that does NOT have cheat functionality (ignoring the state of the current hlamp2), will these be reversed?
Policy has always been to not ban for legitimate non-cheating programs. Unfortunately there are versions of HLAMP, etc that are part of some cheats and those will certainly be detected.

4. Scripts/Console Commands - Will VAC 2 ban for...

4.1) Will VAC 2 ban for scripts?
No.

4.2) Will "sv_cheats 1" be considered a bannable cheat? Can VAC 2 Run wile "sv_cheats 1" is enabled?
Server admins can have sv_cheats 1 set and run VAC at the same time with no problems.

4.3) Will cl_weather be considered a cheat?
No.

4.4) What about mat_proxy When it's set to 1 - Are you gonna be banned?
No.

5. Custom Content - Will VAC 2 ban for...

5.1) Will VAC 2 ban for custom models/sounds?
No but servers may enforce consistancy.

5.2) Is using a custom crosshair considered a cheat (you change gamefiles)?
No but servers may enforce file consistency and individual game MODS won't allow some types of customization like this.

Last edited by MATT on 07-26-2005 at 04:57 AM

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6. Cheats - Will VAC 2 ban for...

6.1) I use cheats to watch demos / when watching matches from HLTV. Will VAC 2 ban me?
All wallhacks and cheats of any kind will be banned if used on a secure server.

6.2) Will VAC 2 consider x-spectate a cheat?
All wallhacks and cheats of any kind will be banned if used on a secure server.

6.3) Will r_3dsky be considered a cheat?
Yes - note that the detect is a hack not the CVAR itself. Servers with sv_cheats 0 set will not allow legit clients to set r_3dsky 0.

6.4) Will VAC 2 detect the RetarT pointer as a cheat?
Yes.

6.5) Will VAC 2 detect "hybrid cheats"? (a hybrid is an opengl wrapper with enginefuncs)
Yes.

6.6) Will non-cheat league approved hooks for TFC (such as aniGL) be detected and be considered a canidate for a ban?
This is likely a closet cheat and has already been banned by leagues so the answer is probably yes.

7. 3rd Party - Will VAC 2 ban for...

7.1) Will VAC detect/ban for having Ventrilo, Teamspeak, or instant message programs running in the background?
No.

7.2) Will HLAMP or HLAMP2 be considered a cheat?
If they are part of some cheat, then yes. (some cheats include a form of HLAMP)

7.3) Will using voice programs (like those that I can send music over my mic) get me banned?
If done using a cheat then yes, otherwise no. ... Sending music over your mic is often offensive and distracting and you may get admin banned from a server for doing so.

7.4) Will using TeamSpeak Overlay get me banned?
No.

7.5) Will VAC 2 ban you for using FRAPS? (Because it adds displays in game, like framerate, ect.)
No.

7.6) Will Xfire (the popular in game and out of game IM and friend finding program) cause any problems with VAC 2?
Hard to say, X-Fire already causes problems with the games - this has nothing to do with VAC 2.

7.7) Is using Powerstrip or a similar prog to change the gamma considered a cheat (these programs would run in the background)?
No but it is much better to use the gamma controls in your video driver (look under "color" in the advanced settings). Same thing for forcing refresh, it's always better to use the proper driver settings then use an unnecessary third-party tool.

7.8) WinAlign, an alignment method for windows 98, modifies internal contents of a program file so that each code or data section starts on a multiple of 4096 bytes from the start of the file. This improves performance because it lets Windows 98 run the program without copying the code to another block of memory.

If someone were to align Steam files to get more performance, would VAC detect it as a cheat?

WinAlign Info

Here is a very basic bottom line rule about "will VAC ban me" ...

If you do ANYTHING that modifies what Valve supplied to you, you will be banned.

7.9) ATITool has a .dll hook. Will using this overclocking program result in a ban? DXTweaker (the only program I know of that enables vsync triple buffering) also happens to have a wireframe option (don't even know what that means or how it can be used to cheat!). Will this result in a ban??

7.10) Cal just released a special server plugin that goes into memory of the server and i think when a user connects it also goes in users memory, because then the user is unable to run certain cvars. Will this plugin be considered a cheat?
As this is of interest to many people just letting you know Valve are currently looking at this - this isn't comment one way or the other - B|o|D

8. Other Operating Systems - Will VAC 2 ban for...

8.1) Im hoping to switch to linux (and get rid of windows partition totally), and run most games native or cedega. Will cedega be flagged as a cheat?
No, but NOTE: the Steam client is not supported under these operating systems.

9. VAC 2 - And other cheat detection technologies

9.1) Will it be possible to run VAC 2 and Cheating-Death together on a Server?
To be determined.

9.2) Will this scanner be detected as a cheat www.cheat-scanner.co.uk?
This is not a useful scanner, it is IRC based and a security risk. Bans from this tool are based on the opinion of an individual and are based on name detects for files on your disk. VAC/VAC 2 would not detect this tool as a cheat since it isn't.

9.3) Will it be possible to run VAC 2 and ssServer/ssClient together on a Server? Will it result in a ban?

9.4) Can VAC2 and Steambans work together (meaning run at the same time)?

9.5) HackCam has a "Admin Wallhack" to allow admins to see if cheaters are pre aiming etc. will this be considered a cheat?
All multiplayer wallhacks of any kind are considered cheats and will probably be detected.

9.6) HackCam say they are having "talks with a games company" can you verify if this is VALVe?
Valve has not acquired Hack Cam, Valve is not working on Hack Cam, has no agreement with the creators of Hack Cam, and is not planning to integrate Hack Cam with VAC 2.

Based on this there is no reason for a "HackCam" discussion on this forum.

Last edited by Better|Off|Dead on 07-19-2005 at 03:42 AM