Overview
- Cheats that run in the kernel can skip memory protections and mess with games without getting caught.
- Anti-cheat tools also go into the kernel to try and catch those cheats.
- The kernel controls your whole system but cannot touch remote game servers.
- Cheats vs. anti-cheat is always back and forth. One finds a trick, the other catches up.
- Kernel anti-cheat can affect system stability and privacy if it is not done right.
- Single-player games usually do not use strict anti-cheat since it is not really needed.
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Why do kernel-level CHEATS exist in video games?
Most operating systems stop programs from messing with each other’s memory. So one app cannot just go in and change stuff in another app. That helps keep things safe and stable.
But cheats try to get around this. Some of them run in the kernel, which is the deepest part of the system. That lets them mess with game memory without getting noticed by normal anti-cheat programs.
What do kernel-level ANTI-CHEAT programs do?
Since cheats are running so deep, anti-cheat has to go there too. Kernel-level anti-cheat tools watch memory and system stuff closely to catch anything weird going on.
If anti-cheat tools only run at the regular level, they will miss these deeper cheats. So to catch them, they need that same deep access.
What is the kernel like in a computer?
One Reddit user compared the kernel to a dictator. In that example, your computer is full of different programs doing their own thing. The kernel is the one that sees everything and gives the orders.
But this only applies to stuff on your device. If the game is online and runs on a server somewhere else, your kernel cannot reach that. It only controls your own machine.
The back-and-forth between cheats and anti-cheat
At first, cheats were simple. They ran like normal programs, so anti-cheat could find them. But then cheats started running deeper. So anti-cheat had to go deeper too.
Now it is always changing. Cheats try something new, anti-cheat catches up, then cheats try something else again. It just keeps going.
Problems with kernel-level anti-cheat
Giving anti-cheat full system access is risky. If it is not done properly, it can mess up your computer. It might crash stuff or cause bugs. And since it can see almost everything, it could also be a privacy issue.
On top of that, building good kernel-level anti-cheat takes time and money. So smaller games or games that are single-player often skip it because it is not really worth it.
What about games without anti-cheat?
Single-player and open-source games usually do not bother with strict anti-cheat. People can mod them, change files, or use cheat tools easily, and it does not hurt anyone else.
But for online multiplayer games, it matters more. If there is no anti-cheat, the game can get full of cheaters and people stop playing.
To sum it up
Cheats use the kernel to stay hidden and mess with games. So anti-cheat tools also go into the kernel to try and stop them. That is why both sides keep pushing deeper.
Kernel-level anti-cheat can help catch the sneaky stuff, but it is not perfect. It can break things or make people worry about privacy. That is why some games use it, and others do not.
Source: Reddit
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