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Steam store pages are now required to disclose kernel-level anti-cheat [2024-10-30]
(steamcommunity.com)
Steam store pages received a new Anti-cheat field. Disclosure is mandatory for kernel-level anti-cheat solutions. And recommended for other anti-cheat solutions (like server-side or non-kernel-level client-side).
The field discloses the anti-cheat product, whether it is a kernel-level installation, and whether it uninstalls with the product or requires manual removal to remove.
Correct... and anything that intercepts all system calls and forces closed applications that it deems "not safe" even if I the user specifically run it is malware. You bet your ass they feed back information to the mothership too.
And btw, if you're accepting the "Spyware" moniker from the other comment chain. Spyware is a form/category of malware.
Definition from Malwarebytes:
Hostile - it's not meant to help you at all. If you're doing something deemed "unsafe" in their eyes. They will take action up to and including stealing your money that you paid for the game. intrusive - embeds itself in the kernel Intentionally nasty - Well it's not accidentally nasty.
invade - attached to games with little to no input on what you're installing. disable computer systems - specifically the software you paid for Taking partial control over a device's operations - the whole fucking kernel.
I'd say meeting the VAST majority of the definition and at least one portion of each category is sufficient to call them all malware.
No it's literally not what malware is. Otherwise anti virus would be. And anti malware haha
It's literally none of those things mentioned.
You are doing massive mental gymnastics. Intentionally nasty for an anit cheat is just stupid. You 100% know that's not what that means.
It also doesn't invade, damage, disable or take control of the system.
Just because you don't like it doesn't make it malware.
Taking kernel level actions to stop processes on YOUR machine is absolutely taking control of the system.
Kernel level anti-cheats meet every requirement. Just because you think there's gymnastics going on doesn't make it so. It's actually well established in the security field that they count.
Have kernel-level anti-cheat systems ever stopped processes? Unrelated to the anti-cheat and the game itself?
I would imagine they would kick and ban you, not control other processes.
They have kernel access... They can control anything since they're in the kernel. And yes, I've seen it.
If you remember back in the late 2000's early 2010's there were a boatload of apps that would hook into games to do things like display overlays for chats (Teamspeak for example, overwolf as another.) some kernel anti-cheats would stop those processes from starting up.
But don't take my word for it.
https://www.pcgamer.com/according-to-experts-on-kernel-level-anticheat-two-things-are-abundantly-clear-1-its-not-perfect-and-2-its-not-going-anywhere/
Introduces backdoors to be used by malicious actors.
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-controversy-over-riots-vanguard-anti-cheat-software-explained/
Blocks external softwares that it deems "vulnerable"
https://old.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/xf1cwr/the_insanity_of_eas_anticheat_system_by_a_kernel/
Kernel devs beg users to not allow this shit.
Just look it up. All sorts of articles and experts have spoken on it.