Many gamers worry about whether simply having cheats stored on their computer can result in a ban. The short answer is no—anti-cheat systems do not ban players solely for possessing cheat files. Instead, they focus on detecting cheats that are actively running or interfering with the game.
🔍 How Do Anti-Cheat Systems Detect Cheats?
Modern anti-cheat software like Vanguard, Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), BattleEye, and ACE work by scanning active processes and background applications rather than randomly searching for files on a user’s computer. Here’s how they operate:
What Anti-Cheat Systems Check:
- Running Processes: They detect cheats that are currently active and injected into the game.
- Memory Scanning: Anti-cheat software looks for unauthorized modifications in game memory.
- Driver and Kernel-Level Monitoring: Some anti-cheats (like Vanguard and ACE) detect unauthorized system modifications at a deep level.
- Behavioral Analysis: AI-based anti-cheats analyze gameplay to detect unnatural movements or accuracy spikes.
What They Don’t Check:
❌ Personal Files – They do not randomly scan unrelated folders or documents.
❌ Stored Cheats – Having a cheat installer or inactive script on your computer won’t trigger a ban.
❌ External Hardware – Anti-cheats do not scan USB drives unless a cheat is running from them.
🛡️ How Different Anti-Cheat Systems Handle Detection
| Anti-Cheat | Scans Running Processes? | Scans Files on Disk? | Uses Kernel-Level Access? | HWID Bans? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard (Riot Games) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| ACE (Delta & ABI) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| BattleEye | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
1️⃣ Can I get banned if I download cheats but never use them?
No, simply downloading cheats will not get you banned. Anti-cheats only detect software that is running while the game is open.
2️⃣ Will anti-cheat software scan my entire computer?
No, modern anti-cheat systems do not perform full disk scans. They only check running processes and active game memory.
3️⃣ Can I get banned for having an old cheat file on my PC?
No, if the cheat is not running, it will not trigger a ban. However, keeping outdated cheats may be risky if you accidentally launch them.
4️⃣ What happens if I open a cheat but don’t use it in-game?
Most anti-cheats will still flag and ban you if a cheat is detected running in the background, even if it’s not used actively.
🏁 Conclusion
You cannot be banned just for having cheat files on your computer. Anti-cheat systems focus on detecting active cheats, not scanning your personal data. However, running a detected cheat while a game is open will likely result in a ban. To stay safe, avoid launching any cheat-related software when playing online games.
🚀 Stay informed and play smart – keep your system clean and avoid unnecessary risks!