Kernel level anti cheat - Worth worrying about?

[53North]

I never knew EAC was kernel level until the recent requirement for publishers to declare it on the store page. Now, what I know about kernels you can write on the back of a postage stamp but from reading on the interwebs the consensus seems to be that software that relies on access to your computers brain can be exploited by people up to no good.

Should I be worried or is it something and nothing?

[Ensign Toby]

Although it's Good to be Paranoid, looking askance at ANY/ALL software installed on a PC is
always a Good Idea if you Value your Computer Security and/or All it's Lovely Horded Data...

Easy Anti Cheat (by Epic Games) does not fall into the category of Malicious Software.
There are those who don't like it to be sure, but it's not going to maliciously harm your rig.

Should I be worried or is it something and nothing?

So, there is no need to worry about EAC purposely harming your system.

The software is fairly widely used, and Gamers (a vocal bunch) woulda Called it Out by now.
---------
Now, if you are still worried (and playing single-player or multi-player with non-cheaters),
you can easily disable EAC and prevent it from loading in the Steam Launch Properties:
Steam App -> Game Library -> Right-Click Game -> General -> Selected Launch Option

I actually recommend doing this in single-player, as it frees CPU resources for MOAR FPS...
MOAR FPS Gud.

Caveat: I believe v1.2 now requires EAC if you want to enable Crossplay.
--------

And before anyone Starts a-Flamin', I mean
* Moar FPS for CPU-bound rigs (so the CPU can feed more frames to the GPU)
* and, Generally Smoother game play for those CPU-only world maintenance tasks

Keyboards down.

[Ensign Toby]

I wasn't worried so much about Epic doing anything nefarious but more about someone finding an exploit within the software which gave them access to other peoples computers.

Well, if THAT's your Criteria for Paranoia...
Welcome to the Definition of Malicious Hacking?

Be more concerned about your Windows O/S then.
Nearly 40 YEARS of Patching, and it's so "secure" it still needs Monthly Security Updates...

And don't get me started about the mandatory Microsoft-installed Recall Spyware.
Captures: UserID/Passwords, SSNs, Credit Cards, Bank IDs, everything...

On an insecure OS, stored in the Cloud (which gets hacked so often we ignore it happening).
What could possibly go wrong there?

[53North]

Originally posted by Ensign Toby:

I wasn't worried so much about Epic doing anything nefarious but more about someone finding an exploit within the software which gave them access to other peoples computers.

Well, if THAT's your Criteria for Paranoia...
Welcome to the Definition of Malicious Hacking?

Be more concerned about your Windows O/S then.
Nearly 40 YEARS of Patching, and it's so "secure" it still needs Monthly Security Updates...

And don't get me started about the mandatory Microsoft-installed Recall Spyware.
Captures: UserID/Passwords, SSNs, Credit Cards, Bank IDs, everything...

On an insecure OS, stored in the Cloud (which gets hacked so often we ignore it happening).
What could possibly go wrong there?
:welpface:

That's a pretty fair point and probably more relevant than worrying about anti cheat on a video game.

I was more curious than anything. Although, it doesn't mean they're not watching me

[53North]

Now I know everyone is spying on me I can't help but feel all windswept and interesting.

[Lorrdy]

Originally posted by Ensign Toby:

I wasn't worried so much about Epic doing anything nefarious but more about someone finding an exploit within the software which gave them access to other peoples computers.

Well, if THAT's your Criteria for Paranoia...
Welcome to the Definition of Malicious Hacking?

Be more concerned about your Windows O/S then.
Nearly 40 YEARS of Patching, and it's so "secure" it still needs Monthly Security Updates...

And don't get me started about the mandatory Microsoft-installed Recall Spyware.
Captures: UserID/Passwords, SSNs, Credit Cards, Bank IDs, everything...

On an insecure OS, stored in the Cloud (which gets hacked so often we ignore it happening).
What could possibly go wrong there?
:welpface:

Every os should have monthly or even weekly security updates. No system is 100% secure but updates doesn't mean they are very risky. In fact the opposite

[James]

Originally posted by Lorrdy:

Every os should have monthly or even weekly security updates. No system is 100% secure but updates doesn't mean they are very risky. In fact the opposite

Two quick points here.

1) Every OS should have DAILY security updates if we're being honest since zero day attacks happen DAILY and we don't hear about 99% of them. But the other 1% either only get fixed after the damage is done and during the next cumulative update, or they never get fixed at all.

And it's nobody's fault either. White hackers vs black hackers is a constant whack-a-mole game and it's very unreasonable to expect ANY person or business to provide 24/7 security of that magnitude.

Point 2) You are wrong on this. Please don't be fooled. Updates can be VERY risky. Regardless of the O/S---your phone included. A company can release an update to help fix or solve an issue and inadvertently create an easy backdoor for hackers and there are thousands of reports of this happening that you can search for yourself on google. There are also times where they clog a hole and then accidentally re-open that hole with an update.

[Razorfish]

it is only KERNEL level if you are a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ that runs your computer as admin.
or you install programs that require to be admin to run.
which you should NEVER install, no matter how "helpful" you think they are.

next up... only ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ buy AV for phones.
unless the phone is jail broken , it CANNOT access all the other processes, as such it is just ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.
Takeaway from this....
NEVER EVER use your phone for critical things.
no banking, no bitcoin, no nothing.
NEVER any medical or other personal stuff.
Finally NEVER EVER buy or allow ANY Chinese company products in your home or near your phone, that includes ANY Chinese software. (ali pay/we chat/TIK TOK, etc)
and never visit china with your main computer or phone.

why do you think TIK TOK is banned in China & HK?
if it is such a wonderful product ,why won't they allow it ?

[SCPeach (Math Guy)]

Originally posted by SylenThunder:

It isn't "new". It's been used since the game added it almost a decade ago.

Did anybody say it was?

[SleepWalker]

Originally posted by starbuck:

Yes, u should be worried.

Then you should have been worried a long time ago. EAC has been a part of the game for many years.

Also, no. No you shouldn't worry about it.

[SleepWalker]

Originally posted by Razorfish:

it is only KERNEL level if you are a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ that runs your computer as admin.
or you install programs that require to be admin to run.
which you should NEVER install, no matter how "helpful" you think they are.

next up... only ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ buy AV for phones.
unless the phone is jail broken , it CANNOT access all the other processes, as such it is just ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.
Takeaway from this....
NEVER EVER use your phone for critical things.
no banking, no bitcoin, no nothing.
NEVER any medical or other personal stuff.
Finally NEVER EVER buy or allow ANY Chinese company products in your home or near your phone, that includes ANY Chinese software. (ali pay/we chat/TIK TOK, etc)
and never visit china with your main computer or phone.

why do you think TIK TOK is banned in China & HK?
if it is such a wonderful product ,why won't they allow it ?

Despite your rambling incoherent conspiracy theories, your information is incorrect. EAC doesn't even ask you to run as admin, nor does it change if you decide to install as admin.

[Asa Mitaka]

dont instal EAC , and most mod need EAC to turned off so big point

[Bean]

Originally posted by Ensign Toby:

Although it's Good to be Paranoid, looking askance at ANY/ALL software installed on a PC is
always a Good Idea if you Value your Computer Security and/or All it's Lovely Horded Data...

Easy Anti Cheat (by Epic Games) does not fall into the category of Malicious Software.
There are those who don't like it to be sure, but it's not going to maliciously harm your rig.

Should I be worried or is it something and nothing?

So, there is no need to worry about EAC purposely harming your system.

The software is fairly widely used, and Gamers (a vocal bunch) woulda Called it Out by now.
---------
Now, if you are still worried (and playing single-player or multi-player with non-cheaters),
you can easily disable EAC and prevent it from loading in the Steam Launch Properties:
Steam App -> Game Library -> Right-Click Game -> General -> Selected Launch Option

I actually recommend doing this in single-player, as it frees CPU resources for MOAR FPS...
MOAR FPS Gud.

Caveat: I believe v1.2 now requires EAC if you want to enable Crossplay.
--------

And before anyone Starts a-Flamin', I mean
* Moar FPS for CPU-bound rigs (so the CPU can feed more frames to the GPU)
* and, Generally Smoother game play for those CPU-only world maintenance tasks

Keyboards down.

finally, someone that ACTUALLY doesnt spew nonsense

[Me]

Originally posted by Asa Mitaka:

dont instal EAC , and most mod need EAC to turned off so big point

^ This

[[COS]Puff|)r@g0nZ]

Guys, they got me, I'm at gitmo typing this one a cellphone right now, apparently cat moe pictures are illegal and chinese food is unhealthy, also my taste in music is terrible and 20 years out of style. Send help.

[CrazedTrucker]

I went home with a waitress , i didn't she was with the russns toooo , send lawyers guns and money...and get me out of this