Rockstar can't stop the cheaters

[Tommy Reslin]

I am posting this because I'm trying to address multiple threads but it's getting tedious. So I decided to post this as it's own thread to explain to people what is going on. Your GTA Online character is stored in two separate places via their own cloud save. That's on your end in your files as well as in their server database. When one is changed the other is changed. What does this mean? The good news is if you get disconnected or don't have internet access you can play your current GTA Online character while Offline. This is done via solo mode.

So what's the problem? The problem is that something simple like a save game editor or Cheat Trainer can alter the files on your end which then is saved via the cloud system which then changes your character settings on their end. This means that a simple trainer that, in most games, would only allow you to cheat offline works online. It also means Rockstar can't ban other users. Why? If they flag the cheaters as.. well.. a cheater the character can't access their online database. Except, that flag would also exist on their end which means if they can find the right string a simple button press can remove it.

Essentially undoing their own ban. Another solution would be an IP ban except it's very easy to change your IP rendering that method useless. Not to mention it would hurt people who are legitimate players. Calling people names or telling them to suck it up and let rockstar ban them isn't going to fix the problem. The only solution Rockstar can make in order to fix the issue is to make it so the offline files cannot be accessed via the client side. This means that they need to restrict access and prevent users from being able to use their characters offline. If you're familiar with Diablo 2; playing GTA 5 is the equivalent of playing Open Battle.net which allowed the same thing in 1999.

[Ocelot]

It bums me out it's so simple for people to cheat. Ruins a lot of moments that would otherwise be fun an amazing with friends (when in a public lobby). Not to mention race records and such.

[Tommy Reslin]

Originally posted by Hoss:

It bums me out it's so simple for people to cheat. Ruins a lot of moments that would otherwise be fun an amazing with friends (when in a public lobby). Not to mention race records and such.

I'm not even sure if Rockstar is aware that this is even a problem or that's what they're doing. At first I was convinced they have to know but then again.. if their security is the same as PC companies in 1997. I'm not sure anymore. I think some people should bring it up on their own official forums.

[Reaper]

Originally posted by Tommy Reslin:

Originally posted by Hoss:

It bums me out it's so simple for people to cheat. Ruins a lot of moments that would otherwise be fun an amazing with friends (when in a public lobby). Not to mention race records and such.

I'm not even sure if Rockstar is aware that this is even a problem or that's what they're doing. At first I was convinced they have to know but then again.. if their security is the same as PC companies in 1997. I'm not sure anymore. I think some people should bring it up on their own official forums.

Keep in mind that until now, they haven't needed the security. You couldn't modify save files on xbone on ps4 because of the lack of compatibility with trainers made to run on pc. They literally have to re-learn everything. Thankfully, theres just so many people playing that servers are plentiful and its easy to switch in 60 seconds

[Tommy Reslin]

Originally posted by «FeaR_TH3_Reap3R»:

Originally posted by Tommy Reslin:

I'm not even sure if Rockstar is aware that this is even a problem or that's what they're doing. At first I was convinced they have to know but then again.. if their security is the same as PC companies in 1997. I'm not sure anymore. I think some people should bring it up on their own official forums.

Keep in mind that until now, they haven't needed the security. You couldn't modify save files on xbone on ps4 because of the lack of compatibility with trainers made to run on pc. They literally have to re-learn everything. Thankfully, theres just so many people playing that servers are plentiful and its easy to switch in 60 seconds

Correct. Which is why I want as many people to message this to Rockstar as possible. I emailed them this. Just in case they aren't aware. It's obvious they're not used to doing online PC games but it also means they might not be aware that this is the solution.

[Reaper]

Originally posted by Tommy Reslin:

Originally posted by «FeaR_TH3_Reap3R»:

Keep in mind that until now, they haven't needed the security. You couldn't modify save files on xbone on ps4 because of the lack of compatibility with trainers made to run on pc. They literally have to re-learn everything. Thankfully, theres just so many people playing that servers are plentiful and its easy to switch in 60 seconds

Correct. Which is why I want as many people to message this to Rockstar as possible. I emailed them this. Just in case they aren't aware. It's obvious they're not used to doing online PC games but it also means they might not be aware that this is the solution.

Well, they've done GTA IV on PC but that didnt have character progression so I'll let that slide.

[MF DOOMOCRACY]

I propose a different sort of solution, similar to what Blizzard did with Diablo 2. Open servers and closed servers. If people want to mess around online with a trainer, give them the ability to do so, while at the same time keeping it separate from players who don't. I could go into more details if you want, but that pretty much sums it up.

[Reaper]

Originally posted by SteveB:

I propose a different sort of solution, similar to what Blizzard did with Diablo 2. Open servers and closed servers. If people want to mess around online with a trainer, give them the ability to do so, while at the same time keeping it separate from players who don't. I could go into more details if you want, but that pretty much sums it up.

That doesn't fix the issue because if you give them the ability to keep their offline files, all they have to do is crack them to get onto closed servers. Just having the files is the issue. Letting them keep them can't be part of the solution

[Nocturna]

It can't be as bad as GTA IV, GTA IV used GFWL and Rockstar had absolutely no control over the multiplayer, now THAT was retarded.

Since GTA V uses servers hosted by Rockstar it can't be that hard to detect cheats, just because there's no VAC doesn't mean there is no anti-cheat, they could have some kind of in-house anti-cheat, we don't really know.

IP bans is retarded, everyone has dynamic IPs nowadays.

[Tommy Reslin]

Originally posted by SteveB:

I propose a different sort of solution, similar to what Blizzard did with Diablo 2. Open servers and closed servers. If people want to mess around online with a trainer, give them the ability to do so, while at the same time keeping it separate from players who don't. I could go into more details if you want, but that pretty much sums it up.

No need. I played enough of Diablo 2 to understand where you're coming from. :) It'd be the easiest solution. Just clone our characters we currently have and then have two separate modes. That'd work fantastically. Also it still lets them to do the bad sport thing. The bad sport lobbies can easily be the open sessions. People cheat? They can be put in the open sessions while us legit players can sit comfortably in the "closed" sections.

Raquel, read my original post. People are editing client side saves. Anti-cheat is meaningless. Even if they ban people they can unban themselves.

[Philip]

I can see why people would cheat (for money, not godmode or anything like that). I started playing the PC version with 26 million and not even 2 weeks later I am down to 12.5 million. Everything is so expensive, to facilitate the sale of their shark cards/grind missions or heists.

Rockstar need to address this as soon as possible, whether they are allowing this or not etc. A lot of people will just cheat if they believe people don't get punished for it.

[Unleashed3k]

Originally posted by Tommy Reslin:

Originally posted by SteveB:

I propose a different sort of solution, similar to what Blizzard did with Diablo 2. Open servers and closed servers. If people want to mess around online with a trainer, give them the ability to do so, while at the same time keeping it separate from players who don't. I could go into more details if you want, but that pretty much sums it up.

No need. I played enough of Diablo 2 to understand where you're coming from. :) It'd be the easiest solution. Just clone our characters we currently have and then have two separate modes. That'd work fantastically. Also it still lets them to do the bad sport thing. The bad sport lobbies can easily be the open sessions. People cheat? They can be put in the open sessions while us legit players can sit comfortably in the "closed" sections.

Raquel, read my original post. People are editing client side saves. Anti-cheat is meaningless. Even if they ban people they can unban themselves.

your "solution" only works against trainers or cheat-engine based "modding", what U miss are the real hacks... wtb aimbot, wallhacks etc? these work in games that are close to 100% serverside controlled....

[Tommy Reslin]

Originally posted by Unleashed3k:

Originally posted by Tommy Reslin:

No need. I played enough of Diablo 2 to understand where you're coming from. :) It'd be the easiest solution. Just clone our characters we currently have and then have two separate modes. That'd work fantastically. Also it still lets them to do the bad sport thing. The bad sport lobbies can easily be the open sessions. People cheat? They can be put in the open sessions while us legit players can sit comfortably in the "closed" sections.

Raquel, read my original post. People are editing client side saves. Anti-cheat is meaningless. Even if they ban people they can unban themselves.

your "solution" only works against trainers or cheat-engine based "modding", what U miss are the real hacks... wtb aimbot, wallhacks etc? these work in games that are close to 100% serverside controlled....

Those are always a problem but this one is much worse and is much easier to do. More of the community knows how to get ahold of and use trainers. Even with simple anti-cheat systems most of the aimbots etc people run they have to pay for. Using a trainer is free and easy. Anyone can do it and it requires no computer knowledge to do it. Fixing the trainer problem is easier than fixing aimbot and the like. Also when using a controller you have access to your own legal aimbot anyway and you can already see players locations on the map for the most part.

At least you can kill people with aimbot and wallhack. You can't kill someone who has godmode, is flying around, killing people in passive, and firing explosive bullets. These are a lot worse. Right now fixing the issue with the trainer is the same as fixing the biggest fish in the room. The rest can be dealt with after.

Not to mention those users can still be banned. As it stands, currently, no one can properly be banned.

[AppleJuice]

lol IP-Ban xD use Hardware ID

[Machin Shin]

R* is not capable of making a good code or do the right so far

[Tommy Reslin]

Originally posted by Kampfwurst:

lol IP-Ban xD use Hardware ID

Read my post. I wasn't supporting IP Ban. I said it's easy to get around because you can just change IP. Hardware Banning is good. It's still possible to get around but it's not as easy to get around as an IP Ban. At the same time it would be so much easier to just remove the ability to play online while offline. Doing that will solve the trainer/save game editor problem.