Is it safe to download?

[The dog]

Netease games have a shady history, like Once human's registry editing and spyware.

[id795078477]

Originally posted by Master Sparkles:

"That's because they use a 3rd party "anti-cheat" that requires installation as a system driver meaning in runs at ring-0." Sorry i just read the EXACT words you said about why NOT to download this game. I will became a mind reader next time.

Also see how he just made another blanket statement about kernal? He didn't provide any proof again. He has nothing and is not a trust worthy source.

Yes, I mentioned about kernel-level software. Yes, I believe that anyone with a sane level of security alertness should not consider it safe to install anything that requires those things on their PC, this game included. And yes, I mentioned this here:

Originally posted by id795078477:

So this is the point where everyone decide for themselves on the risk level and how to manage that.

-- meaning, yet again, everyone needs to decide for themselves. But blatantly claiming that it's safe because the company that openly installs a rootkit has a "reputation to keep" may not be a compelling argument for many. I just tell it how it is. In my opinion - yes. Yes it's absolutely not safe and reputation is in no way an excuse nor guarantee for any of this. But everyone needs to decide for themselves what they do.

Let's keep it at that. I'm not changing my opinion - as the facts that this company requires to install a rootkit on a user PC still remains. That alone is enough for me.

[Elemeno.]

about 5 hours ago , i have a windows loop that wouldnt fix , using usb i booted ,

my emails password had been changed and ive lost access to a few expensive software that are a pain to get back .. so now it looks like im going to have to search and find out whats done it , but ive removed rivals from my library and all files of it plus registries ... i dont know what else ... this is the only thing that has changed my pc .

[Kimarnic]

the CIA isn't going to arrest you for downloading Marvel Rivals

[pixel.was.taken.so.i.used.this]

Originally posted by id795078477:

Originally posted by Rhila:

I noticed nothing sus but i'm no expert, if there any experts please help

No offence, but if "a concentrated stare into blank screen" was a solution to these issues, we wouldn't have a need for any infosec.

As it stands, this game is absolutely not safe to play on Windows OS. That's because they use a 3rd party "anti-cheat" that requires installation as a system driver meaning in runs at ring-0. In plain English: that thing loads when you boot your PC together with your OS and has absolute control over your machine.

The only thing preventing it from doing anything malicious is .. NetEase's promise in the EULA. But that's the same as giving keys to your house to a random stranger down in Brooklyn subway with the only guarantee that they won't abuse it as "trust me, bro". So this is the point where everyone decide for themselves on the risk level and how to manage that.

There seems to be a way to run this game on Proton - with some workarounds, meaning that you (sort of?) bypass the kernel-level execution since you'll run that system separately from your host Linux. But that's something not even 0.01% of people will be bothered (or qualified) to do.

I'm also deliberately not involving the "Chinese" card here - as it makes no difference who is the vendor behind such schemes. I'd rather not have anyone poking around my machine - Chinese or not - even though I know Chinese are overwhelmingly more likely to do shady deals with their government and break my privacy. But in the end, it doesn't matter who it is.

Thank you so much for this. I was wondering how deep the anti cheat went and this perfectly answered my question. Saved me the hassle of a messy uninstallation. Have a great day man!

[GatoMancer]

Originally posted by pixel.was.taken.so.i.used.this:

Originally posted by id795078477:

No offence, but if "a concentrated stare into blank screen" was a solution to these issues, we wouldn't have a need for any infosec.

As it stands, this game is absolutely not safe to play on Windows OS. That's because they use a 3rd party "anti-cheat" that requires installation as a system driver meaning in runs at ring-0. In plain English: that thing loads when you boot your PC together with your OS and has absolute control over your machine.

The only thing preventing it from doing anything malicious is .. NetEase's promise in the EULA. But that's the same as giving keys to your house to a random stranger down in Brooklyn subway with the only guarantee that they won't abuse it as "trust me, bro". So this is the point where everyone decide for themselves on the risk level and how to manage that.

There seems to be a way to run this game on Proton - with some workarounds, meaning that you (sort of?) bypass the kernel-level execution since you'll run that system separately from your host Linux. But that's something not even 0.01% of people will be bothered (or qualified) to do.

I'm also deliberately not involving the "Chinese" card here - as it makes no difference who is the vendor behind such schemes. I'd rather not have anyone poking around my machine - Chinese or not - even though I know Chinese are overwhelmingly more likely to do shady deals with their government and break my privacy. But in the end, it doesn't matter who it is.

Thank you so much for this. I was wondering how deep the anti cheat went and this perfectly answered my question. Saved me the hassle of a messy uninstallation. Have a great day man!

Yes, it runs on Linux w/ Steam Proton Experimental, currently doing so on Kubuntu 24.10 and Nvidia Driver 560.35.3.

The only error I've gotten is the game Launcher complains you're not running on a recent build of Windows 10

the Anti-cheat itself is NEAC Protect

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/itemdb/app/40684/marvel-rivals/

[2AHumanRight]

Originally posted by The dog:

Netease games have a shady history, like Once human's registry editing and spyware.

It has a Kernel level anti cheat, so no

[Scrawl]

Originally posted by pixel.was.taken.so.i.used.this:

Originally posted by id795078477:

No offence, but if "a concentrated stare into blank screen" was a solution to these issues, we wouldn't have a need for any infosec.

As it stands, this game is absolutely not safe to play on Windows OS. That's because they use a 3rd party "anti-cheat" that requires installation as a system driver meaning in runs at ring-0. In plain English: that thing loads when you boot your PC together with your OS and has absolute control over your machine.

The only thing preventing it from doing anything malicious is .. NetEase's promise in the EULA. But that's the same as giving keys to your house to a random stranger down in Brooklyn subway with the only guarantee that they won't abuse it as "trust me, bro". So this is the point where everyone decide for themselves on the risk level and how to manage that.

There seems to be a way to run this game on Proton - with some workarounds, meaning that you (sort of?) bypass the kernel-level execution since you'll run that system separately from your host Linux. But that's something not even 0.01% of people will be bothered (or qualified) to do.

I'm also deliberately not involving the "Chinese" card here - as it makes no difference who is the vendor behind such schemes. I'd rather not have anyone poking around my machine - Chinese or not - even though I know Chinese are overwhelmingly more likely to do shady deals with their government and break my privacy. But in the end, it doesn't matter who it is.

Thank you so much for this. I was wondering how deep the anti cheat went and this perfectly answered my question. Saved me the hassle of a messy uninstallation. Have a great day man!

cheers my man! saved me a bunch of time

[MeepySheepy]

Originally posted by Rhila:

Originally posted by id795078477:

No offence, but if "a concentrated stare into blank screen" was a solution to these issues, we wouldn't have a need for any infosec.

As it stands, this game is absolutely not safe to play on Windows OS. That's because they use a 3rd party "anti-cheat" that requires installation as a system driver meaning in runs at ring-0. In plain English: that thing loads when you boot your PC together with your OS and has absolute control over your machine.

The only thing preventing it from doing anything malicious is .. NetEase's promise in the EULA. But that's the same as giving keys to your house to a random stranger down in Brooklyn subway with the only guarantee that they won't abuse it as "trust me, bro". So this is the point where everyone decide for themselves on the risk level and how to manage that.

There seems to be a way to run this game on Proton - with some workarounds, meaning that you (sort of?) bypass the kernel-level execution since you'll run that system separately from your host Linux. But that's something not even 0.01% of people will be bothered (or qualified) to do.

I'm also deliberately not involving the "Chinese" card here - as it makes no difference who is the vendor behind such schemes. I'd rather not have anyone poking around my machine - Chinese or not - even though I know Chinese are overwhelmingly more likely to do shady deals with their government and break my privacy. But in the end, it doesn't matter who it is.

Thanks for the explanation, I scanned my PC using Windows security app, and that's what I did to check this game.

You seem to be the expert we need, can you tell us where the anti cheat app is located?
if someone wants to check or delete this anti cheat app after uninstalling the game, where can we find it? Thank you again.

I'd just use Revo Uninstaller go to JayzTwoCents and watch this https://youtu.be/0LPZYX5UPvM

Whether or not you would like this idk, it can get rid of some windows bloat apps, and games along with their anti cheats entirely.

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Originally posted by id795078477:

Originally posted by Rhila:

I noticed nothing sus but i'm no expert, if there any experts please help

No offence, but if "a concentrated stare into blank screen" was a solution to these issues, we wouldn't have a need for any infosec.

As it stands, this game is absolutely not safe to play on Windows OS. That's because they use a 3rd party "anti-cheat" that requires installation as a system driver meaning in runs at ring-0. In plain English: that thing loads when you boot your PC together with your OS and has absolute control over your machine.

The only thing preventing it from doing anything malicious is .. NetEase's promise in the EULA. But that's the same as giving keys to your house to a random stranger down in Brooklyn subway with the only guarantee that they won't abuse it as "trust me, bro". So this is the point where everyone decide for themselves on the risk level and how to manage that.

There seems to be a way to run this game on Proton - with some workarounds, meaning that you (sort of?) bypass the kernel-level execution since you'll run that system separately from your host Linux. But that's something not even 0.01% of people will be bothered (or qualified) to do.

I'm also deliberately not involving the "Chinese" card here - as it makes no difference who is the vendor behind such schemes. I'd rather not have anyone poking around my machine - Chinese or not - even though I know Chinese are overwhelmingly more likely to do shady deals with their government and break my privacy. But in the end, it doesn't matter who it is.

with some workarounds? At least on linux I literally just installed the game and it runs with proton by default. You have just enough knowledge to front you know what you're talking about but anyone that actually knows can see through it.

If you're on windows you're already on spyware

[Knowsome]

it's safe. they use a self-proprietary (their own) anti-cheat, and its kernel based, however it shuts down when you close the game, and it always asks for admin privileges everytime you boot the game.

the only issues i've had so far is that sometimes when your game is focused, discord keybinds wont work. For example, i have NUM * binded to mute microphone, and NUM + binded to deafen. The game wont allow me to use these binds unless i alt-tab to discord.

same thing goes for streaming on discord, for some reason the anti-cheat de-prioritizes discordhook64.dll (which is the system file used to stream with audio) and your discord will ask for admin privileges just as if you are opening marvel rivals for the first time, when trying to stream on discord.

aside from that? no issues, the anti-cheat definitely messes with some of your permissions, but its mostly harmless.

[Sledge]

Originally posted by PoIsoN:

Oh noooo not all of China. What will you do when they know things?

Pro top, stop having sensitive info on a gaming pc if you are worried about leaks.

The beauty of PC's is that they serve as more than mere gaming machines, by this logic, one may as well only buy gaming consoles, no?

Why wouldn't people store sensitive, private data on their personal computers?

Ultimately, NetEase being Chinese has no bearing on whether you should install this game or not, what it truly boils down to is how principled you are in regards to personal security. Corporations all over the world see you, a person, as nothing but a vessel for your personal data, your data is more valuable than you are.

How much information you're willing to give over and how much control you're willing to cede in this day and age is up to you, and some may not be comfortable providing NetEase, let alone any company for that matter unrestricted access to machines they've paid sizeable sums of money for under the assumption that the thing they bought, is theirs.

You can't really avoid the data siphoning, perks of running on Windows, but you can limit just how much access people or corporations have to your PC.

[Queen Yuu The Reclusive]

Should we tell them most games have kernel-level access to their PC?

[76561199148614237]

Doesn't every game edit the registry?

[Millertyme]

Originally posted by The dog:

Netease games have a shady history, like Once human's registry editing and spyware.

Is it safe to go outside and touch grass?

[THAT Guy]

Considering netease is an international ccp data collection front, absolutely not...

Those saying "its no big deal because no important data" don't seem to understand that data they collect leads to the development of those predatory and manipulative practices we all hate, not to mention other more nefarious things..