I got my friends vac banned.

[JellyAddict]

I'm posting this here just so others might see. Please don't use cheat engine, you will get vac banned and lose your ability to play.

One of them got the game during the free weekend, the other has had the game but never played it until now.

I told them they could use cheat engine to get all the cards and stuff so we could be on an even playing field, and probably totally crossed the line when I told them they could get hair colors and stuff too. I figured it was fine since we only play with each other, no one would ever be affected by them having stuff but obviously not in the all seeing eyes of steam.

I feel really bad because they both bought dlc since we were having so much fun. They only spent about $10 each, but only got to use those dlc characters for a few hours... and I doubt they could get refunds or anything with a VAC ban...

Again, one last time. I'm posting this here just so others might see. Please don't use cheat engine, and please don't tell your friends to do it.

EDIT:
I've been reading through discussions and it seems this isn't exactly uncommon to happen.

I posted this for others to see and hopefully not make the same mistake, but someone else had the idea to have the VAC symbol somewhere in game to show that this game is VAC enabled. I think that's a great idea, and just wanted to share it in hopes that might happen one day.

EDIT 2:
Looking more into discussions and apparently lots of people think that its really obvious to check to see if a game has VAC enabled.
Maybe we're just dumb haha.

[JellyAddict]

Um, I just realized this.

Vac bans are for steam servers right?

Is there any way to host a private server? Since we only want to play with each other this would be fine.

[CarThief]

Maybe you could try to invite them? I recall hearing VAC-banned players can't join themselves, but if invited they can still play. And i presume VAC-banned players can host too, but not sure if the lobby would show up publically and/or be joinable by anyone.

So maybe that's worth a try as regular or private lobby, using the steam-invite option. It has Discord-integration, too, maybe a Discord-invitation works, too.
I guess in the future it's a good idea to check if a game (especially one with multiplayer) has VAC-protection. Nasty stuff, if you ask me. Always helps to keep an eye out for.

[JellyAddict]

Originally posted by seroz:

为了十几块钱的游戏，而且现在还免费了，真的不值得:lunar2019deadpanpig:

I think google translate butchers this, so i'll just pretend its kind words or something lol.

Originally posted by CarThief:

Maybe you could try to invite them? I recall hearing VAC-banned players can't join themselves, but if invited they can still play. And i presume VAC-banned players can host too, but not sure if the lobby would show up publically and/or be joinable by anyone.

So maybe that's worth a try as regular or private lobby, using the steam-invite option. It has Discord-integration, too, maybe a Discord-invitation works, too.

Thanks for the ideas. I've tried using the steam invite, and it even manages to get the point where it shows his character in the lobby as "joining". But it fails in the end.

The discord idea is good and we'll try it, but I think that if the server is hosted by steam then you can't join. I wonder if theres a way I can host a server myself...

Originally posted by CarThief:

I guess in the future it's a good idea to check if a game (especially one with multiplayer) has VAC-protection. Nasty stuff, if you ask me. Always helps to keep an eye out for.

Yeah, thats good advice. Though, I think from now on i'll just refrain from telling others to cheat altogether.

[Jon Shoes]

If you try to cheat while using any online functionality in the game, you get banned.
So what happened? They tried to cheat oranges by going in the servers to do the dailies in order to change the orange value. That's where VAC detected the third party software running and got you guys. No, there's no private servers. You guys need a new account.
It's "safer" to use it on non-online related stuff. Like Halloween Currency.
But, it's even safer to not use it at all!

[JellyAddict]

Originally posted by Shoeneider:

If you try to cheat while using any online functionality in the game, you get banned.

I'm aware now, though I wish I knew that before I caused my buddies to lose their stuff. This is the last game I expected this to apply to...

Originally posted by Shoeneider:

So what happened? They tried to cheat oranges by going in the servers to do the dailies in order to change the orange value. That's where VAC detected the third party software running and got you guys.

I hope you're having fun playing detective.
(Sorry, i'm feeling kind of sad right now and you came off as kind of smug to me.)

Originally posted by Shoeneider:

No, there's no private servers. You guys need a new account.

I figured, but hey, I'm desperate.

Originally posted by Shoeneider:

It's "safer" to use it on non-online related stuff. Like Halloween Currency. But, it's even safer to not use it at all!

Lesson learned at this point. Wish it could be a lesson taught before peeps are tossed into the slammer, haha.


We've talked it over, and we'll get over it soon enough.
Just, for the time being we're kind of dumbfounded...

[KorenJO]

I am kinda curious, did he get immediately banned?

[JellyAddict]

We were playing last night for a few hours after the cheats, and one of them messaged me today a couple hours ago that he had a vac ban. I checked the other one and yep, sure enough, vac ban on him too.

[mimizukari]

Don't cheat in any game on Steam for any reason whatsoever.

[JellyAddict]

Originally posted by Kurumi Tokisaki:

Don't cheat in any game on Steam for any reason whatsoever.

Probably good advice to follow.


Here's a crazy hypothetical:

Imagine playing Monopoly with your friends. There's a package with little costumes for the characters that says on it "You must roll dice every time you play the game to see which costume you unlock".
You're friends cant use the costumes yet but you can, and you decide to tell them to just use the costumes if they want, and they open the bag and use them.
And then you wake up the next day and the VAC police has showed up to your house, confiscated the game, and stuck a sticker that says "VAC BAN" on your front door.
(and then people say "duh, didn't you read the fine print on the front of the box, its VAC enabled")

I understand that's not a perfect parallel, digital games are a whole different world. We understand we're in the wrong legally and all. And we'll be over it in a day.

But damn. I sure as hell didn't see any of this coming...

[Elucidator]

VAC is sensitive, but it only acts when it detects an actual cheat. Running CE is not enough, know programs it has in a list yeah, but unless that program is solely used for cheating in that specific game, it doesn't do much till you start to use it. In case of CE it likely detects activity injections. (scanning, changing bytes, stuff like that) -- don't take my word for it. xd
Never suggest CE or something like that to 'fix an issue' just let them play or if you really want to make sure to check for VAC.
e.e;
(I personally don't really check the tags, unless I am buying something) so you might have known for example, but forgot and then. bang.
Just don't risk it, its better. I realize I don't check if it is vac enabled with a game should I do some 'questionable' stuff, such as trying to see what causes a specific bug by finding the exact conditions with a debugger for a game in development (and bug reporting) for example, and now I realize something like that could get me vacced. Oh well.-
Anyway, don't do it.

PS, pretty mean that you got your friends vacbanned. They now need a second account. >.> and spend more to play along. ;sweat;

Also it seems VAC acts sooner than later lately, which is odd. It should take a couple of days at least.

[seroz]

Well,my means is that you have no need to destroy all steam game library for a leisure game,
now what you can do is that go to the customer service to appeal your account as quickiy as you can!

[mimizukari]

Originally posted by JellyAddiction:

Originally posted by Kurumi Tokisaki:

Don't cheat in any game on Steam for any reason whatsoever.

Probably good advice to follow.


Here's a crazy hypothetical:

Imagine playing Monopoly with your friends. There's a package with little costumes for the characters that says on it "You must roll dice every time you play the game to see which costume you unlock".
You're friends cant use the costumes yet but you can, and you decide to tell them to just use the costumes if they want, and they open the bag and use them.
And then you wake up the next day and the VAC police has showed up to your house, confiscated the game, and stuck a sticker that says "VAC BAN" on your front door.
(and then people say "duh, didn't you read the fine print on the front of the box, its VAC enabled")

I understand that's not a perfect parallel, digital games are a whole different world. We understand we're in the wrong legally and all. And we'll be over it in a day.

But damn. I sure as hell didn't see any of this coming...

cosmetics or not, they cheated, they got banned. you're a horrible tutor.

[mimizukari]

Originally posted by seroz:

Well,my means is that you have no need to destroy all steam game library for a leisure game,
now what you can do is that go to the customer service to appeal your account as quickiy as you can!

CS will not appeal, they knowingly used a cheat program in a VAC game.

[JellyAddict]

Originally posted by Kurumi Tokisaki:

cosmetics or not, they cheated, they got banned. you're a horrible tutor.

I literally acknowledged all of that in the post you quoted except the horrible tutor part, which is fine. There's nothing you added to this conversation, except showing everyone what a pleasant person you are.

[Hat8]

Just create a new Steam account.