Game guard is malware?

[McDinglefart]

I work on my PC. I access to my bank accounts on my PC. I access to my family's bank accounts on this PC.

And I play on this PC.

And this game requires Game guard which installed on PC reduces it's performance even when not playing and has access to all my data, work related things, to my bank account...

What the hell?

I just gone from "Oh, I may check this game out" to "♥♥♥ NO!".

[Hagon Wyvon]

Originally posted by Kakas69:

And this game requires Game guard which installed on PC reduces it's performance even when not playing and has access to all my data, work related things, to my bank account...

The part of has access to all data stored in your pc is basically a part of every Anti-cheat. But after some digging in google, ye, it does raise a red flag.

[Bael]

It's panic mongering. If you ve played a popular mp game like Apex Legends or PUBG than it's very likely you have anti-cheat software on your PC.

[Bovril Brigadier]

GameGuard has an infamous reputation because aside from it literally being a rootkit, it has in the past been known to completely brick peoples computers, blocked mouse and keyboards form being used, opened backdoor for viruses and on top of all that, at the end of the day it's not really an effective anticheat.

It may be better these days but its very hard to recover from a bad reputation like that.

[DudeBro69]

Yup it stays active on your system even when not playing the game UNLIKE most anti cheat systems that are active only when the game is running.

[McDinglefart]

Originally posted by Strayed:

GameGuard has an infamous reputation because aside from it literally being a rootkit, it has in the past been known to completely brick peoples computers, blocked mouse and keyboards form being used, opened backdoor for viruses and on top of all that, at the end of the day it's not really an effective anticheat.

It may be better these days but its very hard to recover from a bad reputation like that.

Too bad. Was looking forward playing this game, but putting risk my business/finances over some game, nope.

[Kiggles]

Originally posted by DudeBro69:

Yup it stays active on your system even when not playing the game UNLIKE most anti cheat systems that are active only when the game is running.

This is untrue.

[lukaself]

Originally posted by Treat (Kiggles):

Originally posted by DudeBro69:

Yup it stays active on your system even when not playing the game UNLIKE most anti cheat systems that are active only when the game is running.

This is untrue.

I want to believe you but the devs still haven't answered that one on the Discord. It doesn't bode well that they just couldn't answer immediately.

[Critical Rocket]

Misty on the Helldivers 2 discord answered this question for me. She said it does stop after you close HD2. I mean that is a member of their community team saying that and I have the conversation in my discord history so they can't pretend they didn't say it at least.

[DudeBro69]

Originally posted by Treat (Kiggles):

Originally posted by DudeBro69:

Yup it stays active on your system even when not playing the game UNLIKE most anti cheat systems that are active only when the game is running.

This is untrue.

Clearly you dont know.

Do a google.

[lukaself]

Originally posted by Critical Rocket:

Misty on the Helldivers 2 discord answered this question for me. She said it does stop after you close HD2. I mean that is a member of their community team saying that and I have the conversation in my discord history so they can't pretend they didn't say it at least.

Albeit nice, Misty is a moderator and kernel level drivers can hide themselves from the user/task manager. One of the devs confirmed that's not information they have right now and that they'll pass it along to the engineers. Still waiting on an answer.

Discord link if you're interested in checking for youself: https://discord.com/channels/1102970375731691612/1102973812179488798/1198763298921910342

[Free_Byrd33]

Yeah I cancelled my pre order after reading up on what a kernel level anti cheat is as I am new to PCs and use mine for more than just gaming. Especially if it is always running even when the game is not being used. Ill either buy the game on my PS5 or wait to see if they remove it from the PC version.

[Kiggles]

Originally posted by DudeBro69:

Originally posted by Treat (Kiggles):

This is untrue.

Clearly you dont know.

Do a google.

Originally posted by lukaself:

Originally posted by Treat (Kiggles):

This is untrue.

I want to believe you but the devs still haven't answered that one on the Discord. It doesn't bode well that they just couldn't answer immediately.

Windows service is not running when an nProtect application is not running. I'm not saying this to say that it is justifiably useful for a coop game. But I do want people to use truthful arguments to dissuade publishers from abandoning their intrusive practices.

That this is a rootkit is sufficient enough a security concern to object. No need to make things up, even if that was not the intent.

[lukaself]

Originally posted by Treat (Kiggles):

Windows service is not running when an nProtect application is not running.

I'm only reporting on what the actual developer said - i.e. that we currently have no way of knowing if it runs outside of gameplay until the engineer who implemented it answered the query - so any accusation of lying was seriously uncalled for. Keep it civil or I'll be forced to report you.

The developers are currently preparing a statement and since they're working closely together with Sony, it might take some time to clear the redtape. In the meantime, it'd be good to keep the speculation to a minimum.

[Kiggles]

You were not the sole party to which my comments were directed.

[lukaself]

Originally posted by Treat (Kiggles):

You were not the sole party to which my comments were directed.

Then take care to quote someone properly. You don't get to draw the "I wasn't talking to you" card once you insulted someone while looking them in the eyes. When you make a mistake you don't make excuses, you do the adult thing and apologize so everyone can move on.