Petition on Change.org - Gameguard should be removed or replaced by the devs - MkII

[Oakatusz]

I wanted to let everyone know, that user Twisted Kindness started a petition a few days ago on Change.org to inspire the developers to remove this dangerous nProtect Gameguard anti-cheat from Helldivers II.

If you have a moment, please sign it here and share it with your fellow gamers so they sign it too:

https://www.change.org/p/revoke-kernel-level-anti-cheat-in-helldivers-2-for-enhanced-device-safety

If you want to learn more about the plethora of issues this malicious software causes for players of Helldivers II, more info can be found here:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/553850/discussions/2/4206994023681304166/


Addendum:
The last thread, which was topping the General Discussion not long ago
https://steamcommunity.com/app/553850/discussions/0/4372501943309808762/
was closed because of some people got into arguments.

Therefore, I hereby ask everyone to remain civil and discuss the issue at hand in a calm manner to avoid any situation like this moving forward.

UPDATE 1 - DEVS STARTED INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS

I have very encouraging news for every current and potential player of Helldivers II!

It is now confirmed by a dev, that Arrowhead Studios have started an internal discussion about the matter of Gameguard anti-cheat. They also acknowledged that they see that the community indeed considers the matter of the anti-cheat a very hot topic.

I personally really hope, that this internal discussion will be fruitful. Here's hoping that Arrowhead will make the right decision and remove or replace Gameguard once and for all.

You can find screenshots from the official discord confirming the above information here:
https://imgtr.ee/image/Iucwxa

I want to thank users sharkrkk and Royal Mail for bringing this information to my attention.

UPDATE 2

I am back with another update, but the worst I was afraid of is already happening - hardware failures and data loss because of Gameguard. You can find the reports of users documented with links in my latest update for the documentation of issues Gameguard causes fo players of Helldivers II:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/553850/discussions/2/4206994023681304166/?ctp=18#c7599331480044738880

At this point it is obvious that this trashfire of a software is a potential danger for the PC of all players.

UPDATE 2.1 - FURTHER ACKOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE DEVS, MAJOR INTERNAL TALKS ABOUT GAMEGUARD INCOMING

Hey everyone!


I am back with another very encouraging update! The Arrowhead dev, who were already kind before to answer the community's questions about the issues with Gameguard answered some of our fellow players on discord.

In his answer he acknowledged that our petition on change.org as well as our big thread here on Steam in the Anticheat subforum (linked in the OP) were both refered to Arrowhead internal discussions! That is a big step forward in itself!

With regards to the plethora of documented severe issues including Gameguard causing problems to pheripherals, the dev ensured us that there will be major talks about Gameguard soon internally at Arrowhead "once part of the fires stop roaring" (server issues will be addressed properly).

This is very encouraging! Fingers crossed that the devs will be able to tackle the server issues soon and make the needed decision after about the removal or replacement of Gameguard.

So I hereby request everyone to spread the word among your fellow gamers - the more signatures on the petition we have and the more the devs see that we want Gameguard removed or replaced, the more chance we have for positive change in this regard.

Let's aim higher with our activity guys and gals, we are on the right track!


You can find the compiled screenshots about the answer of the dev here:
https://imgtr.ee/image/IucU0F

UPDATE 3 - ISSUE OF GAMEGUARD IN HELLDIVERS 2 IN THE PRESS

As of 23rd of February, 2024, the issue of Gameguard in the case of Helldivers is now in the gaming press:
https://www.pushtotalk.gg/p/the-gamers-do-not-understand-anti-cheat

The title of this damage control press piece is clickbaity and condescending. It also fails to mention the shady history of Gameguard about how many games removed it before because of the plethora of issues it caused for their players. Regardless, in the article even one of the experts asked confirms that Gameguard is invasive and does overreaching, risky stuff . His words, straight from the article:

Riot’s Phillip Koskinas has memories of GameGuard stretching back over a decade. “A version of it has been around since even I was a young lad cooking cheats on MapleStory and Gunz,” he says. (Almost all anti-cheat developers were once cheaters themselves, as they’ll gladly tell you.)

“Back then,” says Koskinas, “GameGuard was actually one of the ‘stronger’ anti-cheats, largely due to their willingness to do crazier stuff. A lot of these techniques are actually common sense or useless now, but back then, it was sort of atypical to be that wide of a watchdog. These days, it has held onto a reputation for being invasive, especially because it takes so much of its anti-cheat actions locally and instantly (closing windows, blocking processes, etc.). "

Roblox anti-cheat lead Clint Sereday was similarly unperturbed. He says that the negative player reviews Helldivers 2 is getting are off the mark.

“This is exactly the same concern as people have with any anti-cheat,” Sereday says. “The concern is a little more exaggerated here because Helldivers 2 is a PVE game. nProtect GameGuard could also be adding to the concern since it is a less-used 3rd party.”

I really hope that Arrowhead Studios finally heeds the feedback provided by current and potential players that obivously point to the direction that Gameguard has to be removed or replaced.

At this point it is widely documented that Gameguard causes severe problems for many players. The sooner Arrowhead devs get rid of Gameguard one way or another, the better as it is just harmful and a potential danger for honest players. It also prevents sales and continues to be a blight on the reputation on the otherwise fantastic looking Helldivers II.

So I hereby kindly encourage everyone who agrees to sign the petition, and invite your like-minded fellow gamers to do so!

The more people know about it and sign it, the better we can raise awareness about the severe problems Gameguard causes for people.

[Qdude]

I support this. I would buy the game right now if didn't have anti-cheat capable of getting hacked and taking control of my computer.

[Rena Ichigawa]

Nah

[Oakatusz]

Originally posted by Qdude:

I support this. I would buy the game right now if didn't have anti-cheat capable of getting hacked and taking control of my computer.

Thank you for your support Qdude. Completely agree with you, that is why I signed this petition which Twisted Kindness started.

I did my research and personally know people who had really bad experiences with this software - that's why I started the documentation thread I linked in the OP where I collect all the reports about the vast number of issues players experience because of this Gameguard. The more people aware of the potential dangers, the better.

Furthermore, we can make the devs know, that we want this dangerous software either removed or replaced with another anti-cheat.

Here's hoping, that the devs heed our feedback!

[Private Potato]

signed

[Oakatusz]

Originally posted by Private Potato:

signed

Much appreciated, sir.

[Kraftkanzler]

signed and an award for u my man

[Oakatusz]

Originally posted by Kraftkanzler:

signed and an award for u my man

Thank you kindly, Kraftkanzler.

The power of this community lies within each of our voices - we can make a difference if we join and voice our grievances! The more we are, the better the chance the devs will listen.

[KingOfFriedChicken]

Fun looking game but not a huge fan of this Anti cheat I don't recognize and considering all the stuff I run on my PC thru apps I can't risk it with the stories I have seen.

[Krowle]

I will just post here to warn other people. Be careful of what you are trying to sign for.

What you are supporting is actually signing up to strip a layer of Security software out.
Which makes you prone to be targeted, gather user info, IP dump. So much more easily.

You're signing to be EXPOSED, make contact with cheater/cyber criminal/hacker much more easier when joined to their room.
Just for the sake of getting rid of the word "kernel" alone, which doesn't make sense at all when you are already behind a million of router in this world. Which is already rare to specifically be target, than playing on a PC in a BIG corporate company or playing in a world bank network.

You can find more info in the locked post. Which this OP resurrect the post, by create another one, do it all over again.
A couple of people including me DID try to give and actual fact of what have been happened info, But OP and his gang purposely AVOID ALL valuable info when doing their quote. So that less people can read it then proceed to spam pages. You can read and check them all by yourself how this gang perform.

Be smart, and be safe. Don't trust and be manipulate so easily from a SELECTIVE forged up info that sound so convincing to believe. Just do yourself a favor.

-----------------

Drop the word "Kernel" and "Anti-cheat" a bit. Look at the picture what it is write in front of your face. When you're launching the game.
#1 Global Security Solution

It is NOT a pure purpose anti-cheat software. You can find more info of this piece of software and how OP and his follower perform in the old post. OP was banned once too just for your info.

-----------------

Unless a security expert with authority come in and play their roles teaching the mislead mass.
I'm sure that this OP and their gang won't be stop giving misleading info and lure people to where it is unsafer. Have a nice day people. I'm done my part.

[KingOfFriedChicken]

Originally posted by Krowle:

I will just post here to warn other people. Be careful of what you are trying to sign for.

What you are supporting is actually signing up to strip a layer of Security software out.
Which makes you prone to be targeted, gather user info, IP dump. So much more easily.

You're signing to be EXPOSED, make contact with cheater/cyber criminal/hacker much more easier when joined to their room.
Just for the sake of getting rid of the word "kernel" alone, which doesn't make sense at all when you are already behind a million of router in this world. Which is already rare to specifically be target, than playing on a PC in a BIG corporate company or playing in a world bank network.

You can find more info in the locked post. Which this OP resurrect the post, by create another one, do it all over again.
A couple of people including me DID try to give and actual fact of what have been happened info, But OP and his gang purposely AVOID ALL valuable info when doing their quote. So that less people can read it then proceed to spam pages. You can read and check them all by yourself how this gang perform.

Be smart, and be safe. Don't trust and be manipulate so easily from a SELECTIVE forged up info that sound so convincing to believe. Just do yourself a favor.

-----------------

Drop the word "Kernel" and "Anti-cheat" a bit. Look at the picture what it is write in front of your face. When you're launching the game.
#1 Global Security Solution

It is NOT a pure purpose anti-cheat software. You can find more info of this piece of software and how OP and his follower perform in the old post. OP was banned once too just for your info.

-----------------

Unless a security expert with authority come in and play their roles teaching the mislead mass.
I'm sure that this OP and their gang won't be stop giving misleading info and lure people to where it is unsafer. Have a nice day people. I'm done my part.

So your saying that we either strip a "layer of security" thay protects us but gathers our info, or our info will be gathered? Lol

Also most people just want a more trusted anti cheat not for it to be gone entirely, others just want it to be optional and don't let us use public matchmaking if it's off.

[DarkDevXx]

Signed

[LupisVolk]

It's not kernal level and your running the disinformation campaign again.

[aCidVicious]

Why would a PvE game need aggressive anti-cheat protection anyway?

[LupisVolk]

Originally posted by aCidVicious:

Why would a PvE game need aggressive anti-cheat protection anyway?

Because people cheat.

[aCidVicious]

Originally posted by LupisVolk:

Originally posted by aCidVicious:

Why would a PvE game need aggressive anti-cheat protection anyway?

Because people cheat.

In a PvE game. Where it only ruins their own experience, and doesn't adversely affect other players as long as there is an option to kick. Why should anybody care?