Solution to VAC and cheaters

[Popke]

We all hate cheaters and hackers ruining matches, and we always blame VAC for being slow or just flat-out useless. But I believe there’s still a way for Valve to improve it — and honestly, it’s not even that complicated.

The Core Idea:
Most anti-cheat systems that actually work — like Faceit or even Fortnite’s Easy Anti-Cheat — are installed directly on the player’s PC and actively monitor behavior outside of the game itself, like background processes and suspicious hooks. But VAC, to this day, is mostly tied to server-side detection, which is outdated and easy to bypass.

What if Valve made VAC a hybrid — both server and client-side?
Imagine having VAC baked into the game’s core files, scanning locally while also double-checking with server logic. That’s how modern anti-cheats catch stuff before cheaters ruin a match.

Why This Could Work:
Local scans = faster, more accurate cheat detection

Server scans = backup & extra verification

Cheaters = more likely to be instantly flagged or kicked

Players = happier, less toxic, more willing to stick around

Right now, VAC feels like a meme. It's a running joke in the community. But that can change. If Valve actually made it serious again — like a real weapon against cheaters — the trust would return, and probably, so would a lot of players.

What do you guys think? Anyone else tired of relying on third-party platforms to have a fair game?

[Stoque]

Is VAC Live server side? The one completely separate from VAC? Sounds like the hybrid you're talking about.

[Daryl]

There are still cheaters in Faceit and with EAC but it does seem that they do slightly better because they are actually maintained unlike VAC.

I think a good example is TF2's external software where you can track players in a match in a categorized list (that is updated by trusted members, reports are filed in their discord server and then shared in a data packet that people can import) and those players that have received a lot of reports will have their names bright red even if they weren't using anything at the very moment.

Of course the first step would be to get Valve to either actually care or to really focus on this because either it's out of control and they can't do anything or they just don't care and just let it happen because cases and items gets then money anyways.

[Lemmy Kill Mr]

Originally posted by Popke:

We all hate cheaters and hackers ruining matches, and we always blame VAC for being slow or just flat-out useless. But I believe there’s still a way for Valve to improve it — and honestly, it’s not even that complicated.

The Core Idea:
Most anti-cheat systems that actually work — like Faceit or even Fortnite’s Easy Anti-Cheat — are installed directly on the player’s PC and actively monitor behavior outside of the game itself, like background processes and suspicious hooks. But VAC, to this day, is mostly tied to server-side detection, which is outdated and easy to bypass.

What if Valve made VAC a hybrid — both server and client-side?
Imagine having VAC baked into the game’s core files, scanning locally while also double-checking with server logic. That’s how modern anti-cheats catch stuff before cheaters ruin a match.

Why This Could Work:
Local scans = faster, more accurate cheat detection

Server scans = backup & extra verification

Cheaters = more likely to be instantly flagged or kicked

Players = happier, less toxic, more willing to stick around

Right now, VAC feels like a meme. It's a running joke in the community. But that can change. If Valve actually made it serious again — like a real weapon against cheaters — the trust would return, and probably, so would a lot of players.

What do you guys think? Anyone else tired of relying on third-party platforms to have a fair game?

You really have no clue how this works. Besides, VAC works as intended and helps maintain a legit and trustworthy gaming session time and time again. Without it, us legit players wouldn't stand a chance.

[kleine Mische, kein Tabak]

Faceit also got a lot cheaters.

[SBFrost]

that so easy to bypass dude is smooth head

[THE CATLAND PRESIDENT]

Valve spent money on the burgers - but not on the anticheat.

[..]

Valve they love cheaters, scammers, trolls. This is the devils platform and if you thought it was just a simple platform you where wrong

[grog]

Originally posted by dgk:

Valve they love cheaters, scammers, trolls. This is the devils platform and if you thought it was just a simple platform you where wrong

They love them but they ban them? That doesn't make any sense.

[..]

Originally posted by grog:

Originally posted by dgk:

Valve they love cheaters, scammers, trolls. This is the devils platform and if you thought it was just a simple platform you where wrong

They love them but they ban them? That doesn't make any sense.

Same to you

[..]

But don't worry we take this bs platform and valve directly to cort

[grog]

Originally posted by dgk:

But don't worry we take this bs platform and valve directly to cort

What's cort?

[Kokorec]

There is no hack if u report them valve ban them

[Renos]

Originally posted by Popke:

We all hate cheaters and hackers ruining matches, and we always blame VAC for being slow or just flat-out useless. But I believe there’s still a way for Valve to improve it — and honestly, it’s not even that complicated.

The Core Idea:
Most anti-cheat systems that actually work — like Faceit or even Fortnite’s Easy Anti-Cheat — are installed directly on the player’s PC and actively monitor behavior outside of the game itself, like background processes and suspicious hooks. But VAC, to this day, is mostly tied to server-side detection, which is outdated and easy to bypass.

What if Valve made VAC a hybrid — both server and client-side?
Imagine having VAC baked into the game’s core files, scanning locally while also double-checking with server logic. That’s how modern anti-cheats catch stuff before cheaters ruin a match.

Why This Could Work:
Local scans = faster, more accurate cheat detection

Server scans = backup & extra verification

Cheaters = more likely to be instantly flagged or kicked

Players = happier, less toxic, more willing to stick around

Right now, VAC feels like a meme. It's a running joke in the community. But that can change. If Valve actually made it serious again — like a real weapon against cheaters — the trust would return, and probably, so would a lot of players.

What do you guys think? Anyone else tired of relying on third-party platforms to have a fair game?

Congratulations you just described how VAC and most other anti cheats already work. What did you do ask chatgpt to make an anticheat?

[taL1vaNn^]

that a game with more than 1 million daily players does not have an adequate anti-cheat system means that it is not taken seriously... And it is not just vac since this game was created by valve, a company supposedly with resources and people that can do many good things but it is clear that currently there is only decadence and neglect of the company towards the player, it is better to stop playing, than to continue wasting your time against cheaters.