SAM PICKER VAC :: Steam Discussions

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кексик с корицей Feb 12, 2023 @ 10:49am

SAM PICKER VAC

Is it possible to get a VAC ban for using the SAM Picker while playing csgo, but at the same time knocking out an achievement in another game that is not protected by the VAC server?

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Showing 1-10 of 10 comments

rawWwRrr Feb 12, 2023 @ 11:08am

It shouldn't. SAM doesn't actually run or even touch specific games. It just interacts with Steam API to make it look like a game is running or make the call that an achievement was unlocked.

KaLiN Feb 12, 2023 @ 11:12am

Not at the moment, but use at your own risk.

кексик с корицей Feb 12, 2023 @ 11:32am

Originally posted by rawWwRrr:
It shouldn't. SAM doesn't actually run or even touch specific games. It just interacts with Steam API to make it look like a game is running or make the call that an achievement was unlocked.

So can we say that SAM does nothing with game files (especially with csgo's files), therefore there is no threat to be banned?

Originally posted by Zero 777:
Not at the moment, but use at your own risk.

what exacrly do you mean by "not at the moment?"

Komarimaru Feb 12, 2023 @ 12:36pm

As it stands now, SAM doesn't trigger VAC when used. All it does it flip a switch from No to Yes on Steam.

But that's for the past decade or so, we don't know what's in the future ofc.

rawWwRrr Feb 12, 2023 @ 12:40pm

Originally posted by omni turok man:
Originally posted by rawWwRrr:
It shouldn't. SAM doesn't actually run or even touch specific games. It just interacts with Steam API to make it look like a game is running or make the call that an achievement was unlocked.
So can we say that SAM does nothing with game files (especially with csgo's files), therefore there is no threat to be banned?

No, SAM does not interact with any actual game. SAM only talks to Steam.

кексик с корицей Feb 12, 2023 @ 12:46pm

Originally posted by Komarimaru:
As it stands now, SAM doesn't trigger VAC when used. All it does it flip a switch from No to Yes on Steam.

But that's for the past decade or so, we don't know what's in the future ofc.

Originally posted by rawWwRrr:
Originally posted by omni turok man:
So can we say that SAM does nothing with game files (especially with csgo's files), therefore there is no threat to be banned?
No, SAM does not interact with any actual game. SAM only talks to Steam.

So there is no problem that I was in CSGO while I was hacking an achievement even from the other game? I asked this because I've read a dose of information today about SAM, VACs and so on. There are a lot of people who says that's okay until you are not in VAC-secured game (but they don't say that you WILL get ban, they say you MAY/CAN/MIGHT get a VAC ban. But also a bunch of people who say that even when a game is launched it's still 100% safe, since SAM doesn't trigger VAC at all)

Is that's so, that would be great. thank for ressuaring me. It would be stupid if Valve will banned me 'cause I wanted to unlock the bugged achievement from the other game.

(btw how long does it take to give VAC in general? a day has passed since my "scam")

Last edited by кексик с корицей; Feb 12, 2023 @ 12:52pm

rawWwRrr Feb 12, 2023 @ 1:20pm

Originally posted by omni turok man:
Originally posted by rawWwRrr:
No, SAM does not interact with any actual game. SAM only talks to Steam.

So there is no problem that I was in CSGO while I was hacking an achievement even from the other game? I asked this because I've read a dose of information today about SAM, VACs and so on. There are a lot of people who says that's okay until you are not in VAC-secured game (but they don't say that you WILL get ban, they say you MAY/CAN/MIGHT get a VAC ban. But also a bunch of people who say that even when a game is launched it's still 100% safe, since SAM doesn't trigger VAC at all)

No one gives guarantees about VAC because no one is really sure. The underlying system that VAC uses is highly secretive so that it doesn't provide an advantage to hackers/cheaters. So it's difficult to say with 100% certainty that SAM will not interfere. That's why in my original reply I said "should" instead of something more definitive.

However, as far as I am aware SAM is its own self-contained program and only interacts with Steam. And from what we understand of VAC, VAC is really only concerned with changes to VAC secured games. Since SAM is not a VAC game and it does not interfere with VAC games, it should not generate a VAC ban. Not to mention Valve's stance on achievements is quite lacking. I don't think they're going to care.

Originally posted by omni turok man:
It would be stupid if Valve will banned me 'cause I wanted to unlock the bugged achievement from the other game.

There was a time when developers were issuing bans to players that were using SAM. That was several years ago and I don't think that's happening now, but it's always a possibility to look out for.

Originally posted by omni turok man:
(btw how long does it take to give VAC in general? a day has passed since my "scam")

It's random so as to not give away what triggers it.

кексик с корицей Feb 12, 2023 @ 1:28pm

Originally posted by rawWwRrr:
Originally posted by omni turok man:

So there is no problem that I was in CSGO while I was hacking an achievement even from the other game? I asked this because I've read a dose of information today about SAM, VACs and so on. There are a lot of people who says that's okay until you are not in VAC-secured game (but they don't say that you WILL get ban, they say you MAY/CAN/MIGHT get a VAC ban. But also a bunch of people who say that even when a game is launched it's still 100% safe, since SAM doesn't trigger VAC at all)
No one gives guarantees about VAC because no one is really sure. The underlying system that VAC uses is highly secretive so that it doesn't provide an advantage to hackers/cheaters. So it's difficult to say with 100% certainty that SAM will not interfere. That's why in my original reply I said "should" instead of something more definitive.

However, as far as I am aware SAM is its own self-contained program and only interacts with Steam. And from what we understand of VAC, VAC is really only concerned with changes to VAC secured games. Since SAM is not a VAC game and it does not interfere with VAC games, it should not generate a VAC ban. Not to mention Valve's stance on achievements is quite lacking. I don't think they're going to care.

Originally posted by omni turok man:
It would be stupid if Valve will banned me 'cause I wanted to unlock the bugged achievement from the other game.
There was a time when developers were issuing bans to players that were using SAM. That was several years ago and I don't think that's happening now, but it's always a possibility to look out for.

Originally posted by omni turok man:
(btw how long does it take to give VAC in general? a day has passed since my "scam")
It's random so as to not give away what triggers it.

Exhaustively, thank you. I personally think that in theory there is nothing to give a ban here, given that I used this program for another game

Yes, I've read about bans in DBD and Payday2, but it seems that it is no longer relevant

About VAC - is there an average? from a couple of hours to a month? or the investigation may even be a year?