Can you get VAC banned for a VPN or non-hacking overlay?

[TacticalFaux]

I know some may see this is a stupid questions, please hold restraint strangling me. It's just, with all the reports of people getting banned for software running on their computer, even things like Discord, say they get banned for it. I use Discord with no issue and I'm not to worried about that... But others say they are banned for overlays like the "Overwolf" overlay from TeamSpeak, Windows Games overlay, even the NVIDIA overlay gets some reports...

I'm aware a lot of these are probably desperation to get unbanned, but with the amount of them appearing everywhere, I just thought I'd post something to make sure.

Are the things I listed safe to use? And what about a VPN? I know Steam has a policy that you can get banned if you use a VPN to change your location to get a deal or product not in your region. HOWEVER, as long as my VPN does not changed my location and is just used to unblock servers a public network may block (I use a laptop so this is often, and am even using one now just to access the forums). Not to narrow down specifically to VAC, but just general bans. I really, really, don't wan't my Steam account banned and just want to make sure I'm not doing anything that could get it that way.

Thanks in advance, and I apologize for my ignorance on the topic.

[Ogami]

x_Vex_x님이 먼저 게시:

Are the things I listed safe to use? And what about a VPN? I know Steam has a policy that you can get banned if you use a VPN to change your location to get a deal or product not in your region. HOWEVER, as long as my VPN does not changed my location and is just used to unblock servers a public network may block (I use a laptop so this is often, and am even using one now just to access the forums).

Actually they forbid the use of a VPN in general as long as you run Steam.

You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, we may terminate your access to your Account.

[TacticalFaux]

Ogami님이 먼저 게시:

x_Vex_x님이 먼저 게시:

Are the things I listed safe to use? And what about a VPN? I know Steam has a policy that you can get banned if you use a VPN to change your location to get a deal or product not in your region. HOWEVER, as long as my VPN does not changed my location and is just used to unblock servers a public network may block (I use a laptop so this is often, and am even using one now just to access the forums).

Actually they forbid the use of a VPN period as long as you run Steam.

You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, we may terminate your access to your Account.

Awww man? Well there goes the community for me. Okay, just uh. Mr Admin who reads this I plead mercy on Gaben's soul and burn my VPN in a special cauldrun filled with my boiling tears. You won't get any trouble from me. XD

[benabart]

I don't think that you will have problems... I think they will ban you only if you are making troubles or whathever.

[TacticalFaux]

Does "any other purpose" really imply just browsing forums when I'm at a public form of wifi and not home...? I'm not downloading games my country doesn't have access too, nor purchasing things in "another country". (I waited painfully as all my European friends played Watch_Dogs 2 before me XD)

[Ogami]

x_Vex_x님이 먼저 게시:

Does "any other purpose" really imply just browsing forums when I'm at a public form of wifi and not home...? I'm not downloading games my country doesn't have access too, nor purchasing things in "another country". (I waited painfully as all my European friends played Watch_Dogs 2 before me XD)

I will say this, i dont know a SINGLE CASE of a user being banned for just using a VPN.
Legally Steam cant even dictate that since use of a VPN falls under free internet rules in most countries.
Also some users dont even have a choice because they come from countries where you dont even get free press access without a VPN.

The only cases in which users were banned for the use of a VPN are those where those users used the VPN to circumvent region restrictions and shop in the Steam Store of a region who has cheaper prices. That is considered fraud by Steam and i seen some people banned for that.
But that is not even possible anymore since your shop is now locked to your account and no longer to your IP.

So in the end, if you dont use the VPN for anything to screw over Steam i dont think you will have to worry about getting banned.

I know a lot of people who are on a permanent VPN connection, mostly for internet security reasons and a lot of them use Steam for years that way.

[TacticalFaux]

Ogami님이 먼저 게시:

I know a lot of people who are on a permanent VPN connection, mostly for internet security reasons and a lot of them use Steam for years that way.

Alright, thanks a lot man! Same goes for everyone else. :D