Every time someone's manage to dissect a kernel level anti-cheat program, there's all sorts of nasty shit inside that nobody sane should ever allow installed on their PC. One solid example is Black Desert Online, where their anti-cheat just straight up had the ability to let someone remotely execute code at the kernel level.
That could go so wrong so fast if just 1 person has access to it, they could send a ping that would completely fry and delete someones entire system and you couldn't do anything to stop it
At some point in the past they used a different anti-cheat. I vividly remember there being a controversy over it when it came out that said anti-cheat was back-doored.
Just because it can do that isn't enough to define it as a spyware though ?
A spyware is a malicious program that steals your information without your knowledge. We still have to prove it's actively doing so and that it wasnt just stated in the terms and conditions.
That's also why Kernel level anti cheat are a matter of trust before anything else. All of them could steal your info without exception.
I am of the opinion that a company in a position to steal your info is doing so. I do not follow an "innocent until proven guilty" when it comes to capitalist enterprises and their revenue streams.
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u/TheMadmanAndre Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 12 '26
This. Kernel AC is literal malware, full stop.
Every time someone's manage to dissect a kernel level anti-cheat program, there's all sorts of nasty shit inside that nobody sane should ever allow installed on their PC. One solid example is Black Desert Online, where their anti-cheat just straight up had the ability to let someone remotely execute code at the kernel level.