# i was right (again). Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtHlMTc8lR4 Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/VtHlMTc8lR4 Generated: 2025-08-11T20:35:08.596+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Kernel-level anti-cheat software used by games like Valorant and Battlefield 6 is causing conflicts with other software, leading to security violations and potentially crashing systems, highlighting a significant issue in the gaming industry. **Key Points:** - Kernel-level anti-cheat software, used by games like Valorant and Battlefield 6, operates with high system privileges. - Multiple kernel-level anti-cheat systems running simultaneously can conflict, leading to system instability and crashes. - An example of conflict is Battlefield 6's anti-cheat causing security violations and forcing users to uninstall Valorant. - Ransomware can exploit vulnerabilities in kernel-level anti-cheat to bypass antivirus protection, as seen in the Genshin Impact incident. - Microsoft is planning to move some antivirus and endpoint detection/response functions out of the Windows kernel to improve security and reduce conflicts. - The use of kernel-level anti-cheat by game developers poses privacy and security concerns due to its extensive system access. ![Screenshot at 00:40: A 'Security Violation' error message from Battlefield 6 states that the application failed to start due to general software incompatibility and suggests uninstalling conflicting software, specifically mentioning 'Valorant'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-00-40.png) **Context:** The video discusses the increasing use of kernel-level anti-cheat software in PC gaming, a practice that allows for deep system access to detect and prevent cheating. This type of software, exemplified by Riot Vanguard (used in Valorant) and the anti-cheat for Battlefield 6, runs with high privileges on a computer's operating system. The trend has become more pronounced as game developers seek more robust ways to combat cheating. ## Detailed Analysis The video discusses the increasing prevalence of kernel-level anti-cheat software in PC gaming, exemplified by Riot Games' Vanguard and EA's anti-cheat for Battlefield 6. Kernel-level anti-cheat operates with high privileges on a computer, allowing it to monitor system processes and memory for cheats. This deep access, while effective against cheaters, also poses significant security risks. The presenter explains that when multiple kernel-level anti-cheat systems run simultaneously, they can conflict with each other. This conflict can lead to system instability, crashes (like a Blue Screen of Death), and a generally poor user experience. A specific instance mentioned is when Battlefield 6's anti-cheat prevented users from running Valorant, forcing them to uninstall it due to a security violation. The video also touches upon a PC Gamer article detailing how ransomware can exploit kernel-level anti-cheat vulnerabilities to bypass antivirus software. The core issue is that these systems, designed to protect games, can inadvertently create security holes or conflicts that malicious actors can leverage. The presenter emphasizes that this trend of game developers implementing their own kernel-level anti-cheat solutions is becoming widespread, leading to a complex and potentially insecure gaming ecosystem. ### Video Topic - Kernel-level anti-cheat software in gaming ### Key Games Mentioned - Valorant, Battlefield 6 ### Anti-Cheat Mechanism - Operates at kernel level for deep system access ### Problem Identified - Conflicts between multiple kernel-level anti-cheats ### Consequences of Conflicts - System crashes, security vulnerabilities, poor user experience ### Real-world Example - Battlefield 6 anti-cheat blocking Valorant ### Security Risk - Exploitation by malware (ransomware) to bypass antivirus ### Industry Trend - Widespread adoption of kernel-level anti-cheat by game developers ![Screenshot at 00:03: Screenshot of a tweet complaining about kernel-level anti-cheat conflicts, with Battlefield 6 forcing an uninstall of Valorant.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-00-03.png) ![Screenshot at 00:40: Close-up of the 'Security Violation' error message from Battlefield 6, citing software incompatibility with Valorant.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-00-40.png) ![Screenshot at 00:50: Wikipedia page for 'Riot Vanguard', explaining it as a kernel-level anti-cheat developed by Riot Games.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-00-50.png) ![Screenshot at 01:14: Diagram illustrating how Windows OS and anti-cheat software run in the 'kernel' mode, while games like BF6.exe and hacks run in 'user mode'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-01-14.png) ![Screenshot at 01:41: Diagram showing a 'hack.exe' in user mode interacting with 'bf6.exe', with the kernel-level anti-cheat system monitoring this interaction.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-01-41.png) ![Screenshot at 02:01: Diagram illustrating how a kernel-level anti-cheat might monitor memory, showing a sequence of numbers as an example of data it might read.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-02-01.png) ![Screenshot at 03:53: Article from PC Gamer titled 'Ransomware abuses Genshin Impact's kernel mode anti-cheat to bypass antivirus protection'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-03-53.png) ![Screenshot at 08:53: Wikipedia article on '2024 CrowdStrike-related IT outages', detailing a widespread system crash caused by a faulty update to Falcon Sensor security software.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-08-53.png) ![Screenshot at 09:22: Diagram illustrating how different anti-cheat systems \(represented by orange boxes\) within the kernel can conflict with each other.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/VtHlMTc8lR4/00-09-22.png)