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Steam store pages are now required to disclose kernel-level anti-cheat [2024-10-30]
(steamcommunity.com)
Steam store pages received a new Anti-cheat field. Disclosure is mandatory for kernel-level anti-cheat solutions. And recommended for other anti-cheat solutions (like server-side or non-kernel-level client-side).
The field discloses the anti-cheat product, whether it is a kernel-level installation, and whether it uninstalls with the product or requires manual removal to remove.
Correct... and anything that intercepts all system calls and forces closed applications that it deems "not safe" even if I the user specifically run it is malware. You bet your ass they feed back information to the mothership too.
And btw, if you're accepting the "Spyware" moniker from the other comment chain. Spyware is a form/category of malware.
Definition from Malwarebytes:
Hostile - it's not meant to help you at all. If you're doing something deemed "unsafe" in their eyes. They will take action up to and including stealing your money that you paid for the game. intrusive - embeds itself in the kernel Intentionally nasty - Well it's not accidentally nasty.
invade - attached to games with little to no input on what you're installing. disable computer systems - specifically the software you paid for Taking partial control over a device's operations - the whole fucking kernel.
I'd say meeting the VAST majority of the definition and at least one portion of each category is sufficient to call them all malware.
No it's literally not what malware is. Otherwise anti virus would be. And anti malware haha
It's literally none of those things mentioned.
You are doing massive mental gymnastics. Intentionally nasty for an anit cheat is just stupid. You 100% know that's not what that means.
It also doesn't invade, damage, disable or take control of the system.
Just because you don't like it doesn't make it malware.
Anti-cheat software is very clearly and explicitly spyware. That's the entire purpose of it. It spies on how you use your software in the hope that if you cheat you'll be seen by the spyware watching you.
This spyware is generally not something people want on their computer - as evidenced by people complaining about it. So effectively whats happening is that people are being spied on against their wishes. Spyware is a common category of malware.
So I think it's pretty easy to see why people might describe anti-cheat software as malware.
Nah words have meaning. I get you don't like it but that doesn't make it spyware or malware.
Spyware isn't about watching your system or memory it's about stealing personal information.
These anti cheats specifically comply with privacy laws or they wouldn't be allowed. You won't find any breaking any laws.
Anti virus and anti malware applications do the same. Doesn't make them spyware.
[edit] I'd posted something to go into more detail. But I've decided that branch of conversation is not really the way forward.
I'll just say that the software is not installed by choice, and it does things that people don't want it to do... so it could be described as malware. But if you want it on your computer, then I guess for you it is not malware. In any case, it doesn't look like we're going to agree about this regardless.
It is literally installed by choice. It's part of the game installation. It's up to users to know what they are installing. Many games likely install lots of things that aren't immediately obvious.
It doesn't infiltrate the system.
Except when all you get is an UAC prompt when clicking the play button, without giving you any information, other than that it wants to execute an exe in a temp dir with a random name.