In competitive gaming, there have long been frustrations between developers, players, cheaters, and hackers. However, the publisher Riot Games, behind the tactical shooter Valorant, has devised a new anti-cheat system called Vanguard to combat cheaters, with hackers helping to strengthen Vanguard’s security through responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities.
Vanguard is a kernel-level driver that loads on players’ PCs from the moment they boot. This particular design means that cheat software won’t load before the anti-cheat system—a typical cheater method used to bypass regular anti-cheat systems.
The US 100K Bounty: “They Are Putting Their Money Where Their Mouth Is”
Conscientious of being forced to keep their video games trusted and sensible, Riot Video Games has released a bug bounty program with a maximum bounty of 100,000 USD. This bounty is open to hackers who discover and report exploits with the Vanguard kernel driver responsibly.
And by allowing the hacking community to test Vanguard, Riot Games is showing its dedication to player protection in addition to trust in the reliability of its anti-hacking system.
The Argument For Vanguard’s “Always On” Policy
Although the notion of an anti-cheat system running around the clock on players ‘computers may raise privacy concerns, Riot Games has been open about its motives. Paul Chamberlain, Riot’s anti-cheat lead for Valorant, said Vanguard’s “always-on” nature is key to keeping cheaters from gaining a lead.
Chamberlain explained: Running the driver at system startup time makes it much more difficult for cheaters to load their software before the anti-cheat system starts and then tamper with it. He added that Vanguard does not store or transmit any personal data back to Riot Games unless the game is running.
Embracing the Hacker Community for a Better Gaming Experience
By rewarding responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities, Riot Games is bolstering Vanguard security and recognizing the valuable contribution that ethical hackers can make to software and user protection.
Furthermore, this approach promotes transparency and respect between developers and the hacking community.
The Role of Fair Play in Competitive Gaming
Valorant’s launch is another huge step in the battle against cheaters in competitive gaming. Playoffs should be more level thanks to Vanguard’s fresh design and Riot Games’ continuing to refine and strengthen their anti-cheat system with the help of hackers.
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, other developers may well emulate Riot Games’ approach and seek to emulate it in order to offer fair play and keep the Games honest.
Finally, Riot Games offering USD 100K bounty on Vanguard exploits isn’t just an adolescent gimmick but an expression of their desire to make gaming as safe and enjoyable as possible for everyone. By welcoming the hacker community and tapping to their knowledge, Riot Games is paving the way for a world where cheaters are out of competitive gaming.
