League of Legends and Valorant Players Being Forced to Run Closed Source Low-Level Software.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/10958052

Summary:

The article discusses Riot Games’ requirement for players to install their Vanguard anti-cheat software, which runs at the kernel level, in order to play their games such as League of Legends and Valorant. The software aims to combat cheating by scanning for known vulnerabilities and blocking them, as well as monitoring for suspicious activity while the game is being played. However, the use of kernel-level software raises concerns about privacy and security, as it grants the company complete access to users’ devices.

The article highlights that Riot Games is owned by Tencent, a Chinese tech giant that has been involved in censorship and surveillance activities in China. This raises concerns that Vanguard could potentially be used for similar purposes, such as monitoring players’ activity and restricting free speech in-game.

Ultimately, the decision to install Vanguard rests with players, but the article urges caution and encourages players to consider the potential risks and implications before doing so.

  • Grass@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    10 months ago

    Meh just another crappy rootkit game that doesn’t even fully prevent cheating at the cost of undermining system security. But for worse or worse, the entire playerbase doesn’t care about their data being bought and sold for immense profits they get 0% of.

    • Crack0n7uesday@lemmy.world
      0·
      10 months ago

      Correct me if I’m wrong but if it can’t run Valorant then it can’t run the game in general, so you’d be just as well off by not playing Riot games on a Windoze or Mac machine as well.

    • DeafeningDistance@feddit.ch
      0·
      10 months ago

      It’s likely, but I do really hope it’s not put into the MMO as I would love to play a Riot MMO. I won’t be installing it if it uses Vanguard.

      • toastal@lemmy.ml
        0·
        10 months ago

        Same. I miss the IP (especially Arcane) & the friends I made playing LoL—and I think I could have a good time living in the world, but not at the cost of compromising device permissions. Same reason I refuse to use my shitty banking app if they try to tell me what software I can & can’t run/install or how to operate the device I own.

  • NotJustForMe@lemmy.ml
    0·
    10 months ago

    My biggest issue wouldn’t even be the kernel level access, but the fact that the stuff is written and tested by no one in particular. The possible bugs are the issue for me.

    If that thing would be bullet-proof, hackers trying for years to break it without success, yeah. Ok. I could be convinced. If it is cracked after two days already… Then nope.