Introducing the EA Anti-cheat (EAAC)

Source: https://www.ea.com/security/amp/news/eaac-deep-dive

EA Anti-cheat or EAAC uses kernel-level access just like what they’re doing with Valorant. According to EA’s press release, this will be available on all online PC games starting with FIFA 23. No info if it’s gonna be available for past games like Apex.

“Why is kernel level anti-cheat needed?

This varies on a game-by-game basis. For games that are highly competitive and contain many online modes like FIFA 23, kernel-mode protection is absolutely vital. When cheat programs operate in kernel space, they can make their cheat functionally invisible to anti-cheat solutions that live in user-mode. Unfortunately, the last few years have seen a large increase in cheats and cheat techniques operating in kernel-mode, so the only reliable way to detect and block these is to have our anti-cheat operate there as well.

With FIFA 23, we’ll see new and exciting cross-play features. In addition to EAAC protecting our PC players from cheaters, our console players who match with PC opponents will also be protected from cheaters operating on PC platforms. “

Apex Legends/Respawn introduced a new anti-cheat software 2 months ago ( https://answers.ea.com/t5/General-Discussion/Respawn-secretly-investing-more-in-anti-cheat-software/m-p/11664605#M214187 ) as well with Hyperion. Valorant’s kernel-level anti-cheat while better than most anti-cheat softwares, can still have cheats. To clarify, EAAC is just for PC.

Do you think this a good step to stop at least the basic level cheaters? Some are arguing kernel level access is too invasive.

discussion

XHelperZ
3 years ago
Kernel level access is pretty much becoming a standard now.
There's not much that can be done against cheaters nowadays, this is IMO the best step to take.
Good to see them taking some major steps against cheaters.

17 Replies

XHelperZ
Hero+
3 years ago
Kernel level access is pretty much becoming a standard now.
There's not much that can be done against cheaters nowadays, this is IMO the best step to take.
Good to see them taking some major steps against cheaters.
BigMacAttack8u
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@Cheese9Man I’m very happy that they are actually working to combat cheaters, but I would love to see a little more in the form of detecting strike packs, which are very well hidden, all to easy to get your hands on. Happy with the step in the right direction tho.
LaughingSharko
3 years ago
Considering this is the main reason I refuse to play Valorant, it looks like my Apex days may soon be coming to an end. Giving third-party programs access to your kernel doesn't sit well with me, especially considering these businesses have been hacked before.
LaughingSharko
3 years ago
@Cheese9Man https://kotaku.com/valorant-pc-game-windows-11-tpm-riot-games-1849418919

This is an interesting and related read.
swift07
3 years ago
@Cheese9Man This is what they did (kernel level anticheat) on Warzone and I have to say, it did help. Although, it didn't completely eradicate the problem.
pandareno1999
Hero+
3 years ago
While I saw a lot of complaints about Valorant's kernel level AC, it certainly doesn't seem to have affected its popularity very much.
LaughingSharko
3 years ago
@pandareno1999 If there's anything that Diablo Immortal Infinite Inescapble's monetization has shown, it's that nothing video game developers do (outside of NFTs, possibly) can affect their popularity anymore.
LaughingSharko
3 years ago
The main question I ask myself, knowing the huge impact on my gaming laptop any kernel bugs could introduce (including permanently bricking it, causing it to overheat, etc.), is whether EA has a good track record in putting quality assurance and their customers ahead of profits. For me, the answer is clear. Not everyone will share my cynical viewpoint, of course, but my laptop is more valuable to me than a f2p video game I've invested maybe $100 on.
Cheese9Man
3 years ago
@LaughingSharko Does these kernel level software decrease the game’s performance if let’s say you're in mid-low spec pc?
LaughingSharko
3 years ago
@Cheese9Man It's not supposed to, but that's where the bugs become a problem. Basically, kernel-level programs have administrative access over what happens on your laptop. Think anti-virus, which is another kernel-level program. Your anti-virus has the power to allow or stop other programs, services, dlls, files, etc. from running.

Normally, anti-cheat programs on the kernel are only supposed to wall-off access to the game. For example, if a cheat tried to access Apex Legends files, the kernel would be able to detect it, stop it and send a report.

The problem is that bugs or programming miscalculations can have unintended consequences. Let's say your NVidia driver is supposed to use a specific setting with Apex. The kernel-level EAAC may say "no way," resulting in something happening that you don't know about.

This is how some people had their laptops fried by Valorant's AC, because it was inadvertently (still is for some users, apparently) shutting the cooling system off or messing with settings during gaming.

Again, this isn't what the AC is supposed to do, but instead what happens when bugs are overlooked. EA says that "expert security teams" perform in-depth reviews, but who knows how many or who they are. Doesn't Windows do the same thing? Look how many bugs they have to patch.

TLDR; kernel-level programs require you to have faith in the business developing them not to wreck your laptop. I doubt you can sue EA for failures caused by AC, and I also doubt they care about the small number of people potentially affected, but for those users, buying a new laptop is a significant expense.