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Published on March 8, 2024

CS:GO → CS2: how anti-cheat evolved

How CS:GO → CS2 changed anti-cheat — and what it means for HWID.

CS:GO → CS2: how anti-cheat evolved

CS:GO ran VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) — a userland system without kernel hooks. HWID-by-hardware was rare; most bans were behavioural.

CS2 brought VAC Live — a runtime system that monitors player behaviour but still doesn't pin to HWID. Valve openly states they want to avoid kernel mode.

It means CS2 is one of the few mainstream games where HWID change is largely irrelevant. Bans there are signature-based and behavioural — and both can be appealed via Steam Support.

But Valve's anti-cheat philosophy is a minority opinion. Riot, Epic, EA all operate at HWID level. CS2 is the exception, not the rule.

CS:GO → CS2: how anti-cheat evolved | HWIDChanger