this post was submitted on 01 May 2024
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Vanguard takes screenshots of your PC every time you play a game. Every time you play a game a function is called to screenshot your PC's screen, in case Vanguard thinks you might have something suspicious, it screenshots your ENTIRE PC screen (all monitors).

Edit: Not trying to spread false info this was shared to me via a friend and there is other data to back up that this is real https://www.unknowncheats.me/forum/anti-cheat-bypass/634974-vanguard-taking-screenshot-pc.html

https://www.unknowncheats.me/forum/valorant/484475-vanguard-screenshots.html

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[–] [email protected] 105 points 7 months ago (2 children)

There should be laws against this everywhere (with other forms of data collection included). There's no way preventing cheating is more important than the fundamental rights to security and privacy.

[–] SupraMario 34 points 7 months ago (7 children)

There is, this could have the potential to collect PII and its %100 they're not storing this as encrypted data on their side. So it is %100 illegal to do, now if they're fined for it is a different story.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Even if encrypted this doesn't sound like something compatible with the GDPR.

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[–] Serinus 7 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Which is why I'm almost certain it's not happening. So far the only source is a cheat forum. I wonder what their motivation is.

Even in corporate dystopia where they monitor you every 15 seconds screenshots are frowned upon. You never know what kind of sensitive data that can reveal.

There's no way Riot is doing it. The backlash would be immense, and they absolutely know it.

This agitprop stems from the makers of cheat software who are mad that the risk of using their hacks will go through the roof. Sure, you can still get around it. But now if you screw up it's a hardware ban.

They're gonna lose a lot of accounts that they sell at $10/pop.

I wouldn't mind talking more about security, but I'll save that for another comment.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'll take that bet. Even a standard S3 bucket is "encrypted".

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago

Just last year I was at a security conf and they said the biggest threat to security right now is anticheat software, especially that owned by state actors. The venn diagram for people with anti cheat installed and people with admin priveliges and SSH keys for work installed is almost a circle.

[–] [email protected] 91 points 7 months ago (4 children)

Anti cheat software. In other words a fucking virus.

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[–] cornshark 49 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Time to switch to Fidelity

[–] taiyang 10 points 7 months ago

I thought it was weird when my investment portfolio started investing heavily into Bad Dragon. I'm remember to close those tabs next time I log in.

[–] Bruhh 10 points 7 months ago
[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

This was my first thought. Why is Vangaurd interested in what games I play and how are they doing this when I don't think they have anything to install on my PC?

[–] [email protected] 19 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (2 children)

I've tried to see if this is real but I fail to find any source code leaks for Vanguard or if it has ever been leaked. The poster himself also doesn't seem that credible unless your definition of credible is "THE TERROR OF RIOT GAMES".

Am I missing something or is this post likely just bullshit?

EDIT: It's does seem to be real, though in the same thread other people with higher reputation did chime in that it doesn't take screenshots of your other monitors, just the one Valorant is on.

[–] pivot_root 14 points 7 months ago

I've tried to see if this is real but I fail to find any source code leaks for Vanguard or if it has ever been leaked.

The variable names suggest it's a decompilation.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I was sent this via a friend not sure if it is fake/bullshit I will remove. I did a quick pass on his twitter and such and seemed legit enough not sure

[–] Serinus 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

It's fake/bullshit unless you have a source more reliable than "some guy on Twitter".

[–] 9point6 19 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Every time you play a game that uses vanguard or every time you play any game?

Both are bad, but one is way worse

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I don’t play Valorant, so I can’t say. I do know, however, that it runs as a Windows service, so it’s always on and always keeping an eye on your system.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Yeah BC why shouldn't they know you enjoy Asian ladies with big titties!

You aint got nothing to hide, or do you?!

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 7 months ago

Imagine being treated like this just to play a fucking game...

[–] Serinus 18 points 7 months ago (2 children)

Also any time you open a webpage in Windows, a nude photo is taken of you (whether you're currently clothed or not) and posted on your mom's Facebook.

My source for this is the same as OP's.

[–] teejay 12 points 7 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (3 children)

Valorant, as of right now. I don’t think any other games use it.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 7 months ago (1 children)

League of Legends I think just started using it as well, breaking it's linux support.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

good on ya!

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago

Didn't it just roll out to league of legends?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

League of Legends recently adopted it.

[–] Mango 6 points 7 months ago

Use Linux and say no if a package requires su.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

Intriguing.
I don't have any games that use Vanguard, but if I did, I'd be queuing them up for some TLS interception and analysis.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

Lmao I still cant believe the suckers who play this.

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