Question How to isolate Kernel level AntiCheat

[_D3vThoR]

Despite being very privacy concerning, Kernel level Anti-cheat are spreading out on every Multiplayer games being developed nowadays. It's really hard to find one Multiplayer game that doesn't use any Easy Anti-Cheat, BattlEye, GameGuard and so on. I like some of those games and I admit I want to play with friends that also are in these games, but I am really concerned on the "spy" behavior those software have. Everyone should be concerned but the majority of the consumers don't and so here we are.

I was wondering if there is any configuration (hardware and software) I can implement on my computer to mitigate or completely avoid any Kernel level Anticheat crawling in my PC and check all my sensitive documents and information.

For example, if I install two separate windows, one for each physical drive, is there any way to make both the partitions hidden to themselves? To clarify:

Partition 1 - Windows 11 with games and Anti-cheat installed
Partition 2 - Windows 11 with no games but only for business and private purposes

Can Partition 2 be hidden from the Partition 1 and so the Anti-cheat is completely unaware of its existence? It is also possible to make Windows 11, of the Partition 1, avoiding checking any additional internal and external Drives? Do you know if it something achievable or I am saying something completely stupid?

 

[rgd1101]

you can setup partition level encryption

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Despite being very privacy concerning, Kernel level Anti-cheat are spreading out on every Multiplayer games being developed nowadays. It's really hard to find one Multiplayer game that doesn't use any Easy Anti-Cheat, BattlEye, GameGuard and so on. I like some of those games and I admit I want to play with friends that also are in these games, but I am really concerned on the "spy" behavior those software have. Everyone should be concerned but the majority of the consumers don't and so here we are.

I was wondering if there is any configuration (hardware and software) I can implement on my computer to mitigate or completely avoid any Kernel level Anticheat crawling in my PC and check all my sensitive documents and information.

For example, if I install two separate windows, one for each physical drive, is there any way to make both the partitions hidden to themselves? To clarify:

Partition 1 - Windows 11 with games and Anti-cheat installed
Partition 2 - Windows 11 with no games but only for business and private purposes

Can Partition 2 be hidden from the Partition 1 and so the Anti-cheat is completely unaware of its existence? It is also possible to make Windows 11, of the Partition 1, avoiding checking any additional internal and external Drives? Do you know if it something achievable or I am saying something completely stupid?

Swappable drives, such that the two are never simultaneously attached is the only way to be absolutely sure. Such drive bays are readily available.

 

[JayGau]

Anti-cheat software are not designed to read your personal files and steal your data, they are designed to detect anomalies that should not be present when you play the games.

I'm much more concerned about what Microsoft, Apple and Google do in this regard. For example, this Recall feature that takes screenshots of everything you do in Windows is so an astonishing violation of privacy that I can't even conceive it's legal. And phones that track your location to know where you go shopping to send you ads. Anti-cheat are not the highest concern on my list.

 

[_D3vThoR]

Anti-cheat software are not designed to read your personal files and steal your data, they are designed to detect anomalies that should not be present when you play the games.

Thanks for the information, but do you have more context, like proven tests or something like that? Because definitely it makes sense, and this is what an anti-cheat should do, but what happen while you are playing a game and the anti-cheat goes on? Does the anti-cheat scan your computer information and other partitions/external drives as well? What it will do with such information?

I know it might sound paranoid, but it is important to know exactly what such tool does and how to mitigate it only to the gaming situation.

 

[COLGeek]

If you are that worried about a game with anti-cheat, then why play it at all? Just asking because it would seem that no rational discussion will alleviate this concern (if that is your primary reason for asking).

Maybe you need a second system to use for more sensitive, non-gaming, use.

Or, you don't worry so much about using legit games and their features.