Process hacker = VAC ban?

FatheredPuma81

Distinguished
Aug 18, 2013
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So, I recently (2-3 weeks ago) installed Process Hacker and everything seemed fine. I played some TF2 and all and got kicked for my system blocking VAC (no big deal it has happened many times to me and I just upgraded to Windows 10 so it makes sense). 2 weeks ago my friend told me that I should play CS:GO (I haven't played it in 3 months or so and never was really into it. 9 hours in the game total) so I started it up, changed my res and settings to what my friend recommended (I already knew about it but 1024x768 and low everything else) and opened process hacker did CTRL + A ran as administrator and set all programs to low and CS:GO to high priority. Then I went and joined random server using the match maker and joined a Dust server and played it for a while not doing to bad (had somewhere around a 2-3 KD nothing special) and then I got kicked for blocking VAC after 20 minutes of playing.
Again I didn't think there was any big deal and all and I didn't really care enough to restart my computer to play again and just went back to browsing the web (I think watching youtube?) since my friend couldn't join.
About 11 days later (2 days ago) I was sitting in class and I told my friend to add another friend so we could all play a game together and he went to my profile page and added him. I then told him to read my info thing or what ever for the fun of it and he pointed out something interesting. I had been VAC banned I then thought "Please be from CS:GO and not L4D2 or TF2." and when I got back I was re leaved and upset that I had been banned was CS:GO (I don't care much for the game but now I have a VAC ban on my account).

So any ideas of what I should do? I've decided for the time being not to use Process hacker on any VAC games and if it comes to it i'm going to uninstall TF2 and L4D2 so I don't get banned on them.


Also I did a fresh install of Windows 10, recently changed my Steam and Gmail passwords, I have Avast, Malwarebytes Anti Malware and Anti Exploit, Avast chrome plugin, and add block so I don't have a virus.
 
Solution
The process you were running was not what caused you to get a vac ban, it was the fast it interfered with the vac process it self.
Had you allowed all valve programs through it (if so possible, I dont really care as to what the program was doing) then you would not have been banned.
However, valve detected a program suppressing the valve anti cheat system, which many users think will prevent them from getting banned. It dosent, you got banned.


What about them saying specifically that they won't unban your no matter what all over their page and in their confirm email?
 
Well, VAC bans are imperative and unremovable, from what's explained on Steam's pages. There is a VERY SLIGHT chance of appealing if, what you did or used, is actually a well known workaround or utility program that has nothing to do with cheating, but anything else is usually a no-go.
Something named Process Hacker (never heard of it, personally) makes me think about a third party shady utility, but you can still try.

If you already contacted Steam's support however, and they already went for the negative answer, you might as well get over it. You'll have a stain on your profile, and just because of that everyone will call you a cheater and offend you in any possible manner...
 


I'd like to say, first and foremost, that I'm guilty of having written numerous hacks for games, including CS, TFC, DOD, TF2 (as a proof of concept for a job), and various others. I'm not proud to admit that I've never been VAC banned, but it's true. However, I've repented for my misdeeds, apologized to various parties, and have been on the straight-and-narrow for many, many years. I'm intimately familiar with the ins-and-outs of VAC and VAC2, and I have two friends who work for Valve.

That said, VAC doesn't ban you unless you do something stupid. You did something stupid. You won't be unbanned, so don't even try. You created some process that hijacked some thread, and that's why you were banned. For example, I've attached GDB plenty of times to local running instances without a hitch. But, when you block VAC, you're intentionally screwing with the processes -- this amounts to hacking, regardless of whether or not you were using wall hacks or aim-bots. I have neither pity nor remorse for you. I hope you learned your costly lesson.
 


So basically you're saying I deserve my ban for wanting to use a more advanced task manager? Okay then. Also I learned my costly lesson? I could honestly care less about not being able to play CS:GO and I learned that 5 years ago when I lost my Combat Arms account because I did use hacks (I wasn't the wisest of people back then and I had quite a bad computer). Granted the anti cheat on that game banned me for a month for clicking a link that opened up my webbrowser (then it was lifted 2 days later).


Also sorry for carrying this on... I check the forums once every few weeks.
 
The only thing coming into my mind is to create a new account and don't use any hacks or process manipulators. This is the only real cure for your problem I think. Then you have to switch the account everytime for those games you got banned.
 
The process you were running was not what caused you to get a vac ban, it was the fast it interfered with the vac process it self.
Had you allowed all valve programs through it (if so possible, I dont really care as to what the program was doing) then you would not have been banned.
However, valve detected a program suppressing the valve anti cheat system, which many users think will prevent them from getting banned. It dosent, you got banned.
 
Solution


That explains it. https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2117-ilzv-2837 it says right there that Process Hacker conflicts with it and it most likely didn't like it and banned me. Although that does worry me that they have VAC for CS:GO on such high sensitivity that it bans you for that... well it makes sense with the mass influx of hackers over the past year.
I don't know. Hopefully i'll be unbanned but from the looks of it they simply threw my support ticket in the trash. That or they're even more backed up than they were a year ago.
 


Would if I had money to spend on stuff like that. Planning to upgrade my computer first.
 
I wouldn't be so surprised by Valves high level of sensitivity when it comes to CS:GO; that's probably one of their biggest cash cows. People spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars on items in CS:GO which makes it extremely competitive and a high priority target for hackers. Personally I never play games where there's an opportunity for players to actually earn a living playing it because it's just way too much of a hassle. I've never heard anything but terrible stories about terrible people doing terrible things in games like Eve: Online, TF2 or CS:GO.
 


You would have to buy the game again, and you would start fresh. No score, no inventory, no history.
 
I got banned from steam 2758 days ago (7.5 years)(and yes I just checked) when someone compromised my account and got it banned. I didn't really use my account that much but they wouldn't even budge on lifting the ban. Luckily this was before I really invested into PC gaming. The support there is terrible. Not sure about now a days but they told me back then that they don't make any exceptions when it comes to VAC bans being lifted. This could have changed since then though.
 
That sounds like valve...
They have gotten a bit better with helping users with compromised accounts, if its brought to their attention early on.
They are also very good at giving refunds. They have a system if you purchase a game, play it for under a certain amount of hours, and request a refund within a certain date of purchase, they will give you the money back and remove the game from your library. Great for games you cant run, dont live up to hype, or just plain suck.
 


4 hours on the game. So I have little score, no inventory, and almost no game history already. Oh well not going to lose sleep over it. Now if I was banned in TF2 or L4D2 then i'd be very upset.