PunkBuster

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Punkbuster is the company Even Balance, Inc. has developed software that cheats in multiplayer - Online games trying to prevent. As a market leader, it has already been integrated into popular games from Activision , id Software , Electronic Arts and Ubisoft .

functionality

PunkBuster works on the client-server principle . The PunkBuster client runs on the player's computer and, similar to a virus scanner , monitors the PC and scans the RAM and some game files on the hard drive for cheats. The server asks the connected clients at regular intervals whether the gaming computer is still cheat-free. The player will be excluded from the game as soon as a known cheat is found.

Since the player usually has full access to his computer, he can manipulate the functionality of a program with sufficient experience, i.e. also make the anti-cheat client ineffective. Even Balance tries to prevent this by having PunkBuster compare checksums, for example , to verify the authenticity of the program. In addition, games, and thus also Punkbuster, must be started under the Windows operating system with administrator rights. Starting with PB Client v1.700 (released in August 2007), users with restricted rights are allowed to play games with PunkBuster by installing it as a Windows system service .

PunkBuster is equipped with an update system that should automatically bring the server and client up to date. A manual update is also possible. By constantly updating the software, new cheats should be blocked as soon as they are known to the developer. Another feature is also the possibility for the server operator to take screenshots of all games connected to the server in order to check whether a player has manipulated the display.

history

Originally, PunkBuster was developed in 2000 for the Half-Life- Mod Counter-Strike . Since Valve wanted to establish its own anti-cheat system VAC (Valve Anti Cheat) instead , the PunkBuster developers did not get the support they wanted and discontinued half-life support. Valve never responded to the developers' offer to fully integrate PunkBuster for a symbolic dollar if one got access to the source code of Half-Life. About 4 months later, in January 2001, the first commercial integration of PunkBuster was announced. id Software committed Even Balance to incorporate PunkBuster into the game Return to Castle Wolfenstein . Further games followed (see below).

Leagues and Community

Punkbuster is in the majority of amateur and e-sports leagues the recommended or mandatory anti-cheat program for supported games. Game server administrators have come together on some community pages to exchange information about cheaters. The three largest community sites here are GGC-Stream.net , PunksBusted.com and PBBans.com , each with several thousand connected servers.

Additional options

Some community sites provide so-called master ban lists, which list players who have been noticed because of a violation. With such a list, server operators can more easily exclude these players from gaming.

criticism

If a player wants to play on a server protected by PunkBuster , a so-called GUID is formed from the CD key that the computer game uses . The player remains identifiable via this GUID as long as this key does not change or he manipulates this GUID. From the point of view of data protection, it is therefore possible to log the player's IP over a very long period of time and to determine which games he is playing at which times. According to the Even Balance privacy policy, this data is not stored or passed on, but this is not true. On sites like anticheatinc.com, the complete IP addresses of each player can be queried, on Pbbans you have full access to all data, such as IP addresses, which games the player is still playing, etc., as soon as you register as StreamingGameadmin.

It is also criticized that it is relatively easy to circumvent a GUID ban. Instructions and programs are available in well-known cheat forums which should allow the GUID to be changed with very little effort. Changing the CD key (e.g. by purchasing a new one) gives you a new GUID.

PunkBuster effectively prevents cheats that are publicly available and reported. Such published cheats are usually recognized within a few days.

A more effective method of preventing cheating such as wallhacks would be if the game server withheld as much information as possible from the game client and only transmitted it when the client absolutely needed it. However, such implementations are more difficult to realize for technical reasons and are the task of the game programmer.

It is also criticized that PunkBuster searches the main memory and hard drives and then sends encrypted data to the server, which corresponds to the nature of such a program. Since the source code of the program was not made public and it was prohibited in the license of the program to examine it by decompiling it, it is not possible to assess whether sensitive information is being transmitted.

Games supported

PunkBuster is currently used in 11 games:

Formerly supported games

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ PunkBuster Games. Retrieved February 21, 2018 .
  2. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for America's Army. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 3, 2007 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  3. ↑ PunkBuster ™ Support for America's Army version 2. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 4, 2012 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  4. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for America's Army version 3 (AAv3). Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 18, 2014 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  5. ↑ https://www.pbbans.com/forums/pb-support-discontinued-for-americas-army-3-t199464.html
  6. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on October 5, 2011 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  7. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Assassin's Creed Revelations. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 20, 2012 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  8. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Assassin's Creed III. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on April 3, 2014 ; accessed on March 23, 2018 (English).
  9. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on February 8, 2014 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  10. ↑ PunkBuster Supported Games. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on June 4, 2016 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  11. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Battlefield 2. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original ; accessed on July 19, 2014 (English).
  12. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Battlefield 1942. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on November 9, 2007 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  13. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Battlefield 2142. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 19, 2014 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  14. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Battlefield Heroes. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 29, 2014 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  15. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Battlefield Vietnam. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 18, 2014 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  16. ↑ https://www.pbbans.com/forums/pb-support-discontinued-for-battlefield-vietnam-t199462.html
  17. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Battlefield Play4Free. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on February 19, 2015 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  18. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Call of Duty. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 16, 2013 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  19. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Call of Duty 2. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 16, 2013 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  20. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Call of Duty 4. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on October 15, 2013 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  21. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Call of Duty World at War. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on October 15, 2013 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  22. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Crysis. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 6, 2010 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  23. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Crysis. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 6, 2010 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  24. ↑ https://www.pbbans.com/forums/pb-support-discontinued-for-crysis-wars-t126236.html
  25. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for DOOM 3 by id Software, Inc. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 15, 2011 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  26. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars by id Software, Inc. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 16, 2011 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  27. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Far Cry by Crytek. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 12, 2006 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  28. ↑ PunkBuster ™ Support for Far Cry 2 by Ubisoft. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 27, 2010 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  29. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for FEAR by Monolith. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 3, 2007 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  30. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for FEAR Perseus mandates. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on February 8, 2014 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  31. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Frontlines: Fuel of War. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 27, 2010 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  32. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Infestation. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on April 3, 2014 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  33. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising by Novalogic. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 20, 2006 ; accessed on March 27, 2018 (English).
  34. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Medal of Honor: Airborne. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on November 9, 2007 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  35. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 4, 2006 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  36. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Need for Speed ​​Pro Street. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 27, 2010 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  37. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Need for Speed ​​Undercover. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 16, 2013 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  38. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Prey by Human Head Studios. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 27, 2010 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  39. ↑ PunkBuster ™ Support for Quake III Arena by id Software, Inc. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 17, 2011 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  40. ↑ https://www.pbbans.com/forums/pb-support-discontinued-for-quake-3-t147197.html
  41. ↑ PunkBuster ™ Support for Quake 4 by id Software, Inc. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 21, 2012 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  42. ↑ https://www.pbbans.com/forums/pb-support-discontinued-for-quake-4-t156141.html
  43. ↑ PunkBuster ™ Support for QUAKE LIVE. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 27, 2010 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  44. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Return to Castle Wolfenstein by id Software, Inc. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 27, 2010 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  45. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 26, 2007 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  46. ↑ PunkBuster ™ Support for Rainbow Six 4: Lockdown by Red Storm. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 22, 2006 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  47. ↑ PunkBuster ™ Support for Rainbow Six Vegas ™ by Ubisoft. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 3, 2007 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  48. ↑ PunkBuster ™ Support for Rainbow Six Vegas 2 ™ by Ubisoft. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on September 27, 2010 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  49. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow. In: Even Balance, Inc. Archived from the original on December 6, 2004 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  50. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Soldier of Fortune II by Raven Software. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 21, 2012 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  51. ↑ http://www.pbbans.com/forums/pb-support-discontinued-for-soldier-of-fortune-ii-t156139.html
  52. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for War Rock published by the K2 Network. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 3, 2007 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  53. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Enemy Territory by id Software, Inc. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on July 15, 2011 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).
  54. ^ PunkBuster ™ Support for Wolfenstein. Even Balance, Inc., archived from the original on January 21, 2012 ; accessed on March 28, 2018 (English).