Riot Vanguard - Revision history

Bananabot: Added archive URLs for 4 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

2026-02-23T07:29:53Z

Added archive URLs for 4 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:29, 23 February 2026
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	This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this software. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}\|{{PAGENAME}} category]].		This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this software. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}\|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
	===League of Legends Implementation (April 2024)===		===League of Legends Implementation (April 2024)===
	In April 2024, Riot Games announced that Vanguard would become mandatory for all League of Legends players. <ref>https://support-leagueoflegends.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/24169857932435-Riot-Vanguard-FAQ-League-of-Legends</ref> This decision was particularly controversial for several reasons:		In April 2024, Riot Games announced that Vanguard would become mandatory for all League of Legends players. <ref>https://support-leagueoflegends.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/24169857932435-Riot-Vanguard-FAQ-League-of-Legends ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251008164103/https://support-leagueoflegends.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/24169857932435-Riot-Vanguard-FAQ-League-of-Legends Archived])</ref> This decision was particularly controversial for several reasons:

	*The requirement affected a 14-year-old game that had previously operated without kernel-level anti-cheat.		*The requirement affected a 14-year-old game that had previously operated without kernel-level anti-cheat.
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	{Sources to be added}		{Sources to be added}

	*Following the League of Legends implementation announcement, Riot published a detailed FAQ addressing community concerns. They maintained that Vanguard's kernel driver is focused solely on game integrity and doesn't process any personal information.<ref>https://support-leagueoflegends.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/24169857932435-Riot-Vanguard-FAQ-League-of-Legends</ref>		*Following the League of Legends implementation announcement, Riot published a detailed FAQ addressing community concerns. They maintained that Vanguard's kernel driver is focused solely on game integrity and doesn't process any personal information.<ref>https://support-leagueoflegends.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/24169857932435-Riot-Vanguard-FAQ-League-of-Legends ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251008164103/https://support-leagueoflegends.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/24169857932435-Riot-Vanguard-FAQ-League-of-Legends Archived])</ref>
	*Riot Security Team published a technical blog post explaining that Vanguard's kernel-level implementation is necessary to detect and prevent sophisticated cheating methods that operate at the same level.<ref>https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams</ref>		*Riot Security Team published a technical blog post explaining that Vanguard's kernel-level implementation is necessary to detect and prevent sophisticated cheating methods that operate at the same level.<ref>https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260106073252/https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams Archived])</ref>

	<blockquote>We understand the decision to run the driver component in kernel-mode can raise concerns, and that some of you want to know more about the tech behind Vanguard. We can't get too deep into the technical specifics without potentially compromising Vanguard... plus we can assure you that it has been reviewed by both internal and external security experts.\|[[Riot Games]]<ref>[https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams "A Message About Vanguard from our Security & Privacy Teams"] ''Riot Games''. Retrieved 2024-02-16</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>We understand the decision to run the driver component in kernel-mode can raise concerns, and that some of you want to know more about the tech behind Vanguard. We can't get too deep into the technical specifics without potentially compromising Vanguard... plus we can assure you that it has been reviewed by both internal and external security experts.\|[[Riot Games]]<ref>[https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams "A Message About Vanguard from our Security & Privacy Teams"] ''Riot Games''. Retrieved 2024-02-16 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260106073252/https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams Archived])</ref></blockquote>

	Riot Games has expressed that kernel level anti cheat is becoming an industry standard however no other anti cheat software is as invasive as Vanguard. Riot claims that to defeat cheaters operating at the kernel level, it is necessary to also be operating at the same level. This is untrue. They claim the only way to stop account botting, ranked boosting and to ban cheaters permanently via using hardware identifiers is to compromise your privacy despite the fact that other companies within the gaming industry whom are capable of banning bots and cheaters including hardware banning customers can do so without the need of kernel-level anti cheat detection that runs even when you are not playing their games.		Riot Games has expressed that kernel level anti cheat is becoming an industry standard however no other anti cheat software is as invasive as Vanguard. Riot claims that to defeat cheaters operating at the kernel level, it is necessary to also be operating at the same level. This is untrue. They claim the only way to stop account botting, ranked boosting and to ban cheaters permanently via using hardware identifiers is to compromise your privacy despite the fact that other companies within the gaming industry whom are capable of banning bots and cheaters including hardware banning customers can do so without the need of kernel-level anti cheat detection that runs even when you are not playing their games.

93.159.7.111: Riot never released the source code of their anti cheat. This repo is clearly just a troll(just read the "source"). In terms of lack of compatibility with Linux, it was written for Windows, so it obviously won't work on linux, that's just how drivers work. In addition, they won't be able to achieve the same level of protection on Linux, so the chance of them porting it to Linux is slim to none, unless Valve figures something out.

2026-02-19T00:11:35Z

Riot never released the source code of their anti cheat. This repo is clearly just a troll(just read the "source"). In terms of lack of compatibility with Linux, it was written for Windows, so it obviously won't work on linux, that's just how drivers work. In addition, they won't be able to achieve the same level of protection on Linux, so the chance of them porting it to Linux is slim to none, unless Valve figures something out.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:11, 19 February 2026
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	*The software could have a negative performance impact even when doing other things on your computer since the driver is running 24/7		*The software could have a negative performance impact even when doing other things on your computer since the driver is running 24/7
	*Enforced UEFI firmware update can reduce performance and potentially brick the hardware<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Maruccia \|first=Alfonso \|date=2025-12-20 \|title=Riot is forcing Valorant players to update their PC firmware to keep playing \|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|archive-date=2025-12-23 \|access-date=2025-12-23 \|website=Techspot}}</ref>.		*Enforced UEFI firmware update can reduce performance and potentially brick the hardware<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Maruccia \|first=Alfonso \|date=2025-12-20 \|title=Riot is forcing Valorant players to update their PC firmware to keep playing \|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|archive-date=2025-12-23 \|access-date=2025-12-23 \|website=Techspot}}</ref>.

	~~===Purposeful Incompatibility with Other Operating Systems===~~
	The official Riot Vanguard anti-cheat is built using the [[wikipedia:Windows_Driver_Kit\|Windows Driver Kit]], making it dependent on the Windows operating system. In the [https://github.com/RiotVanguard/Vanguard Riot Vanguard source code] published in April 2021, this dependency is justified in a comment stating: ''“Because we don't know how PE files work.”'' Given Riot’s expertise and resources, this statement is widely interpreted as tongue-in-cheek, implying that the Windows-only design was intentional.

	==Company Response==		==Company Response==

Bythmusters: Added Cargo template in place of Infobox, moved to Product

2026-01-29T18:40:14Z

Added Cargo template in place of Infobox, moved to Product

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:40, 29 January 2026
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	{{~~InfoboxProductLine~~		{{ProductCargo
	\| ~~Title~~ = ~~{{PAGENAME}}~~		\|ArticleType=Product
	~~\| Release Year = 2020~~		\|Category=Anti-cheat, Software
	\| ~~Product Type~~ = Anti-cheat Software		\|Company=Riot Games
	\| ~~In Production~~ = Yes		\|Description=
	\| Logo = Riot Vanguard logo.svg		\|InProduction=Yes
	\|~~Official~~ Website=~~https://support-valorant.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/360046160933-What-is-Vanguard~~}}		\|Logo=Riot Vanguard logo.svg
			\|ProductLine=
			\|ReleaseYear=2020
			\|Website=
			}}
	[[wikipedia:Riot_Vanguard\|Riot Vanguard]] is an anti-cheat system developed by Riot Games, initially released for VALORANT in 2020 and later expanded to League of Legends in April of 2024.		[[wikipedia:Riot_Vanguard\|Riot Vanguard]] is an anti-cheat system developed by Riot Games, initially released for VALORANT in 2020 and later expanded to League of Legends in April of 2024.

SinexTitan: logo updated to SVG

2026-01-22T14:58:00Z

logo updated to SVG

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:58, 22 January 2026
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	\| Product Type = Anti-cheat Software		\| Product Type = Anti-cheat Software
	\| In Production = Yes		\| In Production = Yes
	\| Logo = ~~Riot_Vanguard_Logo~~.~~png~~		\| Logo = Riot Vanguard logo.svg
	\|Official Website=https://support-valorant.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/360046160933-What-is-Vanguard}}		\|Official Website=https://support-valorant.riotgames.com/hc/en-us/articles/360046160933-What-is-Vanguard}}

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	*Enforced UEFI firmware update can reduce performance and potentially brick the hardware<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Maruccia \|first=Alfonso \|date=2025-12-20 \|title=Riot is forcing Valorant players to update their PC firmware to keep playing \|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|archive-date=2025-12-23 \|access-date=2025-12-23 \|website=Techspot}}</ref>.		*Enforced UEFI firmware update can reduce performance and potentially brick the hardware<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Maruccia \|first=Alfonso \|date=2025-12-20 \|title=Riot is forcing Valorant players to update their PC firmware to keep playing \|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|archive-date=2025-12-23 \|access-date=2025-12-23 \|website=Techspot}}</ref>.

	=== Purposeful Incompatibility with Other Operating Systems ===		===Purposeful Incompatibility with Other Operating Systems===
	The official Riot Vanguard anti-cheat is built using the [[wikipedia:Windows_Driver_Kit\|Windows Driver Kit]], making it dependent on the Windows operating system. In the [https://github.com/RiotVanguard/Vanguard Riot Vanguard source code] published in April 2021, this dependency is justified in a comment stating: ''“Because we don't know how PE files work.”'' Given Riot’s expertise and resources, this statement is widely interpreted as tongue-in-cheek, implying that the Windows-only design was intentional.		The official Riot Vanguard anti-cheat is built using the [[wikipedia:Windows_Driver_Kit\|Windows Driver Kit]], making it dependent on the Windows operating system. In the [https://github.com/RiotVanguard/Vanguard Riot Vanguard source code] published in April 2021, this dependency is justified in a comment stating: ''“Because we don't know how PE files work.”'' Given Riot’s expertise and resources, this statement is widely interpreted as tongue-in-cheek, implying that the Windows-only design was intentional.

45.82.255.215: /* Concerns */

2026-01-22T14:39:50Z

Concerns

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:39, 22 January 2026
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	*The software could have a negative performance impact even when doing other things on your computer since the driver is running 24/7		*The software could have a negative performance impact even when doing other things on your computer since the driver is running 24/7
	*Enforced UEFI firmware update can reduce performance and potentially brick the hardware<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Maruccia \|first=Alfonso \|date=2025-12-20 \|title=Riot is forcing Valorant players to update their PC firmware to keep playing \|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|archive-date=2025-12-23 \|access-date=2025-12-23 \|website=Techspot}}</ref>.		*Enforced UEFI firmware update can reduce performance and potentially brick the hardware<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Maruccia \|first=Alfonso \|date=2025-12-20 \|title=Riot is forcing Valorant players to update their PC firmware to keep playing \|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|archive-date=2025-12-23 \|access-date=2025-12-23 \|website=Techspot}}</ref>.

			=== Purposeful Incompatibility with Other Operating Systems ===
			The official Riot Vanguard anti-cheat is built using the [[wikipedia:Windows_Driver_Kit\|Windows Driver Kit]], making it dependent on the Windows operating system. In the [https://github.com/RiotVanguard/Vanguard Riot Vanguard source code] published in April 2021, this dependency is justified in a comment stating: ''“Because we don't know how PE files work.”'' Given Riot’s expertise and resources, this statement is widely interpreted as tongue-in-cheek, implying that the Windows-only design was intentional.

	==Company Response==		==Company Response==

Charlie 6: /* Technical Implications */ Fixed link (?) on Archived

2025-12-23T13:46:40Z

Technical Implications: Fixed link (?) on Archived

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:46, 23 December 2025
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	*The software could theoretically be used as a backdoor if compelled by authorities.		*The software could theoretically be used as a backdoor if compelled by authorities.
	*The software could have a negative performance impact even when doing other things on your computer since the driver is running 24/7		*The software could have a negative performance impact even when doing other things on your computer since the driver is running 24/7
	*Enforced UEFI firmware update can reduce performance and potentially brick the hardware<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Maruccia \|first=Alfonso \|date=2025-12-20 \|title=Riot is forcing Valorant players to update their PC firmware to keep playing \|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org~~/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com~~/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|archive-date=2025-12-23 \|access-date=2025-12-23 \|website=Techspot}}</ref>.		*Enforced UEFI firmware update can reduce performance and potentially brick the hardware<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Maruccia \|first=Alfonso \|date=2025-12-20 \|title=Riot is forcing Valorant players to update their PC firmware to keep playing \|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|archive-date=2025-12-23 \|access-date=2025-12-23 \|website=Techspot}}</ref>.

	==Company Response==		==Company Response==

Charlie 6: /* Technical Implications */ Added forced firmware update

2025-12-23T13:41:52Z

Technical Implications: Added forced firmware update

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:41, 23 December 2025
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	*The software could theoretically be used as a backdoor if compelled by authorities.		*The software could theoretically be used as a backdoor if compelled by authorities.
	*The software could have a negative performance impact even when doing other things on your computer since the driver is running 24/7		*The software could have a negative performance impact even when doing other things on your computer since the driver is running 24/7
			*Enforced UEFI firmware update can reduce performance and potentially brick the hardware<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Maruccia \|first=Alfonso \|date=2025-12-20 \|title=Riot is forcing Valorant players to update their PC firmware to keep playing \|url=https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/web/20251223133910/https://www.techspot.com/news/110663-riot-forcing-valorant-players-update-their-pc-firmware.html \|archive-date=2025-12-23 \|access-date=2025-12-23 \|website=Techspot}}</ref>.

	==Company Response==		==Company Response==

AnotherConsumerRightsPerson: /* Official Statements */ rm template I'm about to delete with AutoWikiBrowser

2025-11-21T19:03:17Z

Official Statements: rm template I'm about to delete with AutoWikiBrowser

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:03, 21 November 2025
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	*Riot Security Team published a technical blog post explaining that Vanguard's kernel-level implementation is necessary to detect and prevent sophisticated cheating methods that operate at the same level.<ref>https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams</ref>		*Riot Security Team published a technical blog post explaining that Vanguard's kernel-level implementation is necessary to detect and prevent sophisticated cheating methods that operate at the same level.<ref>https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams</ref>

	~~{{quote\|~~We understand the decision to run the driver component in kernel-mode can raise concerns, and that some of you want to know more about the tech behind Vanguard. We can't get too deep into the technical specifics without potentially compromising Vanguard... plus we can assure you that it has been reviewed by both internal and external security experts.\|[[Riot Games]]<ref>[https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams "A Message About Vanguard from our Security & Privacy Teams"] ''Riot Games''. Retrieved 2024-02-16</ref>}}		<blockquote>We understand the decision to run the driver component in kernel-mode can raise concerns, and that some of you want to know more about the tech behind Vanguard. We can't get too deep into the technical specifics without potentially compromising Vanguard... plus we can assure you that it has been reviewed by both internal and external security experts.\|[[Riot Games]]<ref>[https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/a-message-about-vanguard-from-our-security-privacy-teams "A Message About Vanguard from our Security & Privacy Teams"] ''Riot Games''. Retrieved 2024-02-16</ref></blockquote>

	Riot Games has expressed that kernel level anti cheat is becoming an industry standard however no other anti cheat software is as invasive as Vanguard. Riot claims that to defeat cheaters operating at the kernel level, it is necessary to also be operating at the same level. This is untrue. They claim the only way to stop account botting, ranked boosting and to ban cheaters permanently via using hardware identifiers is to compromise your privacy despite the fact that other companies within the gaming industry whom are capable of banning bots and cheaters including hardware banning customers can do so without the need of kernel-level anti cheat detection that runs even when you are not playing their games.		Riot Games has expressed that kernel level anti cheat is becoming an industry standard however no other anti cheat software is as invasive as Vanguard. Riot claims that to defeat cheaters operating at the kernel level, it is necessary to also be operating at the same level. This is untrue. They claim the only way to stop account botting, ranked boosting and to ban cheaters permanently via using hardware identifiers is to compromise your privacy despite the fact that other companies within the gaming industry whom are capable of banning bots and cheaters including hardware banning customers can do so without the need of kernel-level anti cheat detection that runs even when you are not playing their games.

AnotherConsumerRightsPerson at 16:16, 23 October 2025

2025-10-23T16:16:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:16, 23 October 2025
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	*Privacy: Vanguard is a kernel-level (ring 0) anti-cheat. It has access to everything on your computer. Riot Games is owned by Tencent which has strong ties with the Chinese government.		*Privacy: Vanguard is a kernel-level (ring 0) anti-cheat. It has access to everything on your computer. Riot Games is owned by Tencent which has strong ties with the Chinese government.
	*Control: Users must have Vanguard running from computer startup to play any Riot games, even when not playing.		*Control: Users must have Vanguard running from computer startup to play any Riot games, even when not playing.
	*Access: As a kernel-level anti-cheat, Vanguard has the highest level of access to your computer.		*Access: As a [[kernel level anti-cheats\|kernel level anti-cheat]], Vanguard has the highest level of access to your computer.

	==Incidents==		==Incidents==

2cookie: /* Technical Implications */

2025-10-08T00:56:46Z

Technical Implications

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:56, 8 October 2025
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	*The always-on requirement means the system is potentially vulnerable even when not gaming.		*The always-on requirement means the system is potentially vulnerable even when not gaming.
	*The software could theoretically be used as a backdoor if compelled by authorities.		*The software could theoretically be used as a backdoor if compelled by authorities.
			*The software could have a negative performance impact even when doing other things on your computer since the driver is running 24/7

	==Company Response==		==Company Response==