Cybersecurity: A Comparative Analysis of Kernel-Level and Behavioral Anti-Cheat Systems in Online Games; The Controversy of Anti-Cheat Software in Videogames 144 views

Where do we draw the line between the efficiency of our security measures and our privacy? In a society that is becoming more reliant on computers, this problem is crucial to developing both efficient and ethical software. The online games industry continues to be challenged by cheating players using external software to compromise match fairness, which is critical in growing and retaining player bases. To more efficiently detect cheaters, I propose the use of a low-level anti-cheat assisted by server-side behavioral analysis. Low-level development techniques would be utilized to obfuscate and safeguard the inner workings, primarily in Assembly. This would be assisted by a machine learning algorithm built on the data of confirmed cheaters analyzing player behavior for likely offenders. It is anticipated that these introductions would decrease the prevalence and evasive capabilities of cheating players. With the adoption of low level anti-cheat software into the videogames industry, many have begun to question just how important efficient software is when compared to their personal privacy. Common players, privacy advocates, developers, and publishers are all participating in this discussion, pitting those who value the integrity of the game(s) against those who believe in a strong conviction for the right to personal privacy. This debate is critical for the development of future software, as it determines the direction we may take in regards to software.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

Anti Cheat; Kernel Level; Online Games

School of Engineering and Applied Science Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Technical Advisor: Briana Morrison STS Advisor: Peter Norton Technical Team Members: Logan Markley

English

2025-12-12