THE ANTICHEAT DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTER-STRIKE MAIN SERIES

Y. Kuzhii, Yuriy Furgala

Abstract


This research investigates methods to identify and prevent cheating in online games, focusing on Counter-Strike (CS). It explores various cheating behaviors and their evolution alongside anti-cheat development. The limitations of current anti-cheat systems, exemplified by Valve Anti-Cheat and Faceit Anti-Cheat, are highlighted through real-world cases where cheating suspicions arose but no conclusive evidence was found. The paper proposes analyzing player mechanics, including keyboard patterns and movement, as a potential solution to detect radar hacks, smurfing, and unsportsmanlike behavior. By training a system on player behavioral patterns, the authors aim to create a fairer and more enjoyable online gaming experience for CS players.

Keywords: pattern recognition, cheating, anti-cheat, esport, smurfing, Counter - Strike, CS2


Full Text:

PDF

References


  1. Harry Richards. ESIC suspends Ukrainian quartet for two years over match-fixing charges: [Electronic resource]. - 2023. - [Cited 2024, 1 Apr.]. – Available from: https://www.hltv.org/news/37629/esic-suspends-ukrainian-quartet-for-two-years-over-match-fixing-charges.
  2. Andre Guaraldo. Unprecedented CS2 cheating crisis strikes European RMR. - 2024. - [Cited 2024, 3 Apr.]. - Available from: https://www.strafe.com/news/read/unprecedented-cs2-cheating-crisis-strikes-european-rmr/.
  3. Julian Heinz, Anton Ströh. (2017). The eSports Market and eSports Sponsoring. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/24704067.2020.1846906.
  4. Steam Charts by SteamDB: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 1 Mar.]. - Available from: https://steamdb.info/charts/?tagid=1663.
  5. Counter-Strike Beta: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 7 Mar.]. - Available from: https://counterstrike.fandom.com/wiki/Counter-Strike_Beta#Preparing_for_the_first_release.
  6. 9trainers: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 7 Mar.]. - Available from: https://9trainers.com/counter-strike-1-6-multiplayer-trainer-free-download/.
  7. Steam support: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 7 Mar.]. - Available from: https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/571A-97DA-70E9-FF74
  8. NaVi history: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 21 Mar.]. - Available from: https://navi.gg/ua/company/history.
  9. Overwatch: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 23 Mar.]. - Available from: https://blog.counter-strike.net/index.php/overwatch/.
  10. Using Deep Learning to Combat Cheating in CS:GO: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 23 Mar.]. - Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC6JXAO8sT4.
  11. Evan Lathi. CS:GO competitive scene in hacking scandal, 3 players banned: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 23 Mar.]. - Available from: https://www.pcgamer.com/csgo-competitive-scene-embroiled-in-hacking-scandal-as-three-players-are-banned/
  12. Emilio: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 23 Mar.]. - Available from: https://liquipedia.net/counterstrike/Emilio
  13. Cecilia D'Anastasio. Valve Confirms the Leak of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Code: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 23 Mar.]. - Available from: https://www.wired.com/story/counter-strike-global-offensive-team-fortress-2-code-leak/.
  14. Panicos Karkallis, Jorge Blasco, Guillermo Suarez-Tangil & Sergio Pastrana. (2021) Detecting video-game injectors exchanged in game cheating communities. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88418-5_15.
  15. MPGH: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 16 Mar.]. - Available from: https://www.mpgh.net/.
  16. Unknowcheats: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 11 Feb.]. - Available from: https://www.unknowncheats.me/forum/index.php.
  17. Hackvshack:[Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 1 Apr.]. - Available from: https://hackvshack.net/.
  18. Source2 engine: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 6 Mar.]. - Available from: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Source_2.
  19. Unknowcheats Counter-Strike: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 23 Mar.]. - Available from: https://www.unknowncheats.me/forum/counter-strike-2-a/?s=a36b7c8e78939e4d2dd42d25b5095042.
  20. D Liu, X Gao, M Zhang, H Wang, A Stavrou. (2017). Detecting Passive Cheats in Online Games via Performance-Skillfulness Inconsistency. DOI: 10.1109/DSN.2017.20
  21. Tim Witschel. Christian Wressnegger. (2020). Aim Low, Shoot High: Evading Aimbot Detectors by Mimicking User Behavior. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3380786.3391397
  22. E. Edson. Cow Anti-Cheat. https://github.com/eedson/Cow-Anti-Cheat, 2018. Accessed Feb. 2020
  23. Eoin Conroy, Magdalena Kowal, Adam J. Toth, Mark J. Campbell. (2021). Boosting: Rank and skill deception in esports. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.entcom.2020.100393
  24. Ying-Jih Ding; Wun-She Yap; Kok-Chin Khor. (2023). Profiling and Identifying Smurfs or Boosters on Dota 2 Using K-Means and IQR. DOI: 10.1109/TG.2023.3317053
  25. Brian McCauley. (2023). An Auto-netnographic Approach to Understanding Alternate Gaming Accounts: How Smurfing Impacts the Prosumer Experience in Counter-Strike:Global Offensive. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1123/jege.2023-0024
  26. Sidney V. Irwin & Anjum Naweed. (2020). BM'ing, Throwing, Bug Exploiting, and Other Forms of (Un)Sportsmanlike Behavior in CS:GO Esports. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1555412018804952
  27. FACEIT Banning Policy: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 23 Mar.]. - Available from: https://support.faceit.com/hc/en-us/articles/208282375-FACEIT-Banning-Policy
  28. Forsaken issued five-year ban by ESIC: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 1 May]. - Available from: https://www.hltv.org/news/25176/forsaken-issued-five-year-ban-by-esic.
  29. Introducing the FACEIT ID Verification system, an unmatched layer of security to create a more trusted community: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 15 Apr.]. - Available from: https://blog.faceit.com/introducing-the-faceit-id-verification-system-an-unmatched-layer-of-security-to-create-a-more-c3232fdba781.
  30. Cheating and Multi-accounting are at all-time lows since 2012 on FACEIT — Here’s what we did: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 23 Mar.]. - Available from: https://blog.faceit.com/cheating-and-multi-accounting-are-at-all-time-lows-since-2012-on-faceit-heres-what-we-did-920ec5f779ff.
  31. Tim Witschel. Christian Wressnegger. (2020).Aim Low, Shoot High: Evading Aimbot Detectors by Mimicking User Behavior. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3380786.3391397
  32. A Guide to Mechanics in Counter-Strike: [Electronic Resource]. - [Cited 2024, 23 Mar.]. - Available from: https://dignitas.gg/articles/a-guide-to-mechanics-in-counter-strike.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30970/eli.26.8

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.