Difference between revisions of "Hacking"

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m (Added link to the support wiki for an explanation about VAC.)
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{{Quotation|'''The Administrator'''|You were always a disappointment...|sound=Announcer_am_lastmanforfeit02.wav}}
 
{{Quotation|'''The Administrator'''|You were always a disappointment...|sound=Announcer_am_lastmanforfeit02.wav}}
  
'''Hacking''' is a means by which players give themselves an unfair advantage over players by running programs which alter the game's code. Hacking is forbidden by Valve and if you are caught hacking your account may be suspended indefinitely. To avoid hackers, play with people you know and trust and/or on VAC secure servers.
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'''Hacking''' is the means by which players can give themselves an unfair advantage over others through running programs which alter the game code. [[Valve]] have a strict policy against hackers in place with their VAC system (Valve Anti-Cheat system) and are able to suspend suspected players from all VAC-supported servers, including those in ''Team Fortress 2''. Hacking and players of such can be easily avoided by playing exclusively on VAC supported servers, yet it is not uncommon for them to enter these servers albeit for a brief amount of time.
  
To prevent hacking on your server ensure that:
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It should be noted that certain actions or instanced may not constitute as hacking. For example, server administrators that use or abuse console commands are not hacking but merely abusing their position. Players that make use of various glitches or exploits are not hacking, as the issues are in the game and not accessed through the use of a program. Furthermore, users that experience high latency are not hacking. Most servers will have policies in place of such things, and players are encouraged to approach the server administrators or moderators if they identify such things.
# Your server has VAC enabled. {{ref|url=https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7849-RADZ-6869}}
 
# Your server is set to either sv_pure = 2, or sv_pure = 1 (with a non-default white list, see [[Dedicated server configuration#Hacker Prevention|here]]).
 
  
'''Note''': The above will only prevent ''most'' hacks. If the hacker is willing to risk having their Steam I.D. being banned by VAC, they may still be able to hack on even the most secure servers.
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==Types of Hacking==
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===Aim (Aimbot)==
  
==Types of Hacks==
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The program automatically locks onto player's hit boxes in the most viable position to the user. This can be identified by how the user's view will either shake wildly whilst still maintaining direct hits, or will appear to seamlessly follow other players regardless of speed or distance.
'''Aim hacks (Aimbot)'''
 
  
Function: Automatically locks onto hit boxes in the most viable position. (IE: The head, for Snipers.)
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An alternative of the Aimbot is the Triggerbot. Here the user will appear to instantly fire once their crosshair passes over viable targets. This may be used in conjunction with the Aimbot. The program may also be used for [[Sticky Bomb]]s which can be identified if the suspected [[Demoman]] is in another area of the map.
  
Indication: The player's view will appear to shake wildly, but their shots will still be completely accurate.
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===Texture/Wall===
 
 
'''Texture/Wall hacks'''
 
 
   
 
   
Function: The player will be able to see the silhouette of players even behind walls and other surfaces, usually through modifying the transparency of map textures and the visibility of player textures.
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This allows the user to see the silhouettes of players through walls and other surfaces possibly through modifying the transparency of map textures and the visibility of player textures. It will therefore appear that the user is aware of other players even when no indication of their presence was made. A phenomena known as 'pre-loading' can also occur where the user will fire at a location before he would otherwise do so. For example, A Demoman using the Wall Hack may shoot [[Grenade Launcher|grenades]] at a doorway prior to the player walking through them. This can be difficult to differentiate from normal player behaviour.
 
 
Indication: The player is aware of of your presence, even when you have given no indication of your being there. Also, a phenomena known as 'pre-loading' can occur, in which an enemy player fires at a location before he would otherwise do so. An example of this is shooting grenades at doorways prior to the player walking through them, thus implying that either the person is spamming, or could see the player coming.
 
 
 
'''Speed hacks'''
 
 
 
Function: Dramatically increases the player's movement speed.
 
 
 
Indication: The player will move far more quickly than usual, almost as if teleporting.
 
 
 
'''Invulnerability hacks'''
 
 
 
Function: Player will not die, ever.
 
 
 
Indication: If they are taking extreme amounts of damage without an ÜberCharge or form of revitalization/protection in sight.
 
 
 
'''Critical hacks'''
 
 
 
Function: Player critical percentage higher than the base 5% chance. (Maximum of 100%)
 
 
 
Indication: Players firing an alarming number of critical ordinance.
 
 
 
'''Weapons Hacks'''
 
 
 
Function: Allows the use of weapons not made for the class being used.
 
 
 
Indication: Players using weapons not made for their class, such as a [[Scout]] using a [[Minigun]].
 
 
 
'''Oneshot hacks'''
 
 
 
Function: Any hit onto any player is instant death.
 
 
 
Indication: Shots from a player causes instant death to anyone it hits, no matter what the weapon.
 
  
'''Unlimited ammo'''
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===Speed===
  
Function: Not needing to obtain ammo or reload, even.
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The user's movement speed is increased beyond the normal capacities of the class used. This can extend to increased weapon fire speed. This is often obvious to spot, as the user will be moving beyond the maximum movement speed available in the game. The user, however, may also set the speed to only slightly above the maximum for a class, making it more difficult to discover.
  
Indication: Player firing more than the set amount of ammunition without any indication of obtaining more ammo. Player may not reload at all during this process.
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===Invulnerability===
  
'''Spawn Hacks'''
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It will appear to others that the user will either never or take longer than usual to die if under constant fire. This will be more clear if they is no viable healing source nearby such as a Medic or Dispenser, or if they are hit by weapons that would otherwise kill them such as a [[Scout]] against a [[Crit|critial]] Rocket.
  
Function: Spawning random items from the game in places they do not belong, often to block a shortcut or to create a diversion.
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===Critical===
  
Indication: Usually hard to indicate the spawner, but items from TF2 and Half-Life 2 (ragdolls, party mode presents, Gman, etc.) will randomly appear in-game.
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This is where the user will attack with a higher critical percentage than that of the 5% base. The player may therefore be firing unlimited critical hits without an obvious means such as an [[Ubercharge]].  
  
'''Trigger bots'''
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===Weapons===
  
Function: Automatically attacks when a target passes over crosshairs, as well as activating Sticky Bombs. Very commonly used with Aim hacks/bots.
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This will allow the user to equip and use weapons that would otherwise not be available to that class, such a [[Scout]] with a [[Minigun]]. Note that this can be a plugin for a Randomizer server, in which case all players will have this effect.
  
Indication: Player hitting with an attack even at the most obscure times, such as a fight involving much movement. Sticky Bombs activating just as a player get close to them while the Demoman is far from the area (such as across the map).
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===Oneshot hacks===
  
==Things that aren't hacking==
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Any hit that the user deals against another player will result in an instant kill, no matter what weapon was used. Easier to identify if low damage weapons such as a [[Pistol]] are used.
  
* Admins using or abusing console commands.
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===Unlimited ammo===
  
* Players inflicting more damage on you or killing you with less shots than usual. Hacks cannot change damage values, due to the way information is relayed online and so these kills are more likely due to lag or [[Critical hits]].
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Often hand in hand with the Invulnerability, this will allow the user infinite amounts of ammo. This can be seen where the user will not attempt to reload even after firing the maximum number of shots of their weapon.
  
* Various [[glitches]] and [[exploits]].
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===Spawn===
  
* Players experiencing high latency, as they may lag in their movements. Hitting them and avoiding their shots may become more difficult in this process. (However some players use/emit lag to their advantage.)
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Here the user will manipulate the game in such a way as to generate props or items in a place that may block a route. This can be obvious for players experienced with the map who may notice things out of place. The type of items spawned can range from minor props to ragdolls and gates.
  
 
[[Category:Gameplay]]
 
[[Category:Gameplay]]

Revision as of 12:35, 12 September 2010

File:Wallhack.jpg
Wallhacking on 2Fort
You were always a disappointment...
The Administrator

Hacking is the means by which players can give themselves an unfair advantage over others through running programs which alter the game code. Valve have a strict policy against hackers in place with their VAC system (Valve Anti-Cheat system) and are able to suspend suspected players from all VAC-supported servers, including those in Team Fortress 2. Hacking and players of such can be easily avoided by playing exclusively on VAC supported servers, yet it is not uncommon for them to enter these servers albeit for a brief amount of time.

It should be noted that certain actions or instanced may not constitute as hacking. For example, server administrators that use or abuse console commands are not hacking but merely abusing their position. Players that make use of various glitches or exploits are not hacking, as the issues are in the game and not accessed through the use of a program. Furthermore, users that experience high latency are not hacking. Most servers will have policies in place of such things, and players are encouraged to approach the server administrators or moderators if they identify such things.

Types of Hacking

=Aim (Aimbot)

The program automatically locks onto player's hit boxes in the most viable position to the user. This can be identified by how the user's view will either shake wildly whilst still maintaining direct hits, or will appear to seamlessly follow other players regardless of speed or distance.

An alternative of the Aimbot is the Triggerbot. Here the user will appear to instantly fire once their crosshair passes over viable targets. This may be used in conjunction with the Aimbot. The program may also be used for Sticky Bombs which can be identified if the suspected Demoman is in another area of the map.

Texture/Wall

This allows the user to see the silhouettes of players through walls and other surfaces possibly through modifying the transparency of map textures and the visibility of player textures. It will therefore appear that the user is aware of other players even when no indication of their presence was made. A phenomena known as 'pre-loading' can also occur where the user will fire at a location before he would otherwise do so. For example, A Demoman using the Wall Hack may shoot grenades at a doorway prior to the player walking through them. This can be difficult to differentiate from normal player behaviour.

Speed

The user's movement speed is increased beyond the normal capacities of the class used. This can extend to increased weapon fire speed. This is often obvious to spot, as the user will be moving beyond the maximum movement speed available in the game. The user, however, may also set the speed to only slightly above the maximum for a class, making it more difficult to discover.

Invulnerability

It will appear to others that the user will either never or take longer than usual to die if under constant fire. This will be more clear if they is no viable healing source nearby such as a Medic or Dispenser, or if they are hit by weapons that would otherwise kill them such as a Scout against a critial Rocket.

Critical

This is where the user will attack with a higher critical percentage than that of the 5% base. The player may therefore be firing unlimited critical hits without an obvious means such as an Ubercharge.

Weapons

This will allow the user to equip and use weapons that would otherwise not be available to that class, such a Scout with a Minigun. Note that this can be a plugin for a Randomizer server, in which case all players will have this effect.

Oneshot hacks

Any hit that the user deals against another player will result in an instant kill, no matter what weapon was used. Easier to identify if low damage weapons such as a Pistol are used.

Unlimited ammo

Often hand in hand with the Invulnerability, this will allow the user infinite amounts of ammo. This can be seen where the user will not attempt to reload even after firing the maximum number of shots of their weapon.

Spawn

Here the user will manipulate the game in such a way as to generate props or items in a place that may block a route. This can be obvious for players experienced with the map who may notice things out of place. The type of items spawned can range from minor props to ragdolls and gates.