[MUD-Dev] TECH: Punkbuster type technology and why we don't see anybig name MMOG's using it

[szii at sziisoft.com]

David Wright wrote:

> What are the current views on using things like punkbusters to
> dissuade cheats?

>   PunkBuster: http://www.evenbalance.com/

If it's on the client, it can be
modded/read/snooped/sniffed/decompiled and otherwise violated.
PunkBuster and co won't pick up on SoftICE.  It won't pick up
passive memory-scanners, remote debuggers, protocol analyzers,
network taps etc.

IMO, FWIW, people running the cheats are not such the issue as the
people creating them.  Expect that if you have an 'issue' that it
will be exploited.  Limiting the number of people who can exploit it
is good, but, even better is resolving the exploit in the first
place.

Things like this are just "feel good" tools for the users.  It won't
stop all the hacks, so people are just deluded into feeling like
they're on a "safe" server.

That particular one (PunkBuster) also seems very intrusive with all
of its memory-scanning and reporting and encrypting "frequent status
reports."

-Mike/Szii
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