Of course! Here is a very lengthy and detailed post about how Vanguard detects virtual machines, with a step-by-step guide format, styling, and a comprehensive FAQ section.
How Does Vanguard Detect a Virtual Machine? A Deep Dive into Riot Games' Anti-Cheat
Are you a gamer who uses a virtual machine (VM) for productivity, testing, or other purposes and have you ever wondered why Valorant or other Riot Games titles just won't launch? Or maybe you've tried to play on a VM and received a dreaded error message? Well, you're not alone. The answer lies in the sophisticated and highly controversial anti-cheat system known as Riot Vanguard.
Let's start with a question for you: Have you ever felt frustrated by cheaters in online games? The feeling of losing a match because someone is using aimbots or wallhacks is infuriating, right? Riot Games created Vanguard to combat this exact problem, and its approach is incredibly aggressive, which is why it often conflicts with virtual environments.
This post will break down exactly how Vanguard detects a VM, why it does it, and what it means for you as a user.
Step 1: Understanding the Foundation - Kernel-Level Access
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of VM detection, it's absolutely crucial to understand the core of Vanguard's power: its kernel-level driver.
Imagine your computer's operating system (OS) as a building. The applications you use every day, like your web browser, video player, and games, are like people working on the upper floors in "user mode." They have limited access and can only perform actions within their designated space.
The "kernel," on the other hand, is the building's basement and foundation. It has complete control over all hardware and software. It's the central brain that manages everything. Normally, only the OS itself operates at this level.
Vanguard is different. When you install a Riot Games title that uses Vanguard (like Valorant), it installs a kernel-mode driver that starts when your computer boots up, even before you launch the game. This gives Vanguard the highest level of privilege and allows it to monitor your system at a fundamental level.
Why is this important? Because this deep-rooted access allows Vanguard to see things that a regular application in user mode simply cannot. It can inspect hardware, drivers, and system processes with an unprecedented level of detail, making it extremely difficult for cheats to hide.
Step 2: The Core Detection Methods
Now that you know about its kernel-level access, let's explore the specific techniques Vanguard employs to detect a virtual machine. It's a game of "cat and mouse" between anti-cheat developers and cheat creators, and these methods are designed to identify the tell-tale signs of a virtualized environment.
Sub-heading 2.1: Examining the CPU's VMX Bit
One of the most fundamental checks is a hardware-level check. Modern CPUs from Intel and AMD have virtualization extensions (VT-x for Intel and AMD-V for AMD) that allow for efficient virtualization. When these extensions are enabled, the CPU exposes a special bit called the VMX bit or "Hypervisor Present" bit in the CPUID instruction.
How it works: When a program makes a specific CPUID call, the CPU returns information about itself. In a virtual machine, the hypervisor (the software running the VM) can set this bit to indicate that a hypervisor is present.
Vanguard's role: Vanguard's kernel-level driver can execute this CPUID instruction directly to check for the presence of this bit. If it's set, it's a very strong indicator that the system is running inside a VM.
Sub-heading 2.2: Checking for Virtualized Hardware Signatures
Virtual machines don't use real, physical hardware directly. Instead, they present virtualized versions of hardware to the guest OS. These virtual devices have unique identifiers and characteristics that can be easily recognized.
MAC Addresses: Virtual network interfaces often have MAC addresses that are assigned by the virtualization software (e.g., VMware, VirtualBox). These addresses have a specific "vendor prefix" (the first three pairs of characters) that can identify the hypervisor. For example, VMware often uses prefixes like
00:05:69or00:0C:29. Vanguard can check for these well-known prefixes.Registry Keys and Files: Virtualization software often installs "guest additions" or drivers within the VM's guest OS to improve performance and integration. These installations leave behind specific registry keys and files on the system that can be checked for. For example, a key like
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\BIOS\VMwareis a dead giveaway.Device Names and Models: The names of virtual hardware devices are often generic and distinct from their physical counterparts. A virtual hard disk might be named "VMware Virtual SCSI Disk Device" instead of the actual model number of a physical SSD. Vanguard can enumerate the devices in your system and check their names for these signatures.
Sub-heading 2.3: Analyzing Timing and Performance Discrepancies
The very nature of virtualization introduces a layer of abstraction that can affect system performance in subtle ways.
Instruction Timings: Certain CPU instructions that are fast on a physical machine might be slightly slower when they are "trapped" and handled by the hypervisor in a VM. Vanguard can measure the time it takes to execute these specific instructions. If the timings are consistently outside of the expected range for a physical machine, it can flag the environment as virtual.
Interrupt Latency: A physical OS has direct access to hardware interrupts, leading to very low latency. In a VM, the hypervisor adds a layer of overhead, which can increase the time it takes to handle an interrupt. Vanguard can monitor these latencies to detect the hypervisor's presence.
Sub-heading 2.4: Detecting Hypervisor-Protected Code Integrity (HVCI) and Virtualization-Based Security (VBS)
In recent versions of Windows (especially Windows 11), Microsoft has introduced security features like HVCI and VBS that use virtualization to isolate critical system processes and drivers. While these are legitimate security features, they can also be used by malicious actors to hide cheats. Vanguard has been updated to detect and, in some cases, require or restrict the use of these features.
Why it matters for VMs: A VM, by its very nature, uses virtualization. If a player is trying to run a game on a VM while also using these Windows security features, Vanguard can see this dual-use of virtualization and become suspicious. The anti-cheat needs to be able to trust the environment it's running in, and a VM with a lot of "hypervisor-y" things going on raises red flags. This is why you might get an error like "VAN9005" requiring TPM 2.0 and UEFI with VBS disabled.
Step 3: Why This Aggressive Approach? The "Why" Behind the "How"
You might be thinking, "This is so invasive! Why do they go to such lengths?" The answer is simple: competitive integrity.
Hiding Cheats: A VM can be used as a "sandbox" to run cheats that are isolated from the host machine's kernel. This makes it incredibly difficult for a traditional anti-cheat to detect them. By blocking VMs, Vanguard removes a major vector for cheating.
Preventing Hardware Bans from Being Bypassed: If a cheater's hardware is banned, they can simply spin up a new VM to bypass the ban and continue cheating. By detecting and blocking VMs, Riot makes it much harder for repeat offenders to come back.
Early Detection and Prevention: Vanguard's philosophy is to prevent cheating from happening in the first place, rather than just banning cheaters after the fact. By denying access to a VM, it stops a potential cheater from even getting into the game.
It's a tough trade-off between user freedom and security, and Riot has chosen to prioritize security and competitive integrity above all else.
Step 4: The Takeaway
For most users, running Vanguard on a physical machine is a seamless experience. For those who use VMs, however, it's a clear roadblock. While some users on forums discuss various methods to "hide" a VM from Vanguard, it is a constant cat-and-mouse game. Any successful bypass is likely temporary, and attempting to circumvent the anti-cheat can result in a permanent ban.
The most reliable way to play Riot Games titles is on a physical machine with a clean Windows installation, ensuring that you meet all the hardware and software requirements.
Related FAQs
How to play Valorant on a virtual machine?
You generally cannot play Valorant or other Riot Games titles with Vanguard on a virtual machine. Vanguard's kernel-level access and VM detection techniques are designed to prevent this.
How to check if my PC supports TPM 2.0 and UEFI for Vanguard?
To check for TPM 2.0 and UEFI, open the "System Information" app in Windows. Look for "BIOS Mode" (it should be UEFI) and "TPM" (it should be present with a version of 2.0). You may need to enable these settings in your computer's BIOS/UEFI firmware.
How to disable Vanguard to play games?
You can exit Vanguard from the system tray icon, but if you do, you will not be able to play any games that require it. You will need to restart your computer to re-enable Vanguard and play again.
How to fix Vanguard error codes related to VMs?
Many Vanguard error codes (like VAN9005) are related to security settings and hardware compatibility. The best way to fix them is to ensure your Windows installation is on a physical machine, with Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 enabled in your BIOS.
How to get a Vanguard hardware ban lifted?
A Vanguard hardware ban is one of the most severe punishments. There is no guaranteed way to get it lifted. You can try contacting Riot Games support, but they rarely overturn hardware bans. Some users resort to "HWID spoofers," but these are also a violation of the terms of service and can lead to further bans.
How to uninstall Vanguard?
You can uninstall Vanguard from "Add or Remove Programs" in Windows. However, you will need to restart your computer, and you will not be able to play any Riot Games titles that use it until you reinstall it.
How to know if my CPU has virtualization technology?
You can check your CPU's specifications on the manufacturer's website (Intel's ark.intel.com or AMD's website). Look for features like "Intel VT-x" or "AMD-V." You will also need to enable this in your BIOS/UEFI.
How to play Valorant on Mac?
To play Valorant on a Mac, you need to use Apple's Boot Camp to install a full version of Windows on a separate partition. Vanguard does not work on VMs on macOS (like Parallels) because it cannot achieve the necessary kernel-level access. Note that Boot Camp is not available on Macs with Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) processors.
How to stop Vanguard from running at startup?
Vanguard is designed to run at startup to provide continuous monitoring and prevent cheats from being loaded before the game. You cannot easily prevent it from starting without affecting your ability to play the game.
How to contact Riot Games support for Vanguard issues?
You can submit a support ticket on the Riot Games support website for the specific game you are playing. Be sure to provide all the necessary information, including any error codes you receive.
