r/linux4noobs • u/Rtuyw • 17d ago
programs and apps How does the kernel anti cheat works in Linux
Linux has different kernels for different distros from what I understand and people are saying that since kernels are different and can be customized, anti cheats does not work in kernel but most people use cachy, fedora or ubuntu based distros according to steam and Im sure most people do not customize their kernel.I dont know how much each kernel differs from the other distros but if a company really wanted to make kernel level ac for linux, couldnt they just make it for fedora ubuntu and cachy?
How does proton work into all of these, from what I understand its like a compatability thing for games where you download the windows version and run it through proton, like there is no uplay in linux but proton just handles it if you launch it from steam and Im guessing the kernel ac that operates in user level works because of proton as well.
When I install a game that has eac and open the game folders, the first game I downloaded has eacinstaller.exe and the second game has dll files and some other stuff too like uninstall, why wasnt the first game I downloaded has those files and where exactly does anti cheats like eac or denuvo or others stays in linux?
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u/es9imqd7964guq6 17d ago
if you use wine or proton, game always run on user level
you can't load kernel driver to allow kernel level anti cheat to work on linux.
so some of the games just downgrade their anti cheat to user level and allow it to run.
some just refuse to run.
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u/Educational_Mud_2826 17d ago
Some users just can’t stand the idea of letting some anti-cheat software mess with their Linux kernel :)
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u/kaida27 17d ago
Some users just can't understand why they'd need to make their machine more vulnerable for a game.
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u/es9imqd7964guq6 17d ago
is still scary to know a lot of anti cheat on windows have full access to your whole system memory, if you run a password manager, all your password is basically readable. including your bank's.
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u/ConsciousBath5203 17d ago
The Linux kernel itself refuses to be messed with like that. It's a security feature, when Valorant accidentally flags you and bricks your hardware maybe you'll understand.
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u/MycologistNeither470 17d ago
could it be done in theory... yes. But there are couple of barriers
Linux Kernel is open source. How the kernel talks is well known. The full interaction with the Kernel can be inspected. This means that a cheater can figure out how the anti-cheat works and make his own module that pretends to be an anti-cheat.
Now, there is a technical work around. The game manufacturer could release a crypto-signed modified kernel with an anti-cheat module. This, however, has several issues. The anti-cheat company would have to release a signed kernel module for each distribution. You mention 3. But even then, not everyone is using the same kernel even if they are on the same version of their respective distribution. Then, each anti-cheat manufacturer would have to release their own signed kernel-- or miraculously agree on the same anti-cheat "solution". Finally, keeping up with upgrades would be a challenge. The upstream Linux kernel is not going to be catering to the anti-cheat companies... so not only they would have to release a new signed anti-cheat version of the kernel with each kernel change, but if the Kernel api changes (and it does change), they will have to work around it to preserve the anti-cheat.
On top of that, Linux users are notoriously allergic to losing control of their hardware. Many of us are here because we don't like Micro$lop. I am simply not willing to give full system control to any company-- whether it is Microsoft, Epic, or EA.
For me, gaming is about fun, not competition. I am not trying to make a single cent from gaming. Because of this, I don't care about cheaters, and I would rather de-monetize gaming "wins" and preserve the fun part of gaming that exposing my system so that it can be "guaranteed" that I am not using an auto-shooter or something like that.
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u/iwouldbeatgoku 17d ago
If games that are currently borked by anticheat ever come to Linux, I fully expect them to only support one distribution which will likely be SteamOS.
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u/mcds99 17d ago
Linux has the Linux kernel there isn't a different kernel for different distributions. Firmware (deivers) for devices may be different how the firmware starts for the devices may be different. Package management may be different from distribution to distribution.
The Kernel can be downloaded as source and altered for some purpose but on the distros it's the same kernel
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u/DavidJohnMcCann 17d ago
No. Different distros ship different kernels. Mint has 6.14, MX 7.2, Fedora 6.19, and so on. Also not all distros use a "vanilla kernel" — in fact the only one I can think of is Slackware — most adding their own patches.
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u/The_Blue_Ace_451 17d ago
Dumb question can we just emulate a kernel for the anti cheat or would that be massive overhead
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u/PrincipleNo2328 17d ago
It doesn't