You dont understand how Punkbusters works.
It doesnt work by monitoring processes on client-side.
Only by what the client sends to the service provider.
It’s not a magic bullet and their are ways around client-side detection with sandboxing and VMs, or just homemade bots the software knows nothing about, but it is on the table.
I think though, a lot more could be done without that by just parsing the data they already have. The real problem is that they are just completely understaffed and overwhelmed. There are just not enough people for the magnitude of the problem given even automated tools need some level of dev oversight.
I like the talk I am hearing, but Team Security has relied on pretty heavily on such bluster for a long-time while clear bots operate with impunity for years. Something real has to happen, client-side detection or not if people are going to be convinced CCP really takes the issue seriously.
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COPIED AND PASTED FROM PUNKBUSTER WEBSITE;
How does PunkBuster work?
The PunkBuster anti-cheat system actively scans memory while players are connected to the server. The scanner is continously searching for cheats much like an anti-virus scanner searches for viruses. PunkBuster does not use subjective methods such as data hueristics or player performance metrics. PunkBuster’s memory scanner objectively detects the presence of cheats in memory and then kicks the player from the server.
Cant happen.
Its illegal in all kinds of ways.
That doesnt mean what you think it does.
Punkbusters primarily searches for hacks on the client itself, which send data incongrouos with the current version of the game.
Which is why Eve would need to change and have a LEGAL NOTICE detailing the particulars of what punkbuster will do to your PC when installed. If you agree you can play eve and CCP and Punkbuster can access your memory, if you disagree then you can’t play eve.
Punkbusters will not reveal bots in EVE.
It’s not illegal if you consent, at least in most places. And CCP will just make giving that consent a condition for playing the game.
Blizzard has being doing that for WoW and D3 and I guess the rest of their games for like a decade.
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So you don’t know how a computer works either? I’ll break it down. When you run any program on a PC it gets loaded into RAM. RAM can be analysed for patterns and an action taken if CCP and punkbuster software agree.
I like the way you think, you can see that a specialist 3rd party who is dedicated to this needs to be employed. It is evident that CCP does not employ anyone to perform such tasks for Eve, this needs to change quickly. Either way CCP will lose money through ingame isk de-value’ing or paying a 3rd party to sort it.
CCP could charge subs £0.10 to £0.50 more and forward the extra money to people like Punkbuster or Warden. I don’t mind paying a little extra to keep the game as it should be.
Not sure CCP have ever taken a truly ‘hard line’ against bots, the game uses no anti-cheat/bot detection tech at all as far as I know, and bots have been mostly free to operate with impunity for years - they pay subs/buy plex afterall.
The game, and CCP themselves, are in such poor shape right now that investing money in decreasing income is probably not a priority.
Have The agency and chat bubbles instead.
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Laws relevant to this are years behind, and case history is sparse.
I read up on the Warden system in WoW, and I find it unacceptably invasive and would discontinue my account.
If this was implemented in EVE, I would stop playing, just on principle alone.
I will not agree with CCP/Blizzard or any other business scanning my system processes which (on my part) wont involve bots.
I thought my bot-test was a nuclear solution, but this one is even more severe.
I understand your premise, that consent (currently) legally enables them to access that data, but as a person and player I, for one, will not agree to that.
Not because I have something to hide, but because they (or any other company) have no goddam business gaining access to scan what is happening on my PC.
However, if they offer me a discount on their service for that access, I might be willing.
Well, this is the logical way to go. I can’t see any other solution.
Your views leave me scratching my head most times. You’re happy to have reputable companies like Mcaffe, AVG, Avast scan your PC for virus, but you’re not happy for gaming services companies to do the same thing?
I dont see how being required to provide access to your PCs processes, is the “logical way to go.”
Its invasive and opens the floodgates for any number of service providers to moniter/collect/collate data on the other processes run by clients that just want to play a game.
If you truly believe what you just typed then you would have never installed anti-virus/malware on your PC.
The truth is you have no idea what you’re talking about. All of the software currently on your PC accesses sensitive data belonging to you. You trust your operating system/internet browser to store your passwords and limited financial data for example.
M8 we’re all more or less already being watched for worse things such as potential terrorist ties/activity so if your government discovers you like MLP pron or something no biggie
Those softwares are run locally.
They dont send data outward unless you agree to help the software provider collate data on malware/viruses.
Would CCP really care the opinion of a few privacy enthusiasts?
I think you will find the EVE community is vehemently pro-privacy.
And did that make CCP change their ideas? Any examples?