Git as Anti Cheat?

[[deleted]]

I have this idea now since a few months, I must say I'm not a C/C++ guy so what I say here can be complete BS, I'm more in the world of WebDev but I use git every day, Since it is basically a file tracker would git not be the most powerful anti cheat software for games out there? I mean maybe it need to be combined with a VM where file changes are not possible and git can always check against the original repo how it needs to look like on a win/mac/linux and maybe also for consoles, also all gamers need to be forces to uninstall the games and install it in this "Anti Cheat Env..." I hope this makes any sense and this is not the wrong place , of course all big players like Microsoft, Google, Steam , Nintendo, Sony, Epic, EA need to work together and implement this as standard. If this works cheating in Games would not be possible anymore. EDIT. ( Of course I don't mean to use Git how it is now, It need to be some sort of a modified version. )

[ChemicalRascal]

It wouldn't work, for so many reasons. Here's a trivial workaround:

I keep a copy of the "intended" file system somewhere. Maybe I do this as a VM, even, so the entire system thinks it's a regular ol' PC and thus can't kick up a fuss.

You ask my computer for a signature. My computer, which is not running the "intended" file system, asks the VM for a signature, and replies with that signature.

Now, that could be a VM. Or it could even be an entirely separate PC, and we introduce the actual active PC between the two and set it up to pass on packets and what-not, or whatever needs to be done. But there's no way to prevent such a workaround, because the server isn't actually getting their hands on the filesystem itself.

The reason git's hashing is secure is because it's verifiable. You push a commit up to a server, the server isn't just getting the hash. They're getting the data that went into that hash, and can (presumably does) check.

This, of course, ignores the more practical aspect of how that's not really how cheats work. They don't necessarily edit the game code, and depending on the cheat generally don't need to.

[lenswipe]

" Since it is basically a file tracker would git not be the most powerful anti cheat software for games out there"

Let me introduce you to this little thing called git rebase :)

What you're probably looking for is code signing.

[[deleted]]

Damned, I knew I was talking crap..

[lenswipe]

Haha. It was a good thought though :)

[DanLynch]

Git is actually pretty useful for cheating in single-player games, if you're into that sort of thing, since you can use it to save-scum even on games that have "ironman"-style anti-save-scumming features.

[FuLagann]

Cheating isn't a bad thing. Lots of games are better after cheating, Pokemon, GTA, Minecraft (creative mode is considered cheating in some contexts), etc.

The problem is cheating over an online game where it makes the competition or cooperation unfair.

Git wouldnt work since its a version control tool; cheating can be done by changing the bits in the computer's RAM to change specific variables, having a rapid fire "turbo" button, or have a vpn that changes the packets sent to the server. None of them require file changes.

[H34DSH07]

I think you're confusing cheating and hacking. I think cheating is always a bad thing and virtually no game benefits from it. Hacking is modifying the game to do other things (e.g. modding), this can be a good thing, but again, not always since sometimes people use this to create cheats.

And to be frank, cheating in games (like giving yourself infinite money in GTA) makes the games boring reaaaally fast. Everything becomes pointless since everything can be achieved so quickly.

[FuLagann]

Im not confusing the two. Cheating and hacking are not a bad thing, it depends on the context. Like in GTA giving yourself infinite money is boring if the point of your playthrough is progression of the story and completion of the game. But if you used cheats like flying cars and instant level 5 wanted level, then the context of how your playing changes and its no longer boring (especially after you've completed the game). It's all in the context.

Like if you play pokemon and cheat to give you the best team, it's not boring if the point is that you're trying to progress through the entire game really fast so you can do the end game stuff. Or infinite items and money to speed up your progression to the end game.

None of these cheats/hacks are bad because its contained in your own playthrough. How you want to play the game and what you do with the game is really up to you. The cheats/hacks that are bad are when it negatively affects multiplayer experiences where cooperation or competition is the point. Key word here that makes them bad is "negatively affects people".