Riot Games recently threw down a challenge to all the hackers around the globe with a bounty of up to $100,000. For anyone who can hack Riot Vanguard, a strong anti-cheat system, will be rewarded with the bounty. They claim that Vanguard is one of the most secure anti-cheat systems ever developed. Riot Games are known for their attention-grabbing techniques. However, this announcement will definitely prove as a profile-raiser and they will solidify their reputation in the gaming circuit.
Want to know more about Vanguard and the bounty rules and policies? Read on to know!
What Is Riot Vanguard?
Riot Vanguard is Riot Games’ proprietary anti-cheat software. It was initially developed for Valorant and now it also protects League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics.
Vanguard operates as an on-boot application. On-boot applications are those applications that run automatically as soon as your PC starts up so that any cheating attempts are caught early.
Riot Games developed this anti-cheat system to maintain a fair gaming environment around its games. Its operating method works on a kernel-mode driver that offers far more accessibility options. So despite all of this, making yourself a target for hackers doesn’t sound pleasing. But, we are yet to see any exploitations.
Why the $100K Bounty?
Setting up a $100K bounty for hackers depicts that they are flexing about their system. Rather than showing a sign of weakness, they are confident about the Vanguard system. Moreover, doing this will also help them in identifying any further flaws. Suppose, if someone successfully hacks or exploits their anti-cheat system, they can improve it and prevent any future attacks. A win-win situation.
The $100,000 bounty is part of Riot’s ongoing Bug Bounty Program hosted on HackerOne. It is a platform where companies reward hackers for identifying security flaws, like an event organizer . The highest payouts target critical vulnerabilities, such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) exploits.
How To Participate
Think you have what it takes to hack Riot Vanguard?
Step 1. Riot’s Bug Bounty Program is hosted on HackerOne. Register on the platform to get started.
Step 2. Hackers must identify and submit a detailed report of any exploit they discover in Vanguard.
Step 3. Riot’s security team will evaluate the submission. If the vulnerability is valid, they’ll start the triage process.
Step 4. Depending on the exploit’s severity, payouts range from $500 to $100,000. Top-tier bounties cover exploits like targeted DDoS attacks or session disconnections.
Why Hack Riot Vanguard?
Riot Games is testing both its strength and weakness at the same time, that is Vanguard’s kernel-level access. This access level allows the system to monitor and block cheats. Also, it becomes an easy target for hackers who know how to attack user systems. However, they already know this, which is why they actively work with top-level ethical hackers to stay one step ahead.
This isn’t the first time Riot has put Vanguard to the test. Since Valorant’s launch in 2020, the system has been under constant scrutiny from players and hackers. The bounty program reflects Riot’s proactive approach to security.
Why This Challenge Is Unique?
This unique as well as huge bounty program is a welcome treat for innovation in gaming. This isn’t about fixing some game bugs, instead if hackers exploit Vanguard they will be rewarded. On the other hand, they can cooperate with hackers on how to make their systems more secure. That’s really a rare approach today because most of the companies shy away from publicly acknowledging vulnerabilities. This is what will make Riot Games a trusted name.
DDoS Exploits Are a Big Deal
The updated bounty also targets DDoS vulnerabilities. DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks overload a server with traffic. They make the games completely unplayable. These attacks have plagued competitive gaming. We recently saw a high-profile team T1 suffering from repeated disruptions in ranked play.
Riot aims to protect players and maintain the fair play competition they are trying to address DDoS issues.
What Hackers Are Saying
The bounty amount is what created a real buzz in the gaming world. A lot of hackers are seeing this as a chance to show their skills while earning a substantial reward of bounty. Meanwhile, some skeptics still think if the bounty is high enough given the complexity of hacking Vanguard. Riot’s move has also sparked discussions about the ethics of anti-cheat software. While some applaud Vanguard’s effectiveness, others remain wary of its kernel-level access and user privacy.
What Does This Mean For Us?
For players, hackers, and Riot Games, this bounty program is a win. Players can play Riot Games fairly with peace of mind, hackers are seeing this as an opportunity, and Riot Games are claiming to have a strong anti-cheat system.
Riot is telling the world they’re confident in their systems and willing to invest heavily to keep them secure. For hackers, it’s a golden opportunity to test their skills. For players, it’s a promise that Riot values competitive integrity and user safety above all. Even if vulnerabilities are identified and patched, Vanguard becomes stronger with that. Riot isn’t showing to its audience that they are not just reactive but proactive in addressing potential threats. Hacker collaboration opens some new doors for the gaming companies.
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