Valve begins VAC banning software that modifies Steam's behaviour

[cherinyy]

SteamDatabase/SteamTracking@dc8bdd6#diff-b3dd838c8d7f5940316279d5f037ff570fa55afe6eb1f74e9043e7bb5011b063R4855

Software That Modifies Steam Behavior
Steam detected %incompatname%, which is third party software that may modify Steam for the purposes of bypassing security or ownership checks.
This software is known to crash Steam, violate the Steam Subscriber Agreement, and infringe the intellectual property of DLC makers.
Use of this software could result in VAC bans or account locks.

Please uninstall it in order to run Steam.

I'm concerned about the ‘bypassing ownership checks’ bit, I remember ArchiSteamFarm caching Steam Guard data for Steam accounts, is that what's happening?

[JustArchi]

Nothing that considers ASF - ASF does not do anything of what you linked, "bypassing ownership checks" is basically cracking game executables or otherwise running games you're not eligible for, which is not something that ASF does or even allows you doing.

There is also no way for ASF to cause VAC ban (as already explained in the FAQ), and (assuming Steam client works not worse than currently where it doesn't crash on multiple Steam clients accessing the account at the same time) does not cause any Steam client crashes.

What you linked is exclusively against software that allows you to run games you did not purchase and otherwise are not eligible for, e.g. cracks.

[cherinyy]

Thank you very much for your reply, I am relieved that ASF is not affected.

I would like to ask a separate question though, what made you decide to change your long used Cirno avatar. I didn't react at all at first 🤣

[cherinyy]

I would like to ask a separate question though, what made you decide to change your long used Cirno avatar. I didn't react at all at first 🤣

Oh I see, that one is an organisation account, please don't mind.

[JustArchi]

I did it a while ago, my GitHub account is used in various conferences and other references, looks a bit better than baka ice fairy when I'm presenting stuff in front of people 😂

Cirno remains as org avatar though 🙂

[JustArchi]

I remember ArchiSteamFarm caching Steam Guard data for Steam accounts, is that what's happening?

And that part is correct, except this isn't anything that is a bannable offense, it's standard mechanism currently based on JWT access tokens which allows ASF to skip authorization and access the account without a need of password and/or 2FA confirmation.

Steam client uses the same mechanism, after all ASF implementation is based on exactly the same thing. It can't cause you any problems, but if you insisted against common sense for some reason, ASF gives you UseLoginKeys: false option which you can always use to skip this (but like I said, there is no reason for doing that, it's as if you decided that remember me option in Steam client will cause you some trouble - completely irrational).

[Rebeccacac]

So to what extent will they use bans? Usually there will be a warning or will the player be banned directly? If you log in to Steam in an Internet cafe and use a modified client without knowing it,That's too bad.

[Rebeccacac]

So to what extent will they use bans? Usually there will be a warning or will the player be banned directly? If you log in to Steam in an Internet cafe and use a modified client without knowing it,That's too bad.