Do VAC bans expire?
VAC bans are permanent and do not expire, meaning that once a player’s account has been banned, they will no longer be able to play on VAC-protected servers in any VAC-enabled game on that account. However, it’s worth noting that while the ban itself does not expire, the visibility of the ban on a player’s profile will stop showing to others after 7 years, although it can still be detected through certain means.
Understanding VAC Bans
To delve deeper into the world of VAC bans and their implications, let’s explore some frequently asked questions that can provide more insight into how VAC works and what it means for players.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What triggers a VAC ban?
A VAC ban is triggered by the detection of cheats or hacks installed on a user’s computer, which are designed to give one player an unfair advantage over another in a game.
2. Can you get multiple VAC bans?
Yes, it is technically possible to receive multiple VAC bans, which means a user can have more than one VAC ban on their record, indicating repeated violations.
3. Does a VAC ban IP ban?
No, a VAC ban does not IP ban; instead, it bans the account, making it impossible for the banned account to play on VAC-secured servers.
4. Is Valve Anti-Cheat good?
The effectiveness of Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) can be seen in the number of banned accounts, but its ability to ban cheaters after some time allows them to ruin games for regular players before being caught.
5. How do I know if someone has a VAC ban?
You can use tools like VacList to view and track Steam accounts and their ban status by searching for accounts via SteamID, community URL, or vanity name.
6. What can’t you do with a VAC ban?
With a VAC ban, you are no longer able to play on VAC-protected servers in any VAC-enabled game on your account, although you can still play on custom servers that are not VAC-protected.
7. Does having Cheat Engine installed get you banned?
Having Cheat Engine installed can result in a ban from a game due to violating the End User License Agreement (EULA), but it does not directly trigger a VAC ban.
8. Is a VAC ban worse than a game ban?
A VAC ban is considered worse than a game ban because it is permanent and affects all VAC-enabled games, whereas a game ban might be specific to one game and potentially not permanent.
9. Does VAC scan your computer?
Yes, VAC scans the user’s system for cheats while the game is running as part of its operation to detect and prevent cheating.
10. Does VAC ban mean trade ban?
A VAC ban itself does not directly result in a trade ban, but items in the inventory related to the banned game (like CSGO items) may become non-tradeable.
11. Can Steam track alt accounts?
Steam can track alt accounts through its API, allowing developers to identify and potentially ban main accounts if alt accounts are found to be involved in malicious activities.
12. Can Steam ban you for pirated games?
Yes, Steam can ban accounts for possessing pirated games, as this violates Steam’s terms of service and the game’s EULA.
13. Does Steam ban IP?
Steam does not typically ban IP addresses because most users have dynamic IP addresses, instead opting to ban the account directly.
14. What is the longest Steam ban?
The longest Steam VAC ban on record is held by a user named Sori, with a ban lasting 4,477 days.
15. How long is a VAC ban in Rust?
A VAC ban in Rust (or any other game) is permanent, meaning it does not have a specific duration after which it expires, and it prevents play on VAC-secured servers within that game.