PunkBuster
From the wikipedia.org Punkbuster page:
What is PunkBuster
PunkBuster is a computer program that detects software used for cheating in online games. It does this by scanning the memory contents of the local machine. A computer identified as using cheats may be banned from connecting to protected servers.
PunkBuster Features
- Real-time scanning of memory, a feature also prominent in many spyware programs, by placing a PunkBuster Client on players' computers searching for known hacks/cheats using a built-in database.
- Throttled two-tiered background auto-update system using multiple Internet Master Servers to provide end-user security ensuring that no false or corrupted updates can be installed on players' computers.
- Frequent status reports (encrypted) are sent to the PunkBuster Server by all players. When necessary, the PunkBuster Server raises a violation which (depending upon settings) will cause the offending player to be removed from the game and all other players to be informed of the violation.
- PunkBuster Admins can also manually remove players from the game for a specified number of minutes or permanently ban if desired.
- PunkBuster Servers can optionally be configured to randomly check player settings looking for known exploits of the game engine.
- PunkBuster Servers can be configured to instruct clients to calculate partial MD5 hashes of files inside the game installation directory. The results are compared against a set configuration and differences logged, and optionally, the client removed from the server.
- PunkBuster Admins can request actual screenshot samples from specific players and/or can configure the PB Server to randomly grab screenshot samples from players during gameplay.
- An optional "bad name" facility is provided so that PunkBuster Admins can prevent players from using offensive player names containing unwanted profanity or racial slurs.
- Search functions are provided for PunkBuster Admins who wish to search player's keybindings and scripts for anything that may be known to exploit the game.
- PunkBuster Admins can stream their server logs in real time to another location. Non-profit organizations like Anti-Cheat Inc., Airdale Ops Network , PunksBusted , PBBans and AASA are examples of groups that use this feature to create shared banlists for their members.
Why use PunkBuster on my 1.0 server
Punkbuster is able to detect all public cheats as of 7/1/2009 that are able to be used on RtCW 1.0. Additional, private cheats that are not yet detected by PunkBuster can be caught using PunkBuster's additional features, such as MD5 checks, cvar checks and screenshots of client's computers
What is a PunkBuster Screenshot
A PunkBuster screenshot is similar to a regular screenshot taken by players. The PunkBuster server requests one or all clients to take a screenshot and then send it back to the server. The frequency of these can be set by the server administrator. Server administrators should verify with their server host if these are acceptable as they consume large amounts of storage space.
PunkBuster FAQ / Help
I get kicked for PnkbusterA
Run RtCW under an administrator account. To do this in Windows Vista or 7, right click on the RtCW shortcut and click on Run As Administrator.
PunkBuster Installation
Please visit the installation portion of the Wiki.