Can the use of sv_cheats 1 in TF2 lead to a VAC ban

team-fortress-2

Sometimes, whilst testing different weapons, I'll create my own server on tr_walkway, and end up messing around by using the sv_cheats 1 command and editing the gravity strength and whatnot.
Now, I know that this will not lead to a VAC ban, as it is my own server, and I'm the only player.

However, if I go on a "mess-around" server (e.g. dm_mariokart, or an Uber Upgrade server), I'm hesitant to use the sv_cheats 1 command, in case I am VAC-banned.

If I accidentally use sv_cheats 1 on a VAC-secured server, will the server simply not let me use the in-game cheats, or will I receive a VAC ban?

Best Answer

No, using any console command on a VAC protected server will not cause a VAC ban.

not official, but a very verbose discussion about what causes bans and what does not.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1906399

Allowed Cheats that will never trigger a ban.

Using console cheats in a source VAC server with sv_cheats 1 turned on allows all players in the server to use console cheats of any kind.

wording of this page implies that console commands do not matter and that VAC would not even be able to detect them.

https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/VAC

When a player is connected to a VAC-secured server (denoted by a security badge and the letter V in the server browser), the VAC system checks if any foreign processes are hooked into the player's local game binaries. If the VAC check finds a positive ID for any possible cheating tool, the offending player's Steam account is then permanently banned from all VAC-secured servers after a variable amount of time. Message displayed to a VAC-banned client.

Valve Anti-Cheat will not detect content hacks such as invisible wall textures or bright-colored player models. Server admins that wish to block such activity will need to run a pure server.

wording on this link specifically mentions 3rd party cheats. Not built in ones to the game.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7849-Radz-6869

The VAC system reliably detects cheats using their cheat signatures. Any third-party modification to a game designed to give one player an advantage over another is classified as a cheat or hack and will trigger a VAC ban. This includes modifications to a game's core executable files and dynamic link libraries.

Further, from personal experience, I have joined VAC protected servers that have sv_cheats set to 1 and have never been VAC banned.

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