Online multiplayer shooters, like Call of Duty, often become contentious environments where cheating is prevalent, leading to bans for both cheaters and regular players whose behaviors may appear suspicious. In recent incidents, hackers exploited Call of Duty’s anti-cheat system, resulting in innocent players being banned by sending them a simple direct message.
Hackers discovered a flaw in the Ricochet anti-cheat system, used in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Warzone. By sending players a message containing the phrase “trigger bot,” the system would automatically scan for that text in player files and incorrectly ban the recipients. This exploit was proudly shared on Twitter by hackers who sell cheating tools.
Hackers Exploit Call of Duty’s Anti-Cheat System, Causing Bans of Innocent Players Through Messages
The hackers claimed that they successfully used this tactic to ban several thousand players, including popular streamers who were banned during live gameplay. The widespread bans affected many players who were unaware that receiving such a message could lead to a permanent account suspension.
For context, a “triggerbot” is a type of cheating tool that automatically fires a player’s weapon when an enemy is detected in their crosshairs. Unlike more obvious cheats like aimbots, a triggerbot allows the player to retain some control over movement and aiming, making it harder to detect. However, its use is still banned in online games, including Call of Duty.
Activision responded quickly to the issue by fixing the Ricochet exploit and restoring the accounts of legitimate players affected by the wrongful bans. While a few thousand players were impacted, this number is relatively small compared to the millions who play the game. However, these incidents highlight the challenge of using automated systems to police cheating in online games, as hackers often find new ways to exploit them.
