Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 2, 2026

Easy Anti-Cheat

Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) is a proprietary, kernel-level anti-cheat middleware service designed to detect and prevent cheating in online multiplayer PC games. Originally developed by the Finnish company Kamu, it operates by deploying a combination of user-mode processes and a kernel-mode driver on Windows to monitor game integrity in real time. The software inspects running processes, scans game memory, validates file checksums, and can issue hardware-level bans to repeat offenders. It is distributed and maintained by Epic Games following the company's acquisition of Kamu in October 2018.

Last revised
Jul 2, 2026
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≈ 6 min
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Wikipedia ↗
Easy Anti-Cheat
DevelopersKamu (2013–2018)
Epic Games (2018–present)
ReleaseSeptember 19, 2006 (2006-09-19)1
Written inC++ and C
Operating systemWindows, macOS, Linux
Platformx86-64
Included withSee list of games
Size40.9 MB
TypeAnti-cheat software
LicenseProprietary
Websitewww.easy.ac

Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) is a proprietary, kernel-level anti-cheat middleware service designed to detect and prevent cheating in online multiplayer PC games.2 Originally developed by the Finnish company Kamu, it operates by deploying a combination of user-mode processes and a kernel-mode driver on Windows to monitor game integrity in real time. The software inspects running processes, scans game memory, validates file checksums, and can issue hardware-level bans to repeat offenders. It is distributed and maintained by Epic Games following the company's acquisition of Kamu in October 2018.3

At the time of the acquisition, Easy Anti-Cheat was already one of the most widely-used anti-cheat systems in the games industry, reportedly incorporated into more than 80 titles and installed on over 100 million PCs globally.4 Following the takeover, Epic integrated EAC into its Epic Online Services (EOS) ecosystem and made the service freely available to game developers. The platform was subsequently expanded to support other platforms besides Windows, including macOS, Linux, and Valve's Steam Deck handheld via compatibility layers.

History

Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) originated in 2006, when two Finnish developers released an early version of the software under the Easy eSports brand for use with Counter-Strike 1.6, primarily serving competitive leagues and tournaments.3 In 2013, the developers established Kamu, a Helsinki-based company to commercialize the technology.4

By 2018, the software had become widely used, incorporated into more than 80 games and installed on over 100 million PCs worldwide. On 8 October 2018, Epic Games acquired Kamu,5 stating that it reflected the importance of anti-cheat technology in online games, and citing EAC's role in supporting Fortnite’s multiplayer ecosystem.6 Following the acquisition, Epic established a development presence in Helsinki to recruit technology and talent in Finland.78

In 2020, the Windows version was made free to all game developers.9 In September 2021, Epic announced support for Linux, macOS, and Steam Deck through the Epic Online Services Developer Portal, enabling compatibility with Wine and Proton.10 In January 2022, Valve confirmed that EAC support on Steam Deck could be enabled without requiring integration with the broader Epic Online Services toolkit.11

Technology

Easy Anti-Cheat is middleware integrated into games during development.12 On Windows, it uses both a kernel-mode driver and a user-mode process, allowing it to monitor game memory, running processes, system calls, and attempts to inject unauthorized code. It also verifies game files against a catalogue of expected checksums and can restrict online play if tampering is detected.

As its kernel driver operates at Ring 0, the highest privilege level on modern processors, Easy Anti-Cheat has extensive access to system resources. To hinder reverse engineering, Easy Anti-Cheat employs code obfuscation and runtime integrity checks. The software typically removes its drivers automatically when the last game using it is uninstalled.13

On Linux, Easy Anti-Cheat operates entirely in user space through the Wine or Proton compatibility layers and does not use a kernel driver, resulting in more limited detection capabilities than on Windows. A comparative study presented at the 19th International Conference on Availability, Reliability and Security (ARES 2024) found that Easy Anti-Cheat did not exhibit the rootkit-like characteristics identified in some competing anti-cheat systems, although the authors noted that all examined anti-cheat technologies raise broader questions regarding sacrificing user privacy to prevent cheats. The study also described Easy Anti-Cheat as more resistant to reverse engineering than BattlEye.14

Deployment and adoption

Following the 2018 Epic acquisition, Easy Anti-Cheat was integrated into the Epic Online Services ecosystem. Epic's decision to offer EAC for free to Windows developers, followed by the extension to Linux and macOS in 2021, significantly lowered the barrier to adoption and made it one of the most accessible commercial anti-cheat offerings available.15

Games using EAC span a broad range of publishers and genres. Major titles include Fortnite,5 Apex Legends,16 among many others. In April 2026, Rocket League developer Psyonix added EAC to its title while maintaining compatibility with SteamOS and Linux.17

Controversies

CVE-2021-47739

In December 2025, a security vulnerability affecting EAC version 4.0 on Windows, designated CVE-2021-47739, was publicly disclosed.18 The flaw, categorised as an unquoted service path local privilege escalation, carried a CVSS score of 8.5.19 Exploitation required pre-existing local access to the affected system. The vulnerability was addressed in updated versions of the software following disclosure.

Games using Easy Anti-Cheat

References

References

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  2. Nelson, Will (2022-01-23). "'Chrono Trigger' composer's next game announcement coming February "at the earliest"". NME. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  3. Moscaritolo, Angela. "Fortnite Maker Epic Games Buys Anti-Cheat Startup Kamu". PCMAG. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  4. Jeffrey, Cal. "Epic Games buys Finnish anti-cheat software startup Kamu". TechSpot. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  5. Cuthbertson, Anthony. "Epic Games has a plan to banish cheaters from Fortnite". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  6. Fogel, Stefanie (2018-10-08). "Epic Games Acquires Anti-Cheat Company Kamu". Variety. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  7. Santangelo, Nick (2018-10-08). "Fortnite Developer Epic Games Acquires Anti-Cheat Company Kamu - IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  8. Kerr, Chris. "Epic Games acquires game security and player service outfit Kamu". Game Developer. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  9. Peters, Jay (2021-06-22). "Epic Games releases free anti-cheat and voice chat services for developers". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2026-05-31. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  10. Hollister, Sean (2021-09-23). "One of the Steam Deck's biggest hurdles just disappeared: EAC has come to Linux and BattlEye is inbound". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2026-05-31. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  11. Colp, Tyler (2022-01-24). "Epic's Easy Anti-Cheat system will work on Steam Deck, after all". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  12. Hossain, Abir (2026-05-29). The Battle Against Cheating: How Anticheat Systems Shape Gaming (Bachelor’s thesis). University of Turku. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29.
  13. Ganglani, Kunal (2026-03-15). "Kernel-Level Anti-Cheat Explained: How Ring 0 Drivers Work [2026]". Kunal Ganglani. Archived from the original on 2026-05-31. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  14. Dorner, Christoph; Klausner, Lukas Daniel (2024). "If It Looks Like a Rootkit and Deceives Like a Rootkit: A Critical Examination of Kernel-Level Anti-Cheat Systems". Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Availability, Reliability and Security (ARES 2024). Vienna, Austria. arXiv:2408.00500. doi:10.1145/3664476.3670433.
  15. Wilde, Tyler (2021-06-23). "Epic has made Easy Anti-Cheat free for game developers". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  16. "Apex Legends™: Anti-Cheat" (in Russian). Electronic Arts. 2024-08-22. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  17. Williams, Isaiah (2026-05-01). "Anti-cheat incompatibility on Linux is unacceptable from game developers and publishers — and Rocket League just proved why". TechRadar. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  18. "NVD - CVE-2021-47739". National Vulnerability Database. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  19. LiquidWorm. "Epic Games Easy Anti-Cheat 4.0 - Local Privilege Escalation - Windows local Exploit". Exploit Database. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  20. "Devblog 40". Facepunch. 28 December 2014. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  21. Grodt, Jill. "Epic Acquires Easy Anti-Cheat Company For Fortnite". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.
  22. Grimshaw, Jack (2021-09-25). "BattlEye anti-cheat confirms it is Steam Deck compatible". NME. Archived from the original on 2026-05-31. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  23. Evangelho, Jason. "Sorry Linux Gamers, The 'Halo: The Master Chief Collection' Situation Isn't Looking Good". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2026-05-31. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  24. Wakeford, Alex (2024-03-15). "March Update Preview". Halo Waypoint. Retrieved 2026-05-31.
  25. Stanton, Rich (2026-04-29). "Easy Anti-Cheat arrives in Rocket League and marks the end of the game's most popular mod: 'The right time to bring things to a close'". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2026-05-29. Retrieved 2026-05-29.