Is Valorant Malware? An In-Depth Analysis of Riot Games' Anti-Cheat System

Is Valorant simply another game, or does it carry hidden risks as spyware or a rootkit? Today, we're diving deep to address these concerns definitively. We'll also explore the broader implications for similar applications and anti-cheat software in general. Are these invasive applications a risk to your security? What should you do about it? Initial Observations When you install Valorant on your computer, it initiates numerous connections, primarily to servers across the Riot CDN network. The data transmitted, however, is encrypted, making it challenging to discern the specifics or destinations. Most connections route to Amazon servers, but beyond that, the exact paths remain obscured. Riot Games and Tencent Riot Games, the company behind Valorant, is wholly owned by the Chinese conglomerate Tencent. Given Tencent's history and business interests, it’s reasonable to question whether they might engage in spying activities. While definitive answers are elusive, th...