Unlike a regular account ban, which is removed by simply registering a new profile, a hardware ban tightly binds a black label to the physical components of your computer. You can change your IP address, reinstall Windows, format disks, and create dozens of new accounts - the anti—cheat will recognize you anyway and won't let you into the game.
In this article, we will look at how the HWID ban works, which components are monitored, how to avoid blocking when using cheats, and what to do if the ban has already arrived. All proven solutions for circumvention and prevention are collected on CHEATPULSE — we test the software personally and guarantee the compatibility of bundles.
How anti-cheat collects your HWID: what gets on the blacklist
When you launch a game with active protection (EAC, BattlEye, Vanguard, Ricochet), anti-cheat does not just scan RAM for cheats. It collects a unique digital fingerprint of your device. The serial numbers of the following components are included in this fingerprint:
The motherboard. The main identifier. The serial number of the motherboard is registered in the BIOS/UEFI firmware and almost never changes.
Hard drives and SSDs. Serial numbers of all connected drives, including NVMe drives. The anti-cheat reads them through SMART attributes and direct requests to the controller.
Network adapters. MAC addresses of Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters. Even if you use a VPN, the MAC address remains the same.
TPM module (Trusted Platform Module). Starting in 2024, anti-cheats have been actively using TPM 2.0 to create a cryptographically secure identifier that cannot be faked using software methods.
SMBIOS-data. Information about the motherboard manufacturer, BIOS version, and serial number of the system unit.
All this data is hashed and sent to the anti-cheat server. If the hash matches the entry in the banned database, access to the game is permanently closed. That's why reinstalling Windows or buying a new account doesn't help: the hardware remains the same.
Why the HWID ban is coming: the main reasons
There are three main scenarios under which you get a hardware ban.
Reason 1: Cheat technical Detection
The anti-cheat has updated the signatures and found your software in memory. This is a classic scenario.: you are running an outdated or cheap cheat, the signatures of which are already known to the security developers. After detection, the system automatically issues a HWID ban so that you cannot simply re-register and continue playing.
Reason 2: Multiple account bans
Even if you use a high-quality private cheat, but you play aggressively and get reports, the system bans your account first. If you create a new account and get banned again (on the same hardware), anti—cheat recognizes the pattern: one device - multiple violations. After 2-3 such cycles, the HWID lock is activated.
Reason 3: A manual ban from the moderator
The rarest, but most unpleasant scenario. If your match record has been viewed by a live moderator and has issued a verdict of "cheats", he can manually issue a permanent HWID ban, bypassing the stage of the usual account blocking. This is practiced in Valorant and Rust.
How to avoid a HWID ban: Pre-game prevention
The best way to deal with a ban on hardware is to keep it out. Here is a checklist of preventive measures that will keep your device clean.
Use only proven software. Free cheats from open forums are detected within 24-48 hours after publication. Anti-cheat developers monitor the same forums and instantly add signatures to the database. Buying a private cheat from a trusted supplier is an investment in the safety of your hardware. At CHEATPULSE, all products undergo closed testing before being shipped to customers.
Keep an eye on the status of the software. Any cheat has a lifecycle: Undetected (undetected) → Detected (detected) → Updating. If you missed the moment when the status changed to Detected and continue playing, a HWID ban is almost guaranteed. Subscribe to seller notifications and always check the current status before launching.
Set up a cheat for a legitimate game. The main reason for the bans is not a technical detection, but reports from other players. If your Aimbot is set to 100% headshots, and WallHack is turned on all the time and you look at enemies through walls, you will be messed up dozens of times per session. Set the headshot limiter to 30-40%, use Smooth Aim, and play with restraint. Do not provoke the community to complain.
Do not play on the main account. This is the golden rule. If you value your steam account with a long history and expensive inventory, never run cheats on it. Use separate accounts to play with the software.
Take pauses between account bans. If your account is blocked, do not create a new one immediately and do not log in to the game on the same day. Pause, wait for the software update from the developer, launch the spoofer to clean up the traces, and only then register a new profile.
What to do if the HWID ban has already arrived: step-by-step instructions
If you have already received an iron ban, do not panic. The situation is solvable, but requires a clear sequence of actions.
Step 1: Stop using the old software
Delete the cheat that led to the ban. Do not run the game again with the same set of programs — you will only confirm that the lock is correct for the anti-cheat and may make the situation worse.
Step 2: Purchase a HWID Spoofer
A spoofer is a utility that temporarily or permanently replaces the serial numbers of your hardware. The anti-cheat sees the "left" IDs and does not match them with its banned database. There are two types: Temp (temporary, works until the PC restarts) and Perm (permanent, rewires the hardware forever).
The Temp spoofer is optimal for 95% of users. It is safe, does not risk turning the motherboard into a "brick" in case of a firmware error, and allows you to flexibly update to new versions of anti-cheats. On CHEATPULSE, you can buy a 2026 spoofer with a compatibility guarantee for your game.
Step 3: Clean the system of traces
One spoofer is not enough. Anti-cheats leave hidden marks on disks and in the registry: trace files, logs, registry keys. A high-quality spoofer does this automatically, but it's better to double-check manually.:
Delete the anti-cheat folders in %appdata% and ProgramData
Clean the registry of keys related to the game and anti-cheat
Delete the temporary files and the game cache
Reset the MAC addresses of the network adapters (if the spoofer does not do this by itself)
Step 4: Follow the correct startup order
Consistency is critically important. The wrong order — and you're back in the bathroom.
The correct order:
Launching the spoofer
Restarting the computer
Check that the serial numbers have changed (via the command line or a special utility)
Creating a new account
Launching the cheat
Launching the game
Step 5: Change the style of the game
After returning to the game, do not repeat the mistakes that led to the first ban. Play carefully, don't attract attention, and control your stats.
Myths about HWID bans: What is true and what is not
Myth 1: "It's enough to reinstall Windows"
Not true. The HWID is linked to the physical serial numbers of the components. Reinstalling the OS does not change either the serial number of the motherboard, the MAC address, or the TPM identifier. It's a waste of time.
Myth 2: "You need to replace your hard drive"
Is partially true, but not enough. Replacing only the SSD/HDD will not save if the motherboard and network cover remain the same. The anti-cheat collects a combined fingerprint from all components. You need to change either the entire hardware or use a spoofer.
Myth 3: "VPN hides HWID"
Absolutely not true. The VPN only changes the IP address. The hardware serial numbers are transmitted to the anti-cheat server along with the game traffic, and the VPN does not mask them in any way.
Myth 4: "Perm-spoofer solves the problem forever"
Not true. Anti-cheats are updated. A spoofing method that worked yesterday may be discovered tomorrow. The Perm solution is more difficult to update, and in case of detection, you will have to physically flash the chips with a programmer. Temp spoofers are more flexible and safer in the long run.
Myth 5: "Hardware bans are given only for obvious cheats"
Not true. Even a light WallHack or Soft Aimbot can lead to a HWID ban if you accumulate enough reports and get to a manual review by a moderator. The system does not distinguish between the "degree" of cheating — for it there is only the fact of violation.
Prevention of HWID ban for various games
Different anti-cheats have different sensitivity and criteria for issuing a ban on hardware.
Escape from Tarkov (BattlEye):
BattlEye in Tarkov is particularly aggressive towards repeated violations. The first account ban is almost always accompanied by a HWID tag. Do not try to log in from the same PC without a spoofer.
Rust (EAC + Facepunch):
Facepunch uses a combination of "account + IP + HWID". Even with a spoofer, but without changing the IP, you can be recognized. Full masking of the entire digital footprint is recommended.
Valorant (Vanguard):
The most difficult case. Vanguard runs at the UEFI level before Windows boots. Regular soft spoofers are useless. Specialized external solutions are required that work through a second PC.
CS2 (VACnet 3.0):
VACnet uses a neural network and analyzes behavior. HWID bans are less common here, but they do occur with multiple account locks from the same device.
Apex Legends (EAC):
EAC at Apex has learned how to remove firmware dumps. The spoofer must be updated every 48-72 hours to maintain the Undetected status.
Where to buy a spoofer and cheats with a guarantee:
The gaming software market is full of scams and low-quality products. An accidental spoofer may not only not solve the problem, but also worsen it, leaving the real serial numbers visible to the anti-cheat.
Why customers choose CheatPulse:
Testing Laboratory. Each product is checked for current versions of Windows and anti-cheats before publication.
Ready-made bundles of "cheat + spoofer". You don't have to guess which spoofer is compatible with your cheat. We have already selected and tested everything.
Direct contracts with developers. We work without intermediaries and get the software first-hand.
Transparent status. The current status is displayed in the card of each product: Undetected, Detected or Updating.
Round-the-clock support. If the anti—cheat has been updated and the software requires a fix, we will resolve it promptly.
All cheats and spoofers, any and tested, can be purchased on our CHEATPULSE website. We don't just sell files, we provide a safe return to the game service with minimal risks.