If you’ve created a sizeable CS2 inventory after several hundred hours of gameplay, getting VAC banned is probably the last thing you want happening to your Steam account. But can that happen without you installing any cheating software? To help you answer that, here’s an explanation of whether or not you can get VAC banned without cheating.
Will I Get Banned Even If I Don’t Cheat In CS2?
The short answer is no. If you aren’t cheating, then you will not get VAC banned. That’s because VAC is a cheat-detection software that scans the player’s computer for any hacking or cheating software. You will not get banned if you haven’t installed any cheating software on your computer or have modified the original game files of CS2 to get an unfair advantage over the enemy team.
You don’t have to take our word for it. The statement above is from Valve, and they have posted it on their Steam Support page for VAC. Another thing mentioned on the same Steam Support page is how to prevent your account from getting VAC banned. Based on those instructions, you must ensure that no hacks or cheats are installed on the computer you play CS2 on.
Player Reports Of Getting Banned Without Cheating
That said, you might have seen or heard reports of players getting VAC banned without cheating or having any cheating software installed on their computers. Seeing all those posts might seem like a nightmare for us regular gamers who have no intention of doing anything that isn’t allowed within the gameplay rules of CS2, but that’s not something you should be worried about.
While there have been instances where players received a false VAC ban, those usually get reverted soon after the ban gets issued. Most of the posts you see online of people getting banned without cheating aren’t entirely telling you the truth. Even if you don’t have any cheats installed on your computer, if you’re using the information provided by your teammate who has, you would be considered as accountable as your teammate. While VAC won’t be able to detect that, using info like that will show up in Overwatch, which will get you banned.
Conclusion
In conclusion, you can’t get banned if you aren’t cheating. However, there are ways players can cheat even if they haven’t installed any cheating software or hacks on their computers. To be safe, be mindful of the rules of CS2 gameplay and ensure that you don’t do anything to get an unfair advantage over your opponents.