UltimateAntiCheat
UltimateAntiCheat is a free, open-source educational anti-cheat system for Windows, intended as a generic reference rather than commercial software.
What UltimateAntiCheat is
UltimateAntiCheat is a free, open-source educational anti-cheat system for Windows, intended as a generic reference rather than commercial software. Its checks cover memory integrity, manually mapped and unsigned modules, debugger activity, process creation, and handles opened to a protected process. Prevention options include remapping protected sections, restricting certain new threads, hiding threads from debuggers, and applying mitigation policies. The C++ project supports CMake and recommends integration into a game or other software as source code or a static library. Its optional client-server mechanism can send a heartbeat to clients every minute and can be enabled or disabled in settings. Settings are compiled into the program and changed in main.cpp or Common/Settings.hpp. Windows targeting can be configured, though some features need newer Windows versions. A hybrid kernelmode and usermode option requires users to make or provide their own driver. The project avoids file-system scanning and says it does not use privacy-invasive techniques. Its AGPL-3.0 license requires projects using its code to also be open source, according to the README.
Good
- Checks memory, modules, debuggers, and process activity.
- Offers mitigation and thread-protection options.
- Optional heartbeat networking can be disabled.
- C++ project supports CMake.
Watch out
- Kernelmode use requires a supplied or self-made driver.
- AGPL-3.0 requires using projects to be open source.
- Window-name and text checks risk false positives.
- Some features need newer Windows versions.
Who it suits
It suits developers seeking an educational anti-cheat reference to integrate into Windows software. It is not presented by its maker as commercial software.
Verdict
UltimateAntiCheat provides a range of usermode detection and prevention options for educational integration. Review its open-source licensing and configurable Windows requirements before adopting it.
Plans and prices
From UltimateAntiCheat's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| UltimateAntiCheat | Free | Open-source educational project · AGPL-3.0 · commercial reuse requires the project to also be open source |
The facts
Each one read from UltimateAntiCheat's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Configuration
- Settings are compiled into the program rather than stored in an external file, and can be changed in main.cpp or Common/Settings.hpp.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Detection coverage
- Its listed checks include memory integrity, manually mapped modules, debugger activity, unsigned modules, process creation, and handles opened to the protected process.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integration
- The README recommends integrating the project into a game or software as source code or a static library instead of using a standalone DLL.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Intended use
- The maker describes it as a generic reference for educational purposes rather than commercial software.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Kernel option
- A hybrid kernelmode and usermode approach is available through settings, but users must make or provide their own driver.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Known limitation
- The detections page says checking process window names and text is not recommended in live use because of a large false-positive risk.checked 8 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository uses the GNU Affero General Public License, and its README says projects using its code must also be open source.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Networking
- An optional client-server mechanism sends a simple heartbeat to clients every minute, and networking can be enabled or disabled in settings.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Prevention features
- Listed preventions include remapping protected sections, blocking certain new threads, hiding threads from debuggers, and applying mitigation policies.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says the project avoids privacy-invasive techniques and does not rely on file-system scanning; it scans byte patterns in processes already open or created while the anti-cheat runs.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- UltimateAntiCheat is an open-source, educational usermode anti-cheat system designed to detect and prevent common game-hacking attack vectors.checked 8 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platform and build
- The project is written in C++ for Windows and supports CMake; an LLVM/clang-cl option is available on a branch that the maker cautions may lag or contain errors.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Windows versions
- Windows targeting is configurable at compile time, and the README gives Windows 10 and Windows 7 or later as examples; some features require newer Windows versions.checked 8 Oct 2026
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