Game hardware bans identify a PC through device signals and enforcement systems chosen by each publisher—not a single universal fingerprint formula. A device restriction is different from an account ban, and publishers disclose only parts of how their systems work. Riot, for example, discusses a TPM Endorsement Key as one possible hardware identity signal in Vanguard; Activision describes hardware validation but does not publish an exact list of PC identifiers.
What a game hardware ban means
An account ban is attached to a player account. A hardware or device ban is attached to the computer, or to signals associated with its physical components, so creating or using a different account may not restore access from that PC. A publisher can apply account and device penalties together.
Riot Games Support describes an HWID ban as banning a computer’s physical components rather than only an account. Riot says the restriction is intended to prevent access from the device regardless of which account is used. Activision likewise distinguishes its hardware bans from account penalties and says they apply to the device. Riot’s HWID-ban explanation and Activision’s enforcement policy describe their respective systems.
Which PC hardware identifiers do games use?
There is no supported, publisher-wide list of identifiers that every game reads. Each company can use its own device signals and validation methods, and may keep matching rules undisclosed. The official disclosures below illustrate what particular publishers say; they do not establish a universal recipe.
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Riot Vanguard: TPM Endorsement Key is one disclosed example
Riot’s technical explanation of Vanguard discusses a Trusted Platform Module’s Endorsement Key (EK), describing it as factory-burned into non-volatile memory and as something that could serve as a hardware identity signal. This supports saying Riot discusses the TPM EK in its own system. It does not show that every Riot ban relies on that key, disclose every field Riot uses, or establish that other anti-cheat systems use it. Riot’s Vanguard technical explanation also discusses TPM requirements, driver attestation, and IOMMU security; those are integrity controls and should not automatically be treated as ban identifiers.
Activision RICOCHET: hardware validation, identifiers unspecified
Activision says RICOCHET combines client- and server-side detection, monitors relevant applications during gameplay, analyzes gameplay anomalies, and validates that hardware has not been tampered with. Its policy does not name the exact identifiers used to recognize a PC, so it cannot substantiate claims about a specific serial number or fixed combination of components.
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EA anticheat: published data-handling statements
EA says its anticheat runs only while a protected game is running, and its processes shut down when the game closes. EA also says it looks only at information needed for anticheat purposes and uses hashing to create unique identifiers, discarding original information where possible. These are EA’s published statements about EA anticheat—not an independently verified description of every implementation or a general rule for other publishers. EA’s explanation of EA anticheat and Battlefield provides its account of runtime and data handling.
How device enforcement differs by publisher
| Publisher and system | What is disclosed | Scope and review |
|---|---|---|
| Riot Games / Vanguard | Riot describes bans tied to physical components and discusses a TPM EK as a possible identity signal; it does not publish a complete matching formula. | Riot says another account logging into an HWID-banned computer can face device access restrictions and a time-limited ban. Riot documents reevaluation for certain cases; removal is not guaranteed, and verifiable threats are treated differently. |
| Activision / RICOCHET | Activision describes hardware validation but does not identify the exact PC identifiers used. | Hardware bans apply to the device, may affect online play across Call of Duty titles, and may vary in duration. Activision says hardware bans cannot be appealed. |
| EA anticheat | EA describes when its anticheat runs and its approach to information needed for anticheat, including hashing; it does not thereby establish a hardware-ban identifier list. | The cited EA article does not state a hardware-ban appeal process or device-ban scope. |
Can a hardware ban affect a used or shared PC?
Yes. A restriction associated with a device can affect someone who did not incur the original penalty. Riot warns that logging another account into a computer with an HWID ban can result in restricted device access and a temporary ban on that account. Activision warns that a restriction may remain on a secondhand, shared, or public device.
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If you are considering a used PC, check the relevant game publisher’s current policy rather than relying on a generic “clean” or hardware-check utility. The cited publisher guidance does not establish a universal third-party test that can certify a computer as free of restrictions.
Will changing a component, reinstalling the game, or deleting an account remove a ban?
The cited sources do not support a reliable general fix based on replacing one component or changing an account. Riot says reinstalling the game or deleting the account does not remove an HWID restriction. Its VAN 152 guidance also says reinstalling Vanguard or the game, changing the connection, and restarting the PC will not clear the restriction. Riot’s VAN 152 page identifies that error as an HWID restriction—not an installation or connection fault. No general claim about a replacement component clearing bans is established for other publishers either.
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What to do if you think a device ban is mistaken
For Riot VAN 152
- Read Riot’s VAN 152 explanation to confirm that the message refers to an HWID restriction.
- Use Riot Support’s request and reevaluation route if your case is eligible. Riot says reevaluation does not guarantee removal, and its policy treats verifiable threats differently.
- Avoid treating reinstalling, restarting, or changing your connection as a remedy; Riot says those steps will not remove this restriction.
For Call of Duty
Review the current Activision Security and Enforcement Policy and its official enforcement-status flow. Activision says hardware bans are not appealable, so unofficial identifier-changing tools are not a supported resolution.
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- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy laptop support with the integrated device ledge.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
- Durable Surface: Work with confidence on our lap desk's solid surface, featuring a blush pink color, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent your laptop from overheating.
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What public sources do not prove
- They do not establish that all games read the same motherboard, disk, network, Windows, or other identifiers.
- They do not reveal a complete universal algorithm for matching a PC to a restriction.
- They do not prove that changing any one component will reliably clear a ban.
- They do not validate commercial spoofing tools as a way to diagnose or remove a restriction.
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