iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
A master’s student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Chris Bjørke, reports that the mouse and keyboard behavior already recorded in Counter-Strike 2 match demos can be turned into player fingerprints that suggest when two accounts belong to the same person. The method is a proposal and a reported result from one thesis, not a system Valve runs. The thesis paper is not publicly available, and the reported accuracy has not been tested on a population the size of CS2’s player base.
What the method does
According to Bjørke’s public thesis-results post from 2026, every competitive match produces a demo, and that demo contains a tick-by-tick record of where each player looked and which buttons they pressed. The approach uses those existing demo files rather than new data from players’ computers. The method works in five stages:
- Read the demo. The system extracts per-tick mouse movement and keyboard input for each player in a match.
- Build two separate fingerprints. One fingerprint describes mouse habits and another describes keyboard habits. They are not merged into a single score.
- Compare across accounts. Fingerprints from one account are compared with fingerprints from other accounts.
- Require agreement. Both signals must independently point to the same person before two accounts are linked.
- Keep only recent fingerprints. The post says the system stores recent fingerprints rather than keeping the demos themselves.
The post says the approach needs no client changes, no new telemetry, and no kernel driver. It also says a new account needs several matches before the system can make a determination, so a single match is not enough to link anything.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The reported results
Every figure below comes from Bjørke’s 2026 post unless noted. None has been independently replicated, and the post does not provide the full evaluation details needed to check them.
#1 Best Overall
- 🎮𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐢𝐧-𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐨 - 𝐔𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞: Experience premium features without the premium price. This complete wired set includes a full-size RGB backlit keyboard AND a high-precision gaming mouse, offering everything you need for gaming, work, or study. Perfect for first-time gamers, students, and budget-conscious users seeking a durable and responsive upgrade from basic peripherals.
- ✨𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐆𝐁 & 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬 - 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥, 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: Dive into your gameplay with dynamic lighting. The keyboard features 6 vibrant backlight modes, and the mouse boasts 10 lighting effects. Easily customize colors, brightness, and patterns using the intuitive software (downloadable at redragon.com). Record complex command sequences with the 5 dedicated macro keys for a competitive edge in any game.
- 🔇𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 & 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐲𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Designed for marathon sessions. The soft-touch membrane keys provide satisfying feedback while remaining remarkably quiet—ideal for shared spaces, late-night gaming, or office use. The included ergonomic wrist rest reduces fatigue, and the anti-ghosting keyboard ensures every key press is registered instantly, even during intense action.
- ⚙️𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐠, 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 - 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐩, 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: Get straight to the fun with true plug-and-play compatibility for Windows 10/11. Your personalized lighting and DPI settings are saved directly to the hardware, meaning they stay the way you set them, even after restarting your PC. Adjust the mouse sensitivity on-the-fly (800-7200 DPI) with a dedicated button for precision in any task.
- ✅𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 & 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: Built to last and work seamlessly. We’ve listened to feedback to ensure reliable performance. This combo is rigorously tested for durability and offers wide compatibility with major PCs and laptops. It’s the trusted, feature-packed kit that delivers excitement for young gamers and reliable functionality for everyday users.
| Reported figure | What it describes | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| More than 1,000 players | Size of the dataset used in the thesis work | Chris Bjørke, 2026 thesis-results post |
| 100% identification | Mouse signal picked the correct player every time in the reported dataset, often by a fine margin | Chris Bjørke, 2026 thesis-results post |
| 98% identification | Keyboard signal in the same reported dataset | Chris Bjørke, 2026 thesis-results post |
| 13 linked smurfs | Accounts identified in the dataset after the researcher investigated apparent false positives: eight submitted known linked pairs and five additional same-person pairs found through manual investigation | Chris Bjørke, 2026 thesis-results post |
| 0.11 correlation | Similarity between mouse habits and keyboard habits among pairs of unrelated players (strangers) | Chris Bjørke, 2026 thesis-results post |
A separate study is sometimes mentioned alongside this work. Tanglei Ni and colleagues published an IEICE technical report in 2026 on Counter-Strike behavioral authentication using replay-derived input patterns. It reports an AUC of 0.954 and an EER of 0.109, using match-level cross-validation. That study is independent of Bjørke’s thesis, and its metrics cannot be read as validation of his method. Neither study provides a head-to-head comparison with the other.
What the numbers do not show
The high identification percentages describe performance on the reported dataset. They do not establish how often the method would falsely link two unrelated players across CS2’s full player population. The researcher himself says that accuracy has not been tested on a real population of that size, and he writes: “Accuracy hasn’t been tested on a real population the size of CS2’s, and I would love the data to do it.”
Rank #2
- 【RGB Backlit】Rainbow backlit keyboard, you can easy turn ON/OFF by pressing “Scroll Lock” key, the Rainbow Backlight can illuminate the letters through the keys, which make it easier for You to type in a dark room.
- 【Gaming Keyboard】The 104 keys keyboard has rgb backlit function; All letters glow and never fade; This keyboard has built-in steel plate, anti-fall; Durable 61inch USB braided wire.19 Non-conflict keys allows you to press or hold multiple keys simultaneously.
- 【Gaming Mouse】Ergonomically Designed and Quality ABS construction; Durable 59inch USB braided wire; 4 Different LED breathing light change automatically; DPI Adjustable: 800/1200/1600/2000; Forward Key + DPI Key: Turn on/off the mouse backlight.
- 【Gaming Mouse Pad】The mouse pad size:11.8 x 9.8 inch, provide large space for mouse moving, made of superior material, smooth exquisite cloth on surface provide comfortable wrist rest support, the rubber at the bottom ensures mouse pad does not slip.
- 【Compatible System】Work well for PC,Computer,Laptop,PS4,Xbox One. USB Connect, Plug & Play, No driver required, Compatible with Windows XP/ VISTA/ Win 7/ Win 8/ Win 10/ Mac OS.
The evidence of same-person pairs is also limited. The researcher’s own assessment is: “The number of verified same-person pairs is small, clean but thin.” A set of 13 linked accounts is enough to show the idea can work on some cases, but not enough to estimate error rates with confidence.
Recommended Free Tools
Two other limits are stated in the post:
- Shared accounts. The method assumes that each account reflects one person’s behavior. A shared account, where several people play on the same login, breaks that assumption.
- Short histories. A new account needs several matches before the method can make a determination.
The post reports robustness across some settings and months. It does not report results for players who deliberately change their behavior, or for players who swap mice or change sensitivity. Those questions remain open.
Rank #3
- 【Wireless Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Combo】Get rid of the messy cables, Redragon Tri-mode Wireless Gaming Keyboard and Mouse will provide more freedom of choice for your gaming operations (wired/Bluetooth/2.4G receiver) and provide long-lasting and stable connection, which is ideal for gamers (Note: The 2.4G receiver is a 2-in-1 version, you can use one 2.4G receiver to control the keyboard and mouse at the same time)
- 【RGB Gaming Keyboard and Mouse】Turely RGB Backlight with 8 backlight patterns, you also can adjust the lighting speed and lightness of your keyboard and mouse to fit your gaming scene and enhance the gaming atmosphere. The rechargeable keyboard stands up to 300 Hrs (RGB OFF), and you can get the keyboard status by the battery indicator
- 【4800 DPI Adjustable Gaming Mouse】There are 5 DPI Levels(800/1200/1600/3200/4800) that can be chosen by clicking the dip button to fit your different needs(or adjust the DPI freely through the software) You can judge the DPI level by the number of flashes of the indicator light
- 【Fully Function Keyboard】Redragon S101M-KS Wireless Keyboard is equipped with 10 independent multimedia keys and 12 Combination multimedia keys to ensure quick management during gaming. It also has splash resistance, WIN lock function, and comes with a 6-foot detachable USB-C cable
- 【Programmable Keyboard and Mouse Gaming】You can customize the keyboard keys and backlighting as well as the DPI value and polling rate of the mouse (125-1000Hz) and remap the 7 mouse buttons through the software (download the software on Redragon.com). The ergonomic design of this gaming keyboard makes you feel comfortable while typing and gaming!
Why a match is not proof that someone cheated
The method links accounts. It does not decide whether a linked account is a cheater, and it does not decide what happens next. The researcher frames a link as something that could inform a watchlist or be weighed alongside other evidence. The final action would be a platform policy decision.
The post raises several questions that such a policy would have to answer:
Rank #4
- 【Full Size Keyboard, Plug and Play with It】104 Keys Full Size Keyboard. Featuring standard keyboard layout with F-keys ( function keys ) and number pad. Floating keycaps are removable and feel good in the hand. The wired keyboard brings you efficient typing while at work or gaming. Plug and play with it, no other driver or software needed.
- 【Practical & Ergonomic Design】The K1 keyboard is ergonomically designed with a scientific layout of high and low keycaps to fit your hands naturally, bringing maximum comfort and effectively reducing hand fatigue after prolonged use. The light up keyboard has non-slip pads on the bottom to enhance the stability of the keyboard and prevent it from moving back and forth. A great choice for your modern office use or playing games.
- 【RGB LED Backlight】The keyboard has fantastic RGB backlight. 8 light colors, 5 light modes, multiple brightness levels and light speeds. The double-shot injection moulding process ensures that the letters never fade and have good light transmission. Even if you use the keyboard in the dark, you can see the letters clearly (light also can be turned off).
- 【High-Resolution Mouse】6 levels of speed (600/800/1200/1600/2400/3200) meet the needs of different scenarios. High speed transmission technology makes it move faster and more accurately. When playing games, you can use the high speed for quick response and the mouse can move exactly where you want. The mouse has 7-color breathing led backlight and when it flashes to your favorite color, you can press the side button + middle button to lock it.
- 【Reliable Performance & Wide Compability】Waterproof USB 2.0 cable, gold-plated interface and anti-interference magnet ring can ensure stable data transmission. This pc gaming keyboard is treated with ABS engineering plastic to prevent wear and tear. Works perfectly with Windows XP/Vista/Win7/Win8/Win10, MAC, Linux or other operating system.
- Should an account link lead to a watchlist, further review, or an extension of an existing ban?
- What additional evidence should be required before any action is taken?
- How long should any consequence last?
The researcher presents these as decisions for platform operators, not as results the identification model establishes. A link that points to a person is not the same as a finding that the person broke the rules.
Privacy and data handling
The researcher describes the input as existing game demos and says the system stores recent fingerprints rather than the demos. He says he consulted NTNU’s ethics and data-protection service, which judged the study’s data not to be biometric data because the game engine had transformed the inputs. That is the researcher’s account of the service’s view. It is not a legal ruling, and it does not settle how the data would be treated under any particular law or on a live platform. The post says the researcher considers consent and storage safeguards important.
Best Value
- 【Professional Gaming Keyboard】The 104-key full-size keyboard has a standard layout with F-keys (function keys) and a numeric keypad, and 26 Anti-Ghosting keys allow you to press multiple keys simultaneously. The quality of the built-in steel plate of the keyboard is very strong and durable.
- 【Professional gaming mouse】The mouse uses high-precision optical sensor, sensitivity is 7200DPI, 12000fps scan rate, 1000Hz tour detection rate, can withstand 40G acceleration and 400IPS tracking speed, can meet your fast browsing and game requirements.
- 【Upgraded RGB Lighting Gaming Combo】All the keys of the keyboard, the light bar on the bottom side of the keyboard, and the RGB lights on the side of the mouse will glow. Your fingertips dance on the designed floating keycaps and click on the hyper-responsive mouse, accompanied by rainbow-like RGB lighting, allowing you to instantly enter the cool game state.
- 【Perfect Ergonomic Computer Game Combo】The adjustable tripod keyboard makes your keys easier. The anti-slip material mouse that is more suitable for the hand can reduce your hand fatigue.Soft leather wrist rest made from smooth faux leather and memory foam for extra relaxation while gaming.
- 【High-quality Game Combination】The curved ABS keycaps are exquisite in workmanship, the built-in steel plate of the keyboard base is sturdy and resistant to falling, the non-slip ABS material mouse has a better grip, and the soft leather wrist-rest filled with memory foam is more textured. High quality allows you to choose worry-free.
Common questions
Is this already part of VAC or Valve matchmaking?
The post describes a separate account-linking system proposed for matchmaking or anti-cheat platforms. Nothing in the cited material indicates that Valve has adopted it, and it should not be assumed to be part of VAC.
Can it prove a banned cheater returned on a new account?
Not on its own. A fingerprint match is evidence that two accounts may belong to the same person. It cannot establish intent, and it cannot establish that a person broke a rule, without other evidence and a policy decision.
How often could it falsely link strangers?
That is not established. The post reports a 0.11 correlation between mouse and keyboard similarity among stranger pairs, and it describes the false positives it investigated. It does not give a false-link rate for CS2’s full population.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →What happens to shared accounts?
The method assumes one account reflects one person. The post names shared accounts as a weakness, and it does not describe a way to separate several users on one login.
Bottom line
Bjørke’s work shows that mouse and keyboard behavior captured in CS2 demos can be turned into fingerprints that link accounts in a dataset of more than 1,000 players. The accuracy figures are promising but come from one thesis, a small set of verified same-person pairs, and a dataset that has not been tested at the scale of CS2’s player base. Treat it as a proposed account-linking method that would still need broader validation, clear policy rules, and safeguards before it could responsibly inform bans.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
