Can Valorant damage my SSD if I don't cheat?
No, only cheaters using specialized DMA hardware are at risk.
Yanuki
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Gaming / Gaming News
Valorant's Anti-Cheat Measures Damage Cheaters' SSDs
A recent Valorant update has sparked controversy, with reports circulating that it can damage NVMe SSDs. However, this issue exclusively affects cheaters who use specialized hardware to bypass the game's anti-cheat system.
Key Insights
- Riot Games' Vanguard anti-cheat system now targets hardware-level cheats that use PCIe DMA devices and custom firmware.
- The update interferes with the firmware on these DMA devices, potentially rendering both the device and associated SSD unusable.
- Only players using cheats are affected; legitimate players' SSDs are not at risk.
- This acts as a hardware-level restriction, which technically can be circumvented by flashing a different FPGA firmware onto the DMA device and reinstalling Windows.
- Why this matters: This update demonstrates Riot Games' commitment to combating cheating in Valorant, raising the stakes for those who attempt to gain an unfair advantage.
In-Depth Analysis
Valorant employs Riot Games' Vanguard, a kernel-level anti-cheat system that operates continuously. While traditional software-based cheats are largely ineffective, some cheaters resort to PCIe Direct Memory Access (DMA) devices with custom firmware to bypass Vanguard.
These DMA devices, paired with NVMe or SATA SSDs, connect to a second computer where cheats are executed. The cheats access the main PC's memory, enabling wallhacks, aimbots, and other exploits. The May 2026 update to Vanguard strengthens IOMMU enforcement, causing repeated page faults and restarts that corrupt the DMA device's firmware and potentially the SSD. Although this damage can be reversed, it serves as a significant deterrent.
How to Prepare: Regular players don't need to take any action. If you are a legitimate player, your system is not at risk. For those using DMA devices for cheating, be aware of the potential hardware damage. Who This Affects Most: This primarily affects individuals who employ hardware-level cheats in Valorant. Legitimate players are not impacted.
FAQ
Is the SSD damage permanent?
While the update can render the hardware unusable, it can technically be reversed by flashing new firmware.
What is IOMMU?
Input-Output Memory Management Unit, a hardware-level component leveraged by Vanguard to disrupt DMA devices.
Takeaways
- If you play Valorant legitimately, you have nothing to worry about.
- Riot Games is actively targeting and disrupting hardware-level cheats.
- Cheating in Valorant now carries a risk of hardware damage.
Discussion
Do you think this anti-cheat measure is effective? Let us know in the comments!
Share this article with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!
Sources
Valorant anti-cheat update soft-bricks $6,000 cheating hardware, company then trolls cheaters on social media — studio tweets 'congrats to the owners of a brand new $6k paperweight'
Riot Games' Vanguard anti-cheat has begun turning cheaters' hardware into expensive paperweights
Your SSD could be damaged by playing Valorant, but only if you are cheating
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