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Cheats performed on BZFlag are usually made by modifying your client. A great deal of power is invested in the client program, and therefore the client may cheat in every way from creating invincible tanks, to invisibility, to super killing. If you have seen any cheats, have performed them yourself, or have noticed a hole in the source, please add it here. Preventions for many of these cheats are on the [[Development RoadMap]]
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Cheats performed on BZFlag are usually made by modifying your client. A great deal of power is invested in the client program, and therefore the client may cheat in every way from creating invincible tanks, to invisibility, to super killing. If you have seen any cheats, have performed them yourself, or have noticed a hole in the source, please add it here.
  
 
== Warning ==
 
== Warning ==
 
Do not use a modified client on a public server. If you are found to be using a cheat client, you will likely be banned from multiple servers and could quickly find yourself with nowhere to play.  Cheating in BZflag is not the same as using a cheat code in a PlayStation game. See also the ''Notes on "CHEAT" servers'' at the bottom of the [[BZFlag_README | README]], which forbid the hosting of a "cheat" server. A copy of the README is included with the source code and is displayed when you install a pre-compiled copy of the game.
 
Do not use a modified client on a public server. If you are found to be using a cheat client, you will likely be banned from multiple servers and could quickly find yourself with nowhere to play.  Cheating in BZflag is not the same as using a cheat code in a PlayStation game. See also the ''Notes on "CHEAT" servers'' at the bottom of the [[BZFlag_README | README]], which forbid the hosting of a "cheat" server. A copy of the README is included with the source code and is displayed when you install a pre-compiled copy of the game.
  
== Blatant Cheats ==
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== List of Known Cheats ==
The following cheats are considered "blatant" cheats because they are usually apparent, even to new players.
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NOTE: Some of these cheats may be prevented or already fixed in certain versions of BZFlag.
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NOTE: Some of these cheats have been prevented in the current version of BZFlag. This list needs to be updated.
  
 
A cheater may:
 
A cheater may:
* shooting shots with vertical velocity while no vertical velocity is allowed on the map
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* making it seem like a teammate keeps killing another player
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* fly without Wings.
 
* fly without Wings.
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* shoot teammates without blowing them up.
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* spawn with a flag (usually Guided Missile or Genocide, but can be anything).
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* respond differently to gravity.
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* shoot bullets that travel at a different rate (usually faster).
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* move at a different rate (usually faster).
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* cover the field with SW blasts.
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* not respond to bad flags.
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* move and pickup flags while paused.
 
* steal from or give flags to other players.
 
* steal from or give flags to other players.
 
* give flags to observers.
 
* give flags to observers.
* rapidly pickup and drop every flag on the map, as if a flag reset were performed.
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* instantly spawn without regard to spawn delay.
* spawn with a flag (usually Guided Missile or Genocide, but can be anything).
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* instant self-destruction.
* be immune to the effects of bad flags.
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* shoot bullets that travel at impossible linear paths (i.e. downwards, sideways)
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* fire multiple shots simultaneously, often in spreads & separate impossible paths
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* shoot other tanks while paused.
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* instantaneous travel to a new location.
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* jump to a pre-determined set of coordinates (i.e. the center of a team pad).
 
* grab a new flag when passing through a teleporter (when no flag exists).
 
* grab a new flag when passing through a teleporter (when no flag exists).
* move, pickup flags, or shoot other tanks while paused.
 
* move through buildings without Oscillation Overthruster ("wall walking").
 
* move backwards through buildings with the Oscillation Overthruster.
 
* drive outside of the playing area.
 
* jump back briefly to avoid a bullet then return to where you were ("network jitter").
 
 
* double jump.
 
* double jump.
* move vertically on a map very quickly or higher than settings would normally allow.
 
* instantaneous travel to a new location.
 
* jump and land at a pre-determined set of coordinates (i.e. the center of a team pad).
 
* shoot teammates without blowing them up.
 
* shoot bullets that travel at a different rate (usually faster).
 
* shoot bullets that travel at impossible linear paths (i.e. downwards, sideways).
 
* shoot bullets from any side of their tank.
 
* fire multiple shots simultaneously, often in spreads & separate impossible paths.
 
 
* shoot bullets which cannot be seen on radar or in the HUD.
 
* shoot bullets which cannot be seen on radar or in the HUD.
* cause himself to be shot by any other player, even if no shots were fired or the player hasn't spawned (AKA "TK Cheat").
 
* produce abnormally long laser blasts (in terms of length and time).
 
* be zoned, but yet still shoot tanks that are not zoned.
 
* become instantly unzoned.
 
* not lose flags when paused.
 
 
* cause the bullets of other tanks to explode prematurely.
 
* cause the bullets of other tanks to explode prematurely.
* lock onto stealthed players while using Guided Missile.
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* be completely invincible ("god mode").
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* be partially invincible, repelling everything but some particular flags (often SW or SR are chosen).
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* drive outside of the playing area.
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* lock onto stealthed players while using Guided Missle.
 
* produce abnormally large, small, or frequent shockwave blasts.
 
* produce abnormally large, small, or frequent shockwave blasts.
* produce shockwaves at several locations simultaneously.
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* "drag 'n drop", moving from any location to any other at any speed.
* respond differently to gravity.
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* be zoned, but yet still shoot tanks that are not zoned.
* move at a different rate (usually faster).
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* instantly self-destruct.
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* be completely invincible to shots ("god mode").
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* be invincible while on auto-pilot.
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* be partially invincible, repelling everything but some particular flags (often SW or SR are chosen).
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* instantly kill everyone else.
 
* instantly kill everyone else.
* spawn without delay or very rapid respawns (Has been fixed in 2.0.11).
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* move backwards through buildings with the Oscillation Overthruster.
* be joined as an observer, but playing with a visible, invincible tank
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* produce abnormally long laser blasts (in terms of length and time).
* be able to strafe or slide left or right
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* move through buildings without Oscillation Overthruster ("wall walking").
* send chat messages that appear to have come from another player
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* jump back briefly to avoid a bullet then return to where you were ("network jitter").
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* promote themselves to server administrator and give large bans and kicks.
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* change variables without polling successfully or being an admin
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* joined as an observer, but playing with a visible, invincible tank
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* stall or restart servers
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* shooting more than one shock wave at different places at a time
  
 
== Subtle Cheats ==
 
== Subtle Cheats ==
'''Subtle cheats''' are modifications to the BZFlag client that give the user an unfair advantage.  Unlike the obvious "blatant" cheats, these modifications are often difficult to detect by other players.  These modifications often involve small changes to existing source code, and will make their users appear luckier, more intuitive, or more accurate shooters, giving them a slight edge.
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'''Subtle cheats''' are modifications to the BZFlag client that give the user an unfair advantage.  Unlike the obvious "blatant" cheats, these modifications are difficult to detect by other players.  These modifications often involve small changes to existing source code, and will make their users appear luckier, more intuitive, or more accurate shooters, giving them a slight edge.
  
 
Some of these cheats may be detected by examining long-term player statistics. For example, if a specific player picks up a certain superflag 80% of the time over an extended period, on a map where flag positions are completely randomized, then there is strong reason to suspect the player of using a flag identification cheat.  
 
Some of these cheats may be detected by examining long-term player statistics. For example, if a specific player picks up a certain superflag 80% of the time over an extended period, on a map where flag positions are completely randomized, then there is strong reason to suspect the player of using a flag identification cheat.  
  
The following is a list of known subtle cheats:
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Preventions for many of these cheats are being developed for inclusion in [[BZFlag 3.0|v3.0]].
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== List of Known Subtle Cheats ==
  
 
[[Image:Bzfi0002.png|thumb|A screenshot taken on a typical cheat client. Various modifications and enhancements are visible.]]
 
[[Image:Bzfi0002.png|thumb|A screenshot taken on a typical cheat client. Various modifications and enhancements are visible.]]
[[Image:Coo.png|thumb|A screenshot taken on cheat client.]]
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[[Image:Bzfi0008.png|thumb|A second screenshot taken on the same hacked client as above (but on a different computer).]]
  
 
;FlagColoring
 
;FlagColoring
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;StealthDetect
 
;StealthDetect
:The player can see stealthed tanks on the radar. Often times the cheater's client will flash the stealthed tank on the cheater's radar. This allows a cheater to know that he shouldn't be able to know that tanks position and allow him to "play dumb".
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:The player can see stealthed tanks on the radar.
  
 
;CloakDetect
 
;CloakDetect
:The player can see cloaked tanks on the field. Often times the cheater's client will show cloaked tanks as zoned tanks (as if holding the PZ flag).
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:The player can see cloaked tanks on the field.
  
 
;DisableBadFlags
 
;DisableBadFlags
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;FunnyBullet
 
;FunnyBullet
:Various cheats that affect the manner in which bullets are fired are possible. The simplest is to increase bullet velocity.  Other cheats include launching multiple bullets in different directions and giving bullets a vertical slope. Many of these cheats are less subtle, and discussed above.
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:Various cheats that affect the manner in which bullets are fired are possible. The simplest is to increase bullet velocity.  Other cheats include launching multiple bullets in different directions and giving bullets a vertical slope.
  
 
;SkinnyTank
 
;SkinnyTank
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;GuidedMissileWontUnlock
 
;GuidedMissileWontUnlock
:When the user is killed, his guided missiles remain locked on their targets. This is harder to detect than a Guided Missile being able to lock onto stealthed players, which is discussed above.
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:When the user is killed, his guided missiles remain locked on their targets.
 
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;Guided Laser
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:A player can lock-on with the laser flag as if it were Guided Missile. Can fire in all directions, regardless of VerticalVelocity server settings
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[[Image:Bzfi0001.png|thumb|A hacked client equipped with the ProgressiveIdentify cheat. One flag has been identified so far.]]
 
[[Image:Bzfi0001.png|thumb|A hacked client equipped with the ProgressiveIdentify cheat. One flag has been identified so far.]]
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In addition to the above subtle cheats, a cheater may:
 
* have a wider than normal field of vision (e.g. 120 degrees)
 
* have Guided Missles modified to not lock onto team mates
 
* modify the turn rate of his Guided Missles
 
* modify the way his targets are selected for Guided Missle lock
 
* have an indicator showing when an opponent is in reloading mode
 
* modify his client string
 
* automatically self-destruct if a geno bullet comes too close to him
 
* see the screen and radar when paused
 
* be able to see who locked on them with a Guided Missle
 
* have radar or different radar settings independent of server radar settings
 
* have lines on the radar showing which way each tank is facing
 
* see burrowed tanks as regular tanks on the radar
 
* have no limits imposed upon the radar "/set _radarLimit 0 or Burrow do not affect the radar"
 
* have shots by a zoned tank not show up on radar
 
* make slight turns when falling
 
* have different binocular zoom settings
 
* fire with no delay after stealing, or steal from far away, a flag using thief
 
* have an indicator showing how many wing jumps are left
 
* see invisible bullets on radar
 
* see opponent's team color despite opponent having masquerade flag
 
* have an auto-aiming ability that lines up on other tanks to fire upon
 
* be able to enable auto-pilot on non-auto-pilot maps
 
* be able to enable/disable/enable auto-pilot without delay
 
* be able to enable auto-pilot without notifying the server/other players
 
* be able to pause instantly in mid-air
 
 
== Other Malicious Activities ==
 
The following is a list of malicious activities that cheaters might also engage in:
 
 
* attempt to guess or "crack" the server or map's password.
 
* the use of "Bots" or "Drones" to lag a server by sending large amounts of data or using client commands rapidly
 
* the use of "Bots" or "Drones" to deny a poll or create and complete a poll in the favor of the cheater
 
* the use of thousands of private messages to "ddos" certain players, so their client just halts
 
* the use of a bunch of registered bot callsigns to start and win polls (usually to ban players)
 
 
[[Category:Gameplay]]
 
[[Category:Server]]
 
 
[[Category:Server Security]]
 
[[Category:Server Security]]

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