The devs at Valorant are constantly working to make their games secure. They work on Valorant security updates to ensure games are fair. This is why Valorant released a major update for its anti-cheat software. The Valorant Vanguard update is getting rid of even more cheating software. They have identified a gap in security and have worked to fix it.
This isn't just another ban wave. It represents a fundamental shift in how your PC’s hardware communicates with its software. By targeting a newly discovered Pre-Boot Gap, Riot is neutralizing a sophisticated class of hardware cheats that previously operated in a digital blind spot. If you’ve received a VAN: Restriction pop-up, your system is likely part of this critical update.
Who Loads First? Problem
To understand this update, you have to understand the Boot Chain. When you press the power button on your PC, it is in its most privileged state. It has full, unrestricted access to all connected hardware before any security software.
The system loads in a specific sequence:
- UEFI Firmware (BIOS): Initializes hardware.
- Bootloader: Starts the hand-off to the software.
- Operating System (Windows Kernel): Loads the environment you use.
- Applications (Valorant/Vanguard): Load last.
The problem is simple: any component that loads earlier in this chain is more privileged than those that load later. Cheat developers exploit this by loading their code during the UEFI or bootloader phase. By the time Vanguard wakes up, the cheat is already "under the floorboards," effectively invisible to the game.
The Sleeping Bouncer
For years, the most expensive and effective cheats have used Direct Memory Access (DMA) hardware. These are physical cards that plug directly into your computer. Then they can directly talk to the RAM. This will bypass the CPU and your operating system. So your computer will not even realise that cheating software is working.
Motherboards try to stop these connections through an internal firewall. This is like a bouncer that protects your RAM. It makes sure only the devices that are allowed to connect make a connection. It will reject any connections it does not understand.
However, Riot recently discovered a major flaw in modern motherboards. The Valorant Vanguard update is especially designed to fix this flaw. They found out that the bouncer was actually not doing it’s job. While the BIOS settings claimed "Pre-Boot DMA Protection" was active, the hardware wasn't actually turning on the bouncer until after the OS loaded. This created a few seconds of total vulnerability. Long enough for a DMA cheat to inject its code and hide.
How to Fix the VAN Error
If you see the VAN: Restriction notification, Valorant anti-cheat has detected that your system configuration is too similar to those used by cheaters or that your hardware is vulnerable to this specific loophole. This does not mean a permanent ban. It will only lock you out for a time.
Step 1: Identify Your Hardware
First, you need to figure out the hardware you are using. You can do this by simply clicking on the Windows key with R. Then type msinfo32 here and click Enter. Find where it says BaseBoae product and Manufacturer. This will tell you everything about your motherboard.
Step 2: Update Motherboard Firmware (BIOS)
Riot worked with major manufacturers to release urgent patches for this Pre-Boot Gap. You would need to download and install the BIOS update for your board. Every board releases its own separate update.
Step 3: Enable Mandatory Security Features
Now you need to make sure some features on your computer are enabled. These will make sure the secure boot is working. Once your BIOS is updated, ensure these settings are turned ON:
- Secure Boot: This should be set to UEFI or On.
- TPM 2.0: You will find this to be named differently. It would be either Intel PTT or AMD fTPM.
- IOMMU: You will find this setting in the Advanced option. Or you will see it in the CPU configuration settings.
- VBS/HVCI: In Windows, go to Device Security > Core Isolation and toggle Memory Integrity to On.
The Goal of Update
The Valorant Vanguard update is a major update for all games. This will fix this issue for all of the games. Making the games more fair and fun for everyone. Had this gap remained open, it would have eventually nullified all existing DMA detection tech across the market.
Riot will soon roll out this Valorant security update for all players. This will especially come for players at the Ascendant rank and above. Players will get the game at the highest level. In this competitive scene, every second counts. Therefore, Riot is making sure that the Valorant Vanguard will do its job. So players can have an experience unlike anything else.
FAQ
Does a VAN: Restriction mean I'm banned?
No. It means your system's security baseline is too low to guarantee a fair game. Once you update your firmware and enable the required settings, the restriction will lift.
What if I don't know how to update my BIOS?
Updating BIOS can seem difficult. This is especially the case if you are new to this. However, players should know that modern motherboards have made it easy. You just have to search your motherboard’s website. Here, look for options for EZ Flash or M Flash. Moreover, players can also find these options at Riot Support.
Will this slow down my PC?
Remember, these features will consume resources. It will put a very slight load on your CPU. However, modern processors are designed with this in mind. This means that you will not feel any difference in performance. It will keep cheaters out of the matches. That part is more important. Getting skins in Valorant can make the experience even more fun. However, skins are only available for a limited time. The easier way to get exclusive skins is to get one of our Valorant accounts. Moreover, our site also offers a premium Valorant boosting service. So players can focus on the matches they want to.
