Virtual Machines (VMs):

• Description: A Virtual Machine (VM) allows a user to run a complete, separate operating system (the "guest" OS) within a window or application on their main operating system (the "host" OS). Software like VMware Workstation/Player, VirtualBox, or Hyper-V enable this.

• Mechanism & Evasion: The bypass strategy involves running the game (e.g., Minecraft) inside the guest VM while running cheats or helper tools on the host machine. When the ScreenSharer connects via AnyDesk/TeamViewer to the guest VM, they have no visibility or access to the host operating system. Any cheats operating on the host are entirely outside the scope of the screenshare conducted within the VM.

• Why Cheaters Use It: To completely isolate cheating tools from the environment being inspected, rendering standard screensharing techniques ineffective if the staffer is unaware they are inside a VM.

• Detection: Detecting whether the screenshare is occurring within a VM is crucial. Several methods exist:

  • System Information (msinfo32): As previously mentioned, check "System Model" or "BIOS Version/Date" fields for terms like "VMware," "VirtualBox," "Hyper-V," or "Virtual Machine."

  • Running Processes/Services: Look for processes or services associated with VM software (e.g., vmtoolsd.exe, VBoxService.exe).

  • Hardware IDs/Drivers: Device Manager might show virtualized hardware (e.g., VMware SVGA adapter).

  • Registry Keys: Specific keys indicate VM software installations.

  • Dedicated VM Detection Tools (e.g., VMAware): Specialized tools exist to more reliably detect virtualization, even against potential hardening attempts.

    • VMAware: This is a notable cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux) C++ library and command-line tool specifically designed for comprehensive virtual machine detection.

      • Capabilities: It utilizes a large number (115+) of unique detection techniques, targeting various virtualization technologies including hypervisors (VMware, VirtualBox, Hyper-V, QEMU), emulators, containers, and sandboxes. It aims to be effective even against VM hardening techniques designed to hide the virtual environment.

      • Usage: Can be integrated into other tools as a library or run as a standalone command-line executable. When run, it typically outputs whether a VM is detected, the likely brand/type of VM technology, and a confidence percentage.

      • Availability: VMAware is open-source and available on GitHub (https://github.com/kernelwernel/VMAware). Pre-compiled binaries might be available in the releases section, or it can be compiled from source.

      • Relevance: Using a tool like VMAware during a screenshare provides a more robust check for virtualization compared to solely relying on msinfo32 or process lists, increasing the likelihood of detecting VM-based bypass attempts.

  • Server Rules: Due to the significant potential for evasion, most competitive servers explicitly prohibit playing or undergoing screenshares within a virtual machine. Detecting that the user is operating within a VM during the check, often confirmed using tools like msinfo32 or dedicated detectors like VMAware, is frequently sufficient grounds for action based solely on violating this rule.