CSGO - VAC Blocking Issue

[6321678206]

Yes, of course it's something on Valve's end specifically related to VAC in CS:GO since this is not happening in TF2, Insurgency (not Valve but uses VAC), nor L4D2, but it's directly affecting something that Sandboxie does, which is the point of making the thread. Finding out what exactly it's conflicting with in Sandboxie so that in a future version, maybe it's something that can be adjusted on Sandboxie's end. Or maybe there already exists a fix that is being overlooked.

I don't believe it's region specific because I'm in the United States having the issue, I've spoken to friends from the UK, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Romania, and France...all of which are experiencing the issue inconsistently. I've connected my VPN to 15 different countries, was given the same error on all.

The thing that strikes me the most is the fact it only happens in CS:GO, despite no client update. Which means VAC is the only thing that could have updated since it's not something that's included in the game client, instead is a service the client connects to.

I hope there is a setting in sandboxie which can solve this, I think there should be a way to have a unique mac address per sandboxie. Perhaps VAC only allows a unique MAC address per IP now?

[mloveless1227]

Perhaps VAC only allows a unique MAC address per IP now?

I'm not sure that's the case either. For the past hour or so, I have been running 3 sandboxed CS:GO accounts on each of 3 PC's without getting that VAC error. However, every time I attempt to add a 4th one, that 4th one and any additional ones are getting the error. When I'm running even 1 sandboxed account at the same time as a non-sandboxed account, that sandboxed account gets the error within minutes. I know I keep repeating this, but how/when these errors are happening have been very strange and inconsistent since they started happening last night. It appears that there is an incoming CS:GO update tonight that will add stickers and (censored) for the upcoming major. I guess the best thing we can do until then is keep testing different theories and ideas, continue reporting them here to the best of our knowledge, and contact our local churches for prayer.

[6321678206]

Perhaps VAC only allows a unique MAC address per IP now?

I'm not sure that's the case either. For the past hour or so, I have been running 3 sandboxed CS:GO accounts on each of 3 PC's without getting that VAC error. However, every time I attempt to add a 4th one, that 4th one and any additional ones are getting the error. When I'm running even 1 sandboxed account at the same time as a non-sandboxed account, that sandboxed account gets the error within minutes. I know I keep repeating this, but how/when these errors are happening have been very strange and inconsistent since they started happening last night. It appears that there is an incoming CS:GO update tonight that will add stickers and (censored) for the upcoming major. I guess the best thing we can do until then is keep testing different theories and ideas, continue reporting them here to the best of our knowledge, and contact our local churches for prayer.

Since nothing has changed with sandboxie, it has got to be 100% a change at steam's end.

I don't know if this is relevant but this could be happening again: https://www.reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensiv ... t/d9t4swg/

Earlier any 3rd account or more would give connection errors, now it's any 4th account...
1st account = no connection error
2nd account = no connection error
3rd account = does not have a reliable connection to matchmaking servers...
,,,

Now
1st account = no connection error
2nd account = no connection error
3rd account = no connection error
4th account = does not have a reliable connection to matchmaking servers...
...

[mloveless1227]

Could very well be. I actually never noticed that post by Vitaliy. With any luck they are working on things. But since my last post, I've gotten some VAC blocking errors on 2 of the 3 accounts on each PC. Was able to run them for about an hour each before they error'd out. I have my fingers crossed for some incoming fixes.

[6321678206]

Could very well be. I actually never noticed that post by Vitaliy. With any luck they are working on things. But since my last post, I've gotten some VAC blocking errors on 2 of the 3 accounts on each PC. Was able to run them for about an hour each before they error'd out. I have my fingers crossed for some incoming fixes.

Can you try posting this on reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensive perhaps?

[6321678206]

Others have posted on reddit/steam:

https://www.reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensiv ... onnecting/
https://www.reddit.com/r/GlobalOffensiv ... a/mm_down/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/730/disc ... 472777206/

Could be related to our issues?

[6321678206]

http://forums.sandboxie.com/phpBB3/view ... 11&t=23128

The error message is a cryptic hint that the game was unable to start its anti-cheating functions. Since a certain update in the past VAC has become quite aggressive and it requires you to grant it (the game using it) admin rights, either by running the Steam service or by running the game as administrator, outside of Sandboxie. That are your possible solutions - as far as I know. The error has nothing to do with an unreliable connection. Source? Tested by myself and I saw a clearer error message while playing Team Fortress 2 in Sandboxie.

I think our issues are related...

[Varsa]

So you're not having this issue with TF2? I am running into problems with TF2 specifically. I can run 1 Sandboxed account fine with no problems. Then the 2nd one will get the VAC blocked area.

Another odd thing is this morning I was able to run 2 with no problems for a few hours until I logged off, but since then its back to 1 and any other will get the VAC blocked message. I don't have CSGO to try there, but experiencing a related issue with TF2 myself and VAC.

[6321678206]

What I noticed is there are 1 or 2 CS:GO files which require re-downloading (when game files are verified) every time this error occurs. Perhaps these files are related to our issues.

If only I could find out what exactly these files are and perhaps copy the working files to the other sandboxies...

[therhanderson]

I can play with 8 Cs:Go again here!

[mloveless1227]

Something I noticed is that every time I get this VAC blocking error, then run Validation on my CS:GO install, it always "re-acquires" 1 or 2 files.

What I noticed is there are 1 or 2 CS:GO files which require re-downloading (when game files are verified) every time this error occurs. Perhaps these files are related to our issues.

If only I could find out what exactly these files are and perhaps copy the working files to the other sandboxies...

Yes, I had mentioned this in one of the first few posts.

Update for this morning so far.....The problem still persists. SEEMS to have SLIGHTLY improved though. Yesterday I could not run any Sandboxed accounts at the same time as my 1 un-Sandboxed account, the SB accounts would VAC block almost immediately. Today, I seem to be able to run my non-SB account with up to 3 SB accounts. They are lasting between 1-2 hours before all receive the VAC blocking error almost simultaneously.

I have a couple questions for any of the Sandboxie devs here if you guys have a moment. It's been known that Steam and Sandboxie have worked together in harmony for many years now, with a handful of hiccups along the way, but mostly without issue. Despite that being the case, as developers of this product, are there any specific Sandbox settings that you would suggest being used that may or may not help improve performance with Steam and/or potentially help avoid certain issues (like this current one, for example)? This is just a general use question.

The next question I have is, without revealing any "trade secrets" or anything, can you think of anything that Sandboxie does that could cause conflicts like this? I understand that Valve changed something with VAC in CS:GO, we've established this part specifically as it's not happening with other games on the VAC system. We also have no idea of knowing exactly what changed, as VAC updates aren't technically of public knowledge, and there has been no CS:GO updates since these issues started. I'm trying to more understand where the conflict might lay.

Last thing, I've been informed by more than one person, who have been testing stuff as well, that using Virtual Machines like VirtualBox to operate multiple accounts from a single PC is not currently having these issues. I understand they aren't the same thing but the concept of usage with Steam/CS:GO is the same. If Valve was blocking MAC or IP addresses from using X amount of accounts, and that was the cause of these issues, then shouldn't it happen on a VM as well?

[6321678206]

Something I noticed is that every time I get this VAC blocking error, then run Validation on my CS:GO install, it always "re-acquires" 1 or 2 files.

What I noticed is there are 1 or 2 CS:GO files which require re-downloading (when game files are verified) every time this error occurs. Perhaps these files are related to our issues.

If only I could find out what exactly these files are and perhaps copy the working files to the other sandboxies...

Yes, I had mentioned this in one of the first few posts.

Update for this morning so far.....The problem still persists. SEEMS to have SLIGHTLY improved though. Yesterday I could not run any Sandboxed accounts at the same time as my 1 un-Sandboxed account, the SB accounts would VAC block almost immediately. Today, I seem to be able to run my non-SB account with up to 3 SB accounts. They are lasting between 1-2 hours before all receive the VAC blocking error almost simultaneously.

I have a couple questions for any of the Sandboxie devs here if you guys have a moment. It's been known that Steam and Sandboxie have worked together in harmony for many years now, with a handful of hiccups along the way, but mostly without issue. Despite that being the case, as developers of this product, are there any specific Sandbox settings that you would suggest being used that may or may not help improve performance with Steam and/or potentially help avoid certain issues (like this current one, for example)? This is just a general use question.

The next question I have is, without revealing any "trade secrets" or anything, can you think of anything that Sandboxie does that could cause conflicts like this? I understand that Valve changed something with VAC in CS:GO, we've established this part specifically as it's not happening with other games on the VAC system. We also have no idea of knowing exactly what changed, as VAC updates aren't technically of public knowledge, and there has been no CS:GO updates since these issues started. I'm trying to more understand where the conflict might lay.

Last thing, I've been informed by more than one person, who have been testing stuff as well, that using Virtual Machines like VirtualBox to operate multiple accounts from a single PC is not currently having these issues. I understand they aren't the same thing but the concept of usage with Steam/CS:GO is the same. If Valve was blocking MAC or IP addresses from using X amount of accounts, and that was the cause of these issues, then shouldn't it happen on a VM as well?

What I don't understand is I see other people running multiple CSGO accounts without issue in sandboxie yesterday and today...

[6321678206]

I'm getting the vac error now when playing on csgo community servers after a few minutes....

[oztskaan]

can evryone who gets the vac- error write his OS and Sandboxy version

[6321678206]

can evryone who gets the vac- error write his OS and Sandboxy version

Windows 10, 5.16 latest