# NProtect GameGuard > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/NProtect_GameGuard > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/NProtect_GameGuard.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NProtect_GameGuard > Source revision: 1357192912 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Anti-cheating root toolkit This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "NProtect GameGuard" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) nProtect GameGuard Developer INCA Internet Co., Ltd. Operating system Microsoft Windows Type Anti-cheating License Proprietary Website gameguard.nprotect.com/en/index.html **nProtect GameGuard** (sometimes called **GG**) is an [anti-cheating](/source/Cheating_in_online_games) [rootkit](/source/Rootkit) developed by [INCA Internet](/source/INCA_Internet). It is widely installed in many online games to block possibly malicious applications and prevent common methods of cheating.[1][2][3] nProtect GameGuard provides B2B2C (Business to Business to Consumer) security services for online game companies and portal sites. The software is considered to be one of three software programs which *"dominate South Korea's domestic online game security market"*.[4] GameGuard uses rootkits to proactively prevent cheat software from running.[5] GameGuard hides the game application process, monitors the entire memory range, terminates applications defined by the game vendor and INCA Internet to be cheats ([QIP](/source/Quiet_Internet_Pager) for example[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]), blocks certain calls to [DirectX](/source/DirectX) functions and [Windows APIs](/source/Windows_API), [keylogs](/source/Keystroke_logging) keyboard input[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*], and auto-updates itself to change as new possible threats surface.[1] Since GameGuard works like a rootkit,[2][6] players may experience unintended and potentially unwanted side effects. If set, GameGuard blocks any installation or activation of hardware and peripherals (e.g., a mouse) while the program is running. Since GameGuard monitors any changes in the computer's memory, it will cause performance issues when the protected game loads multiple or large resources all at once.[7] Additionally, some versions of GameGuard had an unpatched [privilege escalation](/source/Privilege_escalation) bug, allowing any program to issue commands as if they were running under an Administrator account.[8] GameGuard possesses a database on game hacks based on security references from more than 260 game clients. Some editions of GameGuard are now bundled with INCA Internet's Tachyon [anti-virus](/source/Antivirus_software)/[anti-spyware](/source/Spyware#Remedies_and_prevention) library, and others with nProtect Key Crypt, an [anti-key-logger](/source/Keystroke_logging) software that protects the keyboard input information. ## List of online games using GameGuard This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (February 2016) GameGuard is used in many online games.[3][9][10] - [9Dragons](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=9Dragons&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Atlantica Online](/source/Atlantica_Online) - [Blackshot](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blackshot&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Blade & Soul](/source/Blade_%26_Soul) - [Cabal Online](/source/Cabal_Online) - [Combat Arms: Reloaded](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Combat_Arms:_Reloaded&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Combat Arms: The Classic](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Combat_Arms:_The_Classic&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Darkeden](/source/Darkeden) - [Digimon Masters Online](/source/Digimon_Masters_Online) - [City Racer](/source/Downtown_Run) - [Dragon Saga](/source/Dragon_Saga) - [Elsword](/source/Elsword) (no longer used as of March 29, 2017)[11] - [Flyff](/source/Flyff) - [Grand Chase](/source/Grand_Chase) - [Helldivers 2](/source/Helldivers_2) - Horizon Walker - [La Tale](/source/La_Tale) - [Legend of Mir 3](/source/Legend_of_Mir_3) - [Lineage 1](/source/Lineage_(video_game)) & [2](/source/Lineage_II) - [MapleStory](/source/MapleStory) - [Metin2](/source/Metin2) - [Mir4 Global](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mir4_Global&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Mu Legend](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mu_Legend&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Mu Online](/source/Mu_Online) - [Fleet Mission: NavyField](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navyfield) - [Pangya](/source/Pangya) - [PangYa](/source/PangYa) - [Phantasy Star Online 2](/source/Phantasy_Star_Online_2) - [Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst](/source/Phantasy_Star_Online%3A_Blue_Burst) - [Playpark Moxiang](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Playpark_Moxiang&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Priston Tale](/source/Priston_Tale) - [Ragnarok Online](/source/Ragnarok_Online) - [Ran Online](/source/Ran_Online) - [Rappelz](/source/Rappelz) - [Return of Warrior](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Return_of_Warrior&action=edit&redlink=1) - [RF Online](/source/RF_Online) - [Riders of Icarus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Riders_of_Icarus&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Rohan: Blood Feud](/source/Rohan%3A_Blood_Feud) - [Royal Crown](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Crown_(video_game)&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Rumble Fighter](/source/Rumble_Fighter) - [Seal Online](/source/Seal_Online) - Smash Legends - Soul of the Ultimate Nation: Classic Edition - [SoulWorker](/source/SoulWorker) - Star Stable Online (removed on June 16th, 2022)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - [Starseed: Ashina Trigger](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Starseed:_Ashina_Trigger&action=edit&redlink=1) - [Summoners War: Chronicles](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Summoners_War:_Chronicles&action=edit&redlink=1) - Summoners War: Rush - [Uncharted Waters Online](/source/Uncharted_Waters_Online) - Undecember ## See also - [BattlEye](/source/BattlEye) - [Valve Anti-Cheat](/source/Valve_Anti-Cheat) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-book1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-book1_1-1) Stevens, Scott M.; Saldamarco, Shirley, eds. (2008). [*Entertainment Computing – ICEC 2008: 7th International Conference*](https://books.google.com/books?id=vx1qCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA96). [Springer Science+Business Media](/source/Springer_Science%2BBusiness_Media). p. 96. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-540-89221-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-540-89221-2). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-kotaku_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-kotaku_2-1) Mike Fahey (18 September 2009). ["Hooray! Aion Drops GameGuard For Launch"](https://kotaku.com/hooray-aion-drops-gameguard-for-launch-5362441). [Kotaku](/source/Kotaku). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20251028091033/https://kotaku.com/hooray-aion-drops-gameguard-for-launch-5362441) from the original on 28 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-toms_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-toms_3-1) le Ricque, Edouard (25 November 2011). ["L.A. Noire sur PC : Kaspersky n'aime pas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111126011959/http://www.tomsguide.fr/actualite/Kaspersky-L.A.-Noire,1732.html). *[Tom's Guide France](/source/Tom's_Hardware)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.tomsguide.fr/actualite/Kaspersky-L.A.-Noire,1732.html) on 26 November 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-IT_Times_4-0)** Sung-mi, Kim (11 September 2012). ["Wiselogic, the Hidden Champion in Online Game Security"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130118061338/http://koreaittimes.com/story/23420/wiselogic-hidden-champion-online-game-security). *[The Korea IT Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Korea_IT_Times&action=edit&redlink=1)*. Seoul, South Korea. Archived from [the original](http://www.koreaittimes.com/story/23420/wiselogic-hidden-champion-online-game-security) on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Cano, Nick (2016). [*Game Hacking: Developing Autonomous Bots for Online Games*](https://books.google.com/books?id=h4-7DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA248). [William Pollock](/source/No_Starch_Press). p. 248. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1593276690](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1593276690). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["RootRepeal – Rootkit Detector"](https://sites.google.com/site/rootrepeal/). Retrieved 3 February 2016. ...many antivirus programs and some games (for example, nProtect GameGuard) use rootkit-like technology to hide or protect themselves. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-able_7-0)** Spohn, Steve (14 September 2009). ["GameGuard Shuts Down Disabled Gamers"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091120233156/http://ablegamers.com/game-news/GameGuard-Shuts-Down-Disabled-Gamers.html). *[The AbleGamers Foundation](/source/The_AbleGamers_Foundation)*. Archived from [the original](http://ablegamers.com/game-news/GameGuard-Shuts-Down-Disabled-Gamers.html) on 20 November 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["CVE-2005-0295 : npptnt2.sys in nProtect Gameguard provides unrestricted I/O to any process that calls it, which allows local users to gain privileges"](https://www.cvedetails.com/cve/CVE-2005-0295/). Retrieved 25 February 2017. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["nProtect gameGuard Partner"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120818212410/http://eng.nprotect.com/partner.htm). Archived from [the original](http://eng.nprotect.com/partner.htm) on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2007. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["GameGuard Errors"](https://support.bladeandsoul.com/hc/en-us/articles/207195096-GameGuard-Errors). [NCSOFT](/source/NCSOFT). Retrieved 3 February 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Announcing Our New Anti-Hacking Partner XIGNCODE3"](https://elsword.koggames.com/2017/03/announcing-our-new-anti-hacking-partner-xigncode3/). *elsword.koggames.com*. Retrieved 23 November 2020. ## External links - [nProtect GameGuard official website](http://gameguard.nprotect.com/en/index.html) - [INCA Internet official website](http://www.inca.co.kr/) v t e Anti-cheat software Active Anti-Cheat Expert BattlEye Easy Anti-Cheat Riot Vanguard Valve Anti-Cheat Legacy / inactive nProtect GameGuard PunkBuster Related Kernel-level --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [NProtect GameGuard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NProtect_GameGuard) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NProtect_GameGuard?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.