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About Tournament Mode

Tournament Mode is an optional high-security mode used by game servers and tournament organizers that require stricter anti-cheat protections. If a server enforces Tournament Mode, you must enable it before joining. Otherwise, you will be automatically kicked.

Requirements to run Tournament Mode

When Tournament Mode is enabled, your system must have all of the following active:

• Windows 11 version 24H2 or newer
• UEFI Boot Mode
• Secure Boot
• TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module)
• Virtualization-based Security (VBS)
• Memory Integrity (HVCI)
• IOMMU (hardware-based memory protection)

If any requirement is missing or disabled, Tournament Mode cannot be activated.

Note: In some cases, a motherboard BIOS update may be required to properly support Trusted Platform Module 2.0 or resolve Secure boot attestation errors.

How to enable Tournament Mode

1. Locate the Akros Anti-Cheat icon in your system tray (bottom-right of your screen).
2. Right-click the icon.
3. Select ‘‘Run in Tournament Mode’’.

Confirmation

If successful, the Akros client will display a red status indicator in the bottom-left corner confirming Tournament Mode is active.

If it fails to enable

If your system does not meet requirements, Akros will show an error message listing exactly what is missing or disabled.

Common causes include:

• Secure Boot not enabled in BIOS
• TPM 2.0 disabled
• Memory Integrity turned off in Windows Security
• Unsupported or misconfigured IOMMU settings
• Outdated BIOS firmware

Fix the listed items, then try enabling Tournament Mode again.

Account Security Best Practices

To protect your account from being banned, only play on trusted, secure machines. If you are unsure whether a machine has had cheats installed or used recently, do not use it to play.

Never share your account or password with anyone.

About Akros

Akros is a kernel-level anti-cheat. Its kernel service starts with Windows and remains loaded for the entire time your system is running.

This helps protect the integrity of the Windows kernel and improves detection of advanced cheating methods.

How to Disable Akros

However, there may be times when you want to disable the Akros kernel service. To do this, click the Akros icon in the system tray in the lower-right corner of your desktop and select Disable Akros.

You will then be prompted with a message asking you to confirm that you want to disable Akros. The prompt will also inform you that a system restart will be required the next time you want to play on Akros-protected game servers.

Click Yes and Akros will be fully unloaded and disabled until the next time it is started.

Exiting Akros Anti-Cheat

To exit Akros Anti-Cheat and play on other platforms or VAC-secured game servers, click the Akros icon in the system tray and select Exit Akros.

A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you are sure you want to exit Akros. Click Yes to close the application.

Important Information

Note: This closes the Akros client, but the kernel-level service that starts with Windows remains active. Akros will continue blocking malicious tools, software, and kernel drivers.

Akros AntiCheat helps maintain competitive integrity by detecting and preventing unauthorized software and tools, and by enforcing eligibility restrictions. To do this, it collects certain technical information from your system.

Privacy Policy Notice

The Privacy Policy is displayed after installation and following every update.

• You must accept the policy to use Akros.
• If you decline, the software will close.

How Akros Works

Akros consists of two primary components:

1. Kernel-Level Driver – Starts automatically when your PC boots. It monitors your system to detect and prevent cheats, even if the client is not running.
2. Client Application – Must be running to join Akros-protected servers. It collects information during gameplay to enforce restrictions and maintain fair participation.

Data collection occurs only while Akros is installed. Once uninstalled, no further information is collected.

Information Collected by Akros

To ensure eligibility and fair gameplay, Akros collects technical data including:

• Game account IDs, names, and session information
• Hardware details and unique system identifiers
• Operating system version and configuration
• Game-related files, memory regions, and loaded libraries
• Running processes, drivers, and injected modules
• System activity relevant to gameplay, such as network access and file operations
• File paths and names, including your OS username
• Screenshots during gameplay
• Historical data about previously run programs or processes
• In-game input such as mouse movement telemetry, keyboard key press/release telemetry

Purpose of Data Collection

Collected information is used solely to:

• Detect and prevent cheats and unauthorized software or tools
• Enforce restrictions based on verified technical evidence
• Maintain secure and fair gameplay environments for all participants

Account Ban Policy

We do not disclose the specific violations that led to an account ban. While we maintain detailed records of each detection, releasing this information would only aid cheat developers.

Ban Appeals

You may submit a ban appeal to request a review of your account. The Akros team carefully investigates every claim of false cheat detection to ensure the accuracy and integrity of all decisions made by Akros Anti-Cheat.

Bans may be applied at any time once a Competitive Integrity Violation is detected, even if you're offline — the detection may have occurred during an earlier session.

Accessing Akros in Restricted Regions

In some countries—particularly Russia and China—access to Akros may be unreliable due to government-imposed restrictions that block or throttle traffic routed through Cloudflare.

Using Cloudflare WARP

To mitigate these issues, you can try using Cloudflare WARP. WARP is a VPN and DNS service that routes your traffic through Cloudflare’s network via alternative paths, which may improve connectivity in restricted regions.

Download: https://one.one.one.one/

Important: Akros relies on Cloudflare as part of its infrastructure but is not affiliated with or sponsored by Cloudflare. Some countries restrict or prohibit VPN usage regardless of intent. If you choose to use Cloudflare WARP or any VPN to access Akros Anti-cheat, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for complying with applicable local laws.

Competitive Integrity Policy

Effective competitive play requires trust, fairness, and accountability. Akros AntiCheat LLC enforces the Competitive Integrity Policy (CIP) to maintain these standards on Akros-protected servers. By participating, all players agree to comply with this policy.

Key Rules

Players are expected to follow these rules at all times. Any cheating or use of prohibited tools, whether on Akros-protected servers or elsewhere, is a violation of the CIP:

• No unauthorized tools or cheats: Using third-party tools or cheats that give an unfair advantage is strictly prohibited under all circumstances.
• No unauthorized modification of protected games: Modifying, patching, injecting into, or otherwise altering any Akros-protected game client, its memory, files, or runtime behavior without explicit authorization is prohibited.
• No exploiting bugs, hardware, or mechanics: Manipulating game systems, hardware, or software to gain an advantage is forbidden, regardless of location.
• No ban evasion: Attempting to bypass bans, including using previously banned accounts or hardware, is a violation.
• No tampering with security features: Circumventing Akros security systems, risk restrictions, or other protections is not allowed.
• Responsibility for your system: Players are fully accountable for any prohibited tools detected on their system, even if installed or used by someone else, and regardless of whether the activity occurred on or off Akros-protected servers.

Enforcement

Violating the CIP may result in the following actions:

• Account banning or suspension
• Hardware restrictions to prevent ban evasion
• Ineligibility from competitive events

All enforcement actions are final. Verified violations will not be overturned through appeals.

Cheating anywhere—on or off Akros servers—is treated as a CIP violation. Maintaining competitive integrity ensures a fair, secure, and enjoyable environment for all participants. Compliance with the CIP is mandatory for all Akros-protected servers, and violations outside of these servers can still lead to enforcement actions.

Understanding Risk Restrictions

Akros uses risk restrictions to help maintain fair, secure, and competitive gameplay. These restrictions are applied automatically when a system does not meet required security standards or presents elevated risk indicators.

Players affected by a risk restriction may be unable to join protected matches until the required security requirements have been met.

What is a Risk Restriction?

A risk restriction is a temporary or ongoing limitation placed on a player's access to Akros-protected matches.

When a restriction is active, players may receive error messages or be prevented from joining matches until the required security features are enabled and verified.

Why Are Risk Restrictions Applied?

Risk restrictions are designed to protect the integrity of competitive play and reduce opportunities for unfair advantages.

Restrictions may be triggered when Akros identifies elevated risk indicators, including but not limited to:

• Previous use of unauthorized tools or software.
• Previous competitive integrity violations.
• Abnormally low trust rating on CSRep.gg.
• Excessive or abnormal numbers of cheating reports.
• Other technical indicators associated with increased risk.

These measures help:

• Reduce cheating and exploitation in protected matches.
• Encourage the use of modern security protections.
• Maintain confidence in the fairness of competitive play.
• Protect players and the wider community from emerging threats.

Security Features That May Be Required

Depending on the restriction applied, one or more of the following security features may be required:

• Windows 11 version 25H2 or newer: Ensures the operating system is up to date with the latest security patches and supports the modern security features required by Akros to help maintain system integrity.
• UEFI Boot Mode: Ensures the system uses modern firmware standards required by many security protections.
• Secure Boot: Helps prevent unauthorized boot-time software from loading before Windows starts.
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0: Provides hardware-based security for cryptographic operations, system attestation, and platform integrity.
• Virtualization-based Security (VBS): Uses hardware virtualization to isolate critical security processes from the operating system.
• Memory Integrity (HVCI): Protects the Windows kernel from unauthorized code execution and tampering.
• IOMMU (Input-Output Memory Management Unit): Provides DMA remapping and isolation for PCIe devices, helping prevent unauthorized memory access.

How to Resolve a Risk Restriction

1. Determine which required security features are currently disabled or unavailable.
2. Enable the required features through your BIOS/UEFI firmware settings or Windows security settings.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Verify that the required security features are enabled and functioning correctly.
5. Launch the game and attempt to join a protected match.

TPM 2.0 Hardware Requirement

Some systems may not support TPM 2.0 by default.

If a BIOS or firmware update is available for your motherboard, install the update and check whether TPM 2.0 can be enabled afterward.

If no update is available, or the update does not provide TPM 2.0 support, a motherboard upgrade may be required to meet the security requirements.

While we understand this can be frustrating, TPM 2.0 requirements cannot be waived. These protections are necessary to maintain competitive integrity and ensure a consistent security standard for all players.

Important Information

• ⚠️ Modifying BIOS/UEFI settings or Windows security features carries some risk. Always back up important data before making system changes.
• Risk restrictions are applied automatically based on security and integrity requirements.
• Restrictions may be lifted automatically once all required security features are detected.
• Some systems may not support every security feature due to hardware limitations.
• If you are unable to enable a required feature, contact your motherboard or system manufacturer for assistance.

By meeting the required security standards, you help maintain a safer and fairer competitive environment for all players on Akros-protected servers.

BIOS Update Instructions

In some cases, you may need to update your motherboard's BIOS to ensure compatibility with required security features. Without these updates, you may receive error codes preventing you from playing on Akros-protected servers.

Find your Motherboard Model

You will need your specific model name to find the correct file on the websites below.

1. Press Windows Key + R.
2. Type msinfo32 and press Enter.
3. Look for BaseBoard Manufacturer and BaseBoard Product.

Manufacturer Support Pages

Select your computer manufacturer below to access their official driver and BIOS update instructions:

• Acer: How to download the latest BIOS version
• ASRock: ASRock support
• ASUS: How to update BIOS in Windows
• BIOSTAR: BIOSTAR support
• Dell: How to update the BIOS
• Gigabyte: Gigabyte support
• HP: Updating the BIOS
• Lenovo: How to update system BIOS - Windows
• MSI: How to update BIOS

Understanding Akros Local WebSocket Connections

Some platforms that use Akros Anti-Cheat communicate with the local Akros client through a local WebSocket connection. This allows the platform’s website to securely interact with your Akros client before you join matchmaking, PUGs, gathers, or scrims.

Purpose of the Connection

This connection is used to enable features such as:

• Joining game servers directly from the website
• Verifying that your Akros client is running and active
• Verifying your Steam account before you connect to a server
• Verifying your game version (Steam installations)
• Verifying that your Akros client is up to date

Troubleshooting Blocked Connections

Some browsers, ad blockers, or antivirus software may block or warn about these types of local connections by default. When this happens, your browser may display a prompt asking whether the website is allowed to communicate with the local Akros client.

If you block this request, the platform will not be able to communicate with Akros. This may cause issues such as:

• Being unable to join matchmaking, PUGs, or scrims
• Akros client verification failing
• Server join buttons on the website not working

Below is an example from the Brave browser (https://brave.com) of a prompt you may see when a platform that integrates with Akros attempts to communicate with the local client.

If you see this message on a trusted platform that uses Akros, you should:

1. Select Allow
2. If available, choose Remember this decision or Allow permanently

Allowing this connection ensures the website can properly communicate with your local Akros client and that features such as server joining and client verification function correctly.

If you have already blocked this request by mistake, you can easily correct it as shown in the example below.

Security Information

Important: This connection does not give websites unrestricted access to your computer. The Akros client only accepts a predefined set of approved requests required for its functionality. Platforms cannot send arbitrary commands or access your system through this connection.