HWID Spoofing Guides
Kernel Level Anti-Cheat Explained (2026)
Kernel level anti cheat explained: what Ring 0 access really gives Vanguard, EAC and BattlEye, when their drivers load, and what it means after a ban
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Free HellDivers 2 HWID Spoofer - Fix Hardware Bans
Helldivers 2 pairs nProtect GameGuard's kernel reads with a PSN account. TraceX Spoofer rewrites the supported HWID set permanently once, then you delete it.
Free diagnostic
Is It Really a HellDivers 2 HWID Ban?
Arrowhead documents "Error 114" as a GameGuard launch fault with several non-ban causes, so an HWID diagnosis needs a separate sanction notice or the same restriction repeating on one PC after account, launcher, and ordinary client faults are ruled out.
Step 1 / 6
Can you still log into your game account?
Hardware Coverage
What HellDivers 2 Tracks — and What TraceX Rewrites
HellDivers 2's anti-cheat silently reads dozens of hardware identifiers from your PC while it's running — long before you reach a match. Learn how GameGuard works in HellDivers 2 and why it's difficult to bypass without a spoofer. Below is a sample of the identifiers being tracked.
| Hardware Identifier | HellDivers 2 Tracks | TraceX Rewrites |
|---|---|---|
| CPU / CPUID Profile | Yes | Yes |
| SMBIOS Type 2 / System UUID | Yes | Yes |
| GPU Device Identifier | Yes | Yes |
| Disk + Volume Serials | Yes | Yes |
| Physical NIC MAC Addresses | Yes | Yes |
| Windows MachineGuid | Yes | Yes |
Reality Check
HellDivers 2 Appeals Almost Never Work
And when they're denied — which is almost always for HWID bans — your hardware stays permanently blacklisted. No second chances.
“Upon suspension of your PlayStation Device, you will not be able to use that console to (a) access our Services with any Account (even if you create a new one); (b) play any games or game modes requiring online access; or (c) access any content purchased from the PlayStation Store.”
Sony Interactive Entertainment — PlayStation Network Terms of Service §12.5 (Console Suspension)
Filing a support ticket or ban appeal
Creating a new Linked Steam + PlayStation Network account (PC), PlayStation Network account (PS5), or Microsoft account (Xbox) on the same machine
Using a VPN or proxy
Reinstalling HellDivers 2
Reinstalling Windows
Waiting — HWID bans do not expire
Run TraceX once to rewrite your hardware identifiers — HellDivers 2's anti-cheat scans your machine and sees a completely new PC
Why You Need This
Do You Really Need an HWID Spoofer for HellDivers 2?
You launch Helldivers 2 from Steam, queue Quickplay for a Galactic War Operation, and GameGuard throws "Error 114" before your Hellpod leaves the Super Destroyer. You reinstall, relink PSN, and get the same screen, so every forum reply calls it an HWID ban. Slow down. Arrowhead says Error 114 can come from ordinary utilities, security software, or a damaged GameGuard install. The hardware-ban pattern starts when a real sanction follows the unchanged PC after those faults are excluded. Your loadout and Major Order are noise; the useful clue is whether the restriction follows the rig.
Helldivers 2's Steam listing identifies nProtect GameGuard as kernel-level anti-cheat, and Arrowhead says the driver scans running processes for software trying to manipulate the client. That establishes privileged client monitoring, but it does not publish a Helldivers 2 ban packet or prove that every GameGuard failure is hardware enforcement. Arrowhead's Error 114 support article lists several non-ban causes, including utility programs, security software, and a damaged GameGuard installation. Diagnose that launch fault first. A hardware restriction becomes more plausible only when a separate sanction or repeated access result stays tied to the same PC after account, launcher, and client-file explanations are ruled out. Sony's console-suspension policy is real, but it describes a PlayStation Device and should not be presented as proof of a PC GameGuard HWID ban.
A kernel-backed GameGuard deployment can reconcile ordinary Windows queries with lower-level sources. Relevant collection surfaces include the SMBIOS Type 2 baseboard serial and motherboard UUID; physical disk descriptors available through storage IOCTLs such as IOCTL_STORAGE_QUERY_PROPERTY; logical volume serials; physical NIC MAC addresses; and MachineGuid under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography. Windows also exposes a TPM 2.0 endorsement key through its TPM services and reports Secure Boot state. Neither INCA nor Arrowhead publishes a Helldivers 2 field list confirming that every one of those values is collected or weighted in a ban decision, so they are available fingerprint surfaces rather than a claimed fixed packet. A game reinstall changes none of them. A Windows reinstall can rotate MachineGuid and a volume serial while leaving firmware, physical storage, and network anchors intact.
GameGuard modules and enforcement are configured per publisher. Comparable machine values can be visible when the same middleware runs in AION 2, Summoners War, and Helldivers 2, which creates cross-game re-flagging exposure for an unchanged rig; it does not mean one Helldivers action automatically bans every GameGuard title. A temporary session spoofer substitutes values only for the current boot or play session and must remain part of the routine. TraceX Spoofer uses a one-time permanent rewrite of its supported board, storage, network, and Windows identifiers as a consistent profile. Complete setup once, run TraceX, verify the rewrite, then delete the tool. No daemon or per-session process remains when Steam starts GameGuard.
Verified
On January 23, 2024, Helldivers 2 Technical Director Peter Lindgren described GameGuard as a "kernel-level" anti-cheat in an official pre-release Steam Community statement and said it scans running processes for software attempting to manipulate the game client. Steam's current Helldivers 2 store listing separately names nProtect GameGuard under "Uses Kernel Level Anti-Cheat." (Sources: Arrowhead Steam Community statement, January 23, 2024; Helldivers 2 Steam store listing.)
Why TraceX
Built for HellDivers 2 Players
You shouldn't need to replace your PC to play HellDivers 2 again. That's why TraceX exists.
HellDivers 2 One-Time Run
Run TraceX once before opening HellDivers 2 through Steam (PC) / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S. The rewrite persists, so you can delete the tool before GameGuard starts.
Permanent GameGuard Identity
HellDivers 2's hardware / device restriction (hwid) is tied to the profile GameGuard reads. Rewritten identifiers persist across reboots without a TraceX daemon.
GameGuard Identifier Coverage
For HellDivers 2, the documented GameGuard coverage includes CPU / CPUID Profile, SMBIOS Type 2 / System UUID, GPU Device Identifier. TraceX rewrites the supported fields in one pass.
No HellDivers 2 Runtime Load
HellDivers 2 launches from Steam (PC) / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S after the rewrite is complete. No TraceX process remains during GameGuard gameplay to consume resources.
HellDivers 2 Compatibility Notes
HellDivers 2's hardware / device restriction (hwid) details stay separate from the current GameGuard status, so a game update is never treated as unchanged by default.
Fresh GameGuard Hardware Profile
When you open HellDivers 2 with Linked Steam + PlayStation Network account (PC), PlayStation Network account (PS5), or Microsoft account (Xbox), GameGuard reads the supported identifiers produced by the completed permanent rewrite.
Setup Guide
How to Bypass a HellDivers 2 HWID Ban
Getting around a HellDivers 2 HWID ban used to take hours — reinstalling Windows, flashing BIOS, wiping drivers, re-downloading everything, and praying it worked. One wrong step meant starting over and burning another account. With TraceX, a single click does more than all of that combined.
01
Get TraceX for HellDivers 2
Submit your email through the TraceX Spoofer homepage form to receive the HellDivers 2 setup instructions — free, no card required.
02
Rewrite Your Hardware
Run TraceX once before launching HellDivers 2. Every hardware identifier GameGuard reads is rewritten in a single pass — then you can delete the tool.
03
Log In and Play
Open HellDivers 2 via the Steam (PC) / PS5 / Xbox Series X|S with a new Linked Steam + PlayStation Network account (PC), PlayStation Network account (PS5), or Microsoft account (Xbox). GameGuard scans your hardware and sees a machine it has never seen before — no ban record.
04
Play Ban Free
You're back in HellDivers 2. The rewrite is permanent — no daemon running, no expiry, nothing to renew.
Free download
Get the free HellDivers 2 HWID spoofer.
Submit your email and receive your free TraceX HWID Spoofer license in a few minutes. Run it once on your PC to permanently rewrite the identifiers GameGuard fingerprints, then delete the binary and reinstall HellDivers 2.
Detection Analysis
How HellDivers 2 Scans Your Hardware
GameGuard can combine identifiers from your PC into a hardware profile for HellDivers 2. TraceX rewrites the supported fields shown below before the game runs.
What HellDivers 2 Reads Without TraceX
CPU / CPUID ProfileBFEB...0684
ExposedSMBIOS Type 2 / System UUIDPF0W...R3X9
ExposedGPU Device Identifier0x0000:0x0001D3A7
ExposedDisk + Volume SerialsS75B...6859N
ExposedPhysical NIC MAC Addresses4A:3B:8C...5E:01
ExposedWindows MachineGuidd83fa349-...-4f3a
ExposedWhen you launch HellDivers 2, your real hardware IDs are scanned and matched against ban records. Every new account on a flagged PC is blocked.
What HellDivers 2 Reads With TraceX
CPU / CPUID Profile906E...A0C2
RewrittenSMBIOS Type 2 / System UUID7KM2...JQ84
RewrittenGPU Device Identifier0x0000:0x00F4B810
RewrittenDisk + Volume SerialsWMC4...3J2L
RewrittenPhysical NIC MAC AddressesD2:7E:19...1C:A4
RewrittenWindows MachineGuid71c0e28d-...-9b7f
RewrittenHellDivers 2 sees a completely new machine with no ban history. New account, clean hardware — access granted.
Ban Reference
HellDivers 2 Ban Details
Anti-CheatGameGuard
Account SystemLinked Steam + PlayStation Network account (PC), PlayStation Network account (PS5), or Microsoft account (Xbox)
Ban TypeHardware / Device Restriction (HWID)
DurationNo universal PC HWID-ban expiry is published; PlayStation console suspension blocks every account on that console under §12.5
Common Triggers
Helldivers 2 client modification, injected DLLs, or memory tamperingSpeed hacks, macros, hooking, or debugger activity detected by GameGuardUnauthorized progression, Super Credit, sample, or Galactic War manipulationForged client files or attempts to bypass GameGuard client-server authenticationUnluckyNo Reason At All
All GameGuard Games
Other Games Using GameGuard
All of these games use GameGuard — the same anti-cheat that banned you in HellDivers 2. One permanent TraceX rewrite covers every one of them.
FAQ
HellDivers 2 HWID Ban — Frequently Asked Questions
What anti-cheat does Helldivers 2 use?
The Windows version uses nProtect GameGuard by INCA Internet. Steam labels it kernel-level anti-cheat, and Helldivers 2 Technical Director Peter Lindgren confirmed that kernel access in a January 23, 2024 Steam Community statement. He said GameGuard scans running processes for software attempting to manipulate the client. That confirms privileged monitoring, not a public list of every hardware field or an automatic HWID verdict for every GameGuard error.
Does GameGuard "Error 114" mean I am hardware-banned?
No. Arrowhead's official Error 114 article, updated July 13, 2026, says the error can trigger for several reasons and tells players to check utility programs, antivirus or firewall software, and the GameGuard installation. It specifically notes that non-hack programs may cause the fault. Treat Error 114 as a launch problem first. An HWID diagnosis needs separate enforcement evidence, not the error code by itself.
Does Helldivers 2 actually HWID-ban, or only restrict accounts?
Sony publishes account and PlayStation Device suspension rules, while the PC version publicly identifies GameGuard as kernel-level. Neither Sony, Arrowhead, nor INCA publishes a Helldivers 2 PC ban notice that names the matched serials or makes every sanction an HWID ban. A restriction repeating on one unchanged PC across account changes is consistent with hardware correlation, but it is not proof by itself. Keep the exact notice and support response separate from a generic disconnect.
Which hardware identifiers can Helldivers 2 GameGuard check?
A kernel-backed deployment can compare the SMBIOS Type 2 baseboard serial and motherboard UUID, physical disk descriptors queried through IOCTL_STORAGE_QUERY_PROPERTY, logical volume serials, physical NIC MAC addresses, and MachineGuid at HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography. TPM 2.0 endorsement-key data and Secure Boot state are also available Windows trust surfaces. INCA and Arrowhead do not publish which of these Helldivers 2 collects or how it weights them.
Will reinstalling Helldivers 2 or Windows clear an HWID restriction?
Reinstalling through Steam replaces game files and can repair a broken GameGuard setup, which is why it belongs in Error 114 troubleshooting. It does not change the motherboard UUID, physical disk serials, or NIC hardware addresses. Reinstalling Windows can rotate MachineGuid and a filesystem volume serial, but firmware and controller-level anchors remain. A repaired launch is therefore not proof that a hardware restriction was removed, and an unchanged sanction is not fixed by replacing client files.
Will a new Steam, PSN, or Xbox account bypass a Helldivers 2 HWID ban?
A new account changes the login identity, not the motherboard, storage, network, or Windows profile exposed by the PC. If the action is account-only, the original account remains sanctioned and should be appealed. If hardware correlation is involved, an unchanged machine can still present the same composite. Account rotation can also breach platform terms and make an appeal harder, so confirm the restriction type and use the official support route before creating more links.
How long does a Helldivers 2 hardware ban last?
There is no official universal expiry published for a Helldivers 2 PC hardware restriction. Sony's terms allow restrictions, account suspension, and PlayStation Device suspension, but those are different enforcement layers and should not be assigned one guessed duration. Use the date and category in your own notice. If no term is shown, treat the action as persistent while you appeal rather than relying on an unsupported waiting period from a forum post.
Can I appeal a Helldivers 2 ban or suspension?
Yes. PlayStation's Helldivers 2 support page routes game suspensions to Arrowhead Support and PlayStation-level suspensions to PlayStation Support. Preserve the exact message, platform account, date, and a screenshot so the case can distinguish an account action from Error 114 or another client fault. The publishers provide no appeal success rate or guaranteed reversal. TraceX cannot restore a sanctioned account or alter Sony's or Arrowhead's enforcement record.
Can a Helldivers 2 restriction affect another GameGuard title?
Not automatically. GameGuard can expose comparable machine surfaces wherever a publisher deploys it, including AION 2 and the PC version of Summoners War, so the same board, disk, NIC, and Windows values create cross-game re-flagging exposure. Each publisher still configures its module, backend policy, and ban list. The accurate claim is that the fingerprint inputs can repeat across the roster, not that one Helldivers 2 action instantly bans every GameGuard game.
What is the difference between a permanent rewrite and a temporary Helldivers 2 spoofer?
A temporary session spoofer substitutes identifiers for one boot or play session, so the old profile can return after restart and the tool has to run again. TraceX uses a permanent rewrite for its supported identifiers instead. Complete the one-time setup, run TraceX once, verify the rewrite, then delete the tool. No TraceX daemon stays active beside GameGuard. The rewrite changes the supported machine profile; it does not restore a banned account or guarantee an appeal outcome.
Learn More
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Next Steps
Not sure the HellDivers 2 ban is hardware-based?
Work out which ban you are actually dealing with before you change anything. The ban-type checker walks the symptoms, and how long a GameGuard ban lasts covers whether waiting it out is realistic for HellDivers 2.
You can also browse every game TraceX supports or read up on the anti-cheat engines behind these bans.