Watch Dogs 2 anti-cheat mechanism is basically spyware

UPDATE: TechPowerup has figured out a way to disable the EasyAntiCheat technology when you're using the single-player mode of the game. Click the link for some screenshots and more detailed information.

If you're a Steam user, right-click the Watch Dogs 2 game on your library, hit "Properties", "Launch options", and input "-eac_launcher".

If you're using Ubisoft's Uplay system, you select Watch Dogs 2, "Properties", "Game launch arguments", and input the same "-eac_launcher" in the pop-up command window.

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TechPowerUp writes gamers better think twice about buying Watch Dogs 2 as the game uses a very pervasive anti-cheating mechanism. Called EasyAntiCheat, the technology installs a driver in kernel mode, which is active even if you just play the single-player mode of the game. The mechanism basically acts like spyware, it monitors your system and can take screenshots of your game screen and upload them on public servers! Furthermore, EasyAntiCheat also deactivates the overlay and recording capabilities of popular tools like Afterburner and OBS.

EasyAntiCheat TOS:

1. EasyAntiCheat is not compatible with any anti-cheat programs other than VAC, therefore you must not run EasyAntiCheat if you wish to play with any other anti-cheat at the same time. The user is fully responsible in case his/her game account or cdkey gets banned or refused by the game, EasyAntiCheat or any other anti-cheat.

2. EasyAntiCheat finds game cheats by scanning games' memory, the system memory and verifying original game files on disk to ensure they have not been modified. Only games' folders (and subfolders) are verified to contain original game data. EasyAntiCheat may replace or remove permanently any modified or custom game files found in games' folders (and subfolders). The use of any custom models, textures, sprites or other modified game files may lead to permanent ban if they can be considered to give the player an unfair advantage over other players.

3. EasyAntiCheat will take screenshots of your game screen and upload them on public servers, viewable to everyone, if the server provider wishes so. The author of this software and EasyAntiCheat takes no responsibility of screenshots captured outside the game screen. If any personal or harmful information is captured into a screenshot, the user is fully responsible of the happened incident and any consequences it may result in. (In case this happens to you, please inform your server provider to remove unwanted screenshots from the server.)

4. EasyAntiCheat will scan system registry to detect forbidden modifications, settings or other features enabled to the game or graphic card drivers.