false “cheating software detected” warning after 0.4 can this lead to a ban? GGG not helpful

TL;DR: After the 0.4 update, PoE 2 shows a “cheating software detected” warning, but I can still log in and play normally. Did full process/DLL checks, removed Exiled Exchange & PoB, nothing helped. GGG support gives no details. Is this a known bug or false positive?

FULL:

Hi,

Since the 0.4 update, I’ve been getting a message on the main menu when trying to log in that says:

“You have been detected running cheating software.”

I didn’t have this issue before the update. The game literally tells me I’m running cheating software and then lets me log in and play anyway. If this were a real detection, why am I not blocked from logging in?

This makes it feel more like a bug than an actual detection.

I work in IT, so I did some basic troubleshooting and log collection. I verified this using PowerShell, Sysinternals Process Explorer, and Handle64 — no injected DLLs, no suspicious processes, no unusual handles.

The only third-party tools I use are Exiled Exchange and Path of Building, so I assumed PoE might be scanning for those. I uninstalled both — and, as you might expect, it didn’t help at all.

I contacted GGG support and provided all of the above information. Their response was:

“Hi there,

I’m afraid we do not have any further information we are able to provide regarding this. You will need to identify the program being detected and disable it.”

That was it. Thanks, GGG — very helpful. Honestly, this is one of the worst customer support experiences I’ve had.

After a few more replies, I directly asked them:

Is it expected behavior that I get this warning, click OK, and can still log in and play?

Am I at risk of getting banned if I don’t find whatever program/process is supposedly causing this?

The response was basically a bot reply:

“I am afraid that, as mentioned, we cannot provide further details.”

Guys, please help me out — what the heck is going on here?
Has anyone else started seeing this after 0.4?
Especially PoB or Exiled Exchange 2

no to both, yiu'r sure not some other kernel level anti cheat is running additionally? I mean from another game.

after that said i understand why they are reluctant to share or maybe even don't know haow exactly their anti cheat works. Is it even theirs?

"

tsunamikun#0433 wrote:

no to both, yiu'r sure not some other kernel level anti cheat is running additionally? I mean from another game.

after that said i understand why they are reluctant to share or maybe even don't know haow exactly their anti cheat works. Is it even theirs?

I had riot's anti-cheat, but i've uninstalled it also. I'm randomly uninstalling some programs I have but no idea what would be causing this

main question is:
Why I'm able to play when I have this message and all I need to do is click OK then I can log in to play - should'nt i've been blocked?

"

Gadzinski#1962 wrote:

Why I'm able to play when I have this message and all I need to do is click OK then I can log in to play - should'nt i've been blocked?

GGG is overall pretty reasonable so I can see them giving you a second chance. in my experience people who cheat in games tend to get detected/banned for cheating, and those who don't, well, do not. False positives are possible but you have to ask yourself if you're truly that unlucky. I would stop using whatever illicit software you're using that goes against GGG's terms of service and you won't have this problem again

"

Gadzinski#1962 wrote:

"

tsunamikun#0433 wrote:

no to both, yiu'r sure not some other kernel level anti cheat is running additionally? I mean from another game.

after that said i understand why they are reluctant to share or maybe even don't know haow exactly their anti cheat works. Is it even theirs?

I had riot's anti-cheat, but i've uninstalled it also. I'm randomly uninstalling some programs I have but no idea what would be causing this

main question is:
Why I'm able to play when I have this message and all I need to do is click OK then I can log in to play - should'nt i've been blocked?

Little tidbit for the unknowing: Riot Vanguard stays installed even if you uninstall e.g. Valorant. It only gets uninstalled if you remove it via the app list

"

Imaginaerum#5568 wrote:

"

Gadzinski#1962 wrote:

Why I'm able to play when I have this message and all I need to do is click OK then I can log in to play - should'nt i've been blocked?

GGG is overall pretty reasonable so I can see them giving you a second chance. in my experience people who cheat in games tend to get detected/banned for cheating, and those who don't, well, do not. False positives are possible but you have to ask yourself if you're truly that unlucky. I would stop using whatever illicit software you're using that goes against GGG's terms of service and you won't have this problem again

I fixed it

Those illicit programs you are telling about were old neversink filterblade filters with custom sounds located in %username%\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2

Truly illicit software

Thank you. I started to have the same problem after this update and this got rid of the message for me as well. Tried uninstalling everything I could find that changed on my PC since the last update to figure out what triggered it but it appears to be an issue with the update giving false positives.

I told everyone this was gonna happen more and more because of AI moderation, GGG should get rid of this garbage and sue the **** out the company who sold them this faulty "technology".
I get Neal Mohan vibes from Jonathan "Vision Boy" Rogers, now. Not a critic, just an observation. They banned my friend the same way, and the community attacked and laughed at me and him, i wished them good luck and many "lol's" when it happens with them. I won't tell the whole story again, GGG is aware they are banning innocent people, they just choose not to do anything about it.
And i get people will defend them, i like the game too, i used to defend it like that, but what happened and HOW it happened... i can't anymore.
Good luck guys, speaking for myself only... i'm out, they've not only lost a newbie player (my friend) they've cast off a loyal customer (me).

Meanwhile, a guy who openly admitted (in steam discussions) having two versions of cheat engine and wand installed in his PC BRAGGED AND LAUGHED for never being caught by any game or platform. Go figure...

edit: typo and this: HE DID NOT GET ANY KIND OF WARNING BEFOREHAND, we filed for support after 3 months of constant crashes, the support we got was a ban on his account, again, no previous warning.