I recently downloaded a game from Steam and discovered that it has kernel anti-cheat installed. I wasn't aware of what that entailed, so I did some research but now I'm trying to figure out if it was automatically installed when I downloaded the game or if it would only be installed after running the game. I uninstalled the game already, so do I need to redownload it just to check for the anti-cheat software?
3 Answers
It’s important to know that some anti-cheat software doesn’t get uninstalled just by removing the game itself. You might have to run a specific uninstaller for the anti-cheat or go through the program files to delete any leftover files that could be there. Just make sure to check the game’s folder in your Steam library after you reinstall to see if the uninstaller is there.
Hey! First off, can you let us know which anti-cheat you're dealing with? If it’s Easy Anti-Cheat, check your Task Manager to see if it's running as a process. Sometimes, it might not be clearly labeled, so look for anything suspicious.
Yeah, it's often the case that the anti-cheat stays behind even after you uninstall the game. If you are concerned about it, it might be easier to reinstall the game and look for uninstallation options in its folder or on your computer.

I found out it’s Easy Anti-Cheat. I looked in Task Manager but didn't see anything that specifically says 'Easy' or 'Anti-Cheat'. I do have 'Gaming Services' showing, but I’m not sure if that’s the same thing.