Call of Duty Hardware Security: RICOCHET, DMA, and PC Integrity

01

Call of Duty is a franchise, so check the exact title

Activision's Security and Enforcement Policy, updated July 31, 2026, says it applies to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) and later Call of Duty PC and console releases. Specific RICOCHET features and system requirements can change by title, platform, and season.

This page focuses on defensive PC and account practices and does not cover mobile editions. Call of Duty, Activision, and associated marks belong to Activision Publishing, Inc.; RICOCHET Anti-Cheat is an official mark. Heino HMA is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Activision.

02

How current policy describes external hardware and memory behavior

The policy treats using an unsupported external hardware device or application to interact with the game for cheating as an infraction, with examples that include input-modification devices and modded controllers. It separately addresses disguising a hardware device's identity and software deliberately modifying game data on disk or in memory.

These are behavior- and purpose-based rules, not a complete model list. DMA devices also have legitimate network, storage, and authorized laboratory uses, but those uses do not create permission in a Call of Duty environment. Without written Activision approval, related devices and software should not interact with the game.

03

What Activision publicly says about RICOCHET

Activision describes RICOCHET as a layered security initiative with server- and client-side detection, behavioral models, investigation processes, account-security work, and a PC kernel-level driver. The current policy also says it looks for game manipulation, information a player should not know, abnormal automated actions, and indications that hardware has been tampered with.

The official RICOCHET overview says the PC kernel-level driver monitors applications attempting to interact with protected Call of Duty titles. It starts with the game and shuts down after the player exits. The page should not infer collection fields, thresholds, or detailed enforcement logic beyond those statements.

04

TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and title-specific scope

Activision's support article updated August 27, 2026 says TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required on PC for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty: Warzone. The same article says they are not required for other currently available Call of Duty titles. Recheck that scope whenever the official page changes.

Activision also provides a Secure Attestation Wizard for applicable titles. Enter through the Activision support article rather than a third-party copy. Firmware changes can cause boot or encryption-recovery problems, so read the PC or motherboard manufacturer's material first and ask a qualified professional when uncertain.

• Record the exact title, client platform, Windows version, and full message together.
• Use only the status-check entry published by Activision Support.
• Keep BitLocker or device-encryption recovery material and follow the hardware-vendor documentation.
• Do not turn off TPM, Secure Boot, or other system protections to remove a message.

05

Account responsibility, device status, and appeal limits

Activision holds the account owner responsible for activity on the account, and enforcement follows an Activision account and its linked devices. The policy cautions users of secondhand, borrowed, shared, or public devices because an existing hardware restriction may affect online play.

The current appeal page accepts appeals only for permanent account bans; temporary bans, limited matchmaking, and hardware restrictions are not eligible in that channel. If an unknown account link or profile change appears, use hacked-account recovery first. Activision's 2FA article updated in August 2026 also says two-factor authentication is mandatory by default for accounts created after August 18, 2026.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions