Cheating remains one of the biggest challenges facing competitive online shooters. In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Activision continues to strengthen its RICOCHET Anti-Cheat system with new detection methods, improved PC security requirements, and stricter enforcement against unauthorized hardware.

In a September 18, 2026 update, Team RICOCHET discussed the growing commercial cheating ecosystem and explained how its security measures are designed to protect fair competition across Call of Duty.

RICOCHET Targets More Than Traditional Cheats
Many players associate cheating with software such as aimbots and wallhacks. However, unauthorized input modification devices have also become a significant concern.

Products such as Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix can modify controller inputs, potentially providing advantages that are difficult for legitimate players to reproduce.

These devices may be configured to automate certain actions, modify recoil behavior, or create unnatural input patterns.

Rather than relying exclusively on identifying a particular hardware device, RICOCHET analyzes how inputs behave during gameplay.

This approach allows the system to identify suspicious patterns even when players change their device configurations.

Stronger PC Security Through Microsoft Azure Attestation
Another major part of Activision's anti-cheat strategy involves Microsoft Azure Attestation.

Introduced for Ranked Play in Season 02 and expanded in Season 04, this technology helps verify whether a player's PC meets required security standards before entering competitive matches.

The system builds on two important Windows security features:

TPM 2.0: Provides hardware-based security functions that help verify system integrity.
Secure Boot: Helps ensure that trusted software is loaded during the startup process.

Remote Attestation checks these security requirements through trusted Microsoft servers rather than relying entirely on local system information.

Since Season 04, players who fail the required checks are placed into restricted matchmaking pools. In Black Ops 7, these players are limited to Nuketown 24/7 rather than having access to all playlists.

This approach is intended to protect competitive matchmaking without completely preventing affected players from accessing the game.

Results From Unauthorized Device Enforcement
Activision has also shared encouraging results from its enforcement efforts.

According to Team RICOCHET, nearly two-thirds of players temporarily banned for using unauthorized input modification devices do not return to those devices when they resume playing Black Ops 7.

This suggests that enforcement and player education can help discourage repeated violations.

However, combating cheating remains an ongoing process. As unauthorized tools evolve, detection systems must continue adapting to new configurations and methods.

What This Means for Black Ops 7 Players
For legitimate players, stronger anti-cheat protections can help create more reliable multiplayer experiences.

Fair competition is particularly important in Ranked Play, where individual performance, teamwork, and match results influence player progression.

Activision's continued investment in RICOCHET demonstrates that maintaining competitive integrity requires more than occasional ban waves. It involves ongoing monitoring, technical improvements, and consistent enforcement.

Enjoying the Black Ops 7 Experience
Beyond competitive matches, players can explore seasonal content, weapon customization, and other in-game features. Call of Duty Points are also used for eligible store purchases and selected cosmetic content.

Players interested in purchasing points can check the available Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Points offers on fcbuy.com, comparing prices and delivery conditions before selecting an option.

With additional security requirements and improved detection methods, RICOCHET remains an important part of Activision's efforts to maintain a fairer environment for the Black Ops 7 community.