CheckHacks vs Polar Anticheat

CheckHacks is a free, server-side Minecraft anticheat that detects client-side mods and hack clients using the Sign Translation Vulnerability. Players do not need to install a client mod: the plugin briefly places signs with special translation keys and checks the client’s response. Administrators can choose METEOR, TRANSLATE, or KEYBIND detection modes for each mod and add custom detections in checkhacks.yml. DoubleCheck repeats scans that return DETECTED or PROTECTED to help reduce false positives. CheckHacks can check players after Grim, Vulcan, Spartan, or Matrix flags them, and supports custom commands and detection alerts. A browser editor running on the game server lets administrators review scan history, look up players, and start checks. Access uses one-time tokens, while scan records are kept in a built-in SQLite database. Named server platforms include Bukkit, Folia, Paper, Purpur, and Spigot, with Minecraft versions 1.21 and later listed. The maker warns that client patches can temporarily block the detection method. The project is MIT-licensed, and donations are optional.

Polar Anticheat is cheat-prevention software for Minecraft servers, with checks largely processed in Polar Cloud. It monitors player activity and can mitigate movement, reach, and damage before applying punishments. Listed detection coverage includes auto clicker, heuristics, invalid protocol, movement, tick speed, inventory, world interaction, and latency abuse; enforcement can include hit cancellation, setbacks, kicks, and bans. Its plans include all checks, with limits on players, server instances, and HWIDs. Small server is €15 a month (billed €45/quarter or €150/year); Medium server is €29 a month (billed €29/month or €290/year); Large server is €59 a month (billed €59/month or €590/year). Installation uses a PolarLoader.jar file in the server’s plugins folder. Requirements include Java 8 or higher, Spigot or Paper, and an uninterrupted internet connection. Domain verification is required for onboarding, and proxy plugins are unsupported. The documentation describes an API for server and user lookup, events, and custom subcommands. The service supports Bedrock exemption when Floodgate and player-data forwarding are configured.