How to Block Cheats & Protect Your Minecraft Bedrock Server in 2024

Cheating clients for Minecraft Bedrock are always evolving, using sophisticated utilities like fly, no fall, and velocity modifications to gain an unfair edge. While some of these clients can bypass basic anti-cheat systems, you can implement multiple layers of defense to detect and prevent cheating before it ruins the experience for other players.

This guide walks you through effective protection strategies, from server-level configurations to dedicated anti-cheat tools, helping you keep your Bedrock server fair for everyone.

Understanding the Bedrock Hacking Landscape

Minecraft Bedrock Edition faces unique security challenges compared to Java Edition. Cheats designed for Bedrock have become increasingly sophisticated, bypassing conventional anti-cheat plugins through client-side modifications that exploit the game's architecture.

Today's cheats usually include movement-based hacks (fly, speed, no fall damage), combat advantages (reach, velocity), and tools that give away information unfairly. These modifications can still get a player banned by vigilant moderators, but preventing them in the first place is much better than banning them after the fact.

With so many cheats out there, anti-cheat tools have become a necessity, not just an option, for anyone running a serious server.

Server-Level Protection Strategies

Network Security Configuration

Using a proxy or VPN to mask your server's real IP address is a good first line of defense against targeted attacks. This approach prevents hackers from directly accessing your server's backend while letting legitimate players connect as usual.

Configure rate limiting to automatically reject suspicious connection patterns or spam attempts. Set reasonable thresholds that don't interfere with normal players but block the kind of malicious traffic bursts you see from bot networks or coordinated attacks.

Firewall and Access Controls

Your firewall should be configured to block unauthorized access and reduce your server's attack surface. Close unnecessary ports, whitelist trusted IP ranges when you can, and monitor connections to spot anything unusual.

Enable SYN cookies on your server to stop your resources from being drained by incomplete or malicious TCP connection attempts. This protection helps keep your server stable during a potential DDoS attack while letting legitimate players connect without issue.

Advanced Protection Methods

DDoS Mitigation and Bot Prevention

External DDoS mitigation services like Cloudflare offer powerful protection from large-scale attacks that could overwhelm your server. These services filter malicious traffic before it ever reaches your machine.

Anti-bot solutions, including CAPTCHA verification for suspicious connection attempts, add another layer of verification. While this can be a minor inconvenience for players, it's a very effective way to stop automated attacks from crashing your server.

Performance Optimization as Security

Optimizing your server's performance can reduce crashes and close up vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit. Well-maintained servers with adequate resources are harder to exploit and also provide a more stable foundation for your anti-cheat.

Regularly updating your Minecraft Bedrock server software and security plugins is the best way to stay protected from newly discovered vulnerabilities and hacking methods.

Proactive Cheat Detection

Server-Side Monitoring

Implement backup commands and server-side protections to prevent griefing and minimize damage when someone does get through. Automated backup systems let you recover quickly, while detailed logging can help you spot attack patterns.

Monitor player behavior for anything that suggests someone is cheating. Unusual movement speeds, impossible jump heights, or other physics violations can automatically trigger a response or alert an admin.

Specialized Detection Tools

Standard anti-cheat plugins can miss the more sophisticated cheats for Bedrock, but dedicated detection services can identify cheaters before they can cause trouble. These advanced systems analyze player behavior patterns and client signatures to proactively flag potential cheaters.

These tools focus on preventing cheating instead of just reacting to it, keeping the game fair through continuous monitoring and by intervening early.

Implementation and Next Steps

Start with server-level protections—firewall configuration, rate limiting, and performance optimization—before adding dedicated detection tools. It's best to layer multiple security measures instead of relying on a single solution.

Regular monitoring and updates will help you keep up as cheats evolve. Keep a log of any incidents to help you fine-tune your detection and response plans.

For a comprehensive solution that catches cheaters before they can affect your server, specialized detection services provide proactive monitoring capabilities that standard anti-cheat plugins can't match. This approach helps keep things fair by stopping cheaters in their tracks, not just cleaning up the mess they leave behind.