TryHackMe is built around learning by doing. To keep the competitive ranks and features fair for everyone who puts in the work, we've introduced a smarter way to detect when answers are submitted without any meaningful interaction with the target machine.
If you're learning honestly, you have nothing to worry about!
How It Works
When you submit a correct answer, TryHackMe checks whether you actually engaged with the target machine, for questions where that's expected. Your activity (commands run, HTTP requests, network traffic) is compared against a baseline built from legitimate completions of that same question.
If your activity falls below the minimum threshold across all signals, points for that specific question are withheld. The check runs in milliseconds alongside answer validation, so you won't notice any delay.
What This Is (And Isn't)
This is not a ban, an account penalty, or anything that affects room completion. Only the points for the affected question are withheld. Badges, streaks, and completion status are unaffected.
Reporting Cheating In King Of The Hill
If you think another player is breaking the rules in a King of the Hill game, please report it with evidence. We can only act on reports we can verify.
Please include:
The player's username
The game, and the date and time it happened, with your time zone
What they did, and which rule it breaks [CHECK: link to the KOTH rules]
Evidence, such as screenshots or a screen recording
Then open the Messenger and select Events & games, then Report a KOTH cheater.
Important: Reports without evidence can't be investigated. Please don't share evidence publicly on Discord or social media; send it to us instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I know if my points were withheld?
For walkthroughs, points are still shown on the congratulations screen after completing a room. For challenges, you can also track this in the chart and scoreboard within the room.
Does this affect room completion or badges?
No. Only the points for the specific question are withheld.
I'm a beginner. Will I be penalised for not doing things "perfectly"?
No. The threshold catches users showing no meaningful interaction, not users who are learning or exploring.
Can I still use a write-up?
Absolutely. Write-ups are a valuable part of how the community learns together. The key is to actually follow the steps on the machine rather than just copying the answers.
What if I use my own VPN? Will I still get points?
Yes. As long as you're genuinely interacting with the target, your activity is evaluated against the same baseline and points are awarded as normal.
What happens after I report a KOTH cheater?
Our team reviews the evidence and takes action if the rules were broken. We can't always share the outcome, to protect everyone's privacy.
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