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To turn on VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) on a FREAKHOSTING Counter-Strike 1.6 server, open Startup, type secure in SECURE / INSECURE and restart. New servers start with insecure, which adds -insecure to the start command, so the console shows VAC secure mode disabled. With secure, the server starts with -secure and players who are VAC-banned can’t join it.

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Startup variables for Counter-Strike 1.6

The Startup page shows the start command, for example:
Every change applies when the server next starts. See startup variables for how the page works.

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How to turn on VAC

1

Open Startup

Open your server in the Game Panel and click Startup.
2

Type secure

In SECURE / INSECURE, replace insecure with secure. Type the word exactly, in lower case, with no - and no spaces. The field adds it to the start command as -secure.
3

Check the start command

The command at the top of the page now shows -secure instead of -insecure.
4

Restart

Restart the server. Then read the start-up lines in the console: VAC secure mode disabled. belongs to insecure mode.
To turn VAC off again, type insecure and restart.

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What does VAC secure mode change?

Valve describes VAC like this: when a player joins a VAC-secured server, VAC “checks if any foreign processes are hooked into the player’s local game binaries”. Players caught are banned “from all VAC-secured servers”, and a GoldSrc VAC ban covers all GoldSrc games. VAC doesn’t replace admins; keep AMX Mod X admins to deal with problem players.

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Other Startup variables

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Map

The map the server starts on. Change it here or with Start map in Game settings. See change the map.

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PINGBOOST

Valve’s description: “Selects between optimized HLDS network code stack.” Use 1, 2 or 3; the default is 3. See sys_ticrate and rates.

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SYS_TICRATE and Max Players

Both are read-only. SYS_TICRATE is fixed at 1200. Max Players ( Slots ) comes from your plan. Open a ticket if you need a different number of slots.

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Auto update

The panel describes it as “Auto update on restart”, and the default is 0. Your server runs a modified engine (ReHLDS) with preinstalled add-ons, so open a ticket and ask before you change this value.

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Frequently asked questions

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Why does my CS 1.6 console say “VAC secure mode disabled”?

SECURE / INSECURE is set to insecure, the default. Type secure and restart to turn VAC on.

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Can VAC-banned players join my server?

Yes while the server is insecure. With secure, Valve blocks VAC-banned accounts from joining.

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Can non-Steam players still join a secure server?

Reunion is what lets non-Steam clients join. Test with a non-Steam client after you switch to secure; if they can’t join and you need them, go back to insecure.

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What happens if I type something else in SECURE / INSECURE?

Use only secure or insecure. The value goes straight into the start command, so other text can stop the server starting correctly.

CS 1.6 server guide

Every Counter-Strike 1.6 page in one place.

sys_ticrate and rates

Tick rate and pingboost.

Can't connect

VAC and joining problems.

Reunion and ReHLDS

Non-Steam players and the engine.
Tested by the FREAKHOSTING team on our Game Panel on 30 October 2026 (Counter-Strike 1.6 on ReHLDS 3.14). VAC details checked against the Valve Developer Community VAC page and command line options on 30 October 2026.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: October 2026