Does Display Fusion Hook onto ALL running programs?

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Gazendra45

4 discussion posts

I am wondering if this program hooks into all windows as I noticed that every Window I open has this new button that "moves it to the other monitor".

This is a concern for me as I play some online games and they have anti-cheat systems that do not like their games being hooked upon. One can easily get banned while running Display Fusion.

Is there a way to disable this software from interacting with other software such as through hooks and memory? I would like to know what settings should be applied to completely stop it from interacting/hooking with any programs such as games and would just use it for its dual monitor taskbar.

Mar 31, 2021 (modified Apr 1, 2021) • #1

Hello,

If you open up the DisplayFusion settings window, you can head to the compatibility tab, add in the application, and check off "Disable Application Hooks (This application only)".

Hope that helps!

Apr 1, 2021 • #2

Gazendra45

4 discussion posts

Hello

Yes I did just that, however I would like to know how the program works in a deeper level

Here are my current settings above

However if I try to click the start button on my 2nd monitor, I get the overlaying error message as shown in the picture

"Global Application Hooks are currently disabled. The Display Fusion Start Button relies on these hooks..."

I am uncertain with what the word "Global" in "Global Application hooks" mean
Does it mean that if you enable this setting, then DisplayFusion will or possibly also interact with all other programs?

Or is this setting just named "Global Application Hooks" only concerns Display Fusion and does not affect or interact with other programs in anyway?

Also, are my Application Hook setting sufficient enough to stop Display Fusion from interacting with any other program (such as through hooks)?

Would be very much appreciated answer from developer of the application
Regards

Apr 2, 2021 (modified Apr 2, 2021) • #3

Hello,

The global hooks are never inside other processes, only the per-process hooks do that, so you should be fine to leave that on and set the compatibility rule I mentioned in my last message.

DisplayFusion also injects titlebar buttons into each application window, but you can disable that as well in the compatibility settings, using the "Disable titlebar buttons" box.

Adding both of those compatibility settings should prevent DisplayFusion from interacting with your program.

Thanks!

Apr 2, 2021 • #4

Gazendra45

4 discussion posts

My concern with the compatibility rule setting of excluding programs from display fusion:

There are some programs that spawn other children processes that may not be necessarily known to the user. I think that's the only hindsight in using the compatibility tab, because it will only affect the programs you specify it not necessarily other programs that it may call to start. Unless the program's compatibility tab also excludes the child processes from interacting with Display Fusion, this remains some room for improvement.

A child process in computing is a process created by another process (the parent process). This technique pertains to multitasking operating systems, and is sometimes called a subprocess or traditionally a subtask.

I could try running a process monitoring program to see what the game spawns what processes, but that might trigger the anti-cheat. Also, modern games usually have updates/modifications that can change (add/remove) what processes they spawn or rename what processes they spawn.

Just my 2 cents on the matter, it would be better to leave all hook related features that interacts with programs turned off by default on this program's next build/version. Given that global hooks setting does not interact with any other program, then it can be left turned on.

There are some reports of Display Fusion being triggered by unwary users
https://forum.escapefromtarkov.com/topic/135257-bsg-anti-cheat-displayfusion-question/

https://steamcommunity.com/app/730/discussions/0/2644126542305339908/

https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/problem-with-anti-cheat-software/?ID=450b8238-2458-49f7-bc7b-08b082a24bb1

https://www.displayfusion.com/Discussions/View/disable-all-hooksaccess-primarily-because-of-game-anticheat/?ID=289100c7-e6d6-49a9-8a49-5578b2079f55

Regards

Apr 3, 2021 (modified Apr 3, 2021) • #5

Hello,

Ah, you may want to disable application hooks globally in the Advanced settings window then, as that will disable them for child processes as well.

Those first two links you posted are for customers that were using a function directly on a game window. That function uses hooks to prevent deactivation of the window, but if you have hooks disabled for that application, either globally or through the compatibility settings, it would prevent that function from working.

Thanks!

Apr 7, 2021 • #6

Gazendra45

4 discussion posts

Hello
Ok I will apply your mentioned configuration and throw in a test account to a game to see if there's any adverse reaction by the game I play after 1-2 weeks amount of time (They usually do a weekly ban with their anti-cheat). If I do not reply back, then just assume all is well.

Apr 7, 2021 • #7