Search for an HWID spoofer and you'll hit the same choice almost immediately: permanent or temporary? Sellers push "perm spoofers" as the ultimate fix, while most serious players run temporary ones. They solve the same problem, a hardware ban, in very different ways, and picking the wrong one can cost you a motherboard, a Windows license or your next account.
This guide explains exactly how each type works, the real risks of each, and which one makes sense for Rust, Fortnite, Apex, R6 Siege and Valorant in 2026. If you're new to the topic, start with what an HWID spoofer is.
The Short Answer
For most players, a temporary kernel spoofer is the better choice. It changes nothing permanently, resets on reboot, and lets you pick a fresh identity any time you get flagged. A permanent spoofer only makes sense if you can't run software before every session and you fully accept the risks of rewriting firmware-level values.
What a Temporary Spoofer Does
A temporary (or "temp") spoofer loads a kernel driver that intercepts the hardware queries anti-cheat makes and answers them with fake values. Your real serial numbers are never touched. They're just hidden for that session.
- Runs every session. You spoof before opening the game launcher, play, and your real IDs come back when you reboot.
- Nothing is written to firmware. Your BIOS, disk firmware and Windows activation stay exactly as they were.
- New identity on demand. If an account gets banned, you reboot, spoof again and you're a different machine.
What a Permanent Spoofer Does
A permanent ("perm") spoofer rewrites the identifiers themselves so they stay changed after a reboot. Depending on the tool, that can mean writing new values into the motherboard's SMBIOS/DMI tables with BIOS utilities, changing disk identifiers, and setting a new MAC address in the network adapter settings.
- Set once, done. No software has to run before you play.
- Changes are real. Every program on the PC sees the new values, not just the game.
- Undoing it is hard. If you didn't save the originals, there may be no easy way back.
Permanent vs Temporary: Side by Side
| Temporary Spoofer | Permanent Spoofer | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Kernel driver fakes IDs in memory | Rewrites IDs in firmware and settings |
| After a reboot | Real IDs return; spoof again | New IDs stay |
| Risk to hardware | None to firmware | Flashing mistakes can brick a board |
| Windows activation | Unaffected | May need reactivation after a big identity change |
| Banned again? | Reboot, spoof, new identity | Run the whole perm process again |
| Effort per session | Run it before every session | Nothing after setup |
| Best for | Most players, especially anyone still cheating | Players who want a one-time change and accept the risk |
The Hidden Risks of Permanent Spoofing
Writing to firmware is not like running an app. A failed or interrupted BIOS write can leave a motherboard unbootable. Back up your original values before you change anything.
- Bricking. Firmware tools that write DMI data are made for system builders. Used on the wrong board or interrupted mid-write, they can leave the PC unable to boot.
- Windows license. Microsoft ties digital licenses to your hardware. A large enough identity change can trigger reactivation.
- One identity at a time. If the new permanent identity gets flagged, you're back where you started and have to perm spoof all over again.
- Leftover traces still link you. Changing serials doesn't remove the files, registry entries and logs anti-cheat left from your banned sessions. Without trace cleaning, perm or temp makes no difference.
Which One Works Against Each Anti-Cheat?
What matters most is not perm vs temp. It's whether the spoofer covers every identifier the anti-cheat reads and runs at kernel level. Here's how it plays out by game:
| Game | Anti-Cheat | Our Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Rust | Easy Anti-Cheat | Temp kernel spoofer plus trace cleaning. See our best Rust spoofer guide. |
| Fortnite | Easy Anti-Cheat | Temp kernel spoofer. See the Fortnite spoofer guide. |
| Apex Legends | Easy Anti-Cheat | Temp kernel spoofer. See the Apex spoofer guide. |
| R6 Siege | BattlEye | Temp kernel spoofer. See the R6 Siege spoofer guide. |
| Valorant | Riot Vanguard | Kernel spoofer built for Vanguard, plus TPM considerations. See our Valorant HWID spoofer guide. |
"Rust Perm Spoofer": Is Perm Worth It for Rust?
"Perm spoofer Rust" is one of the most common spoofer searches, because Rust bans hurt. An Easy Anti-Cheat ban in Rust shows up as a game ban on your Steam profile, and players widely report that it follows the hardware, not just the account. That makes people want a one-time permanent fix.
In practice a temp kernel spoofer is still the safer route for Rust. You keep your real hardware intact, you can roll a new identity the moment an account gets flagged, and you avoid flashing firmware just to play one game. Pair it with a fresh Steam account and full trace cleaning. Our Rust HWID spoofer guide walks through the exact order.
How to Choose: A Quick Checklist
- Are you still going to cheat? Choose temp. You will likely need more than one identity.
- Is it kernel-level? If not, skip it, perm or temp.
- Does it cover SMBIOS, disks, MAC and GPU? Partial coverage gets matched.
- Does it clean traces? Otherwise your old ban follows you.
- Can you test it cheaply? Short plans let you confirm it works on your PC before committing.
TATEWARE HWID Spoofer
Temporary kernel-level spoofing for SMBIOS, disks, MAC and GPU, with a full trace cleaner. Nothing written to your firmware, new identity every session. From €5.99 for 3 days.
Get the SpooferFrequently Asked Questions
Is a permanent HWID spoofer really permanent?
The changed values stay after a reboot, but "permanent" doesn't mean undetectable. If the new identity gets flagged, it is banned too, and you'd have to change everything again.
Can a perm spoofer break my PC?
It can. Writing SMBIOS or other firmware values carries a real risk of bricking the motherboard if something goes wrong, and a large hardware identity change can also affect Windows activation.
Do I need to run a temp spoofer every time?
Yes. A temporary spoofer only lasts until you reboot, so you run it before opening the game launcher each session.
Which is better for Rust, perm or temp?
For most players, temp. It avoids firmware changes and lets you switch identities instantly if an account gets flagged. The key is kernel-level coverage and trace cleaning.
Related guides: How to check your HWID · Kernel HWID spoofer explained
Bottom Line
Permanent spoofers sound like a cleaner fix, but they trade convenience for real risk: firmware writes, Windows activation headaches and a single identity that can still get burned. A temporary kernel spoofer with full coverage and trace cleaning does the same job, leaves your hardware untouched, and gives you a fresh start whenever you need one. If you're not sure whether you're hardware banned at all, read HWID bans explained first.
Questions about setup? The TATEWARE Discord has support available around the clock.