In order to play Valorant, you must also install Riot’s anti-cheating software Vanguard. This software scans your computer for software that can allow you to cheat, making the game fairer for everybody involved. Because the Vanguard software is always on, and can scan your PC, some users have previously raised privacy concerns on forums like Reddit.
The reality is that although Vanguard is designed to scan your computer for cheat-enabling software from the moment it starts up (it includes a kernel-mode driver) there is no evidence that the software is doing anything nefarious. Vanguard does not do anything other than scan for software that can be used to cheat in-game. Thus, its only purpose is to prevent wallhackers and aim botters.
Vanguard does not harvest your data or send it back to Riot, and most people agree that the anti-cheating software is completely safe and benevolent. That said, it does take up some system resources, which means that it could theoretically affect the performance of your computer if it is not very powerful. Other than this minor consideration, there is nothing particularly concerning about Riot’s Vanguard software.