It appears that users are being banned from 3DS online services, en masse. There's no direct cause right now, and seemingly no linking factor. This post is meant as an announcement for users, to be wary, and that GBAtemp will keep you updated as soon as more info rolls in. If you have been banned, please post in the thread below, and we will try to keep tabs on the situation. To be extra sure, it can't hurt to turn off your 3DS's wireless capabilities, so you might as well do that for now.

Edit 1: it appears that e-Shop access isn't restricted if you are banned.

Edit 2: A caller to Nintendo reported that the company said this ban is due to "unauthorized software usage".

Edit 3: @LinkSoraZelda is collecting info. Contact him if you are banned.

Edit 4: Click and fill this out if you were BANNED.

Edit 5:

[11:28:19 PM] Clector: Curiously the page of that error in Nintendo Support website used to have this:Error Code: 002-0102 Situation: You receive the error code 002-0102 when attempting to connect online. What to Do: If you continue to experience this issue, please contact Nintendo by calling 1-800-255-3700. Representatives are available from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pacific Time, 7 days a week.
[11:28:44 PM] Clector: Now it says this: What to Do: If you are experiencing this error code, your Nintendo 3DS family system has been banned due to unauthorized system modifications, play of unauthorized versions of one or more games, and/or connecting to the official game servers in violation of our terms of service. This ban is effective immediately and requests to remove the ban will not be processed.

Thanks to @Joom

Edit 6: Aurora Wright is taking another poll here

Edit 7: Not a lot is known but

There are bans happening, they are happening in all regions.
All models in the 3ds family seem to be candidates for banning.
There is no indication they will be anything other than permanent.
A game or DLC may end up being a cause but there is no one game or DLC that ties banned users together.
The cause or causes are as yet unknown, though it does seem to be related to modifications. Reports of unmodified consoles being banned are as yet unproven.
The banning is tied to something you can modify, thus you can unban. Doing it while the causes are unknown is likely only going to burn a working token though.
There are semi public tokens out there, Nintendo knows how to browse a forum as well as you so don't be surprised if they also get banned.
It does not seem to be limited to a given base firmware version, it does not seem to be limited to any one custom firmware type. There is some speculation that older hacking methods are not being hit as hard but nothing to confirm this yet.
The data collection could have happened this morning, or it could have been months in the making.
A simple check to see is checking your friends list, by itself it will not ban you.
Some are turning their wifi off. It is doubtful this will be of much use and being banned does not seem to come with any downsides that wifi being off will not also mimic.
You may have escaped a ban thus far but it could happen at any point. It could be that they stop in the future, it has happened on other consoles, but you would be living in hope rather than any particularly well founded logic.
The bans are done on the side of Nintendo's servers rather than your 3ds so there is also that.

If you hack your devices/games then their online functionality may be troubled. This has been known for decades, Nintendo seems to have finally caught up with that.

Please continue to share information with the thread or the links in previous edits.

Update 5/30

HOW TO HELP AVOID BANS (we think)​

If I was to guess from the information we have gathered since the ban wave, it seems likely that they are looking for TitleIDs that don't exist. Homebrew shows up in the activity log as the Download Play app, and fake CIA's show up as just ??????. That last one is what I'm guessing they are looking for.

If you are not banned yet or before you unban yourself, go into your friends list, choose settings, and turn off the option to "show friends what game you are playing." This will prevent you from playing games online with friends, so turn it back on when you wanna game with someone, but ALWAYS keep it off when running custom CIAs. Next, go into system settings -> internet settings -> spotpass, and turn off BOTH options. One is auto download software, the other sends system information to Nintendo. Also, make sure you don't have your favorite title set to something stupid like FBI or any other non-Nintendo CIA.

Its VERY likely that these options are what tipped off Nintendo, but we aren't 100% certain yet. The amount of banned people that had one of these options turned on was over 80% for each. If I was to assume that some of those people overlap, its very possible (but not confirmed) that 100% of banned people in the survey had at least one of those options turned on. I personally had all of them off and I have TONS of reasons for Nintendo to ban me.... yet I am not banned (yet).

Another bit of advice: Only run custom CIAs when offline, and after you close them, run a "legit" game like Smash Bros. or something before shutting down or going back online. This way your most recent title won't show up as a fake CIA

Current Theories as to what causes a ban
​

* SpotPass Settings: 8 users out of 46 users that were banned have SpotPass completely shut off, or SpotPass only (no friends list visibility)
* Firmware Version (Luma, Nintendo): Literally all reports ranged from 10.2+, I can get exact numbers for this if you'd like, but all firmwares were affected.
* Firmware Type (A9LH, B9S): 44 of the 126 B9S users that answered were banned, pattern was mirrored for A9LH users as well.
* Homebrew Titles such as FBI, HBL, Luma Updater, Themely, and freeShop: Literally about 98% of users both banned and unbanned had some combination of these applications installed. However the common ones were: FBI, HBL, LumaUpdater and NTR.
* Save Modification: Equal amounts of users on both sides have reported save modification in some form, either with PKSM or another save editor
* System Transfers: 188 users said that they had not previously system transfered, 61 of those users were banned; 16 users said they transferred from a hacked console, only three of them received a ban; 13 said they transferred from a stock system and likewise were banned. The rest of our sample did not answer this question.
* Activity Log Information: A majority of those who have not been banned have said they had NOT cleaned their activity logs. I can get exact numbers for this too on request.

This information is just what I've found. Like I said, there could be variables or things we haven't even checked for yet. But these are things that I feel should be disproven, at least with the current dataset we have.

• From the information that we've gathered from some people that have used a packet sniffer such as WireShark, the following data is sent to Nintendo's online gaming servers as soon as the 3DS connects to the internet:
  • Amount of time spent online (timer stops when either the system is disconnected from the internet, or connection drops out, then starts the timer again in a new session when it reconnects to the internet).
  • The game being played and amount of time spent on it during that session.
  • The console's unique hexadecimal ID used in the LocalFriendCodeSeedB, along with it's RSA-signed signature.
  • The console's serial number in which is broadcasted from the SoC and is hard coded in the SoC.
  • Friend Code generated on the Nintendo 3DS system, if one has been generated.
  • Internet connection status (either online or offline).
  • The Nintendo Network ID, if there is one linked to it.
  • Even if the sending of SpotPass Information is switched off, or even hiding your currently playing games. It does not prevent the system from sending currently playing information to Nintendo's online gaming servers, it only hides it from your friends in your friend list (like being invisible on the forum, while mods and admins can still see you). Why? Because even people without a Friend Code on their system have been getting banned too!

• The following data is NOT sent to Nintendo's online gaming servers:
  • The data from the Nintendo 3DS's Activity Log. Oddly enough, while Nintendo does explicitly state that they collect Activity Log data, they're actually referring to their own server's Activity Log, which always tracks every console's online activity, and keeps a record of them that is stored forever. And is only collected in increments of data through a timer and a currently playing list.
    
  • Games or apps that have not been played, regardless if they're legitimate or not. You only get tracked when you're online and using that game or app.
  • Using games or apps while offline. Even though it is stored on the 3DS console's Activity Log, that data is NOT sent to Nintendo's online gaming servers.
  • Custom Firmware. Though we can't rule out the possibility of them releasing a 3DS update in the future that adds such function to collect MD5 hashes of files and FIRM data and send them to Nintendo online gaming servers (which would also be updated in a maintenance).

• Things that people think what happens with consoles, but really doesn't:
  • "LocalFriendCodeSeedB is transferred to the system upon doing a system transfer". This is false, the LocalFriendCodeSeedB remains on the system and does not move to another system.
  • "The console generates a LocalFriendCodeSeedB upon first startup". Again, this is false, the LocalFriendCodeSeedB is made during the manufacturing process at Foxconn. It is generated at the factory, flashed to the NAND flash memory storage, then created as an account on Nintendo's online gaming server and Nintendo eShop server immediately when being manufactured. It is absolutely impossible to generate a LocalFriendCodeSeedB and be able to connect to Nintendo's online gaming server and/or Nintendo eShop server, even if you knew the RSA generation key for it. You'd end up with Error Code 002-0102 "This console's online services have been restricted by Nintendo" if you even tried (the error can either mean two things: The hexadecimal ID doesn't exist on the server, or the request to access the hexadecimal ID has been denied which in other words... banned). So a LocalFriendCodeSeedB generator will NEVER happen! Because it's not worth doing, if it can't connect.
  • Switching off "Currently Playing" information. Once again, this does not hide your online activity from Nintendo's online gaming server, it only hides it from your friends.
  • Switching off SpotPass. Nope, this too doesn't hide your online activity from Nintendo's online gaming server, it only opts-out of receiving SpotPass data, sorry.

So pretty much the bottom line is, if anyone has been using custom apps and/or titles not installed through Nintendo eShop while online in the past, guess what? You're screwed! And it is only a matter of time before your console's unique hexadecimal ID in the LocalFriendCodeSeedB is banned from Nintendo's online gaming server. This will mean, your console can't access the Friend List or play any online functions in games.

If you have been online while using custom apps and/or titles not installed through Nintendo eShop and haven't been banned yet, that's because Nintendo hasn't caught up to you yet. They're still going through each unique hexadecimal ID's Activity Log on their server, and by Activity Log, I mean the Activity Log on their server, not the 3DS console's activity log. And it will be only a matter of time before you're banned too.

Thanks to @Platinum Lucario @MadMageKefka and @ShadowEO !

 

[A Plus Ric]

Does anyone know the full list of ways that the activity log can be sent to nintendo? As in really know 100%?

Spotpass with send nintendo information on is prob a first one.

Probably also anytime you access their servers.

 

[nitroBW]

Does anyone know the full list of ways that the activity log can be sent to nintendo? As in really know 100%?

Spotpass with send nintendo information on is prob a first one.

Probably also anytime you access their servers.

Check and hosts updates:

nus.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
nus.cdn.c.shop.nintendowifi.net


Connection test:

conntest.nintendowifi.net


eShop specific:

ecs.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
cp3s-auth.c.shop.nintendowifi.net


Additional:

cas.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
ccs.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
ccs.cdn.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
ias.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
pls.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
npul.c.app.nintendowifi.net
cp3s.cdn.nintendowifi.net
eou.cdn.nintendowifi.net
npdl.cdn.nintendowifi.net


Apparently if you block all the above the following won't work:

• Updating the 3DS FW
• eShop, as that won't start unless it could check for an update first
• System Data Transfer, for the same reasons
• Anything that requires access to the update servers.

What works:

• Browsing the internet
• Playing online
• Basically, everything that is not in the 'doesn't work' list will work

There's certainly no proof either way blocking any of the above will stop the 3DS sending data that will get you banned back to Nintendo, however for people that are going online you could certainly let the 3DS talk to a lot less servers and still have online play functionality by the looks of it.


Credits for go to InsaneNutter on Projectpokemon for compiling this list, d0k3, 3dbrew (and some guys on 4chan) for providing the links and Seijiro for telling me about this, lol.

Well, I've been reading through every 3DS related ToS, EULA or privacy policy in order to understand if we can actually be safe by changing settings etc. This is what I came across in the (North American) 3DS privacy policy:

As you can see, Nintendo will collect some data automatically, this includes technical information and things like what you were playing and your friendlist. We would circumvent this by disabling sending data to Nintendo.

BUT, if we go on and read a bit more in the PP, we will find this:

Opting Out. As I said, we would stop them from collecting our data, by turning it off in the settings. Nintendo says that we are able to opt out, by not using their services, but I will tell more about this in a second. They can still collect your data, even if you disabled it in the settings! Just being connected to the internet seems to be enough for them to collect your data.
So, the only way to circumvent that is by turning off your wifi completely, which I previously believed was useless, but I was wrong, although I said before that they will collect data anyway.
They can and to be honest probably will collect data even if you disable sending data to nintendo! If you REALLY want to stay safe from that, turn off your wifi! By turning off your wifi you are not using their services and thus opt out.
Collecting our technical information, recent games we played, etc. basically means, they could check whether we play or have installed unauthorized software.
This itself certainly doesn't solve our problem, but it is still advice.

Notice: Turning off your wifi won't actually PROTECT you from the ban, since they are server-side, but it can help you not getting flagged if you weren't already, but personally I think that IF you are banned, you probably were on the banlist anyway.
There is still the problem of the banwave being random, we don't know if anyone is safe.


(If I got something wrong, feel free to correct me)

They collect data anytime you are connected to the internet using these servers (Based on what people who sniffed the packages said)

 

[Platinum Lucario]

Does anyone know the full list of ways that the activity log can be sent to nintendo? As in really know 100%?

I don't think any of the Activity Log gets sent to Nintendo. It's just what is currently running on the 3DS system in the background.

And as I stated, normally all apps (except for Notes, Friend List, Notifications and Miiverse) can only be running one at a time. And the 3DS should not be running more than two apps total.

Also, what your friends can see you playing, is completely different from the information sent about the apps running on the 3DS.

I don't think Nintendo has even got to the stage of banning unsigned apps and apps that are not whitelisted. But that doesn't mean that they will do something like that in the future.

Currently, what they seem to detect, is the amount of apps running on the system that are running in a proper fashion.

 

[Zaphod77]

This is why i asked if anyone actually knows, because they have reversed the firmware.

 

[Rei7]

I had spotpass on all the time before knowing about the ban. But I never agree on data to be sent to Nintendo to improve their games though, like the one's on Echoes.

I still think it isn't related with the activity log. That's some advance shit they pulled, taking everyone's log without permission and shit lol. Like the last time I mentioned it could be just related to those who pirates and cheat in games. Though I wonder if custom themes and all that had anything to do as well. Never tried those modifications before.

 

[Tokita]

I have to ask... is there an unban method that will let me acces pokemon bank again?
Just read that all 3 of the current unban methods delete your NNID so...

 

[JeanZyro]

Hi everybody, Yesterday I turn on my 3ds to check if I got a ban but nothing.
Do you think that it's possible to unistall cfw with godmod9 with backup an very old nand ?

 

[A Plus Ric]

They collect data anytime you are connected to the internet using these servers (Based on what people who sniffed the packages said)

This is what I said. Lol

 

[Platinum Lucario]

It would've been from them noticing two regular apps running at the same time (or three, for title bar apps) from the information they collect from any running applications. They would've collected information from that. There's no other way I can think of as to how they would've banned me.

It isn't flashcards, ROMs or any unauthorised apps. Because I didn't have any installed on my New 3DS system.

 

[Suji_Pyo]

CAN YOU ALL READ PAGE 3 OF THIS FILE!!!!

https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2017/170201_2e.pdf

Yeah, Activity Log it is!

 

[RedBlueGreen]

Any new info? Can't really read through dozens of pages every day.

 

[Zekamon]

Good morning guys. After a 5 hour sleep I'm finally back. Any news? New bans or new speculations?

 

[regnad]

I modified my SecureInfo_A and have been spared as well... Correlation perhaps?

I had someone responding to an earlier posting tell me switching friend seed codes had not spared him. But I wonder if Pokémon Bank would do the same thing.

Something is happening when you access eShop or Pokemon Bank. There's a check for pirated Streetpass at least.

 

[nitroBW]

This is what I said. Lol

And I gave additional evidence and a server list to further prove the point?

 

[pietempgba]

when you visit the eshop all illegal dlc is wiped btw

 

[RedBlueGreen]

I don't think Nintendo has even got to the stage of banning unsigned apps and apps that are not whitelisted. But that doesn't mean that they will do something like that in the future.

I don't think that this will be a possible approach. There's the possibility doing that would ban developers (if dev units can use the Internet) who are testing their games. If they did that but made dev units immune people would just start installing leaked developer apps any features they could.

 

[nitroBW]

CAN YOU ALL READ PAGE 3 OF THIS FILE!!!!

https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2017/170201_2e.pdf

Yeah, Activity Log it is!

Probably not just activity log, they could be checking the installed titles and maybe even more.

It isn't flashcards, ROMs or any unauthorised apps. Because I didn't have any installed on my New 3DS system.

I've said this more than once now, your o3DS was modified and that could still be in Nintendo's logs, when transfering to your n3DS you also transfer the old seed, if that seed gets banned, your n3DS will be banned too.

 

[nl255]

I don't think that this will be a possible approach. There's the possibility doing that would ban developers (if dev units can use the Internet) who are testing their games. If they did that but made dev units immune people would just start installing leaked developer apps any features they could.

I believe dev units use different servers for online services that are specifically there for dev units, which are whitelisted and require a developer certificate. So banning dev units from the regular servers wouldn't change a thing for developers and they wouldn't even notice.

 

[Slartibartfast42]

Simple.

Some people pirate no games. Others pirate 50.

Let's assume all cfw users pirate a single game. 1 million users out of 63 million 3DS owners seem like a small percentage, correct?

Now take 40, and multiply it by a million. That's 40 million in lost revenue. Piracy does affect Nintendo and developers greatly.


By the way. The million is taken from downloads of the Luma3DS cfw and FBI. I already took into account multiple devices since the downloads are over 1m anyway.

Nonsense. One pirated game doesn't equal one lost sale. That's voodoo math. The majority of pirated games weren't going to be bought anyways. Most piracy is actually done by people who absolutely can't afford to buy the game anyways. Do you know how much a game costs in say Brazil? I only pirate games that I've decided aren't good enough to buy. Or, I pirate games after I've already reached the limit of my gaming budget. The amount of money I'm willing to spend does not depend on piracy in a bad way. Either I'm willing to spend the same money, or piracy increases the amount of money I'm willing to spend. What's a better deal, $500 for $500 worth of games, or $600 for $3000 worth of games? Yes, if anything, I'm willing to spend a bit more because of piracy. Your math didn't include the number of games that people only bought after they pirated them. I've done this several times. I have games still in their shrink wrap. Your numbers don't include the extra sales that are generated by people recommending games to their friends. I'm sorry, but without the hope of piracy, I wouldn't have bought the console and the games and the accessories in the first place. The only reason I bought a Wii was because piracy on the GC got me addicted back to Nintendo after a long absence. I spent a lot of money on the Wii. Piracy on the Wii kept me addicted, so I got a WiiU. Now it turns out the Wii U wasn't as good as it should have been. There is not even enough games to pirate to make the games I bought worth it. So I feel cheated. If we get piracy on the Switch, I may buy the Switch and a bunch of games, and pirate some others to get my average game price down. That's like $1000 in Switch stuff that Nintendo wouldn't get from me otherwise. I am broke. Are you saying that if I decided to go pirate $2000 worth of movies, and say $30,000 worth of industrial applications, then I've caused $32,000 worth of lost sales?

Your math sucks balls.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

I had someone responding to an earlier posting tell me switching friend seed codes had not spared him. But I wonder if Pokémon Bank would do the same thing.

Something is happening when you access eShop or Pokemon Bank. There's a check for pirated Streetpass at least.

Is there any actual highly like data to suggest this? I'm sure a lot of banned users weren't doing using eshop or Pokémon Bank when they were banned.