UPDATE: Regarding the recent 3DS banwave

fb-3ds-400x400.jpg

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 !
 

Platinum Lucario

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I'm not on Boot9Strap, and still play online. I didn't know about this, because I got my 2ds since a few days (with CFW).

Two days ago, I bought a 32GB sd card to download games from freeshop. Now, I've plenty of them. Is there a way to play those games without getting banned? Turning WiFi off seems like an option, but what if I want to play online? Do I have to wait till the ban wave is over?
Even though it may seem like the ban wave is over, it still doesn't mean there are Nintendo Network Administrators still monitoring network activity on a daily basis. If they see any 3DS running an unauthorised app, they will flag it for inspection before delivering the banhammer on it. Best advice I can give you, is to use .3dsx apps under Rosalina and also stay offline if you're running a custom application installed from a .cia (CTR Installable Archive).
Hi, I've been thinking of using a public seed... is there any risk if i have a nnid attached?
It's about the same risk as not having a NNID attached. Only thing I can think of, is that they may end up hyperbanning users that have been using a NNID. Just as long as you only use .3dsx apps and not running apps installed from a .cia, and if you are running .cia apps, make sure you stay offline during the time you're using the .cia app.

And besides, public seeds are bound to be banned eventually anyways. I would be very careful using one, if I were you.
 
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Zeroexe90

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It's about the same risk as not having a NNID attached. Only thing I can think of, is that they may end up hyperbanning users that have been using a NNID. Just as long as you only use .3dsx apps and not running apps installed from a .cia, and if you are running .cia apps, make sure you stay offline during the time you're using the .cia app.

And besides, public seeds are bound to be banned eventually anyways. I would be very careful using one, if I were you.

Thanks for the response... i think i will stay banned then, i don't want to trigger a hyper ban and lose all my games.
another question, maybe a little offtopic, with things like rpwng or oot3d is it possible to use jk save manager?... this because in the case that i can't do a system transfer, maybe i can buy a new 3ds and report my banned one like missing or broken, and don't lose my saves...
 

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Thanks for the response... i think i will stay banned then, i don't want to trigger a hyper ban and lose all my games.
another question, maybe a little offtopic, with things like rpwng or oot3d is it possible to use jk save manager?... this because in the case that i can't do a system transfer, maybe i can buy a new 3ds and report my banned one like missing or broken, and don't lose my saves...
Yeah, it's possible. Also, from what I'm aware of, doing a System Transfer while using a private seed on the banned console, then doing another system transfer to another non-banned 3DS system is usually the best way to become clean of any Nintendo 3DS User Agreement violations. It would be quite difficult for the Nintendo Network Administrators to find out, unless they did some deep research into things. Also, you don't need to unlink NNID to do a System Transfer, since you haven't been hyperbanned. The NNID will transfer onto the non-banned 3DS, just as normal.

Just remember, a Local Friend Code SEED is console unique, so during a system transfer, it will remain on the source system. It's basically a certificate, containing a digitally signed signature. It's used for accessing the Friend Service network. Without it or using one that doesn't match the one on the server, you'll get error code 002-0121. Using one that has access privileges revoked gives you error code 002-0102.

Secure Info is also console unique, as it contains the console's serial number and Nintendo Network certificate. You don't need to change it unless you've been hyperbanned.

DeviceID is hardcoded in the 3DS's System-on-a-Chip (SoC) and is unique for every console manufactured, DeviceID is similar to a MAC Address in that it's hardcoded, but a DeviceID can be broadcasted over the internet, where as a MAC Address cannot. However, a DeviceID can be spoofed, just like how a MAC Address can be. But there's absolutely no need to spoof DeviceID unless you've been hyperbanned.
 
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DJPlace

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i played emulators on my use to be hacked PS vita and never got banned. what would be bull shit if nintendo bans you for using retroarch. anyone been banned for play retroarch?
 
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Welp, forgot about the friendlist part completely, went to check it out and bam, 002-0102
The friends list theory seems to be a myth at this point.A temper was banned a week ago and had all the possible things that get you banned off before he even got banned.The only explanation is that Nintendo saves your homebrew/unlicenced software info on a ban list before you switch to incognito mode,then they randomly ban you later on in a frequent wave that seems to vary right not.
 
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ChokingVictim87

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Sorry if this is the wrong area,but could someone answer these two questions please? Im a victim of the huge ban wave and I want to uneven my console.

1.Is there a thread of a reputable member selling unbanned friend seeds to unban?

2.If I use a friend seed and urban,can I regain access to my pokemon bank?
 
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Sorry if this is the wrong area,but could someone answer these two questions please? Im a victim of the huge ban wave and I want to uneven my console.

1.Is there a thread of a reputable member selling unbanned friend seeds to unban?

2.If I use a friend seed and urban,can I regain access to my pokemon bank?
You are better off finding a public one since selling fcs is a sketchy business practice for this community and it is untrustworthy if the seller lies where it turns out to be a public one that gets banned within 2 months rather then a private one you would think it is.A private one from your own secondary console is also a option but its not going to exactly prevent the ban any better than a public one if Nintendo can find out what you do (or what you did)on your 3ds.The only thing a private one will do for you is make it less vulnerable to greefing by miiverse trolls.
 
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Platinum Lucario

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I just want to point out that there is no such thing as "incognito mode" on the 3DS in regards to homebrew. The videos showing about incognito mode involve backing up and removing the two saves that are used for Activity Log (which is 00010022 for PTM services and 00020202/00020212/00020222 for Activity Log cache in which the ID varies upon region code). Like I have already said before, the Activity Log data does not get sent to the Nintendo Network servers, it's the "currently playing" data that is sent. And all of that is on their server side, not Nintendo 3DS side. And it doesn't matter if you have SpotPass switched off, also doesn't matter if "sending of additional information" is switched off, and it doesn't matter if you've got sharing of online status switched off. When your 3DS is connected to the internet, the 3DS sends multiple TCP packets to cdn.nintendowifi.net domain and those packets are what determine whenever your Nintendo 3DS is connected to their server (even if you're not playing a game and even if your 3DS is in sleep mode).

So even if your 3DS is in sleep mode, it will still show up on their server if the 3DS is connected to their server or not. The only way people are going to create an "incognito mode", is to ensure that all the cdn.nintendowifi.net domains are blocked on their modem, or ensuring that their 3DS is disabled from accessing cdn.nintendowifi.net.

Otherwise, you're still going to be detected by their server.
The friends list theory seems to be a myth at this point.A temper was banned a week ago and had all the possible things that get you banned off before he even got banned.The only explanation is that Nintendo saves your homebrew/unlicenced software info on a ban list before you switch to incognito mode,then they randomly ban you later on in a frequent wave that seems to vary right not.
Which is pretty much what I just stated just now. It's a Friend Service ban, which means the certificate (which is the Local Friend Code SEED) for accessing the Friend Service has had it's privileges revoked on the server from accessing the Friend Service.

It is possible for Nintendo to save your unlicenced software info (along with console details and all that), which is usually their way of flagging consoles for inspection. Once approved, the appropriate ban is used on the console. It's just their way of taking away your privledges to register Friend Codes via the internet and use online services in games, but they think we're still permitted to use eShop and Miiverse since they think the offence isn't an extremely bad one, but enough to warrant a permanent ban on the use of Friend Services over the internet.

But beware! Using a public seed too many times can lead to some consoles getting flagged for a hyperban.
 

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I just want to point out that there is no such thing as "incognito mode" on the 3DS in regards to homebrew. The videos showing about incognito mode involve backing up and removing the two saves that are used for Activity Log (which is 00010022 for PTM services and 00020202/00020212/00020222 for Activity Log cache in which the ID varies upon region code). Like I have already said before, the Activity Log data does not get sent to the Nintendo Network servers, it's the "currently playing" data that is sent. And all of that is on their server side, not Nintendo 3DS side. And it doesn't matter if you have SpotPass switched off, also doesn't matter if "sending of additional information" is switched off, and it doesn't matter if you've got sharing of online status switched off. When your 3DS is connected to the internet, the 3DS sends multiple TCP packets to cdn.nintendowifi.net domain and those packets are what determine whenever your Nintendo 3DS is connected to their server (even if you're not playing a game and even if your 3DS is in sleep mode).

So even if your 3DS is in sleep mode, it will still show up on their server if the 3DS is connected to their server or not. The only way people are going to create an "incognito mode", is to ensure that all the cdn.nintendowifi.net domains are blocked on their modem, or ensuring that their 3DS is disabled from accessing cdn.nintendowifi.net.

Otherwise, you're still going to be detected by their server.

Which is pretty much what I just stated just now. It's a Friend Service ban, which means the certificate (which is the Local Friend Code SEED) for accessing the Friend Service has had it's privileges revoked on the server from accessing the Friend Service.

It is possible for Nintendo to save your unlicenced software info (along with console details and all that), which is usually their way of flagging consoles for inspection. Once approved, the appropriate ban is used on the console. It's just their way of taking away your privledges to register Friend Codes via the internet and use online services in games, but they think we're still permitted to use eShop and Miiverse since they think the offence isn't an extremely bad one, but enough to warrant a permanent ban on the use of Friend Services over the internet.

But beware! Using a public seed too many times can lead to some consoles getting flagged for a hyperban.
I wonder if blocking that domain could be built into CFW as a function. But one question, does blocking that domain block online access?
 

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The only way people are going to create an "incognito mode", is to ensure that all the cdn.nintendowifi.net domains are blocked on their modem, or ensuring that their 3DS is disabled from accessing cdn.nintendowifi.net.
Is there a running list of those domains anywhere? I wanna make sure I stay up to date.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

I wonder if blocking that domain could be built into CFW as a function. But one question, does blocking that domain block online access?
It blocks updates and eShop, but you can still play online. Otherwise, what would be the point?
 
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NFK

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The friends list theory seems to be a myth at this point.A temper was banned a week ago and had all the possible things that get you banned off before he even got banned.The only explanation is that Nintendo saves your homebrew/unlicenced software info on a ban list before you switch to incognito mode,then they randomly ban you later on in a frequent wave that seems to vary right not.
then again, was using freeshop before realizing that i had friendlist settings on.
 

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I wonder if blocking that domain could be built into CFW as a function. But one question, does blocking that domain block online access?

Is there a running list of those domains anywhere? I wanna make sure I stay up to date.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


It blocks updates and eShop, but you can still play online. Otherwise, what would be the point?

Here are all of the domains that the 3DS connects to:

nus.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
nus.cdn.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
conntest.nintendowifi.net
ecs.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
cp3s-auth.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
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

Blocking all the domains that end with nintendowifi.net will ensure that you're completely offline from Nintendo Network. If there can be some feature in a CFW that can be added to allow for blocking domains, then it will be completely safe to use Homebrew once again.
 

TimX24968B

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Here are all of the domains that the 3DS connects to:

nus.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
nus.cdn.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
conntest.nintendowifi.net
ecs.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
cp3s-auth.c.shop.nintendowifi.net
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

Blocking all the domains that end with nintendowifi.net will ensure that you're completely offline from Nintendo Network. If there can be some feature in a CFW that can be added to allow for blocking domains, then it will be completely safe to use Homebrew once again.
welp, that sounds like a pretty good request of a feature for CFW. Perhaps some could be blocked and others not so we could learn what exactly each domain connects to and is used for. (one might be solely for banning, which might be useful)
 

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