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 !

 

[The Catboy]

It's been nearly a month since the last recorded ban and I still don't think the ban moved past that week
http://gbatemp.net/threads/another-poll-how-many-people-have-been-banned-after-friday-5-26.472273/

 

[MadMageKefka]

It's been nearly a month since the last recorded ban and I still don't think the ban moved past that week
http://gbatemp.net/threads/another-poll-how-many-people-have-been-banned-after-friday-5-26.472273/

While there is no doubt that the bans have slowed down, almost even stopped, since "day zero," I wouldn't exactly be giving the "all clear." There will be more bans, mark my words.

 

[Sub Zippo]

I was on vacation, removed from any 3ds friendly wifi connection for a few days when I heard about the ban. I turned off my wifi and vowed to leave it off until I found something that would help me, but turned it back on for some reason and forgot I had it on, brought it home, and found I was banned well over a week after the news hit.

Some questions, if anyone knows and is kind enough to answer:

I have a old 3DS XL that still prompts me for system updates. I'm afraid to update it lest it be banned to. If there a way to transfer its system key to my N3DS XL and possibly get back online?

My wife's 3ds was hacked much like mine was. Hers has been kept offline since the news and we don't know if it is banned or not. Is there anything we might do to protect it or is it hosed one way or the other and I may as well turn it on to find out?

Most importantly, my 3DS had been attached to my Nintendo Network ID. I have a Switch arriving Tuesday. Will the SWITCH suffer in any known way if I connect it to my NNID?

 

[MadMageKefka]

It should be safe to update your N3DS XL. That's a regular function of the 3ds, Nintendo isn't going to ban you for that. As for transferring the "system key," yes. There is a file called LocalFriendCodeSeed_B that Nintendo uses to identify your system. You can take this file from an unbanned 3ds and move it into your banned one to remove the 002-0102 error and be able to play games online again. However, know that if a system gets banned, ANY other system using the same LFCS_B will also be banned. There are public ones people share. I would suggest finding one of those (I cant link any here) and keeping your seed safe until we know more about how Nintendo is catching us.

As for your Wife's system and ban prevention, sadly I can't really say much. Since there have been almost no bans since the banwave, its pretty hard to isolate what the exact cause is. We THINK that it is most likely installed titles with invalid IDs. For example, FBI has its own unique ID not shared with any 3ds games for obvious reasons. Nintendo could easily see that you're online playing a "game ID" that doesn't exist. The best thing you can do (we think) is not use any custom CIAs while the 3DS WiFi is enabled. We also think turning off game sharing in the friends list settings and turning of the "send data to Nintendo" option in spotpass, under system settings, internet settings, might help. There is more info about this in the OP of this thread.

Your final question I can answer a little more directly: yes, it is safe to use your NNID on a different system. People did so with the Wii U after the Pokemon SuMo bans (and those even gave a FULL ban unlike this banwave) and the Switch after this banwave.

 

[VassagoX]

You accomplish nothing by keeping your 3ds offline. You're effectively doing the same thing to yourself that this ban does. I understood staying off for a couple days but staying off indefinitely, you may as well be banned.

If you never play any games online, it really shouldn't matter if you're banned with this ban code. You really don't lose anything anyway.

 

[Joom]

Yep, still not banned. Have had WiFi on and been playing online this entire time.

 

[Wahad987]

So one question, Nintendo is banning consoles or NNID?

IF its NNID, is there a chance to check if my NNID is banned or not? My last n3DS has been stolen and I don't have any connection to it, I contacted Nintendo but they are not helping these days.... I would very like to check that because I have over 30 purchased titles on that n3DS.

 

[Reaga]

So one question, Nintendo is banning consoles or NNID?

IF its NNID, is there a chance to check if my NNID is banned or not? My last n3DS has been stolen and I don't have any connection to it, I contacted Nintendo but they are not helping these days.... I would very like to check that because I have over 30 purchased titles on that n3DS.

Nintendo is banning neither. There is a file called "localfriendcodeseed_b" on your 3DS. It contains data that is supposed to uniquely identify your system when you go online (I believe the values are generated the first time you connect to try and get a "unique" value).

However, Nintendo does not seem to have enforced that "unique" parameter on their side, as you can copy that file from another system and both systems can go online despite having the same one.

So with this banwave they are essentially checking the values within that file and if it's on a list of banned values, your connection is refused. The console itself is not banned as you can replace the localfriendcodeseed_b with an unbanned one and essentially unban yourself, and your NNID is unaffected as if you had a Wii U or Switch linked to it those can still play online.

So yeah, you should still be able to try and get your purchased titles back to a new system. You might have to get Nintendo to approve unlinking your NNID from the old system on their end, however. But I could be wrong on that.

 

[Rob Blou]

I haven't been banned and I'm on A9LH Luma and I also have Gateway ... I don't play pokemon and never used cheats. I'm not sure if we found the cause of the bans yet but I'm just sharing in case

 

[Reaga]

I haven't been banned and I'm on A9LH Luma and I also have Gateway ... I don't play pokemon and never used cheats. I'm not sure if we found the cause of the bans yet but I'm just sharing in case

We still don't know. I am not banned yet, didn't even find out about the Ban Wave until Monday after it was apparently over. At the time I was on A9LH+Luma Sysnand, my Spotpass features were on, and I didn't have any restriction on using Homebrew while connected to the internet.

Now I'm on B9S and Spotpass features are off as well as hiding recent titles from friends, but otherwise I still use the same features and don't really turn off wifi ever.

However, I've been playing primarily my R4 (which should show up as a legit DS game) and Smash online (which shows in my history from long before I ever had CFW so they should know that's legit).

 

[MushGuy]

Hey, @Platinum Lucario , any news about your banned 3DS?

 

[MadMageKefka]

I believe the values are generated the first time you connect to try and get a "unique" value

The LFCS_B is set at the factory and is console unique. Even if we were able to obtain Nintendo's private key for generating them somehow and were able to generate "legit" seeds, it wouldn't work. You'd still get the 002-0102 error because they don't have that seed in their servers (unless you happen to generate one already in use, which would be super unfair to the random person you screw over).

Just FYI.

 

[Reaga]

The LFCS_B is set at the factory and is console unique. Even if we were able to obtain Nintendo's private key for generating them somehow and were able to generate "legit" seeds, it wouldn't work. You'd still get the 002-0102 error because they don't have that seed in their servers (unless you happen to generate one already in use, which would be super unfair to the random person you screw over).

Just FYI.

Good to know.

 

[TimX24968B]

The LFCS_B is set at the factory and is console unique. Even if we were able to obtain Nintendo's private key for generating them somehow and were able to generate "legit" seeds, it wouldn't work. You'd still get the 002-0102 error because they don't have that seed in their servers (unless you happen to generate one already in use, which would be super unfair to the random person you screw over).

Just FYI.

but what would happen if you were to screw EVERYONE over and break the system through manually sending the packets so they had to unban all of them?

 

[Deleted User]

I am still playing online in YW2:FS, TLOZ:TFH, MH4U and MHG without any nags or errors at all cause I didn't edit my saves in these games (But I used YW2 Editor for Holy Exporbs - still dont know? why not banned? Maybe item edit didn't matter) while my 2DS (now unbanned) was banned for trading and having hacked Pokémon while N3DS XL not banned for playing above games online for quite bit.

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

We still don't know. I am not banned yet, didn't even find out about the Ban Wave until Monday after it was apparently over. At the time I was on A9LH+Luma Sysnand, my Spotpass features were on, and I didn't have any restriction on using Homebrew while connected to the internet.

Now I'm on B9S and Spotpass features are off as well as hiding recent titles from friends, but otherwise I still use the same features and don't really turn off wifi ever.

However, I've been playing primarily my R4 (which should show up as a legit DS game) and Smash online (which shows in my history from long before I ever had CFW so they should know that's legit).

I downloaded 31 games from eShop on 23 July (used TIKdevil) (I got a 128 GB micro SD card) and played them online (Not the ones with hacked saves! ) without any error! If Nintendo knows I got legit games from their legitimate eShop with illegitimate ways, I give it a bull poop (sh**) cause I don't care! I respect Nintendo very much but their marketing strategy is to loot by selling console for less and games for more than half a price! Hail Nintendo! Marketing Policy - Booooo! I love Nintendo Consoles as they have been all around me since I was five (from NES to SNES to GBA to DS to Wii to 3DS to Wii U to Switch (Just got it on my birthday!)) to have each new console on my birthday! Nintendo is Great! Thank you Nintendo and also the community for the exploits.

 

[atom505]

Right now I'm a step closer to unmod my system lol, this is scare, I was thinking in restore my nand before installing any cia but keeping B9S and luma, in fact I just need layeredfs but I'm not sure cause we don't know the real reason of the ban wave, maybe is a tittle in specific or maybe the cfw itself, but right now I think is some tittle the one who got the blame in all this ban wave.

Can you please show me how to unmod the new 3ds xl? Please!

 

[hdhacker]

Can you please show me how to unmod the new 3ds xl? Please!

If you're worried about it getting banned, why not just back up and change your seed now? Keep your original seed if the bans get so bad you have no choice to unmod and go stock. Why panic now when there are other options?

 

[Deleted member 350372]

Hey. I know this may sound stupid or whatever, but I have a N3DSXL that never had it's LFCS_B banned. I have other systems that use the public one (since all of them got banned) and they haven't been banned ever since I replaced their seeds. Question is, should I back up my factory N3DSXL seed and keep it somewhere safe, or should I leave it alone? Nintendo can decide to ban that seed and/or the public seed at any time they want.

 

[Reaga]

If you have a spare LFCS_B, it's always safer to be on the spare. Even if none of them (public, spare, main, whatever) get banned, you'll be playing online fine. But the public one is more likely to be banned since it is being used by multiple systems.

Therefore if your main one gets banned before you switch, you will probably have less time (if any) on the public option than you would on your original if the public gets banned later with you on it.

 

[Deleted member 350372]

Ah. I see. That makes sense. So what you are saying is to replace the public seed on my other systems with my main console's seed, so therefore they will be less likely to get banned? I know it may seem self explanatory, but I like to be extra careful and to be 100% sure with things like these.