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 !

 

[Deleted member 423909]

I thin

are you sure? I didn't saw anyone getting banned today

well i just got banned at 9am today...

 

[TinchoX]

guys follow this guide

I doubt this will prevent any ban, let alone fix anything.

 

[FortuneHatter]

They aren't hacked but people have managed to access parts of service they are not supposed to see because Big N is dumb

That's... Spooky. More vauge more spooky than I ever wanted to be confirmed at.

 

[Pyra]

I doubt this will prevent any ban, let alone fix anything.

Better than nothing.

Sent from my SM-G360T using Tapatalk

 

[SouzetsuAerir]

Hi, I'm new here, but I've been following up on this since Day 1.
My theory as of now is that the bans have stopped.

Now to support this, I need someone to confirm whether or not, they checked whether they were NOT BANNED yesterday, and checked again today to find out that they WERE BANNED. Mind you, I put emphasis on checking earlier, and then checking again. If this has happened to anyone, kindly respond as soon as possible. Thanks :]

P.S: In my professional opinion, Nintendo has every right to perform these types of online bans. However, personally, I hope they die in a fucking well. Peace.

I checked yesterday and I was not banned. Checked a couple hours ago and still not banned. Will check again in a few and post when I get an opportunity.

 

[TinchoX]

Better than nothing.

Sent from my SM-G360T using Tapatalk

Well, yeah, sure.

 

[Slashkin]

Thanks my dudes Zalexard and Nitro, great work!

My friend play all day long for purpose. Still not get ban. But he dont care

 

[Pyra]

Not really "Criminals" per se.
In US law, we are in the right to modify the items we bought as a personal ownership right.
Yes, there are some that would download games for free. And yes, I did that because I couldn't wait for a US release of Echoes and wanted it so badly that I did it.

But there are many others here who just CFW their 3ds to get a more personal theme, save backup, record videos without a capture card. The casual stuff.

Downloading a game without paying is downright illegal, yes.
But banning everyone in general who hasn't even done the illegal duty is downright a crime in removing personal rights from ALL OVER THE WORLD AND NOT THE US!

Even people who just use soundhax got screwed over and they haven't even done anything that severe.
This, is the reason why this ban wave of unusual proportions is downright frowned upon.

It would've been fine if they just targeted the criminals like me.
BUT THEY INVOLVED MINOR AND EVEN INNOCENT IN THIS.

Still not illegal for them to ban people, just a dick move on their part.

Sent from my SM-G360T using Tapatalk

 

[KaoTigris]

The 3DS banwave support Discord proudly presents:
Preventive measures on sending information to Nintendo


- Settings -> Internet Settings -> Spotpass -> go inside each option, select no, save.

- Any other game that asks to use Spotpass, deny access to it.

- Inside the Friends List option, select Settings, first option, the second option should be set to no. You can also disable the first one if you feel it's more secure that way (no info at this point is available to say with certainty that friends seeing you online sends anything to Ninty).

- Disable eShop recommendations, go to Menu -> Settings/Others, scroll down to the Settings zone of the list, select Recommended Apps by Nintendo (or something along those lines, it's the second option and I'm roughly translating), select No, save. You can also select Home Menu Notifications and select no too, since it seems to use SpotPass. Better safe than sorry!

- Anyone who uses Mii Plaza, it also uses SpotPass, inside the Mii Plaza app, make sure you're not in Express Plaza (the one where you and your StreetPassed people appear running down a road), and go left until you hit Settings, go into it, there's a StreePass option and a SpotPass option, enter each option and disable both if you want, or just disable SpotPass, your call, since StreePass can't be correlated to bans right now. Further down there's an option asking if you want to Share Informations, disable that one too.

- It is also known that info will get sent even if the console is in sleep mode, so, to be safe on the extra side, either shut down your console, or shut down your wifi connection with the wifi button before you close the console and let it sit on sleep mode).


Maybe this can make you feel safe in the future, idk

Credits go to Zalexard, thank you, dude

I want someone to do all this and then unban themselves, so we can see what happens. Maybe get rid of freeshop too if they have it.

 

[nitroBW]

I doubt this will prevent any ban, let alone fix anything.

We can't really fix anything anyway, but this may keep you safe(r) in the future. Doing all of this correlates to less bans, sure nothings proven, but better safe than sorry

 

[Pyra]

I want someone to do all this and then unban themselves, so we can see what happens. Maybe get rid of freeshop too if they have it.

How would this have anything to do with FreeShop? If it works the way we want it to, it shouldn't matter.

Sent from my SM-G360T using Tapatalk

 

[pixelmasher]

I read somewhere in one of the ban threads that someone made a fake Zelda game and when people StreetPassed and clicked on the link to the eShop, they got banned but the faker didn't.

What's to stop someone that's banned already from making something like that or having homebrew app and StreetPassing people in a crowded place like Comic-Con, E3, TGS, etc.? Won't that get a lot of innocent people banned? Maybe there won't be any unbanned consoles left after this other than CFW with settings turned off.

 

[Veranek]

I want someone to do all this and then unban themselves, so we can see what happens. Maybe get rid of freeshop too if they have it.

I did exactly that 15 hours ago, no ban yet.

It was done for science!

 

[Shirokami~]

I used FBI downloading something and Freeshop downloading MH4U US Ver. and still, I'm not banned. Not sure if this is useful in any way, just wanted to mention it.

 

[zombigrn]

Have people been banned on 11.4? If so, did you install cfw before updating to 11.4? Or did you do system transfer method?
Could it be possible they are running a check into the sound app and banning based off that?

 

[DeltaX]

Again, I'd like to reiterate that getting banned today means nothing. It would mean more, if they had checked yesterday to see they were not banned, and then checked again, to find that they had been banned now. A lot of people may have just checked there 3ds's today for the first time owing to the start of the weekend, to find themselves to be banned, which technically proves nothing.

Also, everyone else who responded, thank you for helping :]

They haven't stopped. Have seen quite a few people get banned today.

 

[FortuneHatter]

Still not illegal for them to ban people, just a dick move on their part.

Sent from my SM-G360T using Tapatalk

It actually is. If we got a more concrete proof that they even banned people who are legit clean, they crossed their terms of service for pre-empting a ban from mere assumptions of not being online for months.

If we got enough proof that those 3ds' are legit clean and the amount of people involved, even the minors, then it's entire and completely illegal.

Edit: And even without my point, yes. They ARE Dicks!

 

[zKin]

The 3DS banwave support Discord proudly presents:
Preventive measures on sending information to Nintendo


- Settings -> Internet Settings -> Spotpass -> go inside each option, select no, save.

- Any other game that asks to use Spotpass, deny access to it.

- Inside the Friends List option, select Settings, first option, the second option should be set to no. You can also disable the first one if you feel it's more secure that way (no info at this point is available to say with certainty that friends seeing you online sends anything to Ninty).

- Disable eShop recommendations, go to Menu -> Settings/Others, scroll down to the Settings zone of the list, select Recommended Apps by Nintendo (or something along those lines, it's the second option and I'm roughly translating), select No, save. You can also select Home Menu Notifications and select no too, since it seems to use SpotPass. Better safe than sorry!

- Anyone who uses Mii Plaza, it also uses SpotPass, inside the Mii Plaza app, make sure you're not in Express Plaza (the one where you and your StreetPassed people appear running down a road), and go left until you hit Settings, go into it, there's a StreePass option and a SpotPass option, enter each option and disable both if you want, or just disable SpotPass, your call, since StreePass can't be correlated to bans right now. Further down there's an option asking if you want to Share Informations, disable that one too.

- It is also known that info will get sent even if the console is in sleep mode, so, to be safe on the extra side, either shut down your console, or shut down your wifi connection with the wifi button before you close the console and let it sit on sleep mode).


Maybe this can make you feel safe in the future, idk

Credits go to Zalexard, thank you, dude

First, thanks for this !

But, is there a quick way to see which games have spotpass enabled ?

And for the eShop point, you need to be connected to the internet to do it... What i won't do before being safer and safer ! x)

 

[nitroBW]

It actually is. If we got a more concrete proof that they even banned people who are legit clean, they crossed their terms of service for pre-empting a ban from mere assumptions of not being online for months.

If we got enough proof that those 3ds' are legit clean and the amount of people involved, even the minors, then it's entire and completely illegal.

Edit: And even without my point, yes. They ARE Dicks!

that was a comment on the only OFW ban claim so far

 

[Potato hoarder]

I hacked the shit out of my 3ds, everything imaginable. I hadnt played it for a month and when I booted it up, I followed the above guide with turning on spot pass. Playing smash online fine right now. I even gave my mii gold pants.