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 !

 

[Funkymon]

The thread is starting to repeat itself. Again.

Largely because the actual info is:

• Hacked consoles have been banned
• People claim other consoles have been banned, but there's no proof
• Nobody knows how Nintendo is tracking it
• Nobody knows how to block tracking
• Unbanning now is probably wasteful

That's not much for discussion.

 

[TinchoX]

Your loss, just wait for the noobs to come out of the woodwork saying that it is real, because it is. Just try it out.

I don't need to, I have an old 3ds with an unbanned seed (still unbanned)

 

[CortexVacua]

Does it even matter at this point if clean consoles are banned or not? What numbers are we even considering when it comes to such? 1/3 of active systems or even less? After spike of a9lh users at the beginning of 2017 vast majority of ACTIVE 3ds users are either on cfw or have come in contact with some sort of homebrew. 100% legal users are minority these days. They're basically killing most of their market with that banwave. WOW someone really thought this through.

You are delusional friend. Most people are 100% legit as with any console. You have an interest in homebrew and that's why you have much more to do with people that have hacked 3dses, but most people don't.

 

[Line]

So... mess apart, we still collecting info with nothing 100% reliable thus far?

 

[nitroBW]

way to defend your "snip" $hitpost you go glen coco. I am contributing by telling people to go offline and refrain from checking and to not listen to retards like you, i also contribute further when i check my 3 3d'ses after 2-3 weeks of wifi being off, i will revert back to stock 11.3 and report.

There is a Captain caps, people talking about hacking their 3ds or cfw or shitposting in general and maybe 1 in 6 posts actually contributes to the topic and most of these posts are repeating something that has been said twice, yeah try to convince me how this thread isn't derailing

Again, telling people to turn their off wifi won't stop them from gettting a SERVER SIDE ban, unlike you, we actually made useful list of preventive measures

 

[ShadowEO]

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE, YOU ARE ALREADY BANNED. DECRYPT9 WON'T INJECT A SEED THAT ISN'T VALID, WORST CASE SCENARIO YOU JUST STAY BANNED

ANYWAY THE SEED IS UNBANNED, USE IT TO CHEAT (THAT'S WHAT I DO)

LOL, Then you are part of the problem when it comes to using these seeds. The people you get these seeds from and those who utilize them probably wouldn't be too happy to know that's what you do with them. This is also the reason that I wouldn't suggest using public seeds for ANY 3DS :/ People like you would immediately screw up and get them banned, along with any other player who may be using them.

Then I'll have to fib my way through Nintendo CS to get it done or get the new NNID and buy Pokemon Bank again. See now that's just cruel, I don't bother getting mad about Nintendo punishing me, yeah I violated ToS, I know all that. But if I can't move that NNID to a another console, requiring to buy all the things I've bought (which probably total around $30-40, Smash DLC being a big portion), then what the fuck?

Ya, I calculated my total and it was around $160 spent on the eShop on my old account. It sucked and I think I've decided that Ninty will have to literally pry my money from my cold dead fingers. I'll buy new games, but I'm not repurchasing the games I already spent money on. I hope you manage to get Ninty's CS to help you, otherwise, ya, your best option is to cut your losses and move to a new NNID

If Nintendo refuses to move NNID info from a banned CFW console to an unbanned new console, but they're fine with helping people transfer their info from a bricked console to an unbricked new console, would Nintendo help if the banned console gets bricked?

That's quite a question indeed. I doubt they would, just by principal, but who knows.

EDIT: Also, agreeing with NitroBW here. If you've already been flagged, staying offline won't help you in the slightest. Ninty does their banwaves server-side. Look at it like this:

3DS contacts Ninty Servers, asks "Sup?",
Ninty does an auth check and sees it comes back bad, replies "Hell nah! GTFO my services!" and sends this error to every request the 3DS sends.
3DS comes back and reports to user: Ninty told me this. Sorry.

This means that Ninty simply needs to change a value on their end to ban you, simply checking your status through the friends list isn't going to ban you. You may already be flagged for the next wave and don't even know it. Hell, I'm fully expecting my console to be banned during the next wave.

 

[engmtw]

PEOPLE MY SEED IS THE REAL SHIT, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TROLLED BY MORONS ALL DAY BUT YOU CAN TRUST ME

DECRYPT9 DOESN'T INJECT A FAKE SEED

THIS SEED WILL INJECT AND YOU CAN GO ONLINE WITH IT NO PROBLEM

INSTEAD OF DOUBTING ME, TRY THE SEED OUT

I'M GOING TO GEN SOME POKEMON AND TOSS THEM IN WONDERTRADE

 

[TinchoX]

So... mess apart, we still collecting info with nothing 100% reliable thus far?

What else can we do? People keep posting their findings here.

 

[TheProdigy972]

So... mess apart, we still collecting info with nothing 100% reliable thus far?

We're not sure, I only got banned yesterday. The day before, I was not banned.

 

[RustInPeace]

Does it even matter at this point if clean consoles are banned or not? What numbers are we even considering when it comes to such? 1/3 of active systems or even less? After spike of a9lh users at the beginning of 2017 vast majority of ACTIVE 3ds users are either on cfw or have come in contact with some sort of homebrew. 100% legal users are minority these days. They're basically killing most of their market with that banwave. WOW someone really thought this through.

I don't think so, I just think the viewpoint you have is skewed because of this forum, being part of a community where virtually everyone has a modified 3DS, a modified console to be more general. If you go to a more open community that isn't centered on hacking then you'll find that the legal user number is far larger. Consider also kids being a huge demographic in 3DS owners, and of course legal users that play Pokemon and need stuff genned for them and whatnot, that ratio is 100:1, it feels like that to me. If that's scary, how about 25:1? It's a lot, that's for sure.

 

[Funkymon]

What else can we do? People keep posting their findings here.

Unreliable findings with no proof. Realistically, we'll have to wait for a dev tracking data to determine what the actual attack vectors were.

 

[Veranek]

The zip file contains a file called otp,bin and yakaha (yakara) and ykr (Yakara)... sigh.
It also has a seed and nnid and a link to a YT from December, 2016.

Validate is please. No one believes us that it is real.

 

[TheProdigy972]

Unreliable findings with no proof. Realistically, we'll have to wait for a dev tracking data to determine what the actual attack vectors were.

What if Reggie had a 3DS with CFW and he wanted to be the only one?

 

[Line]

What else can we do? People keep posting their findings here.

We're not sure, I only got banned yesterday. The day before, I was not banned.

I see! Thanks for the quick reply!
Can't check my 3DS right now and that actually scares me!

 

[Pyra]

What if Reggie had a 3DS with CFW and he wanted to be the only one?

guys we figured it out we can go home now

Sent from my SM-G360T using Tapatalk

 

[TinchoX]

i actually haven't replied to some of your guy's $hitpost, i have been ignoring u guys for a while but you guys continue to spew bullcrap so of course i am gonna say something xD you waifu-jabronies come in packs i see lulz

Then again, you seem to have some issues and just put everybody on the same bag it seems.
First and fore most, I had nothing against you and you accused me of being a "Racist fuck".
Secondly: Everything you say ends up with some sort of insult, how old are you, 10??
Third: You really are looking forward to get kicked out of the forums if you keep shitty drama around.
Fourth: Keep it up and I'll gladly report you for being a plain dick.

 

[Funkymon]

What if Reggie had a 3DS with CFW and he wanted to be the only one?

What if the 3DS was actually the 4DS, and using the magic of time travel, Nintendo always knew which consoles would be hacked, and pre-banned them years ago?

 

[Veranek]

LOL, Then you are part of the problem when it comes to using these seeds. The people you get these seeds from and those who utilize them probably wouldn't be too happy to know that's what you do with them. This is also the reason that I wouldn't suggest using public seeds for ANY 3DS :/ People like you would immediately screw up and get them banned, along with any other player who may be using them.



Ya, I calculated my total and it was around $160 spent on the eShop on my old account. It sucked and I think I've decided that Ninty will have to literally pry my money from my cold dead fingers. I'll buy new games, but I'm not repurchasing the games I already spent money on. I hope you manage to get Ninty's CS to help you, otherwise, ya, your best option is to cut your losses and move to a new NNID


That's quite a question indeed. I doubt they would, just by principal, but who knows.

The seed was published publicly, for everyone to see, on Youtube. So you can't expect the publisher to get upset when it gets banned.

 

[TheProdigy972]

guys we figured it out we can go home now

Sent from my SM-G360T using Tapatalk

Mission accom- nvm I'm still banned

 

[sorabora]

Guys crazy thought: How many friends did you have on your console when you got banned? How many were using CFW themselves?

Just an idea: Could it be that Nintendo used friendlists to decide to look into certain people?

Both my 3dss are unbanned and one does not have any friends registered on it and the other has 1 friend registered with a legit 3ds.

Yes that theory has been around for the past 150 pages or so already.
But nobody can confirm anything, all we've been doing is pure speculation...

I can confirm:

• no friends
• Luma
• 11.4
• New 3DS XL
• Never used any save editor or save hacks or anything Pokemon related (fwiw).

Banned