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 !

 

[delete12345]

Can I take a moment to mourn the banned non-XL N3DS users in GBATemp? In 1 week of time, I have never came across anyone saying their NA region non-XL N3ds were banned....

 

[Windylacine]

I'm going to try, thanks.
I have been looking forward to do this since my NNID with purchases and my DSi stuff has been utterly banned.

Really? How long has your NNID been banned?

 

[Weezking]

Has anyone been banned that never plays online? I understand they would still have a record of what you've played, I'm just wondering if that is part of how they single out users.

1st time post

To answer your question, No.

We have 4 DS's in the house, 2 n3ds and 2 2ds, all 4of them have a9lh & luma installed.

My wifes ds and mines are never online except for eshop/freeshop purposes but all we really play are RPG's and single player games no need for online interactions, my 2 kids on the other hand play Pokemon, Mario Kart and Smash online and they play on WIFI with there cousins in Puerto Rico this memorial day weekend they were playing smash online.

So far none of the DS's are banned.

Now heres the thing I have a legit copy of smash but both my kids don't theres is a dump from my official cart and it's the game with the most hours on there 2ds .

Although the smash DLC's on there 2DS are legit only because the CIA version of the DLC kept disappearing and was annoying to install everytime they wanted to play smash.

Just wanted to answer your question and also point out our situation, so No we haven't been hit with the NiNbaN. Fingers crossed

 

[KytuzuEX]

Really? How long has your NNID been banned?

Since the Pokemon incident.
I connected for 5 minutes. Of course after days of hesitating.

That's why I got the Black Friday New 3DS to start over all again without this time buying nothing since Nintendo made me lose all my stuff.

 

[Windylacine]

Since the Pokemon incident.
I connected for 5 minutes. Of course after days of hesitating.

That's why I got the Black Friday New 3DS to start over all again without this time buying nothing since Nintendo made me lost all my stuff.

So you have your NNID banned since Pokemon SM banwave incident last year, I hope it'll be unbanned once again on a new unhacked 3DS to stay ban-free until next year or so, hopefully.

 

[KytuzuEX]

Has anyone been banned that never plays online? I understand they would still have a record of what you've played, I'm just wondering if that is part of how they single out users.

Yes, there were people who got banned without using Online for a long time apparently

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

So you have your NNID banned since Pokemon SM banwave incident last year, I hope it'll be unbanned once again on a new unhacked 3DS to stay ban-free until next year or so, hopefully.

Yeah, and basically, history almost repeated itself after 5 months.

Only that the ban was the easy one to get rid.
I made even a new NNID around the time I bought the New 3DS, but it's empty nevertheless.

 

[Olmectron]

My brother has a 3DS and it's still not banned.

I wish I had one, but I sold it. I don't know the buyer, so I don't know if he got banned.

 

[Zeroexe90]

First: excuse my caveman english, second: i've been lurking since the ban wave started, idk if my 3ds's information is useful but here is it

N3DSxl Status: Banned . Current firmware version: 11.4.0-34U SysNAND NNID: Yes

Current CFW installed: Luma 3DS 7.1 on Boot9strap

Spotpass and friendlist: Enabled

Homebrew apps installed:
Homebrew launcher, freeshop, lumaupdater, jksm, ftpbrony, ntr boot, fbi

Games from freeshop installed:
Kid icarus uprising, castlevania mirror of fate, batman blackgate, fe: echoes

Cias installed:
Kingdom Hearts 3d Spanish translation, Cave story 3d

Last online activities performed:
Fe: Fates birthright (castle update) (cartridge)
Mario kart 7 (cartridge)
Super smash bros (eshop download)

I use this as my main 3ds and for back ups my legit games (thanks to a "technician" i lost all my saves)

O3DS Status: Not yet Banned . Current firmware version: 11.4.0-34U SysNAND NNID: yes

Current CFW installed: Luma 3DS 7.1 on Boot9strap

Spotpass and friendlist: Enabled for spotpass, disable for friendlist

Homebrew apps installed:
Homebrew launcher, freeshop, lumaupdater, jksm, ftpbrony, ntr boot, fbi, twl save tool, cthulhu

Games from freeshop installed:
more than i can write

Cias installed:
6 or more custom vc

Last online activities performed:
luma update, homebrew payloads update

i don't use this 3ds so much
_______________

i have a few questions....
All 3ds with cfw are now flagged? because i want to use my o3ds seed for my n3ds... but it will die sooner or later?....
i know that is impossible to make a lfcs maker...
But why not do something like free shop? that let us play anonymously in nintendo servers....
____

that's all, i have to share this information in another thread? (i want to help)
hope this haven't been so awkward to read

 

[EddIsHere]

Just wondering if the banwave is still hitting people or if it is finally over?
I've given up with the 'hide and not go online' method and I'm gonna enjoy some Pokémon until I get toppled over.

 

[Casis]

I don't give myself any free games onto the 3DS, all I do is play games that I LEGALLY OWN and with some of them, use Homebrew to save edit them. I don't go around and kill people online in games with hacks, that's not me. The worst I have done is play Pokemon Y and give myself some rares and shinys along with all the medication/PP items in the game, like 999 each. Usually though, I just give away those rares/shinys for crappy pokemon, like to help someone get an edge on their game with little cost, or to trade for pokemon I want. I NEVER play against other people with these pokemon, but still, does that make me a bad person and deserve to be banned?

I just want to go buy Pokemon Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire and have fun with the game while using PkHeX at the same time without doing anyone true harm.

P.S. I haven't updated my system (yet) and have stayed off homebrew for a long time even before hearing about the ban wave. So hopefully, I should still be good to go.

 

[sleepymanakete]

I don't give myself any free games onto the 3DS, all I do is play games that I LEGALLY OWN and with some of them, use Homebrew to save edit them. I don't go around and kill people online in games with hacks, that's not me. The worst I have done is play Pokemon Y and give myself some rares and shinys along with all the medication/PP items in the game, like 999 each. Usually though, I just give away those rares/shinys for crappy pokemon, like to help someone get an edge on their game with little cost, or to trade for pokemon I want. I NEVER play against other people with these pokemon, but still, does that make me a bad person and deserve to be banned?

I just want to go buy Pokemon Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire and have fun with the game while using PkHeX at the same time without doing anyone true harm.

P.S. I haven't updated my system (yet) and have stayed off homebrew for a long time even before hearing about the ban wave. So hopefully, I should still be good to go.

Your situation is the same as mine.My games are bought and I save edit. I don't cheat online.
Imo, you don't deserve a ban.

 

[KytuzuEX]

I don't give myself any free games onto the 3DS, all I do is play games that I LEGALLY OWN and with some of them, use Homebrew to save edit them. I don't go around and kill people online in games with hacks, that's not me. The worst I have done is play Pokemon Y and give myself some rares and shinies along with all the medication/PP items in the game, like 999 each. Usually, though, I just give away those rares/shinies for crappy Pokemon, like to help someone get an edge on their game with little cost or to trade for pokemon I want. I NEVER play against other people with these pokemon, but still, does that make me a bad person and deserve to be banned?

I just want to go buy Pokemon Omega Ruby or Alpha Sapphire and have fun with the game while using PkHeX at the same time without doing anyone true harm.

P.S. I haven't updated my system (yet) and have stayed off homebrew for a long time even before hearing about the ban wave. So hopefully, I should still be good to go.

I know right? Smh.

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

The maintenance of Online services of today, has started.

Now to wait until 10pm ET ...

 

[Mrperson0]

I'm going to try, thanks.
I have been looking forward to do this since my NNID with purchases and my DSi stuff has been utterly banned.

Just remember to do a NAND backup of your banned 3DS (in case things go south), and you should be all set.

 

[Arlis05]

whats the situation so far guys? has the mass banhammering wave slowed down a bit? is it safe for us to go back yet?

 

[KytuzuEX]

whats the situation so far guys? has the mass banhammering wave slowed down a bit? is it safe for us to go back yet?

Sorta. Right now, there's a maintenance of online services going on until 15 minutes left.
I hope that isn't about the acceleration of the banwave master race...

 

[Dracari]

I know right? Smh.

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

The maintenance of Online services of today, has started.

Now to wait until 10pm ET ...

realy i just looked. seeing no evidence of maint.

now from what i gather from the OP, w've pretty much debunked teh activity log on our end isnt being tracked.
what they look for is an unknown title ID in the current/last played
and that if ones to escape a quick reban launch a legit game before sleeping/shutting down. (do carts work for this if thats the case.)

and atm more less as long thats done it should be somewhat safe to redownload legitimate purchases from eshop? or am i muddling things and not understanding some of whats going on?

edit to not seeing maint Never mind CtrlF5 refreshed and now see it in teh future maint schedual.

 

[Deleted User]

whats the situation so far guys? has the mass banhammering wave slowed down a bit? is it safe for us to go back yet?

I believe so.The wave ended after last Friday.

 

[KytuzuEX]

View attachment 88648
for anyone who is too lazy to look it up

@Dracari

 

[Dark Pulse]

whats the situation so far guys? has the mass banhammering wave slowed down a bit? is it safe for us to go back yet?

Until the actual cause is finally figured out, anything online is a risk.

That said, no new bans seem to have been issued.

 

[Dracari]

@Dracari

i saw after a cache refresh (ctrl+F5 in firefox)