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 !

 

[MadMageKefka]

With a presumably hard stance, how come I got unbanned then? Their reasoning is the same broad generalization, "use of unauthorized software," they made it clear on the second and third phone calls I made after that console was banned that it's permanent, and they would not, could not reverse it. 28 days after the ban, it got reversed. Maybe, just maybe the guy on the first phone call that said it was temporary, was actually right, but was not made clear to probably bluff that it's permanent, to discourage "use of unauthorized software," as in using CFW. Maybe they're lenient on Pokemon only players that were not part of the SuMo banwave. I don't know, what I know for certain is this console got unbanned, and I'm enjoying that more than before it even got banned.

I don't see the point of them bluffing like that. All that would do is make people buy new systems if they wanna go online, or pirate more than before, or bypass the ban. If anything it would ENCOURAGE the use of CFW. I honestly can't say why you were unbanned, but its nothing shy of a miracle. I'm involved in multiple ban discords and I've never EVER heard of someone's ban being lifted before. Maybe its possible that whoever banned you made a mistake, and that's why the first guy said it was temporary? Or maybe they got you for something else related to unauthorized software? Do you have / use a flashcart? People with those have received temp bans in the past. Either way, I would count your blessings and not get people's hope up until its confirmed.

hey guys can i play CIA games online now, without being at the risk of getting banned....
(playing unmodified/clean cia games)

Probably? Though to be perfectly honest, no one has a clue for sure.

 

[Deleted member 414991]

I wouldn't worry about being banned at this point. No new bans have been issued.

 

[RustInPeace]

I don't see the point of them bluffing like that. All that would do is make people buy new systems if they wanna go online, or pirate more than before, or bypass the ban. If anything it would ENCOURAGE the use of CFW. I honestly can't say why you were unbanned, but its nothing shy of a miracle. I'm involved in multiple ban discords and I've never EVER heard of someone's ban being lifted before. Maybe its possible that whoever banned you made a mistake, and that's why the first guy said it was temporary? Or maybe they got you for something else related to unauthorized software? Do you have / use a flashcart? People with those have received temp bans in the past. Either way, I would count your blessings and not get people's hope up until its confirmed.

I didn't use flashcarts on that console, I used CFW, they said multiple times it was banned due to "use of unauthorized software," they talked up the permaban like it was the updated support page for the 002-0102 warning, where you can't request for the ban to be reversed. I'm not necessarily saying for sure that the ban is temporary universally, I just assumed it would be because I don't see how I was a special case other than being banned 2 days before the banwave started. My second console was banned 10 days ago, which points more to it being an individual case, though I did the exact same things on that console as well. All I run is FBI, NTR CFW, InputRedirectionNTR, CIA versions of Pokemon games, the banned console in particular has XY/ORAS installed, dumped from my own legit carts. FBI is universally used for one, I used freeshop for literally a cup of coffee last year, yet people who use it religiously have not been banned. My CFW usage is not too unlike others, I get the ban, like others, but I got unbanned this week. Yes I'm considering it a miracle, but I'm also considering it to be a sign that others will be unbanned. The difference between this and the SuMo Banwave is that they never went public with this. In the SuMo Banwave, various video game news sites, Kotaku, IGN, Polygon, whatever, all reported about said banwave, Nintendo made a public statement about that as well. Here, none of that, it could, I'm not saying it does, but it could mean that this is temporary, a case of them changing their minds some time during the 28 days in my case. This same console was previously banned for 30 days, maybe 28, I can't remember which, on December 2016-January '17, and that was for sure temporary according to multiple phone calls I made to them, and involved flashcart misuse on my end (Gateway). I'm still invested in this since my other console got hit with a ban, that I want to believe this isn't a one-off miracle and my second console would get the same treatment. It remains to be seen.

 

[TinchoX]

Just an update:
o3DS is not banned yet.
N3DS is still banned (and will probably stay like that forever)

 

[Marcos30df]

Maybe this ban is permanent, 28 days ago that was banned N3DSXL: B9S - Luma 8.0 - SysNAND 11.4.0-37U

 

[RustInPeace]

Maybe this ban is permanent, 28 days ago that was banned N3DSXL: B9S - Luma 8.0 - SysNAND 11.4.0-37U

Yeah I disappointed myself with that. I guess it just proves my "unauthorized software" bouts are rather different, I figure the fact that my consoles were banned in times differing from others was just nothing to take seriously.

 

[Deleted User]

I think there is a possibility which I have thought of, that is "Everyone was flagged for a particular reason which is someone for editing saves others for Using StreetPass/Spotpass or for any other online service but only one particular reason" I can conclude this because I have an N3DS XL and a 2DS and have edited save of OR on 2DS (which I played online for 3 to 4 min and then started wonder trade and boom! CFW Ban Error) which was banned but the N3DS has still not been banned with all features that 3ds.guide listed being turned off! Though i unbanned the 2DS with the public seed provided on Choas site

 

[gui710]

Well, i'd say that the ban wave ain't over. A friend of mine just got banned (002-0102), I might just give him my LocalFriendcodeSeed_B what do you guys think?

 

[F3NR1S]

I think there is a possibility which I have thought of, that is "Everyone was flagged for a particular reason which is someone for editing saves others for Using StreetPass/Spotpass or for any other online service but only one particular reason" I can conclude this because I have an N3DS XL and a 2DS and have edited save of OR on 2DS (which I played online for 3 to 4 min and then started wonder trade and boom! CFW Ban Error) which was banned but the N3DS has still not been banned with all features that 3ds.guide listed being turned off! Though i unbanned the 2DS with the public seed provided on Choas site

My O3DS isn't banned and I have used edited save data while spotpass was on

 

[MagicKnight]

A friend of mine just got banned (002-0102), I might just give him my LocalFriendcodeSeed_B what do you guys think?

I think that giving your SeedB to him you'll be banned too

The banwave IS NOT OVER and never will... we don't know what triggers the ban and most of all we don't know how long it takes to Nintendo to detect it, maybe you are banned (due to the logs Nintendo already received from your console) but they haven't analyzed them... yet.

 

[Osakasan]

I think there is a possibility which I have thought of, that is "Everyone was flagged for a particular reason which is someone for editing saves others for Using StreetPass/Spotpass or for any other online service but only one particular reason" I can conclude this because I have an N3DS XL and a 2DS and have edited save of OR on 2DS (which I played online for 3 to 4 min and then started wonder trade and boom! CFW Ban Error) which was banned but the N3DS has still not been banned with all features that 3ds.guide listed being turned off! Though i unbanned the 2DS with the public seed provided on Choas site

Went to check my friend list out of panic. Still unbanned after using a private LFCS ^^U

So far i'm still good. Wifi out while using homebrew apps, freeshop out and all that. Maybe the worst thing to do is unban right after discovering you're banned.

Also, maybe your friend did anything else lately? It may be related to pokemon, since a new tournament is now up and running. We should keep our eyes peeled.

 

[niels234]

Can you still activate apps like CIAngel and homebrew without getting banned?

 

[gui710]

I think that giving your SeedB to him you'll be banned too
The banwave IS NOT OVER and never will... we don't know what triggers the ban and most of all we don't know how long it takes to Nintendo to detect it, maybe you are banned (due to the logs Nintendo already received from your console) but they haven't analyzed them... yet.

Well, maybe but if giving him my SeedB will get me banned then what should i do?

 

[F3NR1S]

Can you still activate apps like CIAngel and homebrew without getting banned?

I've been using both recently and haven't been banned (yet)

 

[Osakasan]

I wouldn't risk, guys, seriously.

 

[NeonNinjaCat]

just checked i got hit

 

[jt_1258]

was about a 100 pages back since I checked, still nothing new with this I assume?

 

[CyberMario]

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.

I am NOT BANNED.
YET:

• I have SpotPass turned ON
• I use the latest firmware and use the latest Luma
• Was on A9LH before and after the ban, currently on B9S and still NOT banned
• Used ALL Homebrew titles such as FBI, HBL, Luma Updater, and freeShop
• I have modified my saves EXCEPT FOR POKEMON OMEGA/ALPHA+SUN/MOON
• I have done a system transfer. But it is from one stock 3DS to another stock 3DSXL. Then from stock 3DSXL to stock n3DSXL. Then hacked.
• I have NOT cleaned my activity log.

I have EVERY reason to be banned. Yet, I can still access everything on my friend's list.
I am 90% positive that the ban is correlated to Pokemon, Fire Emblem, or Monster Hunter. As I rarely play those games and haven't touched their saves. If it's not those games, then it has to be from system transfers or a previous ban from ban evasion.

 

[NGamerCole]

Quick question, I would like to do the freeshop on my sister's 3DS, install some different Zelda games on it and then uninstall all the different Homebrew/modding stuff after. Would her 3DS still get banned afterwards if I did that?

 

[linkenski]

I primarily use my banned 3DS for homebrew, region-locked games and to have n3DS advantages on my old 3DS games but I figured it was a bad idea to make a system transfer the day I got it, so I still have my old 3DS unbanned but it really sucks because I did regularly play online and I copied all my saved games from o3DS games to the n3DS and got the same games I owned via Freeshop. I'm sometimes really close to taking the plunge and unban my n3DS with the local friend code seed of my o3DS but I just can't risk letting my real NNID that I have spent thousand dollars on or so be permabanned and it's linked to my Wii U too. Speaking of which, I have CFW installed on my Wii U and I'm very afraid it's going to ban my NNID some day after all this has happened.