Looks like this is it. According to a tweet from SciresM, the latest 3DS firmware update 11.8 has ported the Nintendo Switch's piracy detection systems to the console. This strategy enables Nintendo to perfectly distinguish pirated and legit games going online and has been used before to detect and ban pirates on Switch. This is not something that can be avoided with homebrew. According to SciresM, Nintendo hasn't acted on 3DS pirates yet, but can choose to do so any time in the future.

Be careful, guys.

Looks like 11.8.0 backports the Switch's aauth ideas to 3ds -- network comms now send an encrypted(?) copy of app ticket to the server.

They may not act on it immediately, but like on Switch this lets N perfectly detect pirate accesses vs normal ones, and ban however they like.

— Michael (@SciresM) July 31, 2018

​

 

[Deleted User]

My real concern is that it will turn into something more than a seed ban at this stage. I'm already affected by that, but if it turned into an account ban which also affected the Switch, which I idiotically have linked with the same account, I'd be pretty fucked.

Why would you link a hacked device to a legit account?

 

[Glyptofane]

Why would you link a hacked device to a legit account?

It's more that I hacked a device with a legit account, then continued using the same account.

 

[Zense]

I believe you have to view what is happening in perspective.. Recently Nintendo has been trying to calm down investors and the media in response to doubts whether the Switch's sales momentum has started to dwindle. So what does Nintendo do? They hastily release articles bragging about having sold 19,67 million Switches (which is odd, since normally you'd wait to celebrate until you reach that 20 million mark), they talk about what great games are coming out for the switch, and finally they ban pirates from the last generation 3DS in order to have them adopt to the Switch, unless they already have adopted.

 

[TankedThomas]

I'm just curious to actually know the specifics about when this information is sent to Nintendo, what can and can't be used safely now, etc.
That being said, I don't know how much we'll actually find out, since I doubt people like SciresM are going to worry about it too much (since it primarily concerns 3DS piracy - but I'm worried that it concerns homebrew and VC injections and such too), plus they're busy working on the Switch stuff.
Personally though, finding some sort of way around these piracy bans would be a high priority for me if I were a hacker (I'm not, and I'm aware that it's quite the opposite of a simple fix), not to aid piracy but because it would likely aid homebrew and general hacking efforts - if you can cloak your activity, so to speak, then it'd be safer for everyone doing anything on a hacked system, which would also end up including piracy (for better or worse).

I have to say, I didn't see this coming. Nintendo have been so completely useless when it comes to security that it's rather a surprise. It's a little too early to congratulate them though, as far as I'm concerned - they're still incompetent on many other levels, and they constantly try to copy Apple's business model (expensive brand name, inflated prices, etc.) whilst not actually delivering anywhere near the same level as Apple (and this isn't praise for Apple - they haven't really set the bar that high). Oh, and they're extremely consumer-unfriendly, but then again, most companies are. Just look at Sony and Microsoft - it's like Dumb and Dumber. Can you guess which one's which? I can't.

I believe you have to view what is happening in perspective.. Recently Nintendo has been trying to calm down investors and the media in response to doubts whether the Switch's sales momentum has started to dwindle. So what does Nintendo do? They hastily release articles bragging about having sold 19,67 million Switches (which is odd, since normally you'd wait to celebrate until you reach that 20 million mark), they talk about what great games are coming out for the switch, and finally they ban pirates from the last generation 3DS in order to have them adopt to the Switch, unless they already have adopted.

Whilst I agree with you for the most part, if they truly have the mentality that banning 3DS consoles will make people move to Switch, they're even dumber than I thought. I already hate the Switch as-is (and for the fuckboys, I have one in my possession so I'm fully informed on my opinion), but if they think banning my old console(s) will make me buy a Switch, they're wrong.

 

[Deleted User]

I'm just curious to actually know the specifics about when this information is sent to Nintendo, what can and can't be used safely now, etc.
That being said, I don't know how much we'll actually find out, since I doubt people like SciresM are going to worry about it too much (since it primarily concerns 3DS piracy - but I'm worried that it concerns homebrew and VC injections and such too), plus they're busy working on the Switch stuff.
Personally though, finding some sort of way around these piracy bans would be a high priority for me if I were a hacker (I'm not, and I'm aware that it's quite the opposite of a simple fix), not to aid piracy but because it would likely aid homebrew and general hacking efforts - if you can cloak your activity, so to speak, then it'd be safer for everyone doing anything on a hacked system, which would also end up including piracy (for better or worse).

I have to say, I didn't see this coming. Nintendo have been so completely useless when it comes to security that it's rather a surprise. It's a little too early to congratulate them though, as far as I'm concerned - they're still incompetent on many other levels, and they constantly try to copy Apple's business model (expensive brand name, inflated prices, etc.) whilst not actually delivering anywhere near the same level as Apple (and this isn't praise for Apple - they haven't really set the bar that high). Oh, and they're extremely consumer-unfriendly, but then again, most companies are. Just look at Sony and Microsoft - it's like Dumb and Dumber. Can you guess which one's which? I can't.

Whilst I agree with you for the most part, if they truly have the mentality that banning 3DS consoles will make people move to Switch, they're even dumber than I thought. I already hate the Switch as-is (and for the fuckboys, I have one in my possession so I'm fully informed on my opinion), but if they think banning my old console(s) will make me buy a Switch, they're wrong.

So basically...you hate everything?

Cool.

It's more that I hacked a device with a legit account, then continued using the same account.

ohh ic, can't you just remove it with god9?

 

[noahc3]

-snip-

SciresM's tweet was misleading. The check only happens when installing a title using the 3DS' built in content installer service, NIM (source 1 source 2 source 3).

Installing and going online with titles installed through FBI or similar are safe. Downloading games through something like Villain3DS is safe (but will probably break real soon when 11.8 is enforced and a valid ticket is REQUIRED to get content from CDN). You can still safely source your CIAs from whatever naughty iso site.

Basically, freeshop can get you banned in its current form (it can be updated to stop using the NIM service, but again, it will probably stop functioning like other CDN downloaders).

 

[eworm]

Do we know whether the system makes the distinction between cart and an install? I've dumped plenty of games I actually own and installed them simply to avoid switching the carts all the time - would me having played a cart version on the system change anything? Probably not, huh?

 

[nolimits59]

SciresM's tweet was misleading. The check only happens when installing a title using the 3DS' built in content installer service, NIM (source 1 source 2 source 3).

Installing and going online with titles installed through FBI or similar are safe. Downloading games through something like Villain3DS is safe (but will probably break real soon when 11.8 is enforced and a valid ticket is REQUIRED to get content from CDN). You can still safely source your CIAs from whatever naughty iso site.

Basically, freeshop can get you banned in its current form (it can be updated to stop using the NIM service, but again, it will probably stop functioning like other CDN downloaders).

Thanks for clarifying, i had big doubts about how could they detect installed "ticketless" titles.

So, basicly also, every previously freeshop installed titles can be detected and sended also right ?

Do we know whether the system makes the distinction between cart and an install? I've dumped plenty of games I actually own and installed them simply to avoid switching the carts all the time - would me having played a cart version on the system change anything? Probably not, huh?

You're safe, and main differences between CIA and CART dumps are tickets (which are installed on the sysnand to tell eshop you own them) and the "headerless" aspect of CIA also (CIA don't have that unique signature that original carts dumps have).

 

[Deleted-437053]

freeShop works in 11.8 ?

 

[smileyhead]

freeShop works in 11.8 ?

It does, but I wouldn't recommend using it for now.

 

[noahc3]

-snip-

Previously installed freeshop titles are fine, since this check happens ONLY when installing, and never again. A game installed with freeshop is functionally identical to a game installed through any other means.

The only thing unclear right now is what happens when you try to download a game update through home menu. It's possible that it sends the bad ticket to CDN when trying to get an update, in which case could get you screwed. Of course, you can bypass this by installing updates manually with CIAs.

 

[nolimits59]

Previously installed freeshop titles are fine, since this check happens ONLY when installing, and never again. A game installed with freeshop is functionally identical to a game installed through any other means.

The only thing unclear right now is what happens when you try to download a game update through home menu. It's possible that it sends the bad ticket to CDN when trying to get an update, in which case could get you screwed. Of course, you can bypass this by installing updates manually with CIAs.

One thing i don't remember, Updates don't act like WiiUs ? As separate titles ?

 

[noahc3]

One thing i don't remember, Updates don't act like WiiUs ? As separate titles ?

That's mainly why I'm unsure. They are separate titles, so in theory when downloading one for the first time from home menu when you've never installed an update for that game before, no one, even legitimate purchasers, would have its ticket, right?

Perhaps part of the process the Home Menu does when updating a game is getting a legitimate ticket from Ninty. Since the update is free, there would be no problem with illegitimate tickets. Of course, if you initially installed the update with something like Freeshop or through a CIA, the ticket would be invalid by default since you didn't request a valid one from Ninty.

I'll do some research and see what I can find.

 

[Deleted-437053]

Okay, thanks

 

[Dr.Hacknik]

And NOW Nintendo is serious

Took them five years :/

 

[Zense]

Whilst I agree with you for the most part, if they truly have the mentality that banning 3DS consoles will make people move to Switch, they're even dumber than I thought. I already hate the Switch as-is (and for the fuckboys, I have one in my possession so I'm fully informed on my opinion), but if they think banning my old console(s) will make me buy a Switch, they're wrong.

Well, you gotta ask yourself why they would bother with updating an EOL console.

Lets say you're 11 years old, you play pokemon online and you've managed to get CFW on your 3DS, then your 3DS gets banned from online services and there's not much you can do. Would you be tempted to buy a new 3ds or just to buy a switch where there's promise of new pokemon games coming out soon?

Also it would be interesting to see what games are the most played online games on 3DS. I would imagine Pokemon and Mario Kart. Hopefully not many play Smash online, since from my experience that's a complete lagfest. Btw the 3ds is so easily hackable now that an 8year old could probably do it.

 

[Clydefrosch]

We'll, that would be a scary prospect if they banned my switch based on me hacking my 3ds and sharing the same nnid

 

[GilgameshArcher]

People seem never to understand:

Keep one device 100% in the TOS to play legit legal games online and use all features.
Keep an other device 100% hacked to play everything and all Homebrews U want but its going to be banned,

 

[SSG Vegeta]

So if I use my ciangel app to get a game from Nintendo's servers I'm screwed ? 0.0

 

[smileyhead]

People seem never to understand:

Keep one device 100% in the TOS to play legit legal games online and use all features.
Keep an other device 100% hacked to play everything and all Homebrews U want but its going to be banned,

Consoles are expensive. You can't expect everyone to have the money to buy two.

 

[Memfis]

1) Is there a way to block the Update?
2) Is there an eShop Spoofer, to access the eShop?