Homebrew How to avoid getting banned

[SuperJosh64]

Hi, I have had a Switch since launch and I want to put homebrew on it but I fear I will get banned and I spent a lot of money on games so is there any way to prevent me from sending unwanted info to Nintendo.

 

[Uiaad]

If you are really that concerned about getting banned then just don't hack your Switch

 

[SuperJosh64]

Yeah but is there a trick like a dns setting or like 3ds a way to not send information to nintendo

 

[FAST6191]

Two choices
1) Don't hack
2) Become a hacker yourself, vet the security system and any hacks performed to it.

Nintendo seem to have a security setup operated by people with a clue and the usual attacker-defender roles are reversed for you here -- you have to be right every time (or effectively every time) and they have to be right just once.

Less snarkily if you mess around with early stage hacks it is almost inevitable. Watching the style of development of hacks going on it is the classic "make it work, then make it undetectable" approach being used.

 

[pLaYeR^^]

If you worry about getting banned, there are only two options:
1) Don't hack
2) Use your hacked switch offline only

There's always a risk of getting banned when you hack your console.

 

[FAST6191]

@pLaYeR^^ that is not strictly true, or at least there is some nuance.

Historically there have been ways to lessen ban risks, or indeed unban yourself later (usually at a cost or some serious effort).

Like on the 360 there were hacked DVD firmwares that did nice things but risked you getting caught, if you played leaked betas that might have been signed for retail consoles, if you played games ahead of street dates, a handful of games had extra protections you had to keep on top of, there were methods of install that were less risky than others and a few more things besides. Said bans often came many months or even near a year down the line so many would take what they could get and take the ban when the time came. If however you played it right, did all the checks, did not break street dates and only played copies that you could reasonably have gone to a shop and got... you might have skated by for years.

Other times there have been certain cheats that would get you banned but simply playing a stock pirated copy would have been fine.

The OP may well have been asking for that. Fruitlessly in this case as it is a new system with constantly evolving hacks, said hacks being not geared for stealth right now as much as "just working" and all against a company that has shown they (now) have some measure of competency and both the incentive and a desire to ban people. Some point in the future there might well be a stealth solution and way to do things to avoid it or mitigate it but that is not even something on the horizon right now.

 

[pLaYeR^^]

@FAST6191 As you said, there's nothing on the horizon right now. For now, to avoid a ban you only have the two options which I mentioned above. It'll be interesting how the switch scene will develop the next few months.

 

[FAST6191]

Months? I am predicting another unmitigated cluster like the 3ds early custom firmware scene, and indeed most previous Nintendo consoles (there is a reason there is no nice open anti piracy check removal database for the DS). Multiple people with multiple skill levels with different agendas and pulling in different directions, and a commercial team with some skills but no incentive to play nice.

 

[Wiiunator]

I would recommend having a look at this thread for more specific information: https://gbatemp.net/threads/nintendo-switch-banning-hub.508710/

Now we know that it is not safe to go online whatsoever with backups, homebrew and LayerFS. However a pattern seems to be emerging showing that using LayeredFS and Homebrew offline will lead to a guaranteed ban as soon as you go back online even with clearing your logs (especially LayerFS).
It is suspected this is some sort of invisible log that might not be stored on the NAND, that is being sent to Nintendo showing all sort of information about the way you use your switch next time you log in online. Apparently Flight mode does not guarantee your offline connection as the console does temporarily connect to the internet on boot. Delete your internet setting for a more secure offline usage.

Ban cases don't seem to be so obvious with SX OS offline usage yet at this point (only a couple case that have not been proven yet) but if you intend on using it, I would recommend avoiding online for SX OS activation, backup, game updates (just dont update games you do not own...), avoid using Homebrew and never use LayerFS. Only go online in original Firmware after clearing your logs and make sure you have disable sending reports to Nintendo in sys pref and auto game updates. There is also a report setting on your Nintendo ID setting when logging onto their website.. options not available if you live in the US it seems...

This will only to minimise the risk of flagging Nintendo, but this is in no way bullet proof and it is still not safe at all!!!... If you hack your switch, just stay offline up until we know more... and be ready that this might take a long time.