Those that decide to hack their systems know that there's always the chance of either bricking, or banning. Many of those that installed CFW or installed unauthorized software onto their Nintendo 3DS systems faced an online ban, back in 2017. With exploits and modchips becoming the talk of the town, and the Switch scene progress in general, there's the growing question of "what about bans?".

It began with known Switch hacker Shiny Quagsire finding out that their Switch had been banned. That alone is shocking, but not only was one of their systems banned, but two. They received error code 2124-4007 on their alleged non-hacked Nintendo Switch.

Huh, 2124-4007 on my not-hacked Switch. Wonder what that's about.

— Shiny Quagsire (@ShinyQuagsire) May 19, 2018

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The screen suggests users to contact Nintendo Support with the error code, which the user in question did. Below, are two alleged chat sessions regarding the error code.

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One of the responses was that the ban would not be lifted, and that the End User License Agreement had been broken. This error code prevents those from accessing the eShop, online gaming, or the friend list and social aspects. Updating or patching one's game still functions, however.

Banned unit count is at 2, current suspicion: libnx errors getting reported.

— Shiny Quagsire (@ShinyQuagsire) May 19, 2018

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ShinyQuagsire then attempted to play Splatoon 2, and successfully voted for a team during the Splatfest, but trying to play a match brought back the same error code once more, stating that online features were restricted by Nintendo. It was then revealed that the "unhacked" Switch had once run the Homebrew Launcher, as well as PegaSwitch, the latter of which is an exploit toolkit that can write custom code to the system.

only correlation between my banned unit and the other in our group is libnx error codes being in the settings log, never did crazy save edits/cheating/weird online stuff, both had client certs dumped but I don't think it's that, they're not rejected

— Shiny Quagsire (@ShinyQuagsire) May 19, 2018

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Later, another Switch hacker, SciresM also spoke up about his own console getting banned. CDN was cited as a potential cause, though ShinyQuagsire wasn't so sure, as the last time they'd done anything regarding that was months ago, meaning Nintendo could have retroactively banned them, or is only going after them now.

This is the console cert I've been using for *all* CDN exploration since June of last year. I'm not surprised in the slightest, tons and tons of invalid requests have been sent from this one. I also updated the console to 5.0.1 when that released.

— Michael (@SciresM) May 22, 2018

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CDN, "Content Distribution Network", as described by Nintendo themselves is

Content delivery network providers enable faster video streaming and support the delivery of content you have requested, e.g. when using Nintendo eShop, by using a system of distributed servers that deliver the content to you, based on your geographic location. We may therefore share your information (including your IP address) with our third party content delivery network providers that provide content delivery network services in connection with Nintendo Account Services, Nintendo Network and the official Nintendo website, some of which may act as third-party data processors only

CDN downloaders had been used to download content directly to a computer from Nintendo services, and currently, this is what is considered to have most likely caused the bans at this time. Shiny Quagsire also knows another user who had a Switch banned, which never used the Homebrew Launcher, but did access and mess with the CDN. At this time, only Switch hackers appear to have been affected, not the average user. If more information becomes available, this post will be updated to include such.

 

[Enovale]

OK real comment, It would seem that accessing the CDN is the problem, which would suck for anything similar for freeshop to come up. and theres speculation that theyre banning user/accounts, not just one switch. It sounds like it wont, but hopefully it doesn't effect us too harshly anytime soon.

 

[chrisrlink]

hmmmm only switch hackers? dev's you mean that seems odd to me as to suppose ban anyone who hacked their switch

 

[JellyPerson]

Okay. There are only a few Switch users who are banned right now. RIP them. But the whole community is going apeshit because of that. Downloading from CDN may be the cause of it, so I'd say if you want to pirate, ****maybe**** I'll set up a specific switch ISO site, so you don't have to download from CDN

 

[Beerus]

Rip those brave soldiers 400$(cad) gone hope there is a friend seed injector like for the 3ds

 

[Lightyose]

Oh wow. Maybe Nintendo is chasing them now. They might as well use new nicknames.....................

 

[Deleted User]

Wow, looks like Nintendo is getting increasingly aggressive with the bans against hackers. The 3DS really only had mass banwaves right before releases of big games (mainly Pokemon SUMO and USUM), but this is the first I've heard of users getting banned just for running the Homebrew Launcher. Security seems tighter this time around. Maybe this is where some of that online subscription money is going towards?

 

[aerios169]

well nity is triying to alert us, or in other part intimidating us. they know that hackers will report that they were banned, also this maybe is related with xcuter "chip". In other words when the cfw arrives they will ban alot of people =/, thats the message.

 

[MasterJ360]

Well atleast its CDN and not making save dumps thats literally all I do with mine

 

[JellyPerson]

Wow, looks like Nintendo is getting increasingly aggressive with the bans against hackers. The 3DS really only had mass banwaves right before releases of big games (mainly Pokemon SUMO and USUM), but this is the first I've heard of users getting banned just for running the Homebrew Launcher. Security seems tighter this time around. Maybe this is where some of that online subscription money is going towards?

The online subscriptions haven't even started

 

[Deleted User]

The online subscriptions haven't even started

Ah, fair enough, I forgot about that. Still though, if they can't adequately protect their own servers from hackers who have softmodded their Switch, a lot of people would put less stock in handing over their money to the company.

 

[Solitario]

R.I.P

 

[x65943]

Okay. There are only a few Switch users who are banned right now. RIP them. But the whole community is going apeshit because of that. Downloading from CDN may be the cause of it, so I'd say if you want to pirate, ****maybe**** I'll set up a specific switch ISO site, so you don't have to download from CDN

But sciresm happens to be a huge part of the scene - so it's significant that he's been banned.

 

[Justinde75]

Exactly why I still dont have a set up connection on my switch.

 

[x65943]

Exactly why I still dont have a set up connection on my switch.

If you access cdn from your computer, and they log your errors - you have the potential to get banned if/when you ever do connect the switch to online services. They can ban a switch that isn't online - because they are banning based on your dumped switch creds.

 

[Justinde75]

If you access cdn from your computer, and they log your errors - you have the potential to get banned if/when you ever do connect the switch to online services. They can ban a switch that isn't online - because they are banning based on your dumped switch creds.

I dont really mess with that kinda stuff right now

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

If CDN programs like that wii u usb helper downloader was being used by lots of people, then they have been banning all of them. I doubt they do IP bans.

 

[GameSystem]

Good thing there are only like 5 online games for the Switch. I can see a lot of people just outright not caring. Tons of single player games to have fun with.

 

[Darksabre72]

so is nintendo reading the game database of the console to see if it's legit or signed to that account?

 

[x65943]

If CDN programs like that wii u usb helper downloader was being used by lots of people, then they have been banning all of them. I doubt they do IP bans.

Difference is that the wiiu cdn downloaders don't use dumped wiiu credentials specific to a console.

The switch cdn downloader uses console specific information to access the cdn - and thus opens the door to bans.