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 !

 

[TinchoX]

No, its a console ban not an NNID ban.

I stand corrected by JasonPK92, I'll edit that right away.

 

[MollyChan]

So, just so I have a good idea of exactly what's going on...

-Nintendo is banning lots of people
-It's known that it affects people with CFW
-Nobody knows specifically what about having CFW is causing it
-The ban only stops online play for games, things that use the NNID like eshop are fine
-There's no real way to avoid getting banned if you have had CFW and haven't been banned yet
-BUT there is a way to get around the ban if you do get banned

Is this all correct?

 

[Glyptofane]

I'm really enjoying this thread. I haven't checked if I'm banned yet, but I'm also not sure I've ever used an online function for my games...

Being banned is bad enough, but after spending some of last night and all of today in this thread, I am really ready to drink this Memorial Day weekend away.

 

[Helix Fossil]

I'm not actually sure if an NNID ban even exists or has ever been issued. If it does exist, I've never heard of it or seen it happen.

 

[birgeer]

On my N3DS eur i updated 3 days ago to b9s and to 11.4, then downloaded patch 1.2 for pokemon moon (cia that leaked 1-2 weeks before game release which iwe played online and didnt get banned then (then moved on to original sun copy iwe played since), then installed umbra moon (havent connected that online), i havent played anything online like since end of january +-, today i removed the emunand and connected to eshop and friend list and not banned.

Never cheated online or used freeshop, played any fire emblem or monster hunter, or eddited pokemon savefile, only use FBI, have had my 3ds connected to wifi all day, turned of spotpass infosharing 3 hours ago and still not banned and hoping for The best. Hope this info helps

 

[nitroBW]

So, just so I have a good idea of exactly what's going on...

-Nintendo is banning lots of people
-It's known that it affects people with CFW
-Nobody knows specifically what about having CFW is causing it
-The ban only stops online play for games, things that use the NNID like eshop are fine
-There's no real way to avoid getting banned if you have had CFW and haven't been banned yet
-BUT there is a way to get around the ban if you do get banned

Is this all correct?

Yep

 

[drsalvador555]

So I'm on 11.4 on N3DSXL and I'm fine still, tried to check my 2DS, but that's on 11.3 and for whatever reason httpwn isn't booting up, I think it needs to be updated, but I'm not too worried about my 2DS, I do most of my PKSM stuff on there, so if any system gets banned it'd be that one. Probably.

 

[3DSBurg]

One of my n3ds has been banned.. However, this console was used via Craigslist and had FreeShop with a bunch of games on it. It was Luma 7 (I think..?) with EmuNAND that I updated to b9s. I did a system transfer to it from my main N3ds to get ready for CFW.
I have my main n3ds that only had hbl on it, and an o3ds that had the most recent version of everything right before b9s. Worried to open my main 3DS and check, as well as my old....
On my main n3ds, I did buy a few titles via eShop. Someone asked that before. However, it's possible this console was flagged before I even bought it.

 

[Deleted User]

Looks like I'm safe

That's what they want you to think

 

[Funkymon]

Being banned is bad enough, but after spending some of last night and all of today in this thread, I am really ready to drink this Memorial Day weekend away.

While I agree it's painful getting banned, reading the explanations people are giving for why Nintendo is wrong to ban people has been hilarious.

 

[MollyChan]

Yep

Okay, good to know I got everything correct.
Still worried about the possibility of getting banned in the future, but I suppose if I do, I can see about finding out how to remove the ban
(Kinda still wish I waited a bit longer to get CFW... just like how that Pokemon ban wave I was never hit with made me wish I hadn't got into Homebrew stuff, haha. With Homebrew, I tend to only use my 3DS for emulating games, which kinda upsets me, as I have a large library of DS and 3DS games I could be [and probably SHOULD be] playing instead...)

 

[ArturDat3DS]

No one is safe in war.

I like this quote somehow
It sounds like we're in the biggest digital war in the 21st century. Huge casualties... but we also have survivors. No one knows when the war will end, and no one knows how long he's safe in the smallest corner of The Nintendo Network.
The bravest consoles died, but their legacy is endless.

 

[Yepi69]

That's what they want you to think

Nintendo's hunting down pirates like Ted Nugent.

 

[TinchoX]

One of my n3ds has been banned.. However, this console was used via Craigslist and had FreeShop with a bunch of games on it. It was Luma 7 (I think..?) with EmuNAND that I updated to b9s. I did a system transfer to it from my main N3ds to get ready for CFW.
I have my main n3ds that only had hbl on it, and an o3ds that had the most recent version of everything right before b9s. Worried to open my main 3DS and check, as well as my old....
On my main n3ds, I did buy a few titles via eShop. Someone asked that before. However, it's possible this console was flagged before I even bought it.

If you got banned already, you are just delaying the inevitable... man up and open that list.

 

[Bluespheal]

Just checked and I'm banned, it sucks but in retrospective I rarely go online, only for Smash, still I got my Wii U for that, I've been reading this thread (yes, all 146 pages) and some other threads, (yup, all pages, today is a pretty slow day for me.) and here are what I've found so far, well, first a little info about my system:

.-System Spotpass notifications: both on, I swear I had turned them off, but apparently they turn on on certain conditions.
.-Streetpass Plaza Spotpass: strangely off, I don't remember switching this one off, maybe it was a long time ago.
.-Friendlist Game: On, even worse, I had a custom VC as my fav game, lol.
.-3DS version: 11.3.0-36 U.
.-I have A9HL (was planning to update to B9S today, I'm still gonna, at least I'm not bricked).
.-Luma Version: 7.0.2-a5ddc384.
.-I haven't been online for at least a week, I entered Freeshop just last Friday.
.-I have tons of custom VC and some 3DS games I used to own but (stupidly) lost downloaded from freeshop.
.-Activity log shows FBI and similar "unauthorized" apps.

Anyway, the patterns seem to indicate the following:

.-3DS sends some info through Spotpass, this may be one of the main causes for the ban wave, according to another topic, it sends all info on the home-menu every 24-hours, kinda scary if you ask me.
.-"Innactive" systems seem to be the most affected, or at least the most prominent in the boards, other more active users seem to be either 50/50 (console wise) or completely unharmed(for now).
.-Some users have reported clean users getting banned, although proof for these has yet to be shown.
.-The bans seem to be random, it mostly seems to be going in waves, so until the banwaves stop (if they ever stop) we cannot pinpoint what the causes of the bans are, right now we have some clues, but until this settles down, we would just be guessing.

So, what to do now?

.-In my case I have an O3DS, hacked, I could get the whatheverseedB from that and inject it into my console, if I ever have the need of playing online, that is, if it hasn't been banned yet (it probably has been, since it has been "Innactive" for a pretty long time.)

As for the community I would suggest.

.-Wait for this to settle down, or at least wait for at least 4 days or a week of sample data, right now we are just taking shots in the dark.
.-Once we find out more about the reasons for the bans, maybe we can come up with a way to make it safer for future users, or clean seeds, right now immediately unbanning will just be a waste of seeds, unless we...
.-Figure out a way to generate whatheverseedB to use, my guess with this would be that if we keep generating seeds, more "clean" users will be caught in the crossfire, and hopefully nintendo will lift the bans, since at that time they would no longer be viable, problem is, this might take way to long and might seem immoral to many users ,I think it's a pretty nasty thing to do, but it's a possibility, but... it may not work and end up banning several innocent people.
.-Figure other ways to bypass the server-side bans, this would be the hardest since Nintendo has full control over them, unless someone hacks into their db and wipes all the banlists, though that's unlikely.

Finally, this ban really is confusing me, we know nintendo is banning server-side, so the only affected thing right now is online-play, we can still Access e-shop and our NNID, in general, so injecting CIAS and even FreeShop still work fine... so what is this banwave supposedly trying to stop? it certainly isn't stopping users from playing pirated games, that's for sure, unless this is just the beginning...

TL;DR: It's better if we just wait and figure out the causes of the bans, then figure out a solution, worse case scenario, we don't play online anymore or have to buy a new 3DS, if you ask me, that's no biggie, unless this is just the tip of the ice-berg, in which case... RUN!!!

 

[JManUtd]

Not everyone who was banned has installed the dlc or even pirated.

Maybe it was for precaution... before they did or something...

 

[Deleted member 333767]

Lolololololol, the amount of times I've read "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE BANNED WITH CFW!!!!!!"

 

[RustInPeace]

No, its a console ban not an NNID ban.

It might as well be an NNID ban because the crown jewel of my purchases was Bank. I had my living dex on it, though I dumped them all to pk files.

 

[Suji_Pyo]

There is a rumor that Luma7+ is causing the bans.

 

[Yepi69]

It might as well be an NNID ban because the crown jewel of my purchases was Bank. I had my living dex on it, though I dumped them all to pk files.

You and I are on the same boat.