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]

The irony of what we're supposed to do is that if we go offline on our devices, we can't tell if we were banned. So, right now, I could totally be banned, but I can't tell.

Some people can't live without their wi-fi on their consoles.
Others give 0 effs.

you DO need to activate wi-fi in order to check your current status.
I've said this multiple times already: If you keep your console offline, it won't matter one bit ,because the ban comes from nintendo, it does NOT originate from the console itself. (My speculation)
OR it probably does, who knows.
On a side note: my old 3ds is always online and keep checking it constantly every few hours, it's still there... alive and kicking...

 

[petethepug]

On OFW? I even used a different SD card, multiple entry points, and redownloaded all packages.
But anyway, that's a discussion for another thread lol.

I have it as a cia. Not 3dsx sorry

 

[XpertXP1]

Not banned OLD3DSXL, boot9, never once played online, spotpass enabled.....

 

[ItShoto]

If Nintendo truly wanted to stop piracy, wouldn't they shut down access to the Eshop and all that? Or does that not stop Free shop from accessing the servers.

 

[arcanine]

If you keep your console offline, it won't matter one bit ,because the ban comes from nintendo, it does NOT originate from the console itself.

The ban itself is server-side for sure, but the data which is captured which triggers the ban comes from the console. So if that information has not yet been captured from a console and WiFi stays off, then the console ban won't happen. So if someone thinks they are not banned, then I would still advise staying offline until we know what is causing the ban.

 

[Majickhat55]

Honestly, this thread should be locked anyway. It should have been 120 pages ago since it's all regurgitated assumptions about the ban wave or legit shit posting and arguments over something no one cares about. This thread was meant to discuss the ban wave, who was banned and when. It wasn't a thread to talk about whether or not you agree with it, how to bypass it, how legal it is or not (It's 100% legal, they didn't brick you they kicked you off their private servers and for good reason.

This ban is extremely lenient considering what they did to us for playing SuMo early. Those were hyperbans on your LFCS, NNID and console ID itself. You couldn't use anything that needed an internet connection or required an NNID. This isn't even half as serious as all that since all it does is keep you offline. Every single one of us knew the risks (or should have) when you hacked your 3DS and that's common sense. We've talked about the fact that this could happen anytime as far back as a year ago, and it finally did.

There is no reason to continue following this thread when it does not provide any new information, it's all recycled. If a new public method of bypassing this ban, or circumventing it entirely arises it will be posted for all to see on the Temp. For now, either use the known methods to bypass the ban, or just deal with playing offline until a fix is found if the devs so choose to attempt it. Remember no one is obligated to help you. So pressuring people, demanding help or sob stories aren't going to get you any sympathy from anyone here. We are all in the same boat.

 

[TinchoX]

The ban itself is server-side for sure, but the data which is captured which triggers the ban comes from the console. So if that information has not yet been captured from a console and WiFi stays off, then the console ban won't happen. So if someone thinks they are not banned, then I would still advise staying offline until we know what is causing the ban.

That makes sense, so in the end... it's still all speculation, arghh this is making me go crazy already.

 

[Lucar]

If Nintendo truly wanted to stop piracy, wouldn't they shut down access to the Eshop and all that? Or does that not stop Free shop from accessing the servers.

They'd need to restrict access to the CDN, which is basically impossible unless they don't want you buying or playing online on any of their products, ever.

 

[MushGuy]

Okay, here's what Nintendo's servers are detecting:

• Unsigned .cia or .3ds games/apps
• Unusual online activity in online multiplayer
• Application IDs and signatures that are not on the Nintendo eShop
• Games and apps that are not listed in the Nintendo eShop purchase history

And I can confirm, that I have not in any way modded my main firmware that I have my NNID linked to. The only things I have used in the past, is custom apps on a completely different firmware on a different 3DS console. Not on my New 3DS, I've never hacked it, yet it got banned.

If Nintendo wanted to ban me, they should've banned my original cosmos black 3DS, not my unmodded New 3DS.

Why ban this console? I never even made any modifications to it or the firmware. Is it just because I'm registered here on GBATemp?! Is it because I have the same IP address as the console that I hacked?!


Unfortunately this is it, my online playability is over and I am permanently banned. It really is Game Over for me, and for PlatinumLucario (my NNID).

So, what am I going to do now? My unmodded New 3DS has been banned. I have not used Gateway or Sky3DS on it.

I swear, I did not violate the Terms of Service, yet my New 3DS now displays error 002-0102.

I did not even play pirated games on that system, I always bought stuff from EB Games and played them. I did not use any Homebrew on my New 3DS firmware.

Why do I deserve this ban? Does this mean I should have my Nintendo account banned too?

Nintendo, if you really believe that banning people that mod their consoles is even going to make things better. People are going to stop buying your products. Please, stop banning the people who are only using their custom apps, and focus on banning the people that cheat online multiplayer and the ones that play online on games that they haven't purchased.

Modders, I repeat, modders are not to blame for the problems, it's the people who cheat in online multiplayer that are the problem.

Nintendo, if you keep banning people like this, you're going to ban genuine consoles that have never been hacked, like mine for instance.

So you're saying that your unhacked 3DS got banned by mistake? Dude you really need to contact Nintendo, explain this was a mistake. If this is actually true, this only shows how truly flawed their detecting system really is.

I think there's Ninty ninjas around gbatemp and that iso site and they compare the users names with your name on their network.

Hmm, this could explain why users like Platinum Lucario got erroneously banned (correct me if I'm wrong), while others with CFW still aren't.

 

[nitroBW]

Update error goes away after I use crt-httpwn but still no ban error.

Congrats, you shouldn't be banned then. Stay safe anyway :-)

If Nintendo truly wanted to stop piracy, wouldn't they shut down access to the Eshop and all that? Or does that not stop Free shop from accessing the servers.

Freeshop accesses Nintendo servers directly, not via the eShop. They'd have to IP us in order to stop us from using freeshop and even if, we can just download cias and install those.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

So you're saying that your unhacked 3DS got banned by mistake? Dude you really need to contact Nintendo, explain this was a mistake. If this is actually true, this only shows how truly flawed their detecting system really is.

Hmm, this could explain why users like Platinum Lucario got erroneously banned (correct me if I'm wrong), while others with CFW still aren't.

He was banned, because he transfered from an hacked o3DS to a clean n3DS and the flagged files were transfered too

 

[Darlenix]

I have a question. I have a cfw'd console and a clean stock 3ds. I haven't been banned yet on the former, but I'm kinda starting to freak out and I'd like to know if I were to delete all the illegitimate content and do a system transfer from the hacked console to the clean console, would there exist any data in the transfer process that could compromise the stock one?

 

[TinchoX]

I have a question. I have a cfw'd console and a clean stock 3ds. I haven't been banned yet on the former, but I'm kinda starting to freak out and I'd like to know if I were to delete all the illegitimate content and do a system transfer from the hacked console to the clean console, would there exist any data in the transfer process that could compromise the stock one?

There is no definitive answer to that for now.
Some think that will keep you unbanned for longer, while others, like myself, think doing that is just a waste of time because Nintendo already knows you are a pirate.

 

[toberkel]

That makes sense, so in the end... it's still all speculation, arghh this is making me go crazy already.

U said it.

 

[KytuzuEX]

I have a question. I have a cfw'd console and a clean stock 3ds. I haven't been banned yet on the former, but I'm kinda starting to freak out and I'd like to know if I were to delete all the illegitimate content and do a system transfer from the hacked console to the clean console, would there exist any data in the transfer process that could compromise the stock one?

If you expect those CIA games to be transferred, then those will not show up since they aren't legal.

I could say that you stock 3DS will not be compromised.
Maybe the LCFS.

 

[Darlenix]

There is no definitive answer to that for now.

Well, fuck. If the cfwd gets banned, it'll be too late to system transfer.

 

[TinchoX]

Well, fuck. If the cfwd gets banned, it'll be too late to system transfer.

If you are feeling ballsy, you should do it! Tell us how it went later on

 

[AyanamiRei0]

I have a question. I have a cfw'd console and a clean stock 3ds. I haven't been banned yet on the former, but I'm kinda starting to freak out and I'd like to know if I were to delete all the illegitimate content and do a system transfer from the hacked console to the clean console, would there exist any data in the transfer process that could compromise the stock one?

Games you haven't bought won't transfer

 

[toberkel]

Hope

There is no definitive answer to that for now.
Some think that will keep you unbanned for longer, while others, like myself, think doing that is just a waste of time because Nintendo already knows you are a pirate.

Hope for a statement of a dev soon. Would be nice to hear what they found out, untill they are sticking together and tryna figuring it out. (But not in public, so they can concentrate on what they are doing.)

 

[TinchoX]

Hope

Hope for a statement of a dev soon. Would be nice to hear what they found out, untill they are sticking together and tryna figuring it out. (But not in public, so they can concentrate on what they are doing.)

Do we even know if they ARE investigating this? Or you are also speculating like we've been doing since page 1?

 

[Matalan]

I'm not banned yet but I'm sure it'll come and I'll have to buy a New 3DS but it's a shame to lose all of my VC injects of games Nintendo never released into the eshop.
Also I'll miss using my own themes, badges and moving all of my carts onto my SD Card but it's a shame that these are things Nintendo wouldn't let us do without using a CFW.
I'll also lose the fact that my 3DS has IPS screens.
I do love Nintendo consoles and handhelds but it just makes me wish they were things Nintendo would put more time into.