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 !

 

[ShadowEO]

Wait...what if you borrow that cartridge with a friend and/or buy a preowned one after you lost or sold your original? Will it false flag your system since you're not using the same cartridge that you originally played on your system?

That likely won't flag you, but if someone else plays that cartridge at the same time, and it's not an installed CIA on your end (meaning your rom is in .3ds/.3dz format), then likely. Since the same cartridge header would then be used on two systems at the same time. It's what's happened to sky3ds users in the past (EDIT!) with online games, and the reason why private and public headers are a thing.

 

[Joshwraith]

Wait...what if you borrow that cartridge with a friend and/or buy a preowned one after you lost or sold your original? Will it false flag your system since you're not using the same cartridge that you originally played on your system?

Multiples games (from a flashcard) can use the same header but only one at time, if you borrow the cartridge from where you extract the header you are at risk, if two console go online with the same header then the two system will be flagged, for security reason what I recommend you is to keep the cartridge from where you extract the header.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

@Chary Maybe add the possibility of
"If the game software you are using request to send information to nintendo, do not say yes if you are using CFW."
Is probably nothing but then again we can't be too sure. Some games like SNES VC says something like that. "Would you like to send data for nintendo to collect to further improve our service?"

 

[Starzcream]

4 3ds' on emunand no ban yet

 

[Awakened_Xander]

That likely won't flag you, but if someone else plays that cartridge at the same time, and it's not an installed CIA on your end (meaning your rom is in .3ds/.3dz format), then likely. Since the same cartridge header would then be used on two systems at the same time. It's what's happened to sky3ds users in the past (EDIT!) with online games, and the reason why private and public headers are a thing.

Multiples games (from a flashcard) can use the same header but only one at time, if you borrow the cartridge from where you extract the header you are at risk, if two console go online with the same header then the two system will be flagged, for security reason what I recommend you is to keep the cartridge from where you extract the header.

Hm...so this could be a way to avoid getting flagged in the future.

So it's safe to assume that dumped .cias from cartridges that you own gives you a more likely chance to avoid a ban than using a publicly shared or eShop-dumped/"That"shop .cia?

If so, does it also apply to out-of-region games?

 

[Joshwraith]

Hm...so this could be a way to avoid getting flagged in the future.

So it's safe to assume that dumped .cias from cartridges that you own gives you a more likely chance to avoid a ban than using a publicly shared or eShop-dumped/"That"shop .cia?

If so, does it also apply to out-of-region games?

No, this only apply to .3ds format, and a .3ds file converted to .cia lost the header, the header apply only when using with flashcards like sky3ds, cias doesn't have header.

 

[Awakened_Xander]

No, this only apply to .3ds format, and a .3ds file converted to .cia lost the header, the header apply only when using with flashcards like sky3ds, cias doesn't have header.

Ooh, OK. I understand now.

 

[skapista]

@Platinum Lucario, i was thinking, the info about what game we are playing and his id is sent when we launch that game or is send multiple times trough the gameplay? if is sent only at launch, when we open HBL from an entrypoint such as Ocarina, the info that is sent is the ocarina info only, and not the hbl info when it launchs?

 

[ShadowEO]

@Platinum Lucario, i was thinking, the info about what game we are playing and his id is sent when we launch that game or is send multiple times trough the gameplay? if is sent only at launch, when we open HBL from an entrypoint such as Ocarina, the info that is sent is the ocarina info only, and not the hbl info when it launchs?

I think, (IIRC) due to how HBL operates, the only information sent when using an entrypoint, would be the data for the entrypoint itself. Obviously in that case, the HBL CIA for example, would send HBL's title ID I assume, and would send OOT's for OOT. :/

 

[skapista]

I think, (IIRC) due to how HBL operates, the only information sent when using an entrypoint, would be the data for the entrypoint itself. Obviously in that case, the HBL CIA for example, would send HBL's title ID I assume :/

So launching an homebrew app loaded via entrypoint wouldn't send any TitleID?

 

[Deleted User]

So launching an homebrew app loaded via entrypoint wouldn't send any TitleID?

If so, how you explain why so many users with freeshop being banned ?

 

[ShadowEO]

So launching an homebrew app loaded via entrypoint wouldn't send any TitleID?

I don't believe it does (could be wrong here..) :/ Someone check for me? If it does, you'd see it in Activity Log anyway. I'm not in any position to check at the moment, the only entrypoint I have is HBL (my OOT3D is packed away right now) and the consoles themselves are currently put away (I forgot to charge them last night after leaving them on).

@eitanlevy97 literally almost all (I'd say about 95%, but I'd better let someone better at math than me get a percentage) of the samples we received to our poll last night had freeShop installed, both banned and not in very close numbers.


I am interested in an argument as to why Nintendo would suddenly not ban half the pirates in the world though when their previous response to piracy was harsh and very tropical, quite a tsunami of banhammers, and it came (and went) very swiftly. But that's not discussion for this thread, that would be a thread related to piracy and would be more hypothetical than this very real banwave

 

[Joshwraith]

So launching an homebrew app loaded via entrypoint wouldn't send any TitleID?

As far I know it will show "download & play" instead, well my activity log only show "download and play" a no other title but we can't know for sure if something is transferred to the servers.

 

[skapista]

If so, someone should make an app to lauch cias with a fake TitleID (ActivityLog because sarcasm)

 

[Joshwraith]

If so, how you explain why so many users with freeshop being banned ?

I think freeshop needs elevated permission to install the cia, so I think running that through HBL (the normal version) will not work for installing, you can download but no install.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

There's a lot of conflicting information in the OP. I'm still not sure what to believe at this point, but I've had all the SpotPass settings enabled and I've had FBI set as my favorite title for a while (and before that I had it set to BootNTR I believe) and no ban yet. I'm not too worried. If I'm gonna get banned, it's probably going to happen regardless of what I do, that's what I believe anyway. I did turn off sending data to Nintendo in the SpotPass settings though, I've had it enabled for ages without really knowing what it did but now that there's some evidence that it causes all your installed titles among other things to be sent to Nintendo, I definitely don't want it enabled.

 

[skapista]

well, its time to learn how to code a 3dsApp

 

[Deleted User]

I think freeshop needs elevated permission to install the cia, so I think running that through HBL (the normal version) will not work for installing, you can download but no install.

Freeshop never touch cia, it download contents directly from the server like eshop do then call system routines to install ticket, tmd and content in order

 

[ShadowEO]

There's a lot of conflicting information in the OP. I'm still not sure what to believe at this point, but I've had all the SpotPass settings enabled and I've had FBI set as my favorite title for a while (and before that I had it set to BootNTR I believe) and no ban yet. I'm not too worried. If I'm gonna get banned, it's probably going to happen regardless of what I do, that's what I believe anyway. I did turn off sending data to Nintendo in the SpotPass settings though, I've had it enabled for ages without really knowing what it did but now that there's some evidence that it causes all your installed titles among other things to be sent to Nintendo, I definitely don't want it enabled.

Well, I can at least say that the results from what I had posted was from a poll done last night taking a look at many variables, SpotPass was enabled on many of those who weren't banned, as well as those who were, and those who had it turned off were just as likely looking at the entries that at least gave the data that was asked. Apparently, the current community consensus is that Nintendo still receives telemetry from your 3DS even with those settings turned off, idk if that's confirmed, I haven't seen any data on that so I won't speak for that. I've had it on since I got my console as well and am not banned.

I want to note that I'm not trying to say any of this is fact, just what I've noticed after looking through poll data.

@eitanlevy97 It needs privileged access to call those though. That's why the 3dsx versions of FBI and other tools normally have a kernel exploit attached to them. (in fact, you can see FBI do so in it's main.c on line 126)

 

[BARNWEY]

Freeshop never touch cia, it download contents directly from the server like eshop do then call system routines to install ticket, tmd and content in order

FreeShop downloads the ticket, tmd, and the content in .cia format. The eShop does the exact same thing, and uses the compressed .cia format to increase download time. Then, all it has to do is decompress the files and install them in the proper place... BAM! Game installed...