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 !

 

[Memie]

Well if the spotpass and wifi thing is true maybe your lucky but your still at risk..

I'd like to think I was fast enough to turn wireless off literally as soon as the console booted! If the banwave is confirmed to end soon and I'm lucky I might be safe. But as I mentioned in my post to Olmectron, this console I don't use for online gaming, so in a way I'm just staying out 'til the fire dies lol

 

[RalphFox]

Reporting banned here too, just in case someone wishes to check;

Recently(a month or so) had 3DS in 11.2, and then cfw'd it, and updated to 11.4(usa);

Using the 3ds guide;
I have all the software that this site tells to install;

Have the freeshop 3.0;
Had spotpass on share, all online, frind list were set up to off since before hacking.


I downloaded pokemon mystery dungeon, and pokemon moon from it; I only played moon for a few seconds to check if it works or not;
Not banned on eshop (yet); Getting 002-0102 from friend list.

I assume i can't use pokebank anymore right? ohwell, i hadn't a lot there, just the event pokemon, mewtwo, reshiram, kyurem, and celebi :/

Guess transferring pokemon from my gamecube to sun is out of question now..

I've read that the 002-0102 might be temporary, could it be? Based on this, from the ban wave in last year:

This error 002-0102 is 15 days if you get it the first time:

source: https://gbatemp.net/threads/error-code-002-0102-have-i-been-banned.380654/

- The current ban has a 15 days automatic ban lift.
- all banned users have been unbanned after 15 day.
- a user reported being re-banned. Still waiting for information to know if it's a second 15 days delay or a longer ban.

 

[SCOUT9]

im going to test everything im going to try to get ban i made a nand backup in case i do

 

[crossholo]

uhm i get error 002-0119 when checking the friends list, which tells me to update my fw since I'm still at 11.2 with Luma 6.6
since the error number is different does that mean I'm not banned or what?

 

[Deleted member 423909]

Reporting banned here too, just in case someone wishes to check;

Recently(a month or so) had 3DS in 11.2, and then cfw'd it;

Using the 3ds guide;
I have all the software that this site tells to install;

Have the freeshop 3.0;
Had spotpass on share, all online, frind list were set up to off since before hacking.

I downloaded pokemon mystery dungeon, and pokemon moon from it; I only played moon for a few seconds to check if it works or not;
Not banned on eshop (yet); Getting 002-0102 from friend list.

I assume i can't use pokebank anymore right? ohwell, i hadn't a lot there, just the event pokemon, mewtwo, reshiram, kyurem, and celebi :/

Guess transferring pokemon from my gamecube to sun is out of question now..

I've read that the 002-0102 might be temporary, could it be? Based on this, from the ban wave in last year:

Well there a homebrew version of pokebank its called PHBank im using it always!

 

[Nio]

I bought the system because of free games. It took me 3 hours to set up everything correct! 3 hours. Now I fear of some ban. I was only playing about 1h. I spend 3 more hours reading about IPS and Tn. And another 3 hours about XL or not XL, including a lot of painfull youtube videos.

So far I spent about 10 hours, only 1 was actually playing SF4 online and I failed ...

If anybody cares my top screen is ips, my bottom tn. its a real pain when screens turn white and developers like to do that a lot, a lot!!!. but otherwise its the best of both worlds!

 

[RalphFox]

Well there a homebrew version of pokebank its called PHBank im using it always!

Thanks for the info! i'll check it later.. i'll wait for 15 days to check if the ban is lifted, like in the last ban...

 

[Deleted member 423909]

Thanks for the info! i'll check it later.. i'll wait for 15 days to check if the ban is lifted, like in the last ban...

There is gonna be no last ban Nintendo is always going to do a ban wave at some point (Well not if the 3ds dies out witch will not be possible for a long time).

 

[Joshwraith]

It won't help. If you have CFW at all, Nintendo probably knows somehow. Chances are you're already on the list, and deleting FBI or even removing CFW won't take you off of it.

I know that, but just in case I haven't been flagged yet it worth the try.

 

[Deleted member 423909]

Thanks for the info! i'll check it later.. i'll wait for 15 days to check if the ban is lifted, like in the last ban...

Here is the link to PHbank: https://gbatemp.net/threads/wip-phbank-pokémon-homebrew-bank.398718/

 

[zombigrn]

I just got an xl running luma and didn't bother checking forums. I'm scared now haha. My 2ds is still running fine. Although i did a system transfer then transfered back to it. Been turning it on to check. Had street pass on, typical stuff installed like everyone. Only been using the 2ds for vc gaming and pokemon moon offline. Was on 11.2 but updated like two days ago to 11.4

 

[disasterwaiting]

Well there a homebrew version of pokebank its called PHBank im using it always!

Better off using pksm, I don't think PHBank is being updated anymore.

 

[FortuneHatter]

I think the only way this could work would be if whatever Nintendo's using to ban people has the ability to see that the console no longer triggers the ban and subsequently unbans it, and while a lot of people here are saying that's not possible, I don't think anyone really knows for sure

Hmm... I have doubts as well, considering they're doing the whole "Press the nuke button before confirming they're enemies or allies" thing.
But honestly, some of the staffers from nintendo are also confused by this sudden banwave. Been reading up at a few articles or two, and half of them have also got a "We don't know what's going on!' statement half of the time from the nintendo staffers.

 

[Rabada34]

Hello
My little sister's O3DS doesnt have the 11.4 update and isn't banned, spotpass was turned on.

I would like to know if I can dump the LFS/SecureInfoA to my N3DS XL and my O3DS XL for unbanning my console and if there's still odd to be banned (i just turned off Spotpass in the settings in all devices)
Thanks

 

[Deleted member 423909]

Better off using pksm, I don't think PHBank is being updated anymore.

Well i cant use pksm for some reason it keeps saying no resources found and i tried manually installing the resources

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

I think of making a video on how to turn spotpass and the internet off because some of people don't even know how to turn it off and ill link this page. Should i do it?

 

[Zekamon]

Hello
My little sister's O3DS doesnt have the 11.4 update and isn't banned, spotpass was turned on.

I would like to know if I can dump the LFS/SecureInfoA to my N3DS XL and my O3DS XL for unbanning my console and if there's still odd to be banned (i just turned off Spotpass in the settings in all devices)
Thanks

I would just get banned to wait for something that can prevent us from getting banned again.

 

[rafael93fn]

I find it odd that I'm not banned yet. Maybe it's because I haven't played online in like 4 or 5 months. I turned off the spotpass info sharing this morning before anything else. Just hope these bans are not permanent.

Update: Still not Banned. I did turned off friends list yesterday morning as well. I've never linked any NNID to my console, or added any friends. The rest is just the same of everyone else. 11.4.0-37U, B9S with Luma 7.1

 

[KaoTigris]

I would just get banned to wait for something that can prevent us from getting banned again.

I mean people should unban themselves with intent to figure out why everyone is getting banned. Just unbanning yourself without actually changing anything is just going to waste a token on nothing.

 

[Saiken07]

I have to check my 3 friends 3DS's today, they all got Luma CFW by me, I hope they aren't caught as well, one of them even agreed to share me his seed since he doesnt even uses online, (that seed would stay being private that way) but I want to wait first for things to calm down.

 

[Antari]

Just a reminder that:

1. Nintendo has a "list" of people they will ban
2. Bans come in waves
3. Nintendo was gathering info about you for who knows how long
4. You'll get banned in 5 hours
5. Turning off Wifi doesn't change anything
6. Spotpass, MiiPlaza and Activity Log are responsible for bans
7. FBI+CIA are responsible for bans
8. Freeshop is responsible for bans
9. Selfmade cias are responsible for bans

is all made up by people with ZERO % of evidence to back it up.