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 !

 

[MollyChan]

Sorry, I fucked up the order, disabling to send data to nintendo doesnt stop them from collecting data, I'm sorry xD

Ah, okay
Kinda figured that would be the case

I guess the one problem with doing this to protect against potential bans, is that, well
it's basically the same as having the ban anyway, with no way to do online because the wi-fi is off

 

[Yawngaruga]

Sounds like half a stupid question, but I guess it applies to Monster Hunter too?
Stupid question because you said "any game or service", but on the other hand everything you gave as examples are Nintendo's, so maybe MH uses special Capcom servers and are not affected by the ban, idk, that's why I ask...
(And I'm asking because if I'm banned from everything except MH, I don't care one bit, I'm good with it).
(And I didn't check if I was banned. I don't really want to go online now and risk getting flagged when I was not banned -.-).

I can confirm that MH is not working, i was also banned, and i mainly play MH. I Bought a mhxx cart and play it on my 3ds and with cfw i used the English translation. And was banned on the first day. Damn

 

[Ironix]

Something you're not telling? Been on PKSM for far too long? Pirated games? Spotpass on? It's best to come clean with everything about the console to better understand what happened.

Well, it's true that some games, Spotpass turned on, I did turn it on. Does that effect? Saying about pirated games, CIA included? about PKSM...hmm I don't know what to say. Since i only do generate LEGAL pokemons

 

[droople]

Someone here declared that he un-banned his machine by modifying his own local_friend_code_seed_B file.

But he don't want to share his method.

It's suspicious to me, though. It's possible but not feasible.

 

[palinalif]

Sounds like half a stupid question, but I guess it applies to Monster Hunter too?
Stupid question because you said "any game or service", but on the other hand everything you gave as examples are Nintendo's, so maybe MH uses special Capcom servers and are not affected by the ban, idk, that's why I ask....

I just checked, it's effected by the ban (I used Generations, but I assume it's the same across all the 3DS releases)

 

[ItsMetaKnight]

Why would you even be so dumb and unban yourself when it's unknown what CAUSED it? You will just be banned again having wasted your seed.

 

[RustInPeace]

Well, it's true that some games, Spotpass turned on, I did turn it on. Does that effect? Saying about pirated games, CIA included? about PKSM...hmm I don't know what to say. Since i only do generate LEGAL pokemons

So you pirated some games? Yes Spotpass possibly has an effect, most banned users admit to having that left enabled at the time of being banned.

 

[nitroBW]

Why would you even be so dumb and unban yourself when it's unknown what CAUSED it? You will just be banned again having wasted your seed.

For science ;p

People who weren't using a public seed or have tried to keep ToS-breaking actions to a minimum seem to not have been banned again, but the banwave itself is so random, I don't think that there is a pattern in this though

 

[tommikinder]

I wonder how many banned people were playing Monster Hunter XX translation patch and Fire Emblem Echoes early?

 

[Yawngaruga]

I'm still confused why would Nintendo do this now, if they have the power to do this earlier using spotpass why didnt they do it.

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

I wonder how many banned people were playing Monster Hunter XX and Fire Emblem Echoes early?

Im playong MHXX in a JPN 3ds. After 3 weeks of release on japan. I don't consider it early since it was released already.

 

[tommikinder]

I'm still confused why would Nintendo do this now, if they have the power to do this earlier using spotpass why didnt they do it.

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



Im playong MHXX in a JPN 3ds. After 3 weeks of release on japan. I don't consider it early since it was released already.

Oops I meant the translation patch for MH XX.

 

[nitroBW]

I'm still confused why would Nintendo do this now, if they have the power to do this earlier using spotpass why didnt they do it.

Upcoming new 3ds family console release, some new main games, B9S has been released, many users have cfw now and people are experimenting with ntrboothax
why not?

 

[Ironix]

So you pirated some games? Yes Spotpass possibly has an effect, most banned users admit to having that left enabled at the time of being banned.

So...turning it off? It is too late, isn't? and some ppl are okay with CIAs installed on their 3DS.

 

[palinalif]

I'm still confused why would Nintendo do this now, if they have the power to do this earlier using spotpass why didnt they do it.

They were probably gathering information about all the hacked consoles for a while, and since this is oddly close to B9S' release they might have panicked and hit the "BAN EVERYONE" button No one knows for sure though, as far as I know anyway

(sorry for the amount of posts, I have nothing better to do at the moment and thought I might as well hang out in here)

 

[toberkel]

Feel free to attempt, but keep the thread updated, not me. I've been just trying to keep the thread on-topic so we can all collectively figure this out. I might duck out of here myself shortly, haven't yet been to bed and it's 4:11am here xD

Yeah, I haven't slept last night. Tried for one hour, 2 am to 3 am but then I decided to read GBAtemp. Wasn't a good idea, haven't catched sleep since that. It's 12:53 pm here. Constantly reading. Bad thing: I don't even feel tiered. Hope there will be news soon, since they updated the finalizing setup from sighax to keep users as safe as possible.

 

[Yawngaruga]

Oops I meant the translation patch for MH XX.

Yes i used the English Translation, but I'm not sure if this counts as a violation tho.

 

[RustInPeace]

So...turning it off? It is too late, isn't? and some ppl are okay with CIAs installed on their 3DS.

If you're banned, it's too late, but might as well turn it off. CIA installation is fine, but if they are of pirated games, that raises red flags Nintendo can catch somewhat easily.

 

[Yawngaruga]

They were probably gathering information about all the hacked consoles for a while, and since this is oddly close to B9S' release they might have panicked and hit the "BAN EVERYONE" button No one knows for sure though, as far as I know anyway

(sorry for the amount of posts, I have nothing better to do at the moment and thought I might as well hang out in here)

I agree, maybe having B9S released in users pushed ninty to ban people. We pushed ninty to do this.

 

[Ironix]

If you're banned, it's too late, but might as well turn it off. CIA installation is fine, but if they are of pirated games, that raises red flags Nintendo can catch somewhat easily.

Ah thank you, I'm gonna try turn it off, just in case. And I will keep up to date with this thread. My CIAs are completely fine(pure).

 

[Osakasan]

Just unbanned myself, cleaning my activity log witch chtulhu and turning Spot pass off. Also, my wifi is off until i know the waves are over.

I didn't have the intention to, but not being able to use Pokémon Bank flipped my switch, so first thing i did after unbanning was savig all the legendaries and shinies. I don't plan to connect online again until we're safe (here's hoping no one using the same LFSgets banned)