Hacking Why using modified headers will NOT get you banned from Nintendo Network

[jonthedit]

Since Gateway started supporting the .3DZ format for online play, people have claimed using shared headers may result in possible bans. To begin, let us take these as examples:

HEADER EXAMPLES [ NOT ASSOCIATED with REAL HEADERS!!! ] [X being a changeable number]
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS - Header: FDC0EXXXX
Mario Kart 7 - Header: CDD3FXXXX


Mario & Luigi Dream Team - Header: ADB1CXXXX

The argument is that Nintendo can see what headers connect and when they connect.
According to those who claim a ban is possible, here is what is considered an instant red flag:

1. Using a header from a different game, even if you own that different game.
2. Having two or more people online with the same header
3. Using a "scene" or "shared" header, though this is more of an extension of #2

Examples:
1. Using CDDF3FXXXX [Your copy of Mario Kart's header] over your 3DZ of Super Smash Bros. , which would normally have a header of FDC0EXXXX. If this is true, even using a non-online game like M&L: DT for a header file could result in a ban.

2. You take a friend's copy of Super Smash Bros., rip the header, and use it on your .3DZ rom, later, both of you go online at the same time in a public or friendly game. Your friend has the Smash header : FDC0E2323, and now you have this same header.

3. You take a shared or scene header and apply it to your 3DZ, then go online. Assuming #2 does not actually matter (which it very well might matter), then Nintendo could end up cracking down on those who use public scene headers.

These three "ways to get banned" have never been confirmed, nor has any action been taken against those who participate in online via .3DZ files.

All these theories of how you could possibly get banned fall short IF Nintendo is not able to see what headers connect online, and only see the NNIDs that connect.

If that is the case, then Nintendo has no way to fight Gateway online pirates UNLESS a major networking change is done.

tl;dr: "it hasn't happened yet"

 

[Thirty3Three]

Inb4 "YOUW0rK4NiNT3nd0!!!!!zkzkzklhdaskd".

 

[GorTesK]

this in no way explains why people would not get banned, it is yet another theory crafting thread
as a matter of fact we just don't KNOW, what they can see
IF they can see our headers, then they can ban based on that
whether or not they actually CARE to do so is the other question
so far noone got banned, either because they CAN'T see it or don't CARE for it, because the number of 4.X Gateway users is small compared to other users and as long as they don't cheat, they don't threaten the gameplay fun of legit users
however, if for example gateway users would start to cheat alot or if the number of non-legit players were to rise enormly (for example due to a new flashcard with 9.X support), then big Ninty might consider changing their policy regarding the online flashcard users
but at the end of the day, there is only 1 thing we can be certain of and that is:
WE DON'T KNOW, what Ninty can see and what they plan to do about all of this
until the day, someone actually gets banned, then we will see

 

[Arras]

tl;dr: "it hasn't happened yet"

 

[gamesquest1]

just for the record your claims are surrounding the chipID which is known to be the same for a game using the same specifications.......the UniqueID would be the issue

 

[Searinox]

I suspect the following: Nintendo made the headers unique ONLY to prevent cross-cartridge save importing, and had them following a specific pattern(which is why you can't generate your own) ONLY as a basic form of genuine cart checking that doesn't send the info to them.

For example, what Nintendo could be doing is this: at the beginning of communication, they send an unique, random string of data that the game then has to digitally sign with its header and send it back. Only a game with a valid header could send back a valid response. And in this process the original header of the cart is NEVER transmitted. This is an encryption challenge, and it used in some security protocols as a handshake to ensure a client has the correct passphrase without actually sending it through a channel.

I can imagine Nintendo was aware that people could potentially capture packets and uncover cartridge header IDs without ever hacking the 3DS, so they set up a system where the validity of the header is checked, but it is never transmitted. If this is true then Nintendo has indeed lost all possibility of identifying pirates, unless they maybe revamp the system for later titles and use a whitelist, which STILL wouldn't affect existing games because applying this retroactively would break compatibility.

Again it is possible that the only reason we have unique IDs in the first place is to prevent cloning of save data. And that they were never meant to be akin to unique serial keys for online play. As a final nail in the coffin, it is also possible that they do not keep track of a list of used headers and which games they put them in, preventing them from knowing that you're using a Madden header on Mario Kart.

And I can add YET ANOTHER reason why Nintendo would rather avoid this: picture Billy. Billy borrowed his Mario Kart game to Jimmy. Jimmy ripped the header and used it online. Suppose Nintendo could see and ban the ID. Billy would suddenly wake up that his legit cart is banned. In other words, it would be a measure that would only hurt the legit consumer, as pirates would keep pirating anyway.

 

[GorTesK]

nooooo, not Billy! I like Billy! don't ban him! >_<
yes, would actually make sense, but yet again, we just don't know, if it is that way or not, sadly we can only guess and theory craft and I doubt, some Ninty guy would come here and enlighten us about how their networking works he would be sued before he could even click the post button

 

[gamesquest1]

or they see the duplicated header on the wrong game or used on several games, check the consoles serial and once they see the same header used on more than one game on the same console just ban the console itself not the headers.....but as everyone has said speculation only leads to more speculation, in the meantime just carry on doing what your doing and hope nothing happens

 

[pLaYeR^^]

I dont think using a header from a dífferent game can end in a ban. Guess nintendo can see which game use which ID, but not if the ID match with the game. Or nintendo just dont care about this fact. Who one knows.

 

[Qtis]

Or they could go the way of every other console manufacturer, who bans you permanently for breaking the ToS of the online service. As long as the bans haven't happened, we cannot know what can cause a ban and how the ban itself affects daily use. Speculations can be done sure, but apart from that, everything else is moot.

As Arras said. TL;DR: "It hasn't happened yet."

 

[Kakkoii]

Do we currently not have a way to decrypt the outward data stream of our 3DS, even with the kernel exploit Gateway uses? Because that would tell us right there if such information is actually being sent...

 

[Deleted member 333767]

Nintendo is the creator and operator of the Nintendo Network. This isn't a small company were talking about here, they are a member of the big three AAA-class gaming hardware and software producers who have a dedicated Anti-Piracy team, with a website and all. Clearly they are dumping some money out of the budget into the cause....

They will find a way to detect use of flashcards and online gaming and subsequently ban whoever, whenever they want. I guarantee it.

 

[BORTZ]

Pure speculation. Closed for lack of facts.