Global Hardware Ban - is it an urban legend?

2006-11-21 09:48:15

#1

[pt] KEIOS: srs bsns; +231|7099|pimelteror.de

I know some people who are on the Master Ban List of Punkbuster. Someone in another forum told me, that this list is the basic for Global Hardware Bans - so every listed players pc gets a ban.

The problem is, that these people i know, still are able to play on ranked servers, after having problems for only four weeks on some servers.

Also i´ve heard, that it is not possible, to ban someones hardware, because it is not legal to collect information about it.

so is it a legend? can someones pc be banned, so he have to buy a new cpu, hdd, mainboard, net-controller whatever?

Last edited by [pt] KEIOS (2006-11-21 09:48:47)

2006-11-21 09:50:22

#2

Ur-Jack: Member; +4|6823|England

There is probably a line in the PunkBuster EULA agreement you have to 'ok' when installing PB which allows it to collect hardware informtation to create hardware hashes. Hardware bans do exist, have seen many of them on CoD.

2006-11-21 10:16:08

#3

[pt] KEIOS: srs bsns; +231|7099|pimelteror.de

but if the hardware hash is collected via informations of your pc, it should be enough, to buy a new network-card.

does anyone know, for which violation you get which kind of punishment?

2006-11-21 10:21:40

#4

bullit: Tank Troll; +71|7136|London, UK

yes they can but theres something called hardware spoofers which hackers are beginning to use, i mean the losers that pay for the hacks.

Last edited by bullit (2006-11-21 10:23:02)

http://bf3s.com/player/175948227

2006-11-21 10:22:07

#5

Deadman: Member; +34|6889|England

I'm pretty sure the only hardware info PB collects is the CD#. This is in the master ban list that servers/server admins have to use and keep up to date.

PB master ban list

Edit: URL added

Last edited by Deadman (2006-11-21 10:24:49)

2006-11-21 10:24:35

#6

samfink: Member; +31|7002

a new network card isn't enough w/ a hardware hash. basically, a hardware hash uses a one-way function to create a hash if the serial numbers(usuallly) of ALL your hardware, adn if it is substantially the same ( as in, all but one the same) you are still banned. as an aside, if they sold their network card and you bought it, you would be different enough not to ahve to worry about the hardware hash ban in almost all curcumstances, as yours would be significantly different.

2006-11-21 11:11:57

#7

Ur-Jack: Member; +4|6823|England

PB gives you two GUID's, Deadman. The first, as you correctly pointed out, is computed purely on your CD-key and this is used in the Master ban lists such as the one you linked. PB also assigns a Hardware GUID with the intention of it being harder to change your hardware than it is just to obtain a new CD-key. This also permeates a ban for any PB cntrolled server on anygame, not just the game you were playing at the time of being globally banned, for as long as you use the same computer. Pb Hardware bans I think are only given to repeat offenders, and those hacking PB directly are on the right path to a harware ban.

2006-11-21 12:54:37

#8

[pt] KEIOS: srs bsns; +231|7099|pimelteror.de

so these guys i found on the master ban list, only got a penalty time but no global hardware ban..

but it would still be very interesting, to see a list of all guys, who got a ghwb or are they also included in the mbl?

2006-11-21 12:58:26

#9

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|7077|Washington, DC

The PsB (PunksBusted) Master Ban List (MBL) is a seperate entity from PunkBuster. You put it on your server and it streams to the PsB repository. If someone gets kicked on your server for hacking (even a 2 minute kick, which is for minor violations) they get put on the Master Ban List, and within an hour, a day at most, almost all servers with PsB will have that person banned. To get around this, one just gets a new GUID.

A PB Global Hardware Ban bans your hardware GUID from the entire PunkBuster network. All games with PB will not let you play. This is mainly done when a hacker tries to circumvent the PB software checks, though I hear they are beginning to give them out to MSX and other "popular" hacks.

2006-11-21 13:23:33

#10

Greenboi: Member; +14|6814

The way that it bans is most likely to be a ban of the MAC address. This is an address on everyones network card that is build in and can't be changed in any way...other than getting a new network card. But if youre on a motherboards ethernet port then youre skrewed.

Would seem the most likely way really, since collecting the hardware info and hashing it into a seriel wouldnt really work... what if two people had the exact same hardware? Then two people would be banned at once since the hardware hash would be rendered the same, would it not?

I think they do also block CD keys too..

2006-11-21 14:47:49

#11

Disabl3d: Member; +11|6851|Chicago

I have a buddy that got a hardware ban, he can't play any PB games, and he has a lot of games that use PB. He plays valve now lol. Thats what he gets for cheating.

2006-11-21 14:59:02

#12

Zukabazuka: Member; +23|7132

No a MAC address is not the same as another one. The amount of address you can get is enough for couple of earths. So each card has different code.

2006-11-21 15:13:50

#13

montypythizzle: Member; +21|7049

Greenboi wrote:
The way that it bans is most likely to be a ban of the MAC address. This is an address on everyones network card that is build in and can't be changed in any way...other than getting a new network card. But if youre on a motherboards ethernet port then youre skrewed.

Would seem the most likely way really, since collecting the hardware info and hashing it into a seriel wouldnt really work... what if two people had the exact same hardware? Then two people would be banned at once since the hardware hash would be rendered the same, would it not?

I think they do also block CD keys too..

WRONG YOU can just disable the one on the mobo and use pci cards

2006-11-21 15:29:45

#14

zomfglol: Member; +1|6818

It is possible to get around Hardware bans without even buying a new card.
This is one reason why people that create cheats can do it over and over.

2006-11-21 16:10:40

#15

CelticParrott: Member; +0|6813

Hi, my name is CelticParrott and I am a hacker. It has been 3 weeks since I last hacked. I find it very interesting reading this thread, written by "non-hackers". Indeed there is some accurate information.
When the hack is detected by PB there are many different kinds of kicks but the big one is the "GUID", which isn't really a big deal. I have been GUID banned 3 times and it only lasts as long as it takes for me to enter a new serial. So GUID=useless. A GUID Hardware ban bans any hardware that has a MAC address. Install a spoofer....no more hardware ban. So GUID Hardware Ban=useless.
I'm sorry to say but MSX is here to stay and we are everywhere. Let the flames begin.

2006-11-21 16:16:56

#16

justice: OctoPoster; +978|7188|OctoLand

=p

I know fucking karate

2006-11-21 16:18:51

#17

Goven: /̵͇̿̿/'̿'̿ ̿; +125|6927|Purdue

My dad had one, but it was total BS. He sent them an email and they fixed it. Fags.

2006-11-21 16:24:24

#18

Ur-Jack: Member; +4|6823|England

When I said harder to change harware information I was more suggesting it was harder for the Joe Bloggs script kiddie who downloads and uses cheats rather than someone who can code. As I understand it (and am more than happy to be corrected if I am off the mark) The GUID suffers from the problem of having the serial transferred to the systems memory before it is computed into a hash, and of course, for those who know what they are doing, they can change the serial how they see fit once it is in the memory and therefore change their GUID.

PB is just a reactive tool by nature, it only detects things after it is taught to do so and only bans people after the fact so to speak. So by that system it is always going to be a step behind the front line of hackers and their latest offerings. However this still keeps the 'tards' at bay for the most part; and by that I mean the people who obtain hacks third party whilst not being able to do anything of the sort themselves, and on that alone I am pleased.

2006-11-21 16:31:14

#19

E7IX3R: is drunk and crazy; +216|7135|UK

I'm on the Master Ban list but I'm not banned from ranked servers, except servers that subscribe to the MBL.

I don't use hacks, check my stats

2006-11-21 17:25:50

#20

Sarrk: O-O-O A-O A; +788|7102|Brisbane, Australia

Punishments

Hardware ban - messing around with punkbuster and hacking it to stop working

CD Key Ban - Hacking the game

But I think there is a line before you get CD Key banned, because sometimes you just may be kicked by PB

2006-11-21 17:28:28

#21

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|7077|Washington, DC

Sarrk wrote:
Punishments

Hardware ban - messing around with punkbuster and hacking it to stop working

CD Key Ban - Hacking the game

But I think there is a line before you get CD Key banned, because sometimes you just may be kicked by PB

CD/Global GUID bans (not hardware GUID) happen for using high-profile hacks like MSX. People using lower-end or self-made hacks that generally do only one or two tricks just get 2 minute kicks, but those also get recorded on the PsB MBL.

2006-11-21 17:28:51

#22

التعريفات: Squiggles; +102|6814|Cali

Very interesting...
I have seen this happen while playing Wolfenstein. Some poor dude got perm banned by PB...sad.

2006-11-21 17:33:57

#23

Longbow: Member; +163|7093|Odessa, Ukraine

One of my mates got Global Hardware Ban . About a 1.5 year ago when he just bought BF2 he and his friend were statpadding and after a year they banned his account , cd-key and hardware ... he changed harware serial numbers with some software & bought new BF2 cd + created new account .. thats all I know

2006-11-21 17:38:42

#24

Hurricane: Banned; +1,153|7077|Washington, DC

Longbow wrote:
One of my mates got Global Hardware Ban . About a 1.5 year ago when he just bought BF2 he and his friend were statpadding and after a year they banned his account , cd-key and hardware ... he changed harware serial numbers with some software & bought new BF2 cd + created new account .. thats all I know

Sounds a bit unrealistic, considering hardware bans are only given out by the PunkBuster software for hacking the PB software, not for statspadding.

2006-11-21 17:49:08

#25

BlackCow: Member; +2|6844

CelticParrott wrote:
Hi, my name is CelticParrott and I am a hacker. It has been 3 weeks since I last hacked. I find it very interesting reading this thread, written by "non-hackers". Indeed there is some accurate information.
When the hack is detected by PB there are many different kinds of kicks but the big one is the "GUID", which isn't really a big deal. I have been GUID banned 3 times and it only lasts as long as it takes for me to enter a new serial. So GUID=useless. A GUID Hardware ban bans any hardware that has a MAC address. Install a spoofer....no more hardware ban. So GUID Hardware Ban=useless.
I'm sorry to say but MSX is here to stay and we are everywhere. Let the flames begin.

Lol you run some programs that allow you to cheat in an online game and YOU call yourself a hacker. I know some people here are to n00bish to know what a real hacker is but YOU. You sir are not a hacker, you are just a cheat. Im guessing that you are just a script kiddy but if you do write programs and actually figure things out for yourself instead of google searching "1337 hax" then maby I would call you a hacker but if your cheating in online games you are a lame excuse for one and your not welcome here.

BF2S Forums Global Hardware Ban - is it an urban legend?

Greenboi wrote:

Sarrk wrote:

Longbow wrote:

CelticParrott wrote:

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