I'm a software developer and got banned for running node.js

[Kaa1el]

I am a developer for some big tech company. I started playing today while I kept my node.js running in the background for debugging some website in the Visual Studio for work and suddenly the game crashed, after restarting I can't get into any lobbies or servers, starting any game mode will just show "finding a server <200ms ping". I googled a bit, found out my account is now "shadow banned" for running unauthorized software. As you can see I have no intent to interfere with the game executable in any way and I found out there are many players having the same problem, some got banned even with RGB control software installed .

Btw I owned every single CoD game in my steam account but I never really played multiplayer as I don't have enough play time. My steam account starts around 2007 without any issue until this MW2 ban. Luckily the campaign still works for me.

The developer should do something to fix this. I submitted a support ticket on Activision website addressing this problem. Please reply if you are having similar issues and if the issue is resolved please share the experience. Thank you.

Update: I just got unbanned by Activision around 11/10 0:00

[Kaa1el]

To answer some questions:
Why do I run dev jobs on my own computer? For front end works, sometime it's better to test every environment, including mac, linux, and windows. My computer issues mac laptop only, so I have to use my own Windows PC and Linux VM to test other env. Yes some company does not allow it, but some do, I worked at different companies with different policies. Besides, debugging the client side front end served by public hosted server does not break any policy at all, I have much better spec PC than the company issued laptop, so it can save tons of time. Furthermore, I also have several personal projects running on my own PC, does that imply I shouldn't do anything besides playing MW2 on my own PC? I have an Intel 10980XE with 18 cores and 128GB memory along with 24TB SSD and 64TB HDD for all my projects, personal and work wise, why not?

[Kaa1el]

引用自 Charmander787：

But why? Like you should know that there's been false bans, why try to run anything extra at all??

Sorry I don't play COD multiplayer that much, this is complete new to me, I don't even know the ricochet anti cheat after Googling these kind of issues. Regardless of what intentions of these anti cheat are, it's never Okay to probe into your personal device and try to find something remotely related to cheats.

[Kaa1el]

Hope more people and Activision support see this.

[Brisket]

引用自 WilliamHenry：

引用自 EmperorVolo：

Ya hate for someone to make a living writing code. What a horrible thing. Do you smoke asphalt or what?

"Big Tech" companies don't allow you to install games on their equipment or debug or write their code on yours. So either he is full of ♥♥♥♥ or stupid.

Sorry to say but thats ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. If you dont have full admin on your work pc or laptop you probably dont have a job high enough in the company. All of our support agents dont have admin but EVERY one of our engineers and devs do. I work in big tech like really really big tech. For 10 years ive played games on my work laptops so yeah nah.

[Poor Bastard]

引用自 Charmander787：

But why? Like you should know that there's been false bans, why try to run anything extra at all??

True. I uninstalled 7zip, MSI Afterburner, and my ad blocker just to be safe.

[Poor Bastard]

引用自 Brisket：

引用自 WilliamHenry：

"Big Tech" companies don't allow you to install games on their equipment or debug or write their code on yours. So either he is full of ♥♥♥♥ or stupid.

Sorry to say but thats ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. If you dont have full admin on your work pc or laptop you probably dont have a job high enough in the company. All of our support agents dont have admin but EVERY one of our engineers and devs do. I work in big tech like really really big tech. For 10 years ive played games on my work laptops so yeah nah.

All fun and games until the company experiences a security breach.

[Torv]

Suuure... get wrecked and get the hell outta our lobbies, hacker.

[cylonmaster]

引用自 LOCO809：

引用自 Define Brackish Water：

This sucks. I like to run games on low graphics settings so I can do two things at once on my machine or switch between two things. This anti-cheat situation is getting worse and worse. I don't feel comfortable buying the game anymore. There are so many downsides. What an absolute embarrassment.

If there's any update to this situation please say something in this thread.

Running stuff that attaches to the system memory is a big no no as it can be picked up by anti cheats as cheats

I have Redragon keyboard and Razer wieless mouse both have software for rgb lights , would this cause perma-ban . Don't want to buy this game til bans are sorted out.

[Define Brackish Water]

引用自 cylonmaster：

引用自 LOCO809：

Running stuff that attaches to the system memory is a big no no as it can be picked up by anti cheats as cheats

I have Redragon keyboard and Razer wieless mouse both have software for rgb lights , would this cause perma-ban . Don't want to buy this game til bans are sorted out.

Literally nobody knows for sure. Activision has given no feedback and there's no consensus on what will or will not trigger a permanent ban. Part of the issue is that the liars and honest people look alike. I suggest waiting a month.

That said, if your setup won't cause a problem with other anti-cheats on other games then you are likely to be fine. iCue's issue with Easy Anti-Cheat is a good example of something to be aware of.

[hntd]

引用自 Kaa1el：

Hope more people and Activision support see this.

Lol they won't. This is probably the most pathetic "I got false banned" posts I've seen yet.

[Kaa1el]

There are more and more people got banned, some just for playing single player campaign, looks like these RGB and mouse/keyboard driver and control software also causes ban: https://www.reddit.com/r/activision/

[Kaa1el]

For those not believing this situation, IGN and some other game outlets are starting to report this issue: https://in.ign.com/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-1/175957/news/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-2-players-are-getting-false-bans-ping-system-disabled-to-combat-wall-hac. Also please be empathetic because something like this might happen to you. Legit players need to support each other in things like this. Remember the olden days of playing CoD 1 when you can just pop in the CD-ROM you get in the packaging? Now they asks for phone numbers, force you to install kernel level spy software to scan your computer, and basically give up all your rights before you are allowed to play a video game? Really pathetic practice from these gaming companies.

[KenzoKai]

Mannnn. idk... Just yesterday I had Ryder open, compiling UE5.1 from source. Decided to play some while doing it. I did consider that if I was gonna get "accidentally" banned, that it would be while running VS/Ryder or something similar. I played for the entire time that the engine was compiling. No ban.

Though - it was only compiling, no runtime debugging or anything.

I was more interested in what kind of performance I'd get in-game while the processor was pegged out. The game ran perfectly fine btw.

[🆂🅰🅼🆄🆁🅰🅸]

引用自 Kaa1el：

Hope more people and Activision support see this.

Do you realy think that devs gonna look into this thread?
Activision support doesnt read this forum. You need to contact them directly via email if you realy hope to get ban removed.

[Ratch]

I use RGB wireless peripherals with no issue. I also multitask and occasionally play with a VPN because I forget to turn it off.

Still not banned. Been playing since Beta when these "false bans" were happening en masse.

I do not believe most of these stories, but especially this one. There's no damn way you work in IT and don't understand Anti-Cheat, or really any verification, software and how fickle they can be. Games Journalism lost all credibility 10 years ago, no one would genuinely cite IGN. My certs are 8 years out of date but even I know it's incredibly stupid to run javascript anything while there's software designed to root out 3rd party programs that could interfere with the game. There's no ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ way you work in IT.