Ban by hardware

[zordaN]

Is this possible for Valve? Banning people by motherboard/HD/BIOS serial number.
I think it's the only effective solution for cheaters. They can't just create a new account. They need a new computer. These informations usually are sent to a server when a player is trying to login.

[Dr. UnKn0wN]

Then cheaters will immedinately start to spoof/fake serial numbers, just like PB hardware bans were bypassed.

MAC, IP, Motherboard, HDD and BIOS serial numbers all can be bypassed, sadly.

And what if someone buys an used motherboard or HDD that is already banned?

[zordaN]

Originally posted by iAK UnKn0wN^:

Then cheaters will immedinately start to spoof/fake serial numbers, just like PB hardware bans were bypassed.

They can fake it? Damn! I didn't know this

[ KARR™]

would that not also ban brothers and sisters and parents etc. from using steam because one person cheated?

[Chara the Explorer]

Which makes me wonder how they keep hackers off F2P games where they can simply get a new account...

[Satoru]

Originally posted by The Milkman Conspiracy:

Which makes me wonder how they keep hackers off F2P games where they can simply get a new account...

They don't directly ban via specific hardware. However you CAN use it to do things like prioritize your VAC scan from "Welcome new user we hope you enjoy TF2" to "You again huh? Get out the butter, the jaws of life, the blowtorch and a pair of pliers. It's gonna be a long night"

[DNs]

Originally posted by iAK UnKn0wN^:

Then cheaters will immedinately start to spoof/fake serial numbers, just like PB hardware bans were bypassed.

MAC, IP, Motherboard, HDD and BIOS serial numbers all can be bypassed, sadly.

And what if someone buys an used motherboard or HDD that is already banned?

It makes it harder to cheat ;) thats already a success, most of the public hackers get detected cheats whilst they buy accs onmass during sale. They dont pay for cheats, those will get effectly flushed away, and believe me they wont pay much for a HID-Spoofer and public ones are easy to detect ;)

[Chara the Explorer]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Originally posted by The Milkman Conspiracy:

Which makes me wonder how they keep hackers off F2P games where they can simply get a new account...

They don't directly ban via specific hardware. However you CAN use it to do things like prioritize your VAC scan from "Welcome new user we hope you enjoy TF2" to "You again huh? Get out the butter, the jaws of life, the blowtorch and a pair of pliers. It's gonna be a long night"

By which you mean...? I mean, I'm pretty sure that "prioritising the VAC scan' would make it easier for hackers to realize what get's caught.

[Satoru]

Originally posted by The Milkman Conspiracy:

By which you mean...? I mean, I'm pretty sure that "prioritising the VAC scan' would make it easier for hackers to realize what get's caught.

VAC is already known to increase the type of scan used on a user if they receive multiple reports.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=23134180&postcount=16

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=23143269&postcount=23

This is probably the best documented information on what VAC does, how it does it, and how reporting works, that is confirmed by Valve employees.

Ergo, just like reporting, a MAC address, IP address, hardware ID, etc does not lead directly to a VAC ban, it can influence how VAC behaves on that computer. Note though I'm mostly hypothesizing about this, but it seems a reasonable extension of the existing system.

[Chara the Explorer]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Originally posted by The Milkman Conspiracy:

By which you mean...? I mean, I'm pretty sure that "prioritising the VAC scan' would make it easier for hackers to realize what get's caught.

VAC is already known to increase the type of scan used on a user if they receive multiple reports.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=23134180&postcount=16

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=23143269&postcount=23

This is probably the best documented information on what VAC does, how it does it, and how reporting works, that is confirmed by Valve employees.

Ergo, just like reporting, a MAC address, IP address, hardware ID, etc does not lead directly to a VAC ban, it can influence how VAC behaves on that computer. Note though I'm mostly hypothesizing about this, but it seems a reasonable extension of the existing system.

Aah, I suppose that makes sense, then. I knew that reports can't get you banned, and the FAQs kind of imply that you're wasting your time by doing so which made me wonder what the hell the point was. So it's pretty cool to know reporting people actually puts them under the spotlight. Thanks.

[ReBoot]

This idea sucks.

[Chara the Explorer]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

This idea sucks.

Such a constructive statement.

[ReBoot]

Well, the reasons for that statement are well-known, e.g. second hand hardware. I thought, you knew that.

[(SOGA) SouthernBoy]

Originally posted by The Milkman Conspiracy:

Originally posted by Satoru:

VAC is already known to increase the type of scan used on a user if they receive multiple reports.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=23134180&postcount=16

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=23143269&postcount=23

This is probably the best documented information on what VAC does, how it does it, and how reporting works, that is confirmed by Valve employees.

Ergo, just like reporting, a MAC address, IP address, hardware ID, etc does not lead directly to a VAC ban, it can influence how VAC behaves on that computer. Note though I'm mostly hypothesizing about this, but it seems a reasonable extension of the existing system.

Aah, I suppose that makes sense, then. I knew that reports can't get you banned, and the FAQs kind of imply that you're wasting your time by doing so which made me wonder what the hell the point was. So it's pretty cool to know reporting people actually puts them under the spotlight. Thanks.

It is good that we learn is it not ? Not really looking for an answer lol.

But the idea of using hardware for VAC bans, has been discussed many times, lol by me during my learning process lol. It has many problems as stated here but can asist with such as stated with the above listed post(s) Link(s). But it can lead to false postives so it is not the determined factor for a VAC ban, but such know cheats detected by the VAC system. With that said, reports are very important, so that why you may see me stating to send to support. LOL

[(SOGA) SouthernBoy]

Originally posted by piruk00es:

Originally posted by (SOGA) SouthernBoy:

Heroes account here is not banned, but can have an other account which is banned.

As to mifget statement, he has been on several posts and making inflaming statements, please ignore him and he will be tooken care of. (not trying to tell you what to do, just advising)

I kinda doubt it, with 8 years on steam, 200 games, and a ton of expensive items. If the account is 8 years old wouldn't that actually be before VAC bans were permanent?

??? Who's/what account are you talking about ???

[(SOGA) SouthernBoy]

Originally posted by piruk00es:

Originally posted by (SOGA) SouthernBoy:

??? Who's account are you talking about ???

Hero.

If you read my statement you will see that I said the his/her account used here was not VAC ban, but that he/she could have a another account that is.