Poster: Kawaii at 1/24/2006 11:36:33 PM PST
Subject: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Since there are several threads about people having been banned for no reason, I would like a clarification on the steps to take if I, or someone else for that matter, get banned. It would be appreciated if the following questions could get answered by a blue, since otherwise this thread remains a bunch of conjectures and guesses.
In my case I dare to say it would be an error on Blizzard's side, and as such I would like to know what to do if it happens. I'm not saying Blizzard bans innocents, but mistakes do happen.
Prevention
Can the Warden make a mistake? Should every player close every process they have running before playing WoW, so as to make sure that the Warden doesn't think they're cheat applications? I am sure many people use a chat software (for IRC, MSN, etc), an audio software such as Winamp, possibly something else. A firewall, an anti-virus. Can these pose a threat?
Does the launcher tell you if the Warden has detected something on your PC? I have heard a rumour that it does. Is there any truth to it?
First step
I'm sure this has been said a million times, but what is the first step? It obviously is not to post on the forums, and without an account that would be kind of hard anyways. I personally have called the phone support once, and the girl there didn't seem to know that much about WoW. I'd rather not call them again, ever. However, would that be the right course of action?
Or is there an email address you send emails to? Can you send emails to that address from Hotmail, or Google Mail, or similar web email systems; ie. do they get classified as junk mail, or do they actually get read?
Waiting
Let's say we get through to Blizzard to voice our concerns. How long does the process take? Is it a week, or is it a year?
If we never hear from Blizzard again, the logical thing to do would be to contact them again. What medium do we use this time? Should we re-send the email, or should we call their phone support?
Ok. Now, if all this information can be found on some FAQ on some site, it would be appreciated if you could link it here, but seeing as most probably the majority of the forum users are unaware of such FAQ's, I thought it'd be good to start a thread on this.
So, insights, and if possible, clear blue answers. Thank you. :)[ post edited by Kawaii ]
Style Before Substance - Attitude Above All
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post802881 | | | Poster: Thundgot at 1/24/2006 11:56:17 PM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
Can the Warden make a mistake?
To my knowledge: no.
Q u o t e:
Should every player close every process they have running before playing WoW, so as to make sure that the Warden doesn't think they're cheat applications? I am sure many people use a chat software (for IRC, MSN, etc), an audio software such as Winamp, possibly something else. A firewall, an anti-virus. Can these pose a threat?
I run all these myself, and a lot of other programs. I'm sure if they considered these cheat program I'd be fired by now. ;)
Q u o t e:
Does the launcher tell you if the Warden has detected something on your PC? I have heard a rumour that it does. Is there any truth to it?
The launcher runs before Warden, and may give an early warning on some cheat and hack programs. It's a good precaution to take, but "the launcher gave me no warning" is not a vaild excuse to use a cheat or hack.
Q u o t e:
I'm sure this has been said a million times, but what is the first step? It obviously is not to post on the forums, and without an account that would be kind of hard anyways. I personally have called the phone support once, and the girl there didn't seem to know that much about WoW. I'd rather not call them again, ever. However, would that be the right course of action?
Or is there an email address you send emails to? Can you send emails to that address from Hotmail, or Google Mail, or similar web email systems; ie. do they get classified as junk mail, or do they actually get read?
Check the inbox of the e-mail address listed on your WoW account. Make sure to check spam folders and filters. You should have an e-mail about the ban. If not, please send one e-mail to WoWAccountReviewEU@blizzard.com.
Q u o t e:
Let's say we get through to Blizzard to voice our concerns. How long does the process take? Is it a week, or is it a year?
The time depends on the work load. Naturally, with over 5000 accounts banned, there will be some waiting. I'd personally expect a week or so. I'm sure you don't want them rushing the handling of your case.
Q u o t e:
If we never hear from Blizzard again, the logical thing to do would be to contact them again. What medium do we use this time? Should we re-send the email, or should we call their phone support?
Banned accounts are only handled through that e-mail address. E-mailing other addresses, calling, posting on the forums or contacting a GM in-game has no effect on the case.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post802921 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 12:14:33 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
Then again, your knowledge doesn't really tell us it can't make a misstake either, does it?
It's made by humans, and therefore it is flawed. That does NOT mean it WILL make any misstakes, but it certainly can go haywire as well.
Every living human is flawed, and everything any human does or creates is likewise flawed by default.
In my personal view, nothing is 100% perfect. Ever. If we considered it completely impossible to do mistakes, why would we have an e-mail address for you to contact us through and why would we listen to you after the ban has been given and the e-mail sent? :)
However, we do not ban an account unless we're as sure as we can be (and that is very sure indeed).
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post802963 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 12:16:10 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
Seeing these quoations of the email that someone recieved where it, summarised, said "You've been banned" and nothing more it would be great to see that it said something like "You've been banned beacuse we found this file "thirdpartysoftware.exe"" or "You've been reported for harrasing" etc...
That person may very well follow this up by telling all his mates at wow.some-hacking-site.com that "Blizzard can track this program. Change it, quickly."
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post802971 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 12:25:55 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
Also Thundgot:
Maybe it's one of Blizzards secret, but do you check that the program really do rumble around in WoWfiles or do you check for *.exe files? Feels like a dumb question but as I said in my own post I don't want to be banned for using an addon that I thought was legal.
I'm sorry, but I can't comment on how these checks are done.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post803004 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 12:30:20 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
If you took the comment personally, I am sorry Thund, just got a really low opinion of mankind as whole (Even though it is true no ones perfect)
No, I didn't take it personally. I just wanted to make it clear that what I stated is a personal opinion, not an official Blizzard policy statement. ;)
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post803023 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 12:30:20 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? *edited post* |
| |
Q u o t e:
If you took the comment personally, I am sorry Thund, just got a really low opinion of mankind as whole (Even though it is true no ones perfect)
No, I didn't take it personally. I just wanted to make it clear that what I stated is a personal opinion, not an official Blizzard policy statement. ;)
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post803023 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 1:05:35 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Please take discussion about guild recruitment policies to another thread. This is not the place for it.
Thank you.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post803137 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 2:39:16 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
U can get banned for just having ur internet browser open and being the the "wowglider" homepage, basicly it scans all ur Windows, and if anything contains "WoW!" as its window name, u get reported as a cheater, so in theory u can get banned for just browsing the internet or having some folder open
You forgot "I think..." at the beginning of your post. ;)
Q u o t e:
They did already, but as the blue said, it will take at least a week......, they ban you in a sec and need weeks to check your case...
Banning an account takes about a second, yes. The process leading to the ban is much longer though. Unbanning an account takes about a second too, btw.
Q u o t e:
You say that it is a temporal ban of the game...
It's listed as one of several possible actions.
Q u o t e:
Repeated use of unapproved 3rd party software... but if you never notified them how can be it repeated.....
"Repeased use" not "repeated notifications from us about it".
Q u o t e:
If they dont know what are they doing wrong...
Cheats and hacks are generally very obvious. Claiming e.g. "I didn't know programs teleporting me wherever I want to go were illegal" isn't going to get people far.
Q u o t e:
Tell me what would you feel if you or one of your friends get banned after 100 days played with no reason, and specially, when the previous day they had a fight were both were involved with the guild that controls the non-official server forum.
Friends' compassion or a players other responsibilities does not influence account closure in any way. I'm pretty sure that's something we all agree on.
Q u o t e:
By only banned accounts through the email provided, you are ensuring that you 'can't by any means release the evidence as to why you are banned, as it will help cheaters/hackers/whatnot'. By only using email, that's the easy way out isn't it? For a mere fraction of resources you can set up a phoning service for the poor souls, so they can hear it personally, and not copy paste it all.
We won't give that information through e-mail, and we wouldn't give that information on the phone. The important part is to not give the information, not which medium it is (not) given in.
Q u o t e:
And don't you think that the cheaters that are getting banned already know that the hack/cheat isn't working, and has thus already told the wow.somehackingsite.com that they should change it? Logic demands that.
Maybe better to leave them wondering which program it was so they can't be sure? Maybe they'll stop using all cheats and hacks to be sure, which is all the better for the honest players.
Q u o t e:
I personally have seen at least one person banned for using an .exe from damagemeters alone, no other reasons stated in the ToU authorized a ban (racism, grief, etc.), and I can't see where he got an unfair advantage over other players from that, other than a more accurate damagereport, maybe. And he didn't gt any info that players shouldn't normally get, since you display the very same info in the combat log. So this is at least one mistake either the Blizzard investigation team made, or the Warden program.
Again a specific case where information is generally biased and second hand, i.e. unreliable.
Q u o t e:
And as a matter of fact, why did Thundgot stop posting all of a sudden?
Because I have other work to do too. Please refrain from such confrontational and unconstructive comments.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post803356 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 2:59:52 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
Ok, direct question, is wowreader a reason to get banned?
All members of my guild are using it... so tell me it like.. now.
I can't know any and all versions of that or other programs, especially not future versions. I am not in a position to say that a program is allowed.
Q u o t e:
Do you really think that they are wondering what program it is?
We see a lot of players claiming they weren't even using a cheat or hack, so I'm absolutely open to people using more than one sucxh not knowing which we deteced.
Q u o t e:
Since they are cheating to begin with, they are either the programmers themselves, or people in contact with them.
I think this is a faulty assumption.
Q u o t e:
The police anecdote portraits it wonderfully, here's another.
You stand charged of manslaughter to the second degree.
I wasn't even home that night. I demand to see proof of this allegation.
Doesn't matter, we won't show our evidence anyway, and there's nothing you can do about it. *insert maniacal laughter*
Comparing blocking access to a multi-user entertainment environment to putting behind bars will never be a valid comparison.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post803387 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 3:01:00 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
Before a ban, is there some form of human auditing of the account/player? Or is the process fully automated?
If there is human auditing, is this based on "live witnessing" by Blizzard staff, or on recorded data?
I'm not at the liberty to discuss the process of a ban, whether on the detection, validation, or the actual ban enforcement part.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post803389 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 3:08:21 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
So basically we are like were was in the beguinning... without any kind of information. Just an email that will be answered when blizzard wants (and based in experience of some ppl that i saw in this thread it can happens 2 or 3 weeks after).
Nice
Nobody said you'd get any information about specific cases. The thread started with some general questions, and I have provided answers to those and several others. If you had other expectations of the thread, I'm afraid you misunderstood my purpose of posting here.
Q u o t e:
Your account is banned but you are not allowed to know why or even try to defend yourself?
As said in my first reply, you're very welcome to contact us through the appropriate channels to have your case looked at.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post803402 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/25/2006 9:11:37 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
so we can be banned, without no way to expect an answer
You should expect an answer when contacting us through the proper channels.
Q u o t e:
I know you "only" are a GM
I'm a community manager, not a game master. We have different work areas.
Q u o t e:
Thundgot, can you please give us some info what to do or not?[/quote]
Don't use cheats and hacks. Don't violate the Terms of Use or the EULA. Listen to the GMs if you receive a warning. Be nice. That's about what good advice I can give. :)
[quoteThis is getting us mad. It's very dark all the process, and if are you innocent and was a mistake?
Then you do as I've said several times by now, contact WoWAccountReview@blizzard.com.
Q u o t e:
Understandable.
I'm sure though that most of us do not want to accidentially cheat.
Therefore could you supply a mail adress were we can take up programs and ask if they are allowed or not? Actually I would much rather prefer a forum for that matter. Maybe such a forum already exists? I would propse an Addon or UI forum for such discussions, with a representative from Blizzard who could answer yes or no on these questions.
I don't think we'd have the capacity to look through the source code of every program players would like to use. I can forward the idea, but I honestly doubt we'll do that.
Q u o t e:
Dude, it's written in all caps in the terms of use. And no offense to Thundgot, but I think that outranks even a CM (No offence to his illustrious self, please don't ban me ;) )
*ban!*
j/k. No offense taken. The EULA and Terms of Use outrank me by far. ;)
Q u o t e:
So Thundgot, if you're not allowed to answer on a few of this questions, why don't you get us someone that's actually ALLOWED to answer them?
Because they were the ones telling me I couldn't comment about it because we don't divulge such information.
Q u o t e:
A question for Thundgot: Non-hack -related banning.
Other threads have suggested that such things as inter-guild quarrels, could lead to banning. On this note, I am personally worried about "noob-calling" immatures on personal vendattas, if they have found themselves "unfairly" treated in party occasions. For instance ninjaing, and then being kicked from the group, or sumthing.
Could any player accuse another player of all sorts of things? How for instance do you control wether or not an accusation that would otherwise lead to banning, is in fact a correct accusation?
I have played with some very nasty people, sometimes. I would hate to have to tolerate retards and noob-callers, becuase i feared accusations of something like harrasment if i replied back to their insults.
Do accusations from players concerning another player, have to be proved in any way, before action is taken?
And thank you, Thundgot, for all the replies so far. I've been afraid of anything named ".exe" in my WoW-folder for some time, being an absolute moron concerning technical stuff.
This would fall under the in-game Harassment Policy, and is something Gms will look into to gather evidence. How they gather this information is not something I wish to comment on at this time, but I can assure you it's not left to chance but based on clear evidence.
Q u o t e:
Blues, are you checking the banned accounts or just pass?
Not sure what you mean. I'm not looking at any accounts or cases at all, as such is never handled through the forums. Specific cases will only be handled through the e-mail address given.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post803947 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/26/2006 5:37:14 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
Why state it then? If you're here as a Blue and working in your capacity as a Blizzard Employee, your statements *should* reflect Blizzard policy (IMV)! What is the point of people asking for clafification if your answers don't relect the policy of the company you're working for?
So I can't state anything but official Blizzard policy? If so, I'll have to reduce my posting a lot.
I don't think asking for Blizzard's official policy on "can anything be 100% perfect?" is a valuable use of developer/producer time, and I didn't see anybody asking for a clarification on that. I was agreeing with the other poster that there is always the possibility of mistakes.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post805356 | Poster: Thundgot at 1/26/2006 5:40:27 AM PST
Subject: Re: What to do if you get banned? |
| |
Q u o t e:
Thundgot:
i do know of a case where someone was banned without being told exactly why and without you having any evidence (that he was told about) apart from someone complaining.
a guy on my realm was banned from wow for a week because someone else reported him because he said he suspected he was sharing accounts to get higher weekly honor. the suspected person was banned and a week later he got his account back and some complimentary time on top of that because it was a mistake.
also, the exact same person who reported him has reported several other contenders in the honor system for account sharing. this raises the suspicion that this person is reporting people that he is afraid will get higher ranks than him so that he can get the highest honor and grows ranks the quickest.
the two people who were mentioned first (the accuser and the victim) were having a personal race to see who would make it first. the victim was on vacation and played over 14 hours a day in AB and WSG to grind for honor and the accuser wasnt able to keep up, so he reported him.
hes done the same to others as ive mentioned above, so im wondering, what shall be done about it? if there is proof that this guy has been reporting people for no reason apart from personal gain what will happen and what can we do to make sure he doesnt do it again?
Again, a specific case, something I'm not in a position to comment on. Please report it to the GMs in-game.
That there is one damn fine epic you're wearin'.
| | | http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general-en&t=802881&p=#post805362 |
View all recent official Blue Posts
|
