Mass ban wave under way???

[cunny]

We're currently seeing lots of discussions on our forums (like here or here) and on IRC about console/hardware bans again, so it seems Microsoft is busy with a new Xbox LIVE console (not gamertag) ban wave atm.

Right now we don't have a lot of details, except it doesn't seem to be linked to any particular FW version or drive model, as users with all type of FWs and drives report bans, while others with the same configuration still seem fine.

Xbox-Scene.com - Xbox 360 Xbox360 Modchips Xecuter3 Xenium SmartXX X-Chip X-B.I.T Xecuter2.6 Xodus - Gamesave Dashboard exploit - EvolutionX Avalaunch MXM Dashboard UnleashX - X2 & EvoX bios - Copy Xbox Hacks & Cracks tutorials faq - Cheapmod (http://www.xboxscene.com/)

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=694794

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=693879&st=585&p=4551767&#entry4551767

[C64]

AFAICS it's only the Yanks and Canadians so far.

Europe will get hammered over the weekend no doubt.

[cunny]

more than likely, read on few forums its getting hammered, wont be suprised if UK is hit tomo or sunday. I survived last 2 so fingers are crossed

[daz24c]

Does any1 know why there gettin banned yet?

[chroma]

I read an article on ArsTechnica... i think.

It seems the new dashboard update (to include twitter, facebook, sky on demand and the like) detects illicit storage mediums, like unofficial hard drives and the like and are targeting those with the hammer.

So if your profile is stored on a generic 320gb sata drive instead of the official xbox drives your likely to get banned.

I cant for the life of me find the article though, so it might have been posted elsewhere.
Im sure it was posted by a beta tester who opted for the early trial and found himself with a brick.

[C64]

I read an article on ArsTechnica... i think.

It seems the new dashboard update (to include twitter, facebook, sky on demand and the like) detects illicit storage mediums, like unofficial hard drives and the like and are targeting those with the hammer.

So if your profile is stored on a generic 320gb sata drive instead of the official xbox drives your likely to get banned.



No mate, the new dash is only disabling the Datel devices, DIY upgraded hard drives are not effected.

Most people who have been banned are using stock hard drives anyway.

[daz24c]

So am u safe to upgrade to 250gb hard drive or not lol

[chroma]

So am u safe to upgrade to 250gb hard drive or not lol

Id say no, unless tour able to modify the firmware of the drive your installing to match the serials like the original xbox drives.

The way the filter works it seems is to check memory cards that are greater than 512mb, that being said the biggest hard drives are 160gb? so anything over that might report, it would be far sipler from a coder standpoint to check the serial strings on devices though.

Im surprised microsoft dont already do this and update attatched devices to your live account and have that update when changes are made.

Seems the boys at redmond have missed a trick there.

[felix11]

As I have posted under another thread - I have spoken to Datel today who confirm the latest system update has banned their memory cards from use with X360 - but they are going to release a 'fix' on the codejunkies site on Monday 2nd Nov.

It also looks like the MS system update also prevents you from accessing the hard drive thru Datel's XSata to PC. Since the update, I cannot access Partition 3 on the hard drive via Xplorer360 (which is where the game saves are).

[Brady2009]

Apparently a previous system update installed a file deep within the achievement section to record all games that had been played that had indeed been patched and played before there release dates, therefore the latest update oct 09 as reported this back to xbox, therefore the bans that are happening. I myself don't use live and won't with my flashed xbox, so when i needed to play new wave 4 games, it would not let me play them as it kept saying i needed to do the latest update, but because the game was patched, the wave 4 update would not install,(something new they have added). So i had to borrow my m8's hard-drive, which was tottaly up to date and as soon as i attached it to my xbox the update performed and after putting my hard-drive back on, all my patched wave 4 games work perfectly. oh yeah and my xbox as firmware 1.4 and indeed it is a samsung drive.

[C64]

Apparently a previous system update installed a file deep within the achievement section to record all games that had been played that had indeed been patched and played before there release dates, therefore the latest update oct 09 as reported this back to xbox, therefore the bans that are happening. I myself don't use live and won't with my flashed xbox, so when i needed to play new wave 4 games, it would not let me play them as it kept saying i needed to do the latest update, but because the game was patched, the wave 4 update would not install,(something new they have added). So i had to borrow my m8's hard-drive, which was tottaly up to date and as soon as i attached it to my xbox the update performed and after putting my hard-drive back on, all my patched wave 4 games work perfectly. oh yeah and my xbox as firmware 1.4 and indeed it is a samsung drive.

what's the source of this info mate?

Regardless, there are massive amounts of fresh bans tonight.

I lost 2 consoles 2 days ago and tonight there has been another huge ban wave, many people are considering jumping ship over to the Darkside (PS3) :)

I don't think it was any secret hidden file, I blame the iXtreme firmware, it's detectable plain and simple.

[daz24c]

1 of mines down tonight aswell!

[C64]

Mate, I've spoken to shitloads of people who were banned tonight, one of them had only modded their console a few days ago and were waiting for blank discs to arrive, so they hadn't even played a copied game!

It has to be the firmware.

[daz24c]

Does it matter which firmware or is every1 guna get stung?

[smirnoff_rules]

Mate, I've spoken to shitloads of people who were banned tonight, one of them had only modded their console a few days ago and were waiting for blank discs to arrive, so they hadn't even played a copied game!

It has to be the firmware.

that spare box l said l had m8 has been banned tonight and l have never played a game in it so its the f/w . simple as

[daz24c]

So is there a guide to restoring the drive back to normal?

[keefy7]

that spare box l said l had m8 has been banned tonight and l have never played a game in it so its the f/w . simple as

Have had 2 banned 1.6 liteon and 1.61 benq firmware all games were verified before play and none played before release date
looking more like firmware benq 1.61 was banned put original cod 4 in allowed back online played for an hour online turned off turned back on and console is now banned again really strange:thumpdown:

[cgscott]

Mate, I've spoken to shitloads of people who were banned tonight, one of them had only modded their console a few days ago and were waiting for blank discs to arrive, so they hadn't even played a copied game!

It has to be the firmware.

Last night at 9.20pm 1 of my flashed benq went down at 11pm i had a phone call saying 2 of my samsungs went down. The first samsung went then he went upstairs to his lads room for the other which had never been on live and he was desperate for a game of FIFA 10 came down plugged in and bam.

Mines however is still going.
Definetly detection of firmware on drives.
No doubt about it.

[felix11]

Definetly detection of firmware on drives.
No doubt about it.

I agree. From all the stories and info available it seems clear that they are able to detect flashed drives. If so, it is the end for playing online with a flashed box - no matter what game/drive/firmware you are using.

[cgscott]

I agree. From all the stories and info available it seems clear that they are able to detect flashed drives. If so, it is the end for playing online with a flashed box - no matter what game/drive/firmware you are using.

I wouldnt say it is the end. I just think that they like to sting people this time of year as has been 3 years on the bounce.

If you survive it then so be it.

Its always good to read all the if and buts though but my mnid is clearly made up on what is happening now.

Only need to delve a bit deeper and get an exact answer on how they can detect.

[felix11]

I wouldnt say it is the end. I just think that they like to sting people this time of year as has been 3 years on the bounce.

If you survive it then so be it.

Its always good to read all the if and buts though but my mnid is clearly made up on what is happening now.

Only need to delve a bit deeper and get an exact answer on how they can detect.

Once again, I agree. I think I meant 'the end' for the moment. Perhaps you are right in saying these bans come in periodic waves, although if I were MS, and I could detect flashed firmware, I would have a system of banning those consoles all year round.

No doubt those clever people at ixtreme will get to the bottom of it (in time) and come up with as fix (hopefully). So perhaps the best thing to do right now is not to play online (with a flashed box) and wait for further developments/information - of which there are bound to be some.

Watch this space??

[daz24c]

Do banwaves happen just for a period of time or does every1 think that it will just ban u wenever u sign in for having it flashed even if u wait?

[cgscott]

Previous ban waves have happened at this timer of year 2008 and 2007.

This time a bit earlier than the past 2 years.

The ban will stop once microsoft decide they're marketing ploy has made enough profit.

[felix11]

For Info, just taken this from xbox scene talking about the current ban wave:

- So what caused my ban?
There are MANY theories as to what is causing so many consoles to get banned this time, however as of yet there is nothing concrete, just a lot of circumstantial evidence and speculation. Please do not add to this, a full investigation is under-way.

c4eva, the main guy behind iXtreme, had this to say:
<+c4eva> fw itself not detectable
<+c4eva> suspect they are going hard on warez releases and incorrect use of abgx!

He also added the following:
<+c4eva> just to let you know that im looking into the current ban wave. I am currently running several brand new xboxs on live! These xboxs are in various configs. All are running ixtreme 1.61
<+c4eva> One is running original discs, another is running on xbl (no discs) , another is running a backup from my region!
<+c4eva> until tests are completed, no eta on liteon fw!

When we know more, YOU'LL no more, so please do not ask for updates!
A full transcript is available here - pastebin - Something - post number 1660777 (http://pastebin.ca/1660777)

Remember, if you really want to blame someone, blame the person that decided to modify your 360 in the first place - most likey, that would be you ;

[loncell]

seems like a fw for sure, i have 2 banned here both banned within a few hrs.both consoles played games only ripped by good ripping firms and all abgx'd before hand.

the 2nd console hadnt been on live for 2 months so when the first console was banned i put the 2nd one on and wapp !!! that got banned.


a m8 has a flashed 360 and i was wondering (its not been online since all the banning), if i flashed it back to its original stock state will it will it still get banned once i connect it back to live ?.

[cunny]

I wouldnt say it is the end. I just think that they like to sting people this time of year as has been 3 years on the bounce.

If you survive it then so be it.

Its always good to read all the if and buts though but my mnid is clearly made up on what is happening now.

Only need to delve a bit deeper and get an exact answer on how they can detect.

I cant see it being firmware that is detectable. Its more like bad rips/miss use of ABGX thats to blame.

As just posted, even the guy behind the firmware says its undetectable by ms. Full convo here as previously posted : pastebin - Something - post number 1660777 (http://pastebin.ca/1660777)

[loncell]

i used allstars , checked with abgx and i know what im doing.one person claims he flashed his benq and was waiting for discs to arrive and he was on cod4 original disc and was banned which means its nothing to do with the game.

i know the guys behind ixtreme are clever and know their shit and resepct goes out but they can only protect against whats on show. if ms get a step ahead then how can they react to that ?? in a similar way to cable get hit then a fix found.

its definatly a FW issue too many people have been hit who have taken all the right precautions.

FW can be hit you know !.

[gazz10]

i not see it as a major issue, as most should try and remember the cost of 4-5 retail games equals a new console, and with prices dropping all time and new on market.


Most moan about it, but add up how much you have actually saved in the last year via ggame downloads.

[felix11]

I tend to agree that it looks like a firmare issue to me, it's the only real logical explanation to the evidence we are seeing.

I know ixtreme say not, but if you designed the firmware you would say that wouldn't you? Ixtreme must be pooing their pants, because if ms can detect their firmware then where do they go from there?

[EVERS666]

OK lads i will try out an experiment 2morrow when i have time, i have just upgraded to the new firmware 1.6 on a liteon drive, i have tried it out on the new cod6 modern warfare 2 game for about 30secs with the Ethernet cable disconnected so i know it works OK.

I have not yet played online with the new firmware..

2morrow i will play online with the original cod5 world at war game, i live in the midlands so if i get banned you know its the firmware not the backups, and I'll be asking Santa 4 an early Xmas prezzie??

[loncell]

good luck m8 ,

[EVERS666]

OK then its definitely 100% the firmware for me.. just got banned and didn't even have chance to play the game online, (original cod5), as soon as i plugged in the Ethernet cable and signed in, BOOM, got banned instantly.

Just my look, i had the xecuter ck3 pro kit delivered on Friday, flashed my drive on Saturday, then got banned on Sunday......................

does this now mean i need another console to go online??
or,
when new firmware arrives, i can re-flash it to get back in the action???

[cunny]

OK then its definitely 100% the firmware for me.. just got banned and didn't even have chance to play the game online, (original cod5), as soon as i plugged in the Ethernet cable and signed in, BOOM, got banned instantly.

Just my look, i had the xecuter ck3 pro kit delivered on Friday, flashed my drive on Saturday, then got banned on Sunday......................

does this now mean i need another console to go online??
or,
when new firmware arrives, i can re-flash it to get back in the action???

This can easily be a bad rip that is stored on the hdd. Once connected to live, your box will tell the server, hence ban.

I still believe its down to bad rips/Issues/misuse of ABGX.

Let me ask this. How many of you VERIFY YOUR DISCS ATFER YOUR BURN A .ISO THAT PASSES IN ABGX?

If this was down to firmware i think we would see all xbox being banned now. Or half now half in new year so live subscriptions dont suffer to much.

Again this is only a theory but i still say its down to some bad rips, misuse of ABGX or playing games early. 17000 on CODMW2 online!!!! Its not even released yet.

Or another theory could be that M$ have found a way to detect discs ID. When you place a blank disc into your drive, IMGBURN can read the disc type, info including dye ect, maybe they can detect that?

IF YOUR BANNED YOU CAN ONLY BLAME THE PERSON WHO DECIDED TO HAVE THEIR XBOX 360 MODDED TO PLAY BACKUPS

[wizzer2k]

Yea just plugged my xbox in on live never played a game before release date all games checked with abgx and never with hard drive plugged in so i susspect its the firmware the detect BTW im running a liteon drive with Ixtreem v1.6

[azzadinga]

do you think they are monitoring traffic on you isp ir if you have been downloading while playing or spoke ova xbl to friends about back ups and such??? just a thoery my friend has had? also dp you think they have just followed a chain ie 1 person gets banned they check there friends list and ban those ppl with incrimating evidence and so on so on?

[cgscott]

No-one knows why we get banned.

I have been playing tekken 6 and grand theft patched to wav 3.

Using ixtreme 1.51 on liteon. And im online now.

PS...My mate is also online Liteon 1.51 although he is not playing patched games.

Must admit though i aint putting COD WAR 2 near my box till we get new firmware.

[wizzer2k]

Well i aint got no buddies never spoke on ms about any such activity i personaly think they can tell what software with what ive read and what i have found!

[The Noan]

This can easily be a bad rip that is stored on the hdd. Once connected to live, your box will tell the server, hence ban.

I still believe its down to bad rips/Issues/misuse of ABGX.

Let me ask this. How many of you VERIFY YOUR DISCS ATFER YOUR BURN A .ISO THAT PASSES IN ABGX?

If this was down to firmware i think we would see all xbox being banned now. Or half now half in new year so live subscriptions dont suffer to much.

Again this is only a theory but i still say its down to some bad rips, misuse of ABGX or playing games early. 17000 on CODMW2 online!!!! Its not even released yet.

Or another theory could be that M$ have found a way to detect discs ID. When you place a blank disc into your drive, IMGBURN can read the disc type, info including dye ect, maybe they can detect that?

IF YOUR BANNED YOU CAN ONLY BLAME THE PERSON WHO DECIDED TO HAVE THEIR XBOX 360 MODDED TO PLAY BACKUPS

its gotta be the firmware. i got banned last night and hadnt played a backup game in a couple weeks now, been playing the beatles rockband which i bought. turned on my 360 last night and realized i was not connected to live. tried to connect then i got the popup saying i got the axe.
and yes i verified all of my games with abgx, i did not play any game before its release. it is the firmware.
when i first flashed my system and signed up for live i told myself as long as i get 6 months of the online play i will be happy, i got those 6 months and it was awesome. now i gotta go get a new xbox :thumpdown:

[cunny]

As cg stated nobody knows why we will get a ban. In your case it could have been a bad burn after the iso is verified. Why not run your discs through ABGX. I burnt tekken last week, iso passed except wave as ABGX cant recognise the wave 4. Checked the disc, it then failed.

All i can say is that i must have either been lucky or doing something right to aviod ban waves. 2 years going strong on LIVE. None of the boxes i have flashed have been banned to my knowledge.

Someone did contact me today to say his older box to the 1 i recently flashed, had been banned for playing new COD online.

Anyways, i have stated what a believe it is and thats my input.

[felix11]

Just received this email from everything4360.com:

"It has come to our attention that there has been some ban hammering in the last few days. As advised on site, do not use wave 4 (requiring activation disk) games on live for now until the firmware is updated. Currently the firmware versions are listed below.
Benq - Samsung - 1.61
Hitachi 1.51
lite on 1.6

1.61 is an ammendment so you dont need the activation disk.

1.7 is due out shortly, hopefully within a few weeks and this will sove the wave 4 problem.

Support"

They seem to think it's only wave 4 games that will get you baaned - personally, I still think it's detection of firmware plus (possibly) a financial equasion by M$ based on how much you spend on live, and therefore what can they expect to lose if they ban you. I read somewhere that a guy who's box has 3 gold monthly accounts on it hasn't been banned, depite only playing backup games, which may support this theory.

[woody1979]

Just bought my first month in 6 months, no ban, been online for 2-3 years, flashed will all ix for benq since 1.41. Currently on 1.61, flashed at start of ban wave. STILL NO BAN.

Ok I have modded quite a few xboxes and do some regulary for friends and family, still awaiting a single ban.
Friends always online on COD 4. No ban. They are all on 1.6 (liteons) so is 1.6 detectable? Ask microsoft as only they can tell you.

[smirnoff_rules]

might be true the only 4 peoples l do the odd discs for r banned used the requiring activation disk and the other 5 r fine who didnt need one

[cunny]

i disagree that firmware is detecable, more likely playing un verified DISCS and pre releases. Ok remove internet connection, whats stopping the box from recording this information on a nand and relaying information to a server to flag your box for future ban?

[smirnoff_rules]

as l said above l do think the activation disk use is behind it , only because if u need to use this disc the game your playing isnt safe , 1 , because your f/w isnt right and 2. because the game was never and still isnt verified to this day

[The Noan]

i disagree that firmware is detecable, more likely playing un verified DISCS and pre releases. Ok remove internet connection, whats stopping the box from recording this information on a nand and relaying information to a server to flag your box for future ban?

i respectfully disagree. i believe its the firmware. ive always verified my isos before i burn them and hadnt played a backup in a couple weeks. only been playing the beatles rock band which i bought. i just believe that some people got hit and some people didnt.

[cgscott]

i just believe that some people got hit and some people didnt.

Should be some do and some don't.

The ban is still ongoing. Beware.

[djjwdubz]

has any one with a 2006 model been banned ye i have not

my date on the back of the xbox is

2006-02-17

i don't think i will be ban

[felix11]

For info, just something posted today on xbox scene:

>> From pinoycosplay.blogspot.com (http://pinoycosplay.blogspot.com/2009/11/microsoft-bans-600k-xbox-live-accounts.html?zx=b2a6368452898490):


A conversation with a friend who works for a call center that handles an Xbox 360 account has yielded a disturbing truth: Microsoft has started its annual Xbox Live banning spree and it has disabled 600,000 accounts so far in the US and Canada.

The target of the banning spree are mainly people who have modified their consoles to play pirated games. My trusty source says that they have been given instructions to push for a million banned accounts by the time the holidays are over.


Note: This is just a rumour and there's no real way to check or confirm this kinda information. But it points out an interesting discussion, how many consoles do you think MS banned? The site claims 600k are banned already just in US and CA. If we know MS sold about 19M consoles in that region to-date it would mean they already banned about 3.16% of their user-base ...

[EVERS666]

anyway i have just purchase an elite so i have increased ms Xmas sales by 1. wont be flashing this box in a hurry. i have redeemed my gamer tag and all is good there.

[cgscott]

anyway i have just purchase an elite so i have increased ms Xmas sales by 1. wont be flashing this box in a hurry. i have redeemed my gamer tag and all is good there.

Whats the manufacture date?

My mate bought elite brand new yesterday and the manfacture date was october 2009.

This model has the new liteon which has not been hacked yet.

So if you have this manufacture date your right in saying you wont be flashing in a hurry.

[cunny]

Just found this on another site :
"I will post in here and hope my identity is not compromised as I will get into severe trouble.

This is what i do. I am an Xbox Live checks manager and I am the guy who helps run through the data being sent to Xbox Live that has been flagged for banning and was also discussed a very long time ago of what will "bring down all modified Xboxs"

I myself have an Cbox that has been modified because i think it is a crime what they do charging so much when the games don't even cost Microsoft half of what they are getting. Anyway, we have found a way to read the firmware. The NXE update has allowed us to do a check on the current firmware installed on the dvd drive.

The reason this was not flagged was because the code was not active. As you might have heard it was discussed about a "self destruct" code embedded in the NXE update and even before that. This was that code it wasn't a self destruct code but actually a check that was done on all drives.

This check was begun when the update was to "prepare for the last.fm facebook and twitter" this in fact was the code sent out to begin checks on ALL Xboxs.

These checks would send us information on the firmware written to the drive not the exact kind but we did an extensive form of hash check on the drive and could actually find out if it was modified in any way.

This was particularly easy on the lite-on as it was actually manufactured to serve for this purpose as our testing model.

We will not ban all consoles at once and yes all information about you has been collected a long time ago.

We have THOUSANDS of Xboxs reporting bad checks meaning modified firmware. Not all people will be banned and all the bans are done at random times

Multiple checks have been done over this amount of time so we could assure the modified Xboxs were truly modified and not just returning corrupt data.

I am sorry i did not com forward with this information sooner but this information has been critical to the cat and mouse game

This check was also done back in the xtreme days if anyone remembers that when c4eva had to rewrite it to allow the checks to come back clean well this must be done again.

Sorry all for the bannings but it is a natural process and I wish you all luck and hope you do not get banned

If you do await the new firmware that is begin developed and cheers to you all you wanted to know it now you got it


Use live at your own risk now and looks like firmware is detectable but also allot of bad rips out there as ABGX has now been updated.

Best of luck

[smirnoff_rules]

cheers m8 good read .. l for one lost 3 boxes and on the forth cancelled the updates and on rebooting the update just flashed across the screen in a second and the first time l did it on my first banned box took and few minutes ? l told my m8s to try the same at the weekend and we have all been ok so far .. it might of sent mine back as corrupted ?
l went back to 5.3 on a sammy to and played mw2 online before release

[cunny]

Whats the manufacture date?

My mate bought elite brand new yesterday and the manfacture date was october 2009.

This model has the new liteon which has not been hacked yet.

So if you have this manufacture date your right in saying you wont be flashing in a hurry.

Is it the late 83 series or 93 series

[cgscott]

Is it the late 83 series or 93 series

Liteon 93450C Manufacture date September 2009

[micpuk]

The new un-flashable (at the minute) Lite-On's are:

83850c models
93450c models

All of these have a manufacture date of August 2009 onwards.

[felix11]

The new un-flashable (at the minute) Lite-On's are:

83850c models
93450c models

All of these have a manufacture date of August 2009 onwards.

I thought there was a way of flashing the 83850c, I'm sure I've seen a guide on it somewhere....

[smirnoff_rules]

I thought there was a way of flashing the 83850c, I'm sure I've seen a guide on it somewhere....

as far as l know u can flash these and there easy to flash m8

[micpuk]

I thought there was a way of flashing the 83850c, I'm sure I've seen a guide on it somewhere....

The ones manufacturered before August 2009 are easilly done.
The August 2009 are hit and miss (I have one that won't in my elite) and there is a few September 2009 one's around which don't return the key in JF before they went to the 93450c model.