Software boxing programs, some a bit shady

[Bradster]

This has kind of turned in to a hardware vs software thread. I'm a full hardware boxer but even so both have they pros and cons. I cannot pick sides because both offer the same results, and that is fun :thumbsup:

[Bradster]

I am not sure if I would say hardware is more reliable . I think its a wash we all use hardware and software to a great extent. Sure I might have 1 or 2 pieces of extra software and you might have 1 or 2 pieces of hardware but in the end there are pluses and minuses going either route. I am a fairly big fan of keyclone for several reasons one of which is it is catered to multi-boxing, straight out of the box you can get so much done. I could easily go hardware i certainly have all the pieces necessary but quite frankly not having been forced to go that route in the beginning the learning curve with software is much friendlier.

Either way its a preference as long as the end result is multiboxing goodness.

Exactly this

I'm a IT guy and had Xzin pretty much holding my hand designing my setup. Even for me to hook up this rats nest of wires (mainly the y-moue and Vetra setup) It took me a while to get it right. On a good note its a set and forget type of deal. That is until I move in 2 weeks. Bet your ass I took pictures lol. No idea how hard/easy you guys have it on the software end but at least your not crawling under a table for the 8th time :P

[Fizzler]

This has kind of turned in to a hardware vs software thread. I'm a full hardware boxer but even so both have they pros and cons. I cannot pick sides because both offer the same results, and that is fun :thumbsup:

Hear hear, or is that here here? In either case.. no pun intended lets get back to talking about RAF :P

[Kaynin]

Heh, technically, keyclone isn't approved by Blizzard.

The way keyclone functions is accepted within the guidelines Blizzard presented for its game. And as long as you don't abuse it, it is accepted. Same for any other programs.

As long as you don't bot, or do anything else illegal with such programs, it's fine. Most of these programs can allow for botting, but you just need common sense to know that's a surefire way to get a ban. :P Keyclone just happens to be made quite specifically to dual-box games, WoW in particular.

[Ifalna]

The day blizzard bans g15s is the day we can start worrying about the likes of autohotkey being used and causing problems.

If your not using it to automate, its not an issue, the same way if you arent making automacros on your keyboard, its fine. As for the " can they differentiate between ahk and a bot program" as the ahk users on this forum arent being banned for botting, and bots are, I think that is pretty self explanitory.

[Jheusse]

Link

[Lokked]

I use Software because I don't want to smush 5 computers in 1 room and I don't want to purchase 5 low end computers basically only capable of playing WoW (I'm not saying the hardware boxers' computers are of this spec).

As for detecting the G15, what makes you think they can't? Unless the G15 installs Hardware drivers and the macro script commands are generated at that level (unlikely), Warden can probably detect the G15 hooks just the same as it could the AHK hooks. I think it still comes down to the investigation, of whether or not your char/group appears to be automated or not.

Skip to the bottom if you don't give a crap about Warden and Innerspace/WoWGlider.
Warden can automatically ban, when it finds something that is blatantly intercepting it's hooks or WoW data, or performing memory reads, but a lot is left up to investigation.

The most (I think) recent 3rd party software ban was Innerspace, however, consider the following:
Innerspace is not Open Source. I really doubt Blizzard disassembled the code, as this would be retardedly time consuming. It is well documented that Innerspace purposefully requires an extension to prevent Warden from detecting it.
Blizzard updates and installs new versions of Warden without warning, on the fly. Innerspace's Warden blocker (called ISXWarden) automatically either a) kills the connection and closes WoW when it detects a new version of Warden being uploaded, or b) Unloads the ISXWoW mod (used for inserting bot scripts). It does this infallably.
Blizzard's method of detection was human investigation of suspectable accounts (via reports mostly). These accounts were put on a list of suspects. A new Warden version was then uploaded to all non-suspect accounts. The bots were further investigated.
Some accounts were banned at this point. Then, new versions of Warden were uploaded to the other accounts to watch for disconnects and character halts. These accounts were then banned.
More recent bannings are due to server-side detection of things that no human could accomplish, IE. instant refacing, or instant corner turning.
Innerspace users who were not running any extensions (other then ISXWarden) or scripts have never been banned, except by accident, due to Warden erroneously returning a required DLL as an intrusive extension.

I know I'm turning this post into something that seems not to follow the thread, but the point I'm trying to make is that regular Autohotkey and other software users are very unlikely to get banned, and Software boxing tools are not likely to be added to any sort of Auto-Ban list. Any investigation will lead to blizzard not finding automation occuring.
Typical automation detection involves Blizzard inserting "hidden" interactable objects in your path/area, which do not show on your GUI, and thus whch the normal person at their keyboard would never find. However, automation software doesn't care about your GUI. It reads packets sent from the server, and would fail this "hidden" object test. Another method is to teleport your character a short distance away and observe the behavior.

Normal software boxers would never fall for these things, and thus would not be banned. If they were banned, it was either a mistake or they really are doing something they shouldn't be. AHK cannot sniff packets and does not install anything other then a Keyboard Hook. AHK is opensource. I'm pretty sure blizzard has reviewed the code, as it has been in existance for quite some time.

Resume reading here if you skipped the above.
I realize that if Blizzard does decide to demote use of Autohotkey and others, there really isn't much we can do about it. My arguement is that they won't take that step and ban the use of these types of 3rd Party Softwares in the first place. Innerspace and WoWGlider received the thumbs down because there is no other purpose to use these programs except to bot, which is solely talked about on their forums.

Threads like these are what this forum should avoid completely, as talking about AHK being used to bot is the sort of thing that would turn it into an app against the TOS.

I've never used Innerspace before, nor anything other then AHK, with which I simply broadcast keystrokes. I do try to keep track of everything though, as knowledge is power.

I was hesitent to hit the Submit button, but there are some facts that people should realize. I see now that this post is just a much longer version of what Ifalna posted below.