[resolved] Permanent Account Suspension because of use of unauthorized software

[astarion]

First of all, since this is my first post, I would like to greet everyone here. I'm a relatively fresh multiboxer (even if I played a single account for 3 years) : I started a little more than 1 month ago. I have to say that the suggestions I found on this site helped me greatly in the process, and I want to thank the contributors of the Wiki.

I run 5 instances of WoW (1 main + 4 RAF) and I was very hooked in the thing, I was closing to level my new guys to 45 when on yesterday I received a bad surprise : I got 2 emails from Blizzard notifying me of a permanent suspension of 2 of my accounts. Type of violation: confirmed use of unapproved third party software. After a quick check, I discovered that in fact all my 5 accounts had been closed.

Obvioulsy I was a bit shocked, but even more surprised because I do not think I did anything illegal with my configuration.

I use to play all 5 instances on the same machine, and I use HotKeyNet to broadcast the keys. I also have a small set of addons (Jamba, QuestHelper and DMiniMap) to the standard interface. As far as I have read, this should not be against the TOS of WoW. HotKeyNet is configured to send every time a single key to each client, with only one exception : I have a script to launch and resize the 5 WoW windows one after another, and this of course sends more than 1 command to each of them, and also uses delays.

Could this be the reason for the permanent ban? Or did I miss something else? I made a scan of the machine with an antivirus software and I didn't find viruses or keyloggers, so I don't think I have been hacked (I will do another scan with a different product however).

Also I do not believe my in-game behaviour has been particularly 'gross' or 'extremely serious' (to use words from the Blizzard webpage). When they ask me about what I'm doing, I try to explain as politely as possible. Ok, when they begin with 'bot', 'cheater' and 'little boxer is boxing' I just tend to ignore them, but this shouldn't be reason enough.

I sent a reply to Blizzard asking for more details, but from what I have read over the Internet I have little hope they will change their decision. It is really saddening to lose 5 accounts at once, at least I would like to understand what I did wrong ...

[Fuzzyboy]

Basically they can ban you for whatever reason they want and they're not obligated to tell you why. In my experience, however, they've been very reasonable in dealing with account issues. If I were you, I'd simply explain my situation and hope for the best. Write a detailed list of your systems and used software (HKN etc.) along with some links to blue posts. Ask politely if any of the used software you've listed is a violation of the terms. If you've done nothing other than what you've stated, you should be ok :-)

Edit: Assuming of course that all your accounts are in the same name, haven't been shared etc etc

[astarion]

Thanks for the suggestion. In fact I already sent an answer to their emails, writing more or less what I wrote in my previous post.

I didn't use any other software or addon besides the one I listed. Even the machine was freshly bought (with multiboxing as one of the reasons for the purchase, sadly) and there is little more than the OS and WoW on it.

And yes, all accounts were under the same name.

[Fuzzyboy]

If that is the case (asssuming your statements are the full truth), you were probably reported and some GM who didn't know better banned you. Since there are lots of people here using key broadcasting (both HKN and Keyclone) who haven't been banned, I'm pretty sure it's not something Warden has detected, e.g. an "automatic" ban of blacklisted applications.

[olipcs]

Well first of all I want to say I feel sorry for you, and I hope that you et your accounts back!
If all that you described above is true, this sounds for me like someone on blizzards site screwed up, and this would be resolved by calling/emailing them.

If you want to be sure about your used HKN-script, you perhaps may want to post it here, so that we can have a look at it and see if its ok or anything is wrong with it.

[Fuzzyboy]

Oh, also I've had good experiences with calling them instead of emailing. Email replies typically takes 3-4 days (at least from my experience) - giving them a call can't hurt :-)

[astarion]

Thanks again for the help! And about the scripts, the one I use for HKN is the following, derived from the one on the website. The reason for the 2 templates RonWoW1 and RunWoW2 is that I wanted to try using 2 copies on the HDD to see if it improved performances, but I never actually tested it so they currently point to the same location. I masked with *** the account names and password :

//================================================== ==============
// SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR TWO WOW'S ON ONE PC
//
// Instructions: Copy this entire script (all the blue writing
// on gray background including comments). Save it in a file.
// Load it into HotkeyNet.
//
// Toggle the scroll lock key to turn hotkeys off and on. (You
// can change this if you want, just like you can change
// everything else with HotkeyNet.)
//
// Requires HotkeyNet build 147 or higher.
//
// For more info, go to www.hotkeynet.com
//================================================== ==============

<Template RunWow1><Run "E:\WoW\WoW.exe"><EndTemplate>
<Template RunWow2><Run "E:\WoW\WoW.exe"><EndTemplate>

<Template SendLabelList><SendLabel w1, w2, w3, w4, w5><EndTemplate>

<Template ResWinMain><Resize local %1% 1280 800 0 0><EndTemplate>
<Template ResWin2><Resize local %1% 400 300 0 750><EndTemplate>
<Template ResWin3><Resize local %1% 400 300 400 750><EndTemplate>
<Template ResWin4><Resize local %1% 400 300 800 750><EndTemplate>
<Template ResWin5><Resize local %1% 400 300 1200 750><EndTemplate>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// SUBROUTINE TO RENAME A COPY OF WOW.
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Command Rename>
<SendPC %1%>
<RenameWin %2% %3%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// PRESS CTRL R TO RENAME WOW'S IF YOU LAUNCH THEM MANUALLY
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Hotkey CapsLockOn Ctrl R>
<Rename local "World of Warcraft" WoW1>
<Rename local "World of Warcraft" WoW2>
<Rename local "World of Warcraft" WoW3>
<Rename local "World of Warcraft" WoW4>
<Rename local "World of Warcraft" WoW5>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// SUBROUTINE TO RESIZE A COPY OF WOW.
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Command Resize>
<SendPC %1%>
<TargetWin %2%>
<SetWinSize %3% %4%>
<SetWinPos %5% %6%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// PRESS CTRL W TO RESIZE WOW'S IF YOU LAUNCH THEM MANUALLY
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Hotkey CapsLockOn Ctrl W>
<ApplyTemplate ResWinMain WoW1>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin2 WoW2>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin3 WoW3>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin4 WoW4>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin5 WoW5>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// PRESS CTRL F1/2/3/4/5 TO RESIZE WOW'S IF YOU LAUNCH THEM MANUALLY
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Hotkey ScrollLockOn F1>
<ApplyTemplate ResWinMain WoW1>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin2 WoW2>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin3 WoW3>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin4 WoW4>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin5 WoW5>
<Hotkey ScrollLockOn F2>
<ApplyTemplate ResWinMain WoW2>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin2 WoW1>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin3 WoW3>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin4 WoW4>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin5 WoW5>
<Hotkey ScrollLockOn F3>
<ApplyTemplate ResWinMain WoW3>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin2 WoW2>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin3 WoW1>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin4 WoW4>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin5 WoW5>
<Hotkey ScrollLockOn F4>
<ApplyTemplate ResWinMain WoW4>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin2 WoW2>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin3 WoW3>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin4 WoW1>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin5 WoW5>
<Hotkey ScrollLockOn F5>
<ApplyTemplate ResWinMain WoW5>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin2 WoW2>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin3 WoW3>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin4 WoW4>
<ApplyTemplate ResWin5 WoW1>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// SUBROUTINE TO LAUNCH AND RENAME A COPY OF WOW.
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Command LaunchAndRename1>
<SendPC %1%>
<ApplyTemplate RunWow1>
<WaitForWin World 9000>
<Wait 450>
<RenameTargetWin %2%>
<Wait 400>
<SendWin %2%>
<text %3%>
<wait 40>
<key tab>
<wait 40>
<text **********>
<wait 40>
<key enter>
<wait 1000>
<Command LaunchAndRename2>
<SendPC %1%>
<ApplyTemplate RunWow2>
<WaitForWin World 9000>
<Wait 450>
<RenameTargetWin %2%>
<Wait 400>
<SendWin %2%>
<text %3%>
<wait 40>
<key tab>
<wait 40>
<text **********>
<wait 40>
<key enter>
<wait 1000>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// PRESS CTRL L TO LAUNCH AND RENAME ALL WOW'S.
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Hotkey CapsLockOn Alt Ctrl L>
<LaunchAndRename1 Local WoW1 **********><ApplyTemplate ResWinMain WoW1>
<LaunchAndRename1 Local WoW2 **********><ApplyTemplate ResWin2 WoW2>
<LaunchAndRename1 Local WoW3 **********><ApplyTemplate ResWin3 WoW3>
<LaunchAndRename2 Local WoW4 **********><ApplyTemplate ResWin4 WoW4>
<LaunchAndRename2 Local WoW5 **********><ApplyTemplate ResWin5 WoW5>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// DEFINE MAIL LABELS FOR SENDING KEY STROKES
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Label w1 Local SendWinM WoW1>
<Label w2 Local SendWinM WoW2>
<Label w3 Local SendWinM WoW3>
<Label w4 Local SendWinM WoW4>
<Label w5 Local SendWinM WoW5>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// DEFINE HOTKEYS FOR 0-9 (SENT TO ALL INSTANCES)
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Hotkey CapsLockOn 0-9>
<ApplyTemplate SendLabelList>
<Key %Trigger%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// DEFINE HOTKEYS FOR <SHIFT> 0-9 (SENT TO ALL INSTANCES)
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Hotkey CapsLockOn LShift 0-9>
<ApplyTemplate SendLabelList>
<Key %Trigger%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// DEFINE HOTKEYS FOR C, P, B, L (SENT TO ALL INSTANCES)
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<Hotkey CapsLockOn C, P, B, L>
<ApplyTemplate SendLabelList>
<Key %Trigger%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// DEFINE HOTKEYS FOR INSTANCE 2 ONLY -> CONVERTED AS ALT+KEY
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<UseKeyAsModifier Oem1>
<Hotkey CapsLockOn Oem1 0-9>
<ApplyTemplate SendLabelList>
<Key lctrl %Trigger%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// DEFINE HOTKEYS FOR INSTANCE 3 ONLY -> CONVERTED AS ALT+KEY
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<UseKeyAsModifier Oem3>
<Hotkey CapsLockOn Oem3 0-9>
<ApplyTemplate SendLabelList>
<Key lctrl %Trigger%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// DEFINE HOTKEYS FOR INSTANCE 4 ONLY -> CONVERTED AS ALT+KEY
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<UseKeyAsModifier Oem7>
<Hotkey CapsLockOn Oem7 0-9>
<ApplyTemplate SendLabelList>
<Key lctrl %Trigger%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// DEFINE HOTKEYS FOR INSTANCE 5 ONLY -> CONVERTED AS ALT+KEY
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<UseKeyAsModifier Oem2>
<Hotkey CapsLockOn Oem2 0-9>
<ApplyTemplate SendLabelList>
<Key lctrl %Trigger%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// DEFINE MOVEMENT KEYS THAT WILL GET SENT TO BOTH WOW'S.
// ADD MORE KEYS IF YOU WANT.
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<MovementHotkey CapsLockOn up, down, left, right>
<ApplyTemplate SendLabelList>
<Key %Trigger%>

//-----------------------------------------------------------
// BROADCAST MOUSE CLICKS. HOLD DOWN OEM3 (ON U.S. KEYBOARDS,
// THAT'S THE SQUIGGLE KEY IN UPPPER LEFT CORNER) WHEN YOU
// WANT TO BROADCAST.
//-----------------------------------------------------------
<UseKeyAsModifier Oem4>
<Hotkey CapsLockOn Oem4 LButton, MButton, RButton, Button4, Button5>
<ApplyTemplate SendLabelList>
<ClickMouse %TriggerMainKey%>

[astarion]

And this is the configuration file of the software itself, if it helps :

acSignature = HotkeyNet Settings File
Version = 0.0.0 build 0
bStartAsServer = true
bUseSockets = true
bMoreThanOnePC = false
acServerDottedDec = [null]
acServerName = [null]
uPort = 0x1ce7
bStartCommAutomatically = false
bShowKeystrokes = true
bShowTimestamps = false
iWaitAfterCommands = 0
acMacroFile = E:\WoW\_\hotkeynet_151\3w1p.txt
bShowRenameConfirm = true
bHotkeysAreOn = true
bDontShowCloseDialog = true
iClickMouseDelayBefore = 15
iClickMouseDelayAfter = 15
iDelaySendMod = 1
iDelaySendWinTBefore = 10
iDelaySendWinTAfter = 10
iBackgroundFocusDelayBefore = 0
iBackgroundFocusDelayAfter = 15
bShowVerbExec = true
bShowButtons = false
bStartHidden = false
bDoNotShowSplash = true
acPassword = [null]
bClearModifiers = true
rectMainWindow = 419, 487, 1194, 996
eLoadOrReload = load
bUseWinsockBuffering = false
bUseNagleAlgorithm = false
bPartialWindowNameMatch = true
bDisableForegroundLock = true
bAttachThreadsForSendInput = true
bSimpleSetForeground = false
bSubstituteSendWinSWithClickMouse = true
bTranslateLocalIP = true

[olipcs]

The scripts looks fine for me, only thing where blizz could argue is the Mousebroadcasting if you ms-delays were set very high. May I ask which setting you used for this?

EDIT: ah I see, 15/15 it would be.

[astarion]

15 ms, if your are referring to iClickMouseDelayBefore/iClickMouseDelayAfter. But I'm pretty sure I never used that combination, it is basically a leftover of the default HKN file I downloaded from the website. It was always a mess when I had to cast AOE, jumping between the windows (I had 4 mages + 1 paladin) ...