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

[Freddie]

I'm very sorry to hear that this happened. This is the first time anyone has reported a problem like this with HotkeyNet.

I don't see anything in your script that violates the rules. I loaded your script into the program and checked the expansions of all the hotkeys to make sure I'm not overlooking anything.

The program itself has been tried by about 10,000 people over the course of nearly a year, with about 1200 current steady users, and there's nothing new in the program -- I haven't posted a new build in nearly a month -- and as I said, this is the first time anyone has reported a problem like this, so I don't think the program itself is the culprit.

If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know. And please post anything new you learn (either here or to me by email).

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?

Launch and resize commands are directed to the operating system, not to WoW, so the delays in those hotkeys don't have any effect on in-game actions. I can't imagine that Blizzard would care about them.

[suicidesspyder]

I just think its some gm's inability to realize that what your doing is allowed. I know most of us have seen the video from the game director of blizzard am i right. If not heres the link:
http://www.beckett.com/beckettMOG/default.osi?v=3

Even in this small interview the director says its perfectly legal to do. He even says lots of gamers prefer this style of game play, and he would not want to take it away from them. Like i said its a lack of knowledge of whats going on by the gm, and maybe hes lazyness to check to see what your doing so instead he banned you. But, in all good hopes if nothing was done wrong on your part you should get your accounts back. So just keep plugging at it and yea the best thing is to call in and talk to them directly, respones and actions will get done ten times faster. Lots of people email so lots of things to read not many call so easier to take care of problems. Good luck.

[puppychow]

This is just my theory, but Blizzard has 3+ kinds of bans.

1. Warden detection. Minimal GM involvement here, if warden detects something it thinks is illegal, it flags it to the server and a auto ban follows shortly after a quick GM review.

2. server-side logging investigation. A user reports a person for botting, the GM flags that account for extra logging and they check if the account is staying online too long, if they are repeating the same commands in exactly the same time intervals, etc.

3. GM-investigation. A person reports someone, and a GM follows that account around (invisibly usually) to see if they are teleporting, hacking, botting, etc.

Blizzard is always updating Warden and I'm afraid of false-positives, which is one of the major reasons I stay away from AHK (derived from AutoIT I believe, a popular hack/bot platform) and Innerspace. I 100% know AHK and Innerspace themselves do not constitute hacks/bots/etc and 100% know there are tons of legit uses for both, but I don't really trust Blizzard to not make a mistake and accidently ban the wrong people. Hopefully someone at account admin realizes their mistake and reverses their ban, please do let us know if they give any more info on why you got banned and if they reverse it. It can take a few days or even weeks for someone to email you back, depending on how backlogged they are from key logging (a high backlog at the moment I'd imagine).

btw I don't think calling does anything, Billing/CS can't reverse this and accounts-admin has no phone numbers afaik

[astarion]

First, let me thank Freddie, the author of HotKeyNet, for his support, and even more for its program. I tried several softwares when I started multiboxing, but I found HKN to be the best for me, it is very easy to configure and use, and yet so flexible and powerful. If my game experience has been so good until now, I owe it greatly to HKN.

Besides, I really don't know if the program itself is the origin of my problem : I tried to follow the suggestions stated on Freddie's site about the composition of the script, to avoid problems with Blizzard's TOS, and I'm relieved to hear from the users of this forum that my script should be ok. It could be something else on my PC : I'm running a third antivirus scan right now.

On Monday I will try to contact the billing support directly (I understand they are closed during the weekend), and to send a reminder by email, if nothing happens. I will post the results.

In the meantime, thanks to everyone for the hints and the help.

[Talos]

as mentioned, the billing and support phone support wont be able to help you with this

only way to get this hopefully fixed is by sending in a dispute trough the email adress you received in the ban email.
something like accountreview@blizz
only they have the power to return your accounts and revoke a GM's decision.

Just write them politely that you think you have been banned injust, explain that you are multiboxing which has been deemed legal so far, and perhaps include your HKN script to show them what you are using.

[Sam DeathWalker]

See what starts on your computer using this:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx

you might find something that shouldn't start up.

Anti virus software is good but I think this is better, altough lots will argue that its not.

The other thing would be the delays. Anything that allows programable delays (and if you can set it to 15/15 then you could set to something else I am assuming) is well ....

[Basilikos]

See what starts on your computer using this:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx

you might find something that shouldn't start up.

Anti virus software is good but I think this is better, altough lots will argue that its not.

The other thing would be the delays. Anything that allows programable delays (and if you can set it to 15/15 then you could set to something else I am assuming) is well ....

Sam is right - you need to check and verify that your system is not compromised, since your accounts likely were too. If your accounts were compromised, then it's likely that someone used them for something that you're being banned for.

Also, regarding the delays, it's not a problem as long as you don't use them. HotKeyNet and AutoHotKey have been in use for a looooong time and they've never been a problem for WoW. Other MMOs might or might not allow the delayed events, which is why the options are available. If any program that could cause delayed events is auto-bannable, then most people here would be ought immediately.

[Doostin]

are Logitech G15 keyboard macro scripts still bannable if they use delays? you didn't mention if u use a g15 or g11 keyboard or not. just a thought. hope everything gets resolved if you're honestly playing legitly.

[keyclone]

umm... out of curiosity... were you using the strobing follow thingie from jamba?

[keyclone]

[Addon] Jamba - An assistant for multiboxers. 10th Update - 0.4b released.
source: [link ]

Jamba-Follow - New Features

1. Options added to not warn about follow breaking if character in combat, or any team member in combat.
2. Follow strobing can be paused for characters with a special tag:
   1. In combat.
   2. When any team member is in combat.
   3. When the character is drinking.

also from the main site:

Jamba-Follow: Manage character follow interactions, including strobing follow commands, automatically following after combat.

i just read this today on another thread. it's main use was to help melee boxers not have to worry about losing /follow after engaging in melee (which breaks follow normally)