World of Warcraft (en) Forums -> 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitation

Daghorn

Blizzard Poster

0. 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitation 04/05/2007 10:34:27 PDT

In our continued efforts to combat cheating in World of Warcraft, more than 114,000 accounts have been closed across Europe in the month of April for the use of “bot” programs. The banned accounts were taking part in activities that violate the World of Warcraft Terms of Use, specifically, using unauthorised third party programs to automate game-play. Such behaviour not only negatively impacts the game’s economy, it diminishes the achievements of those who play legitimately.

It is our goal to provide a fair and enjoyable play experience for all World of Warcraft players. To aid us, we ask that you abide by the Terms of Use, which, among other things, provide for the security of your account details, payment methods and login information, all of which can be compromised if you choose to use third-party services or programs.

Over the coming months, we will continue to take an active and aggressive stance against botting, as well as work to resolve other issues such as in-game advertising for the sale of World of Warcraft content and for-pay power-levelling services. Many account closures come as the direct result of tips reported to our GMs in game or emailed to our Hacks Team by legitimate World of Warcraft players, and we thank you for your assistance in preserving the integrity of the game experience.

Community Representative, French
Blizzard Entertainment

Gromble

1. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:35:54 PDT

Great news.

[ Post edited by Gromble ]

Cerwyn

2. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:36:45 PDT

Agree.

Friend's new char.
I'm an Alliance Blood Elf. If you don't trust me, just look next to my avatar.
First you annoy them, then you get them to insult you, then they get banned.

Vrenal

3. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:37:29 PDT

Q u o t e:
Great news.

Vrenal; 70 Warlock; Anachronos.
Miralis; 70 Paladin; Earthen Ring (Retired)
Miralis; 66 Priest; Scarshield Legion (Retired)

Elegy

< Above and Beyond >

4. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:38:25 PDT

Why not just ban them instantly instead of in masses..?

tired and trembling
I am descending
will I have to stay here
and live this life again

Exiom

< Gosu >

5. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:38:40 PDT

Q u o t e:
Great news.

Fiskerdin

< Semper Danica >

6. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:39:04 PDT

Q u o t e:
Why not just ban them instantly instead of in masses..?

These reports are just a a compilation of the latest ~3 months bans.

Cerwyn

7. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:42:50 PDT

Q u o t e:
Why not just ban them instantly instead of in masses..?

They never said they banned them in masses, you only get that impression because of the today's date in the thread's title. They closed those accounts during the last month, then they made a compilation of just how many people they banned and they gave it to us here, as a sign of warning, I guess.

Friend's new char.
I'm an Alliance Blood Elf. If you don't trust me, just look next to my avatar.
First you annoy them, then you get them to insult you, then they get banned.

Elegy

< Above and Beyond >

8. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:43:08 PDT

Q u o t e:

These reports are just a a compilation of the latest ~3 months bans.

Then why do I see bots still running around after several people have reported them at least 3 times each?

tired and trembling
I am descending
will I have to stay here
and live this life again

Vermin

9. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:43:40 PDT

Wow.. thats alot O_O

Naxxas

< Council of the Curse… >

10. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:43:59 PDT

Q u o t e:
In our continued efforts to combat cheating in World of Warcraft, more than 114,000 accounts have been closed across Europe in the month of April for the use of “bot” programs. The banned accounts were taking part in activities that violate the World of Warcraft Terms of Use, specifically, using unauthorised third party programs to automate game-play. Such behaviour not only negatively impacts the game’s economy, it diminishes the achievements of those who play legitimately.

It is our goal to provide a fair and enjoyable play experience for all World of Warcraft players. To aid us, we ask that you abide by the Terms of Use, which, among other things, provide for the security of your account details, payment methods and login information, all of which can be compromised if you choose to use third-party services or programs.

Over the coming months, we will continue to take an active and aggressive stance against botting, as well as work to resolve other issues such as in-game advertising for the sale of World of Warcraft content and for-pay power-levelling services. Many account closures come as the direct result of tips reported to our GMs in game or emailed to our Hacks Team by legitimate World of Warcraft players, and we thank you for your assistance in preserving the integrity of the game experience.

and yet the 4 botters ive reported over 40 times are still there, puhleaaaaase, stop talking rubbish. im getting sick of the gold spammers and botters, and yet every month you claim magical figures, which if you ask anyone from most populated servers they still see the same botters day in day out. conspiracy if you ask me how the same botters evade justice amongst the alleged 114,000 you "Apparently" closed.

01001110011001010111001001100110001000000100001101001100010011110101001100101100
00100000011011110110111001101100011110010010000001110000011101010111001101110011
011010010110010101110011001000000111

Cerwyn

11. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:44:05 PDT

Q u o t e:
Then why do I see bots still running around after several people have reported them at least 3 times each?

Maybe because there are so many bots they don't have enough time to ban them all, and their investigations do take time?

Q u o t e:
and yet the 4 botters ive reported over 40 times are still there, puhleaaaaase, stop talking rubbish. im getting sick of the gold spammers and botters, and yet every month you claim magical figures, which if you ask anyone from most populated servers they still see the same botters day in day out. conspiracy if you ask me how the same botters evade justice amongst the alleged 114,000 you "Apparently" closed.

It's a conspiracy!

*Equips Tin Foil Hat*

[ Post edited by Cerwyn ]

Friend's new char.
I'm an Alliance Blood Elf. If you don't trust me, just look next to my avatar.
First you annoy them, then you get them to insult you, then they get banned.

Elegy

< Above and Beyond >

12. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:45:40 PDT

Q u o t e:

Maybe because there are so many bots they don't have enough time to ban them all, and their investigations do take time?

it's god damn easy to spot them.. someone named asjha and only have skinning as profession shouldn't so damn hard to figure out it's a bot, neither hejakj or kaea or lhrea or ojhtewh and such names..

tired and trembling
I am descending
will I have to stay here
and live this life again

Cerwyn

13. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:47:48 PDT

Q u o t e:
it's god damn easy to spot them.. someone named asjha and only have skinning as profession shouldn't so damn hard to figure out it's a bot, neither hejakj or kaea or lhrea or ojhtewh and such names..

Well bots or not, people who play WoW do pay the game, so they at least deserve to be investigated upon before just banning them for giving their characters a bad name, right? And I have only one profession on my paladin, mining, since I couldn't be arsed to level up anything else. Should I get banned for that?

Friend's new char.
I'm an Alliance Blood Elf. If you don't trust me, just look next to my avatar.
First you annoy them, then you get them to insult you, then they get banned.

Fiskerdin

< Semper Danica >

14. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:48:08 PDT

Q u o t e:

and yet the 4 botters ive reported over 40 times are still there, puhleaaaaase, stop talking rubbish. im getting sick of the gold spammers and botters, and yet every month you claim magical figures, which if you ask anyone from most populated servers they still see the same botters day in day out. conspiracy if you ask me how the same botters evade justice amongst the alleged 114,000 you "Apparently" closed.

You complain about nothing being done, when you yourself are admitting to flooding their ticket system with needless tickets, which take up time which could've better been spent on, guess what, banning botters.

Not to mention that /who hunters doesn't supply you with an accurate list of botters.

Ommra

Blizzard Poster

15. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:50:45 PDT

Q u o t e:
it's god damn easy to spot them.. someone named asjha and only have skinning as profession shouldn't so damn hard to figure out it's a bot, neither hejakj or kaea or lhrea or ojhtewh and such names..

I would prefer some more evidence than that before permanently banning an account... Can you imagine the outcry if we banned accounts that turned out not to be botters?

And, as pointed out already, this isn't a one time banning – we ban exploiting accounts on a regular basis. It won't end here either, we will keep fighting the bot pest.

................(___)..........
.................|Oo|...........
.......... /```` OO).........
........./ |____--.......moo
.......*...L......L............

Fiskerdin

< Semper Danica >

17. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:54:30 PDT

Q u o t e:

But why are the Americans much more efficient at having the problems sorted out?

What makes you think that?

Hitman

18. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:58:14 PDT

Q u o t e:

...we will keep fighting the bot pest.

All i wanted to hear. :)

Clerk

19. Re: 04/05 Accounts Banned for Game Exploitati 04/05/2007 10:59:22 PDT

Q u o t e:

What makes you think that?

His cousin's ex-girlfriend's grandmother's neighbour told him.

Ignorance Is Bliss.

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