NaiduR

Sorry guys, I felt asleep, so came to this a hour ago. *P00F*

Well, here's what I'm going to do. If that doesn't help, I don't see a single reason to continue this discussion since I'm out of ideas and will just shut up and sit tight. I've asked my brother to give me his account for testing. Then joined streaming server, saved origin id and pbcl.log (with GUID) to a new text file, RARed it with password and uploaded here: EDIT!: https://mega.co.nz/#!yFNFQYhS!WyPF9AxITifGAsd3rQYBRiHNjo9bgd48jqrIdIGWvg0 Feel free to download and keep it (although if I change this file, it's key, the part after # in URL above, will be changed too). For the next couple of days (starting today 8pm UTC) I will be playing using this (clean) account, with CE running in background. CE 6.3 x64, BF4 x64. Streaming servers of course. If 81518 violation will be raised, I will post RAR file password and updated pbcl.log here. You'll be able to unrar file and compare GUIDs. Ban on that GUID with violation 81518 will appear at MBi. If 81518 won't be raised, then CE isn't the reason and either the problem lies somewhere else or I'm a bloody cheater. P.S. Just noticed that PC patch is coming tomorrow, it might somehow affect my plan, will keep you informed. pbcl.cfg: pb_MsgPrefix "[skipnotify]PunkBuster Client" pb_Sleep 500 pb_LogToFile 1 pb_SsLog 1 pb_SsSave 1 pbcl.log with screened info: pb_LogToFile = 1 (0=No, 1=Yes) pb_SsLog = 1 (0=No, 1=Yes) pb_SsSave = 1 (0=No, 1=Yes) Attempting to resolve master7.evenbalance.com Resolved to [50.62.82.210] (18) PunkBuster Client (v2.332 | A0 v) Enabled Game Version [89510] Connected to Server xx.xx.xx.xx:xxxx WARNING: PB Kicks for Level 1 PB Restrictions on this Server PB Server assigned guid = xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Receiving from PB Server (v v1.880 | A1390 C2.332) PB Services socket initialized PnkBstrA successfully loaded PnkBstrB PnkBstrB service installed and started successfully Master Query Sent to (MASTER2.EVENBALANCE.COM) 50.62.76.68 Received Master Security Information

@fozzer I do feel really sorry if questions raised here made you think I'm trying to prove something. Let me assure you, in neither way I'm trying, it's just a (stupid) curiosity since the only problems I had with PunkBuster 'till ban day were 'Communication failure' and 'Auto update failed' (don't remember exact error messages, but those are close enough). On the other side, I've made an attempt in helping both gaming community and EvenBalance to find the reason why quite a few of us raised this violation because I'm sure it "could be triggered by non-cheat software", and I will be happy if even a bit of my efforts will be useful for EB to make a final decision in 81518, no matter what it will be. Does this statement mean I can try to play BF4 and launch misc. apps at the same time in order to trigger this violation? And once violation triggered, report the steps to reproduce it? If yes, can I send a PM with some technical questions about PB client configuration and some violation-related info? @all With either outcome, I have a strong feeling that I won't return to BF or any other MP FPS (nobody is gonna miss me, I know), this ban is very a good reason to stop wasting time.

Will just post it here with screened personal info. I've sent non-screened logs to SuperTaz and Benway. Logs taken from server I'm renting. EDIT: took a while (3 days) to find player with 50856 who accepted my friends request and then agrees to join my server. Player with 50856 gets kicked immediately, player with 81518 stayed on server until I've asked him to disconnect (~10 minutes). Server PB log for player with 50856 violation. (Ranked / Non-official / PB on / FF on / Non streaming) PunkBuster Server: New Connection (slot #1) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 [?] "xxxxxx" (seq xxxxxx) PunkBuster Server: Player GUID Computed xxxxxxxxxxxxx(-) (slot #1) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx PunkBuster Server: VIOLATION (AIMBOT) #50856: xxxxx (slot #1) Violation (AIMBOT) #50856 [xxxxxxxxxxx(-) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659] PunkBuster Server: Kick Command Issued (Violation (AIMBOT) #50856) for (slot#1) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx PunkBuster Server: Lost Connection (slot #1) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 xxxxxxxxxxxxx (-) xxxxxxx Server PB log for player with 81518 violation. (Ranked / Non-official / PB on / FF on / Non streaming) PunkBuster Server: New Connection (slot #1) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 [?] "xxxxxxxx" (seq xxxxxxx) PunkBuster Server: Player GUID Computed xxxxxxxxxxxxx(-) (slot #1) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 xxxxxxxxxxxxx PunkBuster Server: Player List: [slot #] [GUID] [Address] [status] [Power] [Auth Rate] [Recent SS] [O/S] [Name] PunkBuster Server: 1 xxxxxxxxxx (-) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 OK 1 3.3 0 (V) "xxxxxxxx" PunkBuster Server: End of Player List (1 Player) Exactly. But they're loosing control on situation. More players started to realize something is wrong and why they're unable to play on a good share of servers. Some estimate they can't play on 30-40% of servers, some report 2 out of 3. P.S. and B1aze14's post... He was banned on server of his own clan with dad known as 'BanHammer', holy smoke.

@all Can someone explain me what is going on with PunkBuster, EvenBalance and 81518 banwave? I keep contacting players, neither has a clue he had been banned! No error messages, nothing. I've checked their recent game reports -- every player can join and play on either official (due to EA's policy) or Ranked (i.e. non-official but PB-enabled) servers. I've asked one player to send me pbcl.log file. Here's it with some screened info: [-screened- T+0 ] Violation (GAMEHACK) #81518 [-screened- T+10 min] Violation (GAMEHACK) #81518 [-screened- T+19 hrs ] PBBans.com enforced a MBi Ban for the GUID [-screened-]. [Admin Decision] [-screened- T+21 hrs ] Prior Kick/Ban [-screened- T+25 hrs] Cheater banned by GGC-Stream.NET. Ban on GUID [-screened-] Contact GGC-Stream.NET for details. [Admin Decision] [-screened- T+36 hrs] Prior Kick/Ban Then I've asked him to join my server (Ranked, non-Official, PB on, FF on) and checked server pb log: pb_sv_plist PunkBuster Server: Player List: [slot #] [GUID] [Address] [status] [Power] [Auth Rate] [Recent SS] [O/S] [Name] PunkBuster Server: End of Player List (0 Players) PunkBuster Server: New Connection (slot #1) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 [?] "-screened-" (seq -screened-) PunkBuster Server: Player GUID Computed [-screened-](-) (slot #1) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 -screened- PunkBuster Server: Player List: [slot #] [GUID] [Address] [status] [Power] [Auth Rate] [Recent SS] [O/S] [Name] PunkBuster Server: 1 -screened-(-) xx.xx.xx.xx:3659 OK 1 3.3 0 (V) "-screened-" PunkBuster Server: End of Player List (1 Player) So, I assume, master PB server says my server's PB 'daemon' "Hey, this GUID ain't banned, don't kick him"? But as far as I know (no, I wasn't banned by PB ever in any game so had to go through those BL forum topics), once you've got banned, you can't join any ranked server, no matter if it's streaming or not. Just trying to figure things out for myself, if you feel some information shouldn't be posted here, send me a PM.

@Benway Yes, I'm aware of EA's restriction on pb kick command usage on servers set to "Official" mode. What I don't understand and will be happy if you enlighten me, why I am able to play on Ranked non-streaming servers? Ain't PB should kick me even if my GUID is banned?

Something really weird is going on, check this BL thread: http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/forum/threadview/2955065670183554165/ Player (topic starter) was banned on 11/23 and he just realized that something is wrong, a whole WEEK after the actual ban.

Just a small notice: situation escalates, check this BL forum thread: http://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/forum/threadview/2955064768736226824/26/

@SuperTaz Thank you for giving us a small bit of hope to resolve this problem, I kindly ask you to keep the following how-to in this thread. I've made it to speed things up and keep 81518-related information in one place. If you allow this to stay here, I will contact other players with the same violation # and will give them the link to this post so EB will receive more information to analyze. ----------- How-to start ----------- -- Reboot your PC. -- While it reboots, try to remember what applications could be running in background while you were playing BF4. As stated above by SuperTaz, including, but not limited to: - antivirus/firewall software, mouse/keyboard drivers and applications (i.e. Razer software etc); - instant messengers (Skype / Trillian / ICQ / ...); - any kind of screen capture utilities (DXtory / ShadowPlay / FRAPs / ...); - any trainers/cheat utilities for other games (i.e. CheatEngine / Assassin's Creed IV 1.01 +30 TRAINER xD / ...); - productivity and creative software (Word, Excel, Photoshop, / ...); - network applications (Proxy / VPN, WiFi / Bluetooth utils / ...); - development IDEs and tools (Visual Studio / any Java-based IDEs like JetBrain's phpStorm / debuggers / process monitors and explorers / ...); - any server software including Apache, mySQL, version control servers (VisualSVN/tortoisesvn / ...), media streaming servers; - other applications (iTunes / Media players / Origin client replacement like Outcome / whatever). -- Download and place this file on your desktop: - https://mega.co.nz/#!yB0WgQYb!GTYgWWK_xDBN4Uwggb5CKDN2ORdKgnUQZr7ide0FnwU - or (if you afraid to run files from strangers) make your own proclist-81518.cmd file with the following contents: http://pastebin.com/V4j2ZRdB -- Launch every and single application you believe might be running while you were playing BF4. -- Now run the proclist-81518.cmd you've downloaded. NB: right click on it and choose "Run as administrator" -- It will take some time for the script to collect information about running processes and your PC (including, but not limited to, OS version and architecture, CPU information, system manufacturer, OS install date, registered owner name, network interfaces and settings). -- Script output will be placed on your desktop (proclist-81518.txt), and opened in notepad (or your own default text editor). -- Carefully select all (Ctrl-A), copy (Ctrl-C) then paste (Ctrl-V) in the new note to your EvenBalance ticket. - If you don't have EB ticket opened yet, consider to open one: - Find you ban details page (usually googling Your_nick_here pbbans works, first link will be the one you're looking for) - Click "Appeal this ban" button, then carefully follow given instructions. - NB#1: use existing email address, double check it when submitting your appeal, since the link to your ticket will be sent to that email. - NB#2: be sure to check your Junk/Spam folder, I was told that EB response is being marked as spam sometimes. -- ADD#1: Be sure to not change your software configuration, delete files, uninstall something, since (my speculation here!) EB might ask you to upload any file they're interested in. -- If you have something to ask or to report, feel free to email me: [email protected] ----------- How-to end ----------- I do really hope this "quick and dirty" how-to will help EB to find out what is the cause of 81518 violation and make a final decision on whenever it was triggered by error or not. I'd like to repeat myself that, in my humble opinion, converting this violation to restriction kicks would be acceptable for both EB and the gaming community, since that will show us, gamers, that we can be punished for _any_ kind of cheating software installed / being running while you play any PB-protected game, and, at the same time, that EB works hardly to make PB better and iron out possible imperfections. With all the above have been said, I'd like to hear from PBBans staff if it's okay to leave this how-to here and redirect other players who raised 81518 violation to this thread. Thanks, over and out. // edit reason: formatting, ADD#1

@pipes1 Sir, excurse moi, but ain't you're trying to be more saint than Pope himself? Although I do agree that Cheat Engine usage might be looking 'fishy', especially here, at pbbans.com, since this software has "Cheat" in its name (why haven't they named it Download Accelerator?), I do also insist that it's none of EB/PB business what, why and how I'm using unless it directly relates to PB-protected game in terms of illegal benefits of any kind one gets over other players. Either it is wallhack, aimbot, any kind of proven mouse/keyboard macro, ban should be inevitable and permanent. Next, you state that "CE can be used in MP games and has been seen". I'd really appreciate if you kindly explain how your statement does relate to Battlefield 4, and if you present some kind of proof-of-concept, I'll pay your server fees for, say, a year. Your words vs my money, I guess it's pretty fair. Link to my server follows below, don't forget to check its message. @towhomitmayconcernt What I'm trying to say here is that punkbuster is just a software that works like, I guess, any antivirus, and false positive detections are just a matter of time. Too bad for EB that these two false banwaves (89265 and 81518) have occured in just a month since game was released and confirming second will definitely strike EB reputation, those "pay-to-own-n00bz" sites will be happy. Converting 81518 bans to restriction kicks is the only solution I see here, since most players I've spoken to are thinking that the game itself crashes to desktop and have no clue what's happening until I sent them link to pbbans.com page with their violation details. I've already contacted with 40—45 players, and I'm currently collecting more information about system specs, OS and software installed etc. It will take some time to analyze it, prepare and post _new_ topic at BattleLog forum with all the details. If EB fails to admit its mistakes, let's ask the community who's right. I think it's a bad idea but let the storm begin, it's the only way to gain EA's attention to problem. @PBBans staff I do really appreciate your hard work to keep BF4 (3, 2, any other MP game) clean, I bet it eats a lot of time and money and please don't treat my words as a call to "just turn PB off I can't play omg". I've even rented a server a while ago to play with my friends the way we want to play: http://bit.ly/IlsWxS and was studying docs on streaming, server plugins etc, will be really sad to shut it down. @playerswith81518 Hey, it's just a game, nice, beautiful, best MP FPS out there, but it's just a game. If this ban is a problem for you, let me say that you're happier than other 95% of Earth population -- you have credit card, internet access, decent rig and you don't have to worry about your meal. No matter how this problem will (or won't) be solved, just accept the outcome. Shit happens, it's just how this world lives.

I wonder if something is being done about that, I've been banned too, same violation number 81518. Took some time before I've realized what happened, game is being closed in 10-20 seconds after I join any server, and BattleLog status bar (at page bottom) just says "Leaving level". I've set Battlefield to run in window mode and finally saw red message that disappeared in like 0.5 sec (no wonder, it's EA). Had to capture Chrome window with dxtory just to read that message. Wait.. ban? What for? Googling and reading BL forum thread was useless, one thing noted was having Cheat Engine (CE) installed, Yes, I have it installed and yes, I'm using it occasionally to add more health or money in some arcade games. I'm sure that CE can not be used to cheat in any MP game out there since it's the way MP games work today (well, at least those with dedicated servers), so never had any concerns using it (CE). Seems (to me, of course, these days nobody trusts anybody) it is the only thing that could trigger violation. I was looking at other players' profiles and I just can't believe and can't accept all these guys are cheaters. One guy has 4 kills with accuracy like 8%, l33t h3x0r, honestly. Since we, regular players, are parsecs away from EvenBalance would be nice if PBBans staff pass this information to them. If CE isn't allowed it should be stated somewhere and instead of banning players, PB should kick them with restriction (as it was done to violations #79551, #89246, #89296, http://www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page=support-bf3.php). Meanwhile, I'm able to play on official servers (with "madmins" yelling "Burn in hell hacking b*tch", literally) and those not streaming to PBBans/GGC. Always thought that once you're banned by PB you can't join any ranked (i.e. PB-enabled) server. It's not a biggest problem to get new key, but possibility to be occasionally banned again holds me from doing that right now and in the future unless I get an acceptable answer (yes I know that EB won't give any exact information) on ban cause and.. and it's just plain wrong to be banned for running an app that in no way used to cheat in Battlefield. --------- P.S. As a side note, I feel myself being pretty experienced PC user, my first PC was 386SX with MS-DOS 3.11, I do still remember what a pita was to install win95 beta (chicago) from twenty 1.44mb floppies and I'm the person who builds/upgrades my gaming rig and maintains home gadgets/networking/servers. I'm aware of viruses, malware, monster browsers add-ons, password strength importance and keeping that "Remember me" checkbox unchecked.