[Horsepower]

Do you think this goes too far?

The cost of hacking on PunkBuster servers has just gone up significantly. PunkBuster now computes Hardware GUIDs for various pieces of hardware on players' systems while playing on PunkBuster servers. We use multiple private one-way hashes so that no serial number information for individual computers can be determined by admins or anyone else who may try to obtain this information from a Hardware GUID (and as always, no personal information of any kind is examined, stored or transmitted by PunkBuster). When players raise a violation that corresponds to hacking or interfering with PunkBuster's normal operation, we now (in addition to Global PB GUID bans) are Globally banning the new Hardware GUIDs across all games supported by PunkBuster (including games supported in the future). So punks who are determined to cheat so badly on PB-enabled servers that they try to hack PunkBuster may now need a new computer in addition to a new cdkey in order to return to PunkBuster servers. As with previous PB GUID Global bans, the new Hardware GUID bans are permanent and will not be lifted. As always, players who are affected by these Global bans will still be able to play on non-PB servers. Honest users should never "test" hacks that claim to interfere with PunkBuster. We have successfully tested this new feature set over the past few weeks for a few supported games and will be rolling it out to all supported games over the next few days and weeks. Additionally, PunkBuster servers will be updated to signify whether kicks for Global bans are for PB GUIDs or the new Hardware GUIDs.

http://www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page=announce.php

[Aces High]

I think it goes a little too far with the "including games supported in the future" most newer games seem to use PB and probably many more will in the future too. It would be fine for just the game they were "caught" cheating in, but I don't think it should span every supported game now and in the future.

[Bonez]

ok banning a cdkey from all pb servers = people don't get to play the game they paid for. which i belive will cause less and less people to play games. that and if they know they can't play any games with pb support they will just not buy the game. so if you think about it, all it's doing is hurting the industry, and think about it. if it keeps going like that people are going to go after pb for banning them from a game they paid money for

[Packetloss]

Then dont cheat. If you NEED to cheat, dont play on a punkbuster enabled server.
I enable punkbuster because i want you TERRIFIED to cheat. Thanks evenbalance.

Its sort of making mandatory jailtime for drunk drivers. Maybe if you finally make the punishment SO SEVERE, SO SCARY, people will stop doing it. And the people who dont cheat? Why would they care? It doesnt affect them.

[*SW€D€*]

As far as I have understand the whole issiue is that PB isn't "water" proof.
If someone gets banned with out even done anything, they will probably get a couple of lawsuits over them. Because if PB ban someone and this person haven't done anything..well how would YOU react?

I mean I think it's allright as they have it now, as far as I know I have NEVER met a cheater in both of the BF-games or AA.

And for you who say that if you enabled it you kind of signed an aggrement, well I couldn't dissagre more. Since many people don't have a clue what PB is, the only thing they know is to enabel it to be able to play the "big" servers.
Who gives the autorithy to PB to act as a "power" maniac??

So as I said....It would be really bad if PB started to ban people out of the wrong reasons. People getting kicked all the time because of this, maaybe PB now will start ban theres computers from any game that has PB.

Keep PB as it is...It works just fine IMO.

[Knottwobad]

Cheaters need to go, there is no honor in it and to hell with them if they cannot play on a level field.

[CannonFodder]

Originally Posted by Sgt O'Neil

As far as I have understand the whole issiue is that PB isn't "water" proof.
If someone gets banned with out even done anything, they will probably get a couple of lawsuits over them. Because if PB ban someone and this person haven't done anything..well how would YOU react?

I mean I think it's allright as they have it now, as far as I know I have NEVER met a cheater in both of the BF-games or AA.

And for you who say that if you enabled it you kind of signed an aggrement, well I couldn't dissagre more. Since many people don't have a clue what PB is, the only thing they know is to enabel it to be able to play the "big" servers.
Who gives the autorithy to PB to act as a "power" maniac??

So as I said....It would be really bad if PB started to ban people out of the wrong reasons. People getting kicked all the time because of this, maaybe PB now will start ban theres computers from any game that has PB.

Keep PB as it is...It works just fine IMO.

That's the only thing I worry about, is the possible 'false postives' (Though there haven't been THAT many with previous releases). I just hope they've tested this to hell and back, and not just for a few weeks.

As far as people not knowing what it is, If they installed it and clicked the "I agree" button, shame on them for not reading what they were agreeing to

[Packetloss]

Originally Posted by Sgt O'Neil

As far as I have understand the whole issiue is that PB isn't "water" proof.
If someone gets banned with out even done anything, they will probably get a couple of lawsuits over them. Because if PB ban someone and this person haven't done anything..well how would YOU react?

Dont cheat or otherwise modify your game. pb bans people for severe var breaks. It only timed-kicks you for 'unconfirmed cheating' - ie. i was banned yesterday from all pb servers for an hour cuz i firewalled punkbuster packets. THIS IS A GOOD THING. As for suing? Did you not read that form before you clicked 'agree' to installing PB? Watching cop shows on TV doesnt qualify you as a lawyer!

Originally Posted by Sgt O'Neil

I mean I think it's allright as they have it now, as far as I know I have NEVER met a cheater in both of the BF-games or AA

Yes because cheaters typically change their name to [CHEATER]Nickname it makes them easy to find. (sarcasm)

Originally Posted by Sgt O'Neil

And for you who say that if you enabled it you kind of signed an aggrement, well I couldn't dissagre more.

Kep disagreeing, But infact, you did agree - Twice. Once when you purchased the game, and the second when you installed (Also me as a server admin, gives PB full auth to enforce any vars they want).

Originally Posted by Sgt O'Neil

Since many people don't have a clue what PB is, the only thing they know is to enabel it to be able to play the "big" servers.
Who gives the autorithy to PB to act as a "power" maniac??

Many people dont know what tax evasion is either - Too bad ignorance doesnt count for an exemption. Who gives PB that right? You, EA, and the rest of the players.

Originally Posted by Sgt O'Neil

So as I said....It would be really bad if PB started to ban people out of the wrong reasons. People getting kicked all the time because of this, maaybe PB now will start ban theres computers from any game that has PB.

Keep PB as it is...It works just fine IMO.

PB RARELY bans people nowadays - When was the last time you were mistakenly kicked by pb? (no, not having pb client up to date doesnt count - Thats your own fault).

Originally Posted by Sgt O'Neil

Keep PB as it is...It works just fine IMO.

Which way is it? Its fine? or that it kicks people for no reason? You've expressed two different trains of though here. Either it works fine, or it doesnt. I applaud evcen balance for endeavouring to keep their gaurd up, so we dont hafta play with counterstrike cheaters.

[Smurf]

Originally Posted by Packetloss

PB RARELY bans people nowadays - When was the last time you were mistakenly kicked by pb? (no, not having pb client up to date doesnt count - Thats your own fault).

Agreed. As long as it doesn't ban you for that, than I don't see a problem. That's the only thing I've seen PB kick.

[*SW€D€*]

Originally Posted by Packetloss

Dont cheat or otherwise modify your game. pb bans people for severe var breaks. It only timed-kicks you for 'unconfirmed cheating' - ie. i was banned yesterday from all pb servers for an hour cuz i firewalled punkbuster packets. THIS IS A GOOD THING. As for suing? Did you not read that form before you clicked 'agree' to installing PB? Watching cop shows on TV doesnt qualify you as a lawyer!

As for the watching cop shows issiue....Maybe YOU should read the public profile of me. I'm a dropout from the police accademy (because you make to little money for the job you do) so please don't drag me in to a discusion about what qualifys me as a lawyer or not, since I have had law (swedish law) education for over a year.
And if PunkBuster permbans your whole system (parts in the computer) with in one way or another, I'm consedering that not steeling but something very similar. Sure you have accepted...But here in Sweden we have a law that says: If the guy don't understand what his signing..The deal is OFF!

Originally Posted by Packetloss

Which way is it? Its fine? or that it kicks people for no reason? You've expressed two different trains of though here. Either it works fine, or it doesnt. I applaud evcen balance for endeavouring to keep their gaurd up, so we dont hafta play with counterstrike cheaters.

I'm sorry if what I wrote didnt make since. This is what I mean:

PunkBuster works IMO just fine TODAY, sure you could do some improvments...but still...ban a whole system...Hmm If you want to BAN some guys' system, do it for like a week or something.....

I really don't know how they figured this out, haven't read TO much about it. BUT if they thinking of something similar like "1 strike and you OUT!"
If this is the case they are WAY out there!