Taking Action Against Cheaters in ESO

Auldjohn · May 2014

ZOS_JasonL wrote: »

Hey there, @Auldjohn. If you want to report a player for inappropriate behavior or exploitation, you can do so in-game by right-clicking on their name and selecting the "Report Player" option. You can also submit a help ticket to report bots that you find in-game, just be sure to give specifics as to their location.

For the instance you named above, we'll be sure to forward that information to our Support Team so they can jump to that area to investigate. Thanks for bringing this to our attention!

@ZOS_JasonL: I used F1 to report at least 10 or 12 bots at this location, including a screenshot with each submission.

Should I use an e-mail Support Request to reach the Support Team about this persistent bot chain?

ZOS_JasonI · May 2014

Hey again, @Auldjohn‌. Our GMs have been alerted, and are currently heading to that location. You are always more than welcome to submit a report, but our team is actively working to remove bots from the location you provided.

Nylan · May 2014

I know what, I'll pay $80 for a game, then $15 a month to keep my sub, then I'll pay someone to play it for me....what?!

KerinKor · May 2014

Nylan wrote: »

I know what, I'll pay $80 for a game, then $15 a month to keep my sub, then I'll pay someone to play it for me....what?!

"what?!" indeed.

What are you trying to say?

Karm2865 · May 2014

[/quote]
Please, quit with the paranoia .. there's nothing at all about this which hints at a 'security' problem, it's just crass programming.

[/quote]

not a security problem?

Unless it is the GM's and or Devs are running the bots. (that can now teleport node to node fly, run at hyper speeds and travel underground.........) making it next to impossible to craft.
I am not saying it is the Devs. they would be able to just create whatever they want inasmuch quantities as they want so it is unlikely it is one of them.
But it all points to unauthorised access to the game code. evion if they're just cracking the client side there should be checks in place to prevent this.
So how is it not a security problem?
Explain it to me.

Auldjohn · May 2014

ZOS_JasonL wrote: »

Hey again, @Auldjohn‌. Our GMs have been alerted, and are currently heading to that location. You are always more than welcome to submit a report, but our team is actively working to remove bots from the location you provided.

Thanks for the feedback, ZOS_JasonL! Happy to do my bit in the fight against Gold Spammers and the insidious Botters.

KerinKor · June 2014

Karm2865 wrote: »

Please, quit with the paranoia .. there's nothing at all about this which hints at a 'security' problem, it's just crass programming.

not a security problem?

Unless it is the GM's and or Devs are running the bots. (that can now teleport node to node fly, run at hyper speeds and travel underground.........) making it next to impossible to craft.
I am not saying it is the Devs. they would be able to just create whatever they want inasmuch quantities as they want so it is unlikely it is one of them.
But it all points to unauthorised access to the game code. evion if they're just cracking the client side there should be checks in place to prevent this.
So how is it not a security problem?
Explain it to me.

You clearly have no idea how bot writers work. Every MMO in existence in plagued with bots, to my knowledge there has never been a single case of a 'live' MMO's source code being compromised, certainly games I play where bots are endemic to some extent haven't suffered this.

The 'hackers' achieve what they do by analysing the messages going to and from the server, they monitor memory changes and deduce what game effect such changes have.

For example, someone discovered that altering some memory locations allowed the 'flying' bots, that person had no access to the source code to the client.

There is no reason to think for one moment source code has leaked anywhere, nor any reason to think it's an 'inside job'.

sevcik.miroslaveb17_ESO · June 2014

I do not know what they did, but at least gold selling spam stoped. I was playing for like 6 hours yesterday and I did not bump into any bot. I did not even see farming bot (in auridon) they still might be in khenartis Roost. That I do not know.

But I feel they must have done something:-) which makes me happy and I will continue playing for sure. Now please fix the scaling in PvP and I am the have customer. The rest of issues are minor for me so I do not care much. Player shops won't be in game most likely. That makes me very sad, but what can I do? Adapt and do not trade. I am fine with that.

Cogo · June 2014

I think one factor that goldseller spam becomes less is of course Zenimax battle against them, but also the lack of players who buy gold.

No gold buyer.......no reason for goldsellers to stay.

Gisgo · June 2014

sevcik.miroslaveb17_ESO wrote: »

I do not know what they did, but at least gold selling spam stoped.

Very simply, nobody is buying anymore.

Professional gold sellers got what they wanted from ESO and moved to the next big MMO release.

recon011994 · June 2014

I am glad to see a change in the lack of gold sellers in my mail. The change is quite noticeable compared to earlier on in the game. I also see a great deal less of the irritating BOT army running around certain resource hot zones. Continue the good work.

However, I would like to see someone from the ESO Team being assigned as a moderator in this (and other) forums. If nothing else, they could be a link to the Dev Teams and provide us some sort of feedback. It would be appreciated since we are spending our time assisting their team by reporting bugs, bots, and spending time in their forums, etc. A simple, "We are currently looking at that," or, "Please utilize this link to better answer your concern/question/report."

Overall, I appreciate the hard work and I have really enjoyed the game and even the occasional encounters with the Dev's BOT destroying PC's. It has been an interactive and welcome experience compared to many MMOs.

Amylar · July 2014

Is it possible to share some of your "action against cheaters" statistics ?

It might encourage well intentionned players and maybe discourage novice cheaters to follow the path of greater cheater as well ?

It can be :
- 2000 accounts receive definitive ban for using bots
- 200 accounts receive 1 month ban for exploiting bugs
- ...

What do you think of this ?

PS : English is not my motherlanguage so be indulgent

Armitas · July 2014

Amylar wrote: »

Is it possible to share some of your "action against cheaters" statistics ?

It might encourage well intentionned players and maybe discourage novice cheaters to follow the path of greater cheater as well ?

It can be :
- 2000 accounts receive definitive ban for using bots
- 200 accounts receive 1 month ban for exploiting bugs
- ...

What do you think of this ?

I second that. There is a firm notion going around that it is okay to exploit every avenue of the game without repercussions because exploits get fixes rather than bans. That notion leaves those who play in the spirit of the game feeling cheated and doubting that any prescriptive paradigm exists for playing the game.

I wish we could see a monthly update on ban numbers attached to each "Road Ahead" release because it is an important part of the road ahead. Establishing a regular presence against those who would abuse the game is part of any road that will continue to allow smooth travel.

MercutioElessar · August 2014

Armitas wrote: »

I wish we could see a monthly update on ban numbers attached to each "Road Ahead" release because it is an important part of the road ahead. Establishing a regular presence against those who would abuse the game is part of any road that will continue to allow smooth travel.

Aye, agree!
Also it would be interesting and helpful to know, wich sort of cheating/ exploiting/ bugusing had been punished how.
If that statistic e.g. says "100 four-week time bans for buguse on XYZ" players could see if their effort of using the appropriate ingame report functions really get the deserved attention.

AtheWunder · August 2014

I agree. I would love to see the stats.

TomSamuel · August 2014

well I definitely get your sentiment and I'm on you're side. The only flaw is ZeniMax wants more and more people to play the game [Snip]

[Moderator Note: Edited per our rules on Rude and Insulting comments]

MercutioElessar · August 2014

[Snip]

OnTopic: Really, officiales? No reaction? Not even a "Sorry, we don't do that"?

[Moderator Note: Removed moderated quote]

Targrim · August 2014

TomSamuel wrote: »

Targrim wrote: »

Only problem is you banned the main groups, but you did not clean up the damage they had already caused. Now DC has unlimited stacks of everything, and almost 80% are all 10 Vet status while the other 2/3s are still grinding at regular speed because we don't have the luxury of just using endless resources on Offense and Defense and so on. You should have wiped all Vet status and cleared all PvP related gear to level the field after you patched the problem. Now before all you Dumb Fks start crying "why should the rest be punished for what a few did?", simple most of the DC are still using the stacks to this day, while wiping just DC would the preferred method, some would think that they were singled out. Then again you DC didn't report your faction while it happened so your really just as guilty. let the flaming begin the TRUTH hurts.

You are an idiot sir. This problem is just not one faction side but all three. You'd sound more credible if you acknowledged this instead of saying only one side need be wiped.

Tom your an idiot, it would have been cool if more then DC had duded the 100's of thousands of stack equipment. While yes it was a handful of players o their side they knew about it did not report them, they simply took the advantage and ran with it so they are just as guilt as those that did dupe the items. It's easy to tell who they were even from the player stand point, play a few days and watch who in 1 single string of sieges never stops to refill but has plenty of PVP good to pass around all day long without stopping at the vendor. which I personal witnessed. You will not see it happen on any other Faction because no one else abused it as bad as DC. You will never see a ban report because the can't do it without removing a large chunk of the DC players from the game and they are afraid of losing the subs. So here what I say I'll pay 40 a month to play until the factions level back out if they remove/kick temp those that still in fact have the duped items and remove the dupe item from the game permanently.

TomSamuel · August 2014

You're **

I find your conjecture nothing more then self serving conjuration for self interest. Its absurd and indicative of weak character sir. Also your grammar is horrible.

SuddenVamp · November 2014

Isn't it the funniest thing on how I'm glad and all that they are gone (like ecstatic), but I'm not really a PvPer or really totally "social" in-game. The point is that i haven't really noticed anything of cheaters or so people say "hackers" at all. So could someone give me an example (non-specific) on what a "bot" or what a "gold spammer" is even though the name sounds quite explanatory.

SuddenVamp · November 2014

SuddenVamp wrote: »

Isn't it the funniest thing on how I'm glad and all that they are gone (like ecstatic), but I'm not really a PvPer or really totally "social" in-game. The point is that i haven't really noticed anything of cheaters or so people say "hackers" at all. So could someone give me an example (non-specific) on what a "bot" or what a "gold spammer" is even though the name sounds quite explanatory.

An add-on to my last comment is..Thanks for getting those losers off ESO Zenimax!!

nukeemstudiosub17_ESO · November 2014

SypherDiass wrote: »

HERE ARE TWO IMAGES THAT I LOADED IN TO THIS MORNING WHEN I MADE A NEW CHARACTER ....

WHERE IS MY IMAGE UPLOADING OPTION GONE ?

I LOADED AN IMAGE INTO MY LAST POST THAT YOU DELETED ? BEFORE YOU REDIRECTED ME HERE ? WTF IS GOING ON ?

DO YOU EVEN WANT OUR HELP OR WHAT ?

I for one would like to see the photos that seemingly disappeared from his post. It's a little fishy when someone tries to expose a problem using photo evidence, and the said evidence gets removed.

Gyudan · November 2014

nukeemstudiosub17_ESO wrote: »

SypherDiass wrote: »

HERE ARE TWO IMAGES THAT I LOADED IN TO THIS MORNING WHEN I MADE A NEW CHARACTER ....

WHERE IS MY IMAGE UPLOADING OPTION GONE ?

I LOADED AN IMAGE INTO MY LAST POST THAT YOU DELETED ? BEFORE YOU REDIRECTED ME HERE ? WTF IS GOING ON ?

DO YOU EVEN WANT OUR HELP OR WHAT ?

I for one would like to see the photos that seemingly disappeared from his post. It's a little fishy when someone tries to expose a problem using photo evidence, and the said evidence gets removed.

Did you happen to notice the post's date before making such a request ?

nukeemstudiosub17_ESO · November 2014

Gyudan wrote: »

nukeemstudiosub17_ESO wrote: »

SypherDiass wrote: »

HERE ARE TWO IMAGES THAT I LOADED IN TO THIS MORNING WHEN I MADE A NEW CHARACTER ....

WHERE IS MY IMAGE UPLOADING OPTION GONE ?

I LOADED AN IMAGE INTO MY LAST POST THAT YOU DELETED ? BEFORE YOU REDIRECTED ME HERE ? WTF IS GOING ON ?

DO YOU EVEN WANT OUR HELP OR WHAT ?

I for one would like to see the photos that seemingly disappeared from his post. It's a little fishy when someone tries to expose a problem using photo evidence, and the said evidence gets removed.

Did you happen to notice the post's date before making such a request ?

no actually oh well

Dubah · December 2014

I didn't even realise this was still a problem, however I will say if it is, thanks for working to fix it. I really don't spend alot of time in the beginner zones which is probably where the problems are occuring. Keep up the good work ZOS and eventually your player base will love you as a whole instead of just those of us who understand this game is still new and polishing takes a long time. Love ya guys and keep up the good work!