Valve look set to crack down on idlers

Lord Metritutus · Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:20 am

Looks like you could actually have your Steam account disabled in the future...

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/s ... p?t=953306

Quote:

"TF_CheatDetected_Title" "WARNING"
"TF_CheatDetectedMinor" "Your account has been flagged for circumventing the item distribution system. We have removed the items that were illegally obtained.\n\nFuture violations will result in the loss of all your items."
"TF_CheatDetectedMajor" "Your account has been flagged for circumventing the item distribution system. We have removed all items in your inventory.\n\nFuture violations may result in your account being disabled."

Quote:

"122"
{
"name" "CheatDetectedMinor"
"enabled" "0"
"item_class" "tf_wearable_item"
"item_type_name" "CheatDetector"
"item_name" "#TF_CheatDetectedMinor"
"item_slot" "misc"
"item_quality" "unique"
"min_ilevel" "100"
"max_ilevel" "100"
"image_inventory" ""
"image_inventory_size_w" "128"
"image_inventory_size_h" "82"
"model_player" ""
"used_by_classes"
{
}
}

Quote:

"123"
{
"name" "CheatDetectedMajor"
"enabled" "0"
"item_class" "tf_wearable_item"
"item_type_name" "CheatDetector"
"item_name" "#TF_CheatDetectedMajor"
"item_slot" "misc"
"item_quality" "unique"
"min_ilevel" "100"
"max_ilevel" "100"
"image_inventory" ""
"image_inventory_size_w" "128"
"image_inventory_size_h" "82"
"model_player" ""
"used_by_classes"
{
}
}

Nannal · Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:44 am

iler got patched at half four this morning, They cant stop the signal.

Lord Metritutus · Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:48 am

Nannal wrote:

iler got patched at half four this morning, They cant stop the signal.

Nope, but they can delete your items, possibly disable your backpack completely, that may be what 'account' refers to, or account may refer to the outright disabling of your Steam account. I am not certain, but you may be breaching the Steam terms of service by idling. And even if you are not, I believe they reserve the right to alter it without notifying people. And there will be nothing you can do about it.

EDIT:

This may or may not be true:

Quote:

8:50 PM - Nine: Will we be seeing a blog post from The Announcer in the near future that will clear up this Cheat Detection mess for the large amount of angry and confused players?
8:50 PM - ErikJ: Who are the angry and confused players
8:50 PM - Nine: Pretty much anyone who used the idle program, it seems
8:51 PM - ErikJ: That would be cheating the item system, so yeah, they will lose their items.
8:51 PM - ErikJ: But we're going to post tomrrow.
8:52 PM - Nine: ...and what's with the tf_wearable_item associated with cheating?
8:53 PM - ErikJ: It will give people a message letting them know that their items they got using the idling program are gone.
8:54 PM - Nine: Okay. Thanks for clearing that up.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/s ... tcount=558

If it is true, I expect we will see a new blog post this evening.

Nannal · Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:36 am

They cannot distinguish between items earned honestly and items earned dishonestly, so they would therefore be forced to wipe over ten thousands player's items.

then the idler wil get patched, and off we go again.

treeseph · Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:48 am

Nannal wrote:

They cannot distinguish between items earned honestly and items earned dishonestly, so they would therefore be forced to wipe over ten thousands player's items.

then the idler wil get patched, and off we go again.

They'll probably disable idling on all servers, then anyone who puts in no input (as in doesnt press a key or click) will then be flagged as idling. The fake idler can still be running but no one will use it because they'll get banned.

So in short the only way steam can stop idling on fake idler is to stop ALL idling...

Couldnt they also just stop connections from the fake idlers IP?

Lord Metritutus · Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:54 am

Nannal wrote:

They cannot distinguish between items earned honestly and items earned dishonestly, so they would therefore be forced to wipe over ten thousands player's items.

then the idler wil get patched, and off we go again.

And if they disable the backpack/steam account for those who idle? A patched idle program will not help you if you have no way of using it.

Also, we know they collect a lot of game-play data. I think it is safe to say that they will be able to locate people idling quite easily.

Still, we will have to wait and see.

Nannal · Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:55 am

+forward

/thread

DHR-107 · Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:14 pm

Nannal wrote:

They cannot distinguish between items earned honestly and items earned dishonestly, so they would therefore be forced to wipe over ten thousands player's items.

then the idler wil get patched, and off we go again.

The problem is you don't actually know that. VAC secure server Items may have an extra line in their code designating a legal item obtained from a VAC server.

A Non VAC server item may not have this line, so it would be flagged as an illegally (cheating) obtained item, thus it can be deleted...

Lord Metritutus · Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:19 pm

That's an interesting point, Valve could prevent non-VAC secured servers from dishing out items completely.

DRAGON · Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:23 pm

Oh well, I haven't got anything good from idling XD

Wynney · Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:51 pm

this is a good thing. Many times I've been tempted to play tf2 to see the people just idling. It's annoying

Skillers · Tue Sep 01, 2009 1:29 pm

I think it will be fairly easy for them to detect who's being using the idle program. Even if there's just a flag with the items in their database of which server they got them on, it will be easy to delete all the SourceOP fake idler ones.

treeseph · Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:07 pm

it would

Gozzer · Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:32 pm

I don't see why some people are getting worked up about this. Its just another comical TF announcer punishing 'baddies' moment.

If you've earned items through idling and they get deleted, so what? You might lose a hat that does nothing and if you lose any valuble weapons then you are a muppet.

Nannal · Tue Sep 01, 2009 9:08 pm

Fuck all's happened

Fuck all will happen

and they would have to remove all the items from non-vac server regulars (which people do play on and earn weapons "honestly" on them)

No www.tf2.com blog posts

and they cant stop +forwarding (if i add +mouse1 I can play pyro very effectively)

DHR-107 · Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:25 pm

/me bans Nannal for calling Pyro's noobs...

You cant play Pyro effectively whilst idling

Nannal · Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:29 pm

brb, making scripts!

Gozzer · Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:48 pm

Its likely nothing will happen as its all just speculation at the moment. However I feel if Valve doesn't like the idea of people idling something will happen.

Wheter it be punishing/rewarding/changing current system.

Nannal · Wed Sep 02, 2009 2:29 am

the creator of the idler says that if things become more difficult, he will not bother changing the way the idler works.

Si · Wed Sep 02, 2009 6:32 am

Steam Subscriber Agreement wrote:

5. ONLINE CONDUCT, CHEATING AND ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR

You agree that you will be personally responsible for the use of your Account and for all of the communication and activity on Steam that results from use of your Account. Your online conduct and interaction with other subscribers should be guided by common sense and basic etiquette. Specific requirements may also be found in the Steam Online Conduct rules at http://steampowered.com/index.php?area=online_conduct, other Rules of Use, the Subscription Terms, or in terms of use required by third parties who host particular games or other services.

Steam and the Steam Software may include functionality designed to identify software or hardware processes or functionality that may give a player an unfair competitive advantage when playing multiplayer versions of any Steam Software, other Valve products, or modifications thereof ("Cheats"). You agree that you will not create or assist third parties in any way to create Cheats. You agree that you will not directly or indirectly disable, circumvent, or otherwise interfere with the operation of software designed to prevent or report the use of Cheats. You acknowledge and agree that either Valve or any online multiplayer host may refuse to allow you to participate in certain online multiplayer games if you use Cheats in connection with Steam or the Steam Software. Further, you acknowledge and agree that an online multiplayer host may report your use of Cheats to Valve, and Valve may communicate your history of use of Cheats to other online multiplayer hosts for Valve products. Valve may terminate your Account or a particular Subscription for any conduct or activity that Valve believes is illegal, constitutes a Cheat, or which otherwise negatively affects the enjoyment of Steam by other Subscribers. You acknowledge that Valve is not required to provide you notice before terminating your Subscriptions(s) and/or Account, but it may choose to do so.

Sorry guys, Valve have the right to go "F U BITCHES, GTFO" as I doubt the fake idler is a valve product?

Besides, fine go to idle servers. Umm you think the master server doesnt log anything?

Nannal · Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:16 am

Si wrote:

Steam Subscriber Agreement wrote:

5. ONLINE CONDUCT, CHEATING AND ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR

You agree that you will be personally responsible for the use of your Account and for all of the communication and activity on Steam that results from use of your Account. Your online conduct and interaction with other subscribers should be guided by common sense and basic etiquette. Specific requirements may also be found in the Steam Online Conduct rules at http://steampowered.com/index.php?area=online_conduct, other Rules of Use, the Subscription Terms, or in terms of use required by third parties who host particular games or other services.

Steam and the Steam Software may include functionality designed to identify software or hardware processes or functionality that may give a player an unfair competitive advantage when playing multiplayer versions of any Steam Software, other Valve products, or modifications thereof ("Cheats"). You agree that you will not create or assist third parties in any way to create Cheats. You agree that you will not directly or indirectly disable, circumvent, or otherwise interfere with the operation of software designed to prevent or report the use of Cheats. You acknowledge and agree that either Valve or any online multiplayer host may refuse to allow you to participate in certain online multiplayer games if you use Cheats in connection with Steam or the Steam Software. Further, you acknowledge and agree that an online multiplayer host may report your use of Cheats to Valve, and Valve may communicate your history of use of Cheats to other online multiplayer hosts for Valve products. Valve may terminate your Account or a particular Subscription for any conduct or activity that Valve believes is illegal, constitutes a Cheat, or which otherwise negatively affects the enjoyment of Steam by other Subscribers. You acknowledge that Valve is not required to provide you notice before terminating your Subscriptions(s) and/or Account, but it may choose to do so.

Sorry guys, Valve have the right to go "F U <FEMALE DOGS>, GTFO" as I doubt the fake idler is a valve product?

Besides, fine go to idle servers. Umm you think the master server doesnt log anything?

The idler does not give the player any illegal advantage, and thus it does not qualify as a "cheat", it is not an illegal program and it does not harm the enjoyment of steam by any other user (no more than the random drop system did at any rate) the idler is thus not a violation of these terms and conditions and i will continue to run it until the terms and conditions are modified in such a way that the program becomes a violation.

treeseph · Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:46 am

Nannal wrote:

The idler does not give the player any illegal advantage, and thus it does not qualify as a "cheat", it is not an illegal program and it does not harm the enjoyment of steam by any other user (no more than the random drop system did at any rate) the idler is thus not a violation of these terms and conditions and i will continue to run it until the terms and conditions are modified in such a way that the program becomes a violation.

Ahh but steam obviously dont like the fake idler and will probably say that getting better weapons is an advantage and therefore ban fake idler.

DHR-107 · Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:52 am

*Valve.

And no they don't. I would say it does negatively affect the usage of steam by other users though... I know it's not a problem but theres been a few times when you/reb/dragon have been on TF2 and I was going to join you (to play) and find you are all on the idler server

treeseph · Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:01 am

Yeah i hate that too, never sure of whos actually playing untill you clikc view game info
I myself have never used the fake idler or any idling servers, i got all the weapons (apart from the kritzkrieg).
Still want more hats than just my medic one

Nannal · Wed Sep 02, 2009 8:04 am

IT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE TERMS, THE PROGRAM IS FINE

and it's the same as us playing in a passworded server dhr, passworded servers ruin negatively affect the steam community now?

Valve look set to crack down on idlers

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