Warning by GM for using Macroquest

mamba666 · Post by **mamba666** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:15 pm

Well,
Here is a question. I run programs in the background all the time. They usually have nothing to do with Everquest. I know MQ does specifically modify memory used by EQ. Isn't it possible that other programs could accidentally be using this memory as well and set off a flag falsely?

It would seem to me that they simply would be "guessing" that you are using a program that specifically checks EQ memory and if you "confirm" then you are busted.

If they could know what programs you are running on your machine, then it would be better than any military program that is used to check peoples computers for terrorist activities and such.

I am kind of ranting, but I can't imagine that their software is better than what the FBI or CIA might use to monitor computer activity on the internet.

Basically I am kinda saying that they guess more than they know and busting someone on what they guess is what Cops do all the time, If you don't admit any wrongdoing then they can only use the evidence that they have collected. many people have been busted on their own testimony when the cops really had very little more than a hunch as far as actual evidence.

I will simply do like I do with my girlfriend, deny deny deny. They get hunches all the time with no evidence and they can't really catch you unless they find panties in your car or somehting.

haha. I hope some of you get something from this. For EQ and or otherwise.

LordGiddion · Post by **LordGiddion** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:29 pm

Most like the user was doing some more odvious macro'ing in the past, if you note he says he was doing it by hand this time. Someone made a complaint or the system flagged him for performing Tradeskills too fast and I GM checked on it. The GM had the user's local client echo back everything it was displaying on the client system. The user states he was using MQ commands that echo back inforamtion not normally displayed to the user. The GM noted this and spoke to the user. Plain and simple.
Probably the same thing happend the first time the guide/gm watched him but he didn't do anything that echo'd extra info to the client during their chat. If he had done a /who npc or a /who with pets in the zone - which he was doing the second time, he would have been flagged during the first chat.
Hopefully Lax's new chat window code will stop this type of monitoring.

Lax · Post by **Lax** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:57 pm

Here is a question. I run programs in the background all the time. They usually have nothing to do with Everquest. I know MQ does specifically modify memory used by EQ. Isn't it possible that other programs could accidentally be using this memory as well and set off a flag falsely?

Nope. Each application has its own memory space, this is part of how modern operating systems work. MQ has to invade EQ's memory space, and it does so by loading a DLL. If a DLL erroneously modifies EQ, it would erroneously modify many other programs, and would crash your system.

Comparing SOE's detection methods to FBI/CIA investigations is quite invalid. Each time you send a tell, or any other kind of message, this information goes straight to SOE's servers, and needs no deciphering. FBI/CIA/etc don't have that option. So if you send a tell to your buddy saying hey MQ is sweet I have this macro blah blah blah, they can have something set up on their servers to listen for that (heard of Echelon? this would be similar). The other thing is they could randomly be watching a player's text scroll by, and they can see [MacroQuest] echoes, etc (this is part of what the new chat window is designed to work around). And of course if you do some obvious macroing... too many combines in too short of a time for an average person will raise big red flags on the server end. This is even easier to detect than chat about MQ.

DekeFentle · Post by **DekeFentle** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 2:01 pm

So Lax does that mean that when we start a macro "/macro something.mac" that command gets recorded on SOE servers?

If I key in /face $target is that recorded?

LordGiddion · Post by **LordGiddion** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 2:05 pm

not normally no, but if a gm set your client to echo then the results posted to your screen from MQ would most likely show up on the gm's screen. The commands themselves are grabbed by MQ so they don't go back to the server. It would be easy for Sony to be watching for common typos though - like wow this guy keeps sending the command /macor wonder why he doesn't understand that it isn't a valid command.

Lax · Post by **Lax** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 2:08 pm

I dont think I said anything like that. Tells are always sent to the server. Text that scrolls by is not always sent to the server. They can send a request to your client see the text that scrolls by. Using /report would also allow them to see the text that scrolls by. New chat window avoids this. Capiche?

Lax · Post by **Lax** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 2:09 pm

Commands arent sent to the server with or without MQ :) The client handles the command, and the effects of the command can be sent to the server (nothing happens on invalid commands dont worry about it)

MrSmallie · Post by **MrSmallie** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 11:44 am

Basically, just don't do anything stupid. If a player suspects you of macroing, and reports it, your account can be reviewed. If your fletching skill went from 1-200 in a couple hours, then there's going to be issues.

wassup · Post by **wassup** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 11:55 am

If you make the MQ window the default chat window, they cannot see anything you type or any MQ output unless its something that passes through their server, that is if I understand this correctly.

*edit*

Forget what I said, you can't type in the MQ window hehe.

EnterTheFist · Post by **EnterTheFist** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 6:45 pm

Think it's possible for a GM to open up packs in your inventory and watch the activity that goes on in them live? That would be a dead giveaway for tradeskillers.

This is undoubtedly possible with environ containers.

blueninja · Post by **blueninja** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 9:08 pm

EnterTheFist wrote:Think it's possible for a GM to open up packs in your inventory and watch the activity that goes on in them live?

Yes.

Thumper · Post by **Thumper** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 12:22 am

OK so given all the info in this thread, I have a question for you all.

Say PlayerX is on Stormhammer, would you think the abundance of GMs would:

A) Increase his/her likelihood of getting caught
B) GMs won't bother PlayerX because he's shelling out $40 a month for the server?

Lax · Post by **Lax** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 8:40 am

Both!

Coraz · Post by **Coraz** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 5:39 pm

Has anyone ever asked for justification for their warning or said you've been falsely accused? If they're invading your privacy to find out if you're using MQ they had better spill the beans.

So far everyone's I got caught / MQ is detectable testimony is GM told them they're being warned and they said okay i'll stop. What if they mess up and accuse an innocent person? They'd be innocent and you'd never see anything like that on a macroquest forum.

Slice · Post by **Slice** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:58 pm

When I got my first account banned for memory hacking I denied it to the very end. They didn't care. They stuck to the line of they had proof that I had used an illegal 3rd party product to alter my play and I was staying banned. No repeals, no escalation to a supervisor, just plain NO.