Odds of getting banned for a low-profile behavior

[lolurd]

So I just recently got HB and I'm a rather casual user, I was wondering if someone could give me a hint of how dangerous my behavior is for when the next banwave comes around.

I never AFK bot, I run the bot mostly for leveling up mining/herbs/skinning. I reply to whispers and all that while botting as I'm sitting right there usually alt tabbed and checking in regularly. I never bot for more than 2-3hours straight and about 90% of my botting sessions are about 1h-1h30mins. Between sessions I turn off the bot and play the game, do some questing, AH, achievements, etc. I always bot during my regular playtime, never overnight.

I'm pretty much as casual as it gets, I do love the bot though because it saves me the mindless grinding to level up professions and questing on alts (if I do quest I do it within the same hours as I use gatherbuddy, never long or overnight sessions).

Anyone out there banned with similar behavior? I would love to hear from the boting veterans what they think the odds are of getting banned with this type of behavior. I do know there's always a chance, I would just like to get an idea of what that chance might be from the veterans.

Thanks!

 

[nuggat]

the problem with banwaves is when hb gets detected all gets banned. you are never safe from this, but from reports you will be pretty safe. i think if you care about the account you should be careful!!

 

[Grillzor]

Chances of getting banned are 100%. As of the matter of how long it will take, nobody knows. The bans go in waves and if HB is detected then its detected. Over for everyone

 

[lolurd]

Chances of getting banned are 100%. As of the matter of how long it will take, nobody knows. The bans go in waves and if HB is detected then its detected. Over for everyone

A lot must have changed then, I botted 2-3 years ago and a lot harder than I'm doing now, leveling a character to level 90 in a straight session, same for a 0-40 and A LOT of BGs and I never got so much as a warning from that.

 

[GranPapi]

A lot must have changed then, I botted 2-3 years ago and a lot harder than I'm doing now, leveling a character to level 90 in a straight session, same for a 0-40 and A LOT of BGs and I never got so much as a warning from that.

Exactly, HB is nowhere near safe as before, right now we're getting used to receive a banwave every 6 months or less so you have to be very careful and lucky to no get your acc banned. IMHO blizz isn't going to use the banhammer until few weeks after Legion drops, now when they show their fresh expansion subs numbers... KABOOM!

 

[qztr]

Exactly, HB is nowhere near safe as before, right now we're getting used to receive a banwave every 6 months or less so you have to be very careful and lucky to no get your acc banned. IMHO blizz isn't going to use the banhammer until few weeks after Legion drops, now when they show their fresh expansion subs numbers... KABOOM!

Or it might just be that Blizzard knows they can't really win the legal battles against Bossland, so they do what they can, aka banhammers more often than before.

 

[skuwlol]

Historically speaking all the banwaves has occured during low activity periods. First one was during the 6.1 selfie camera content patch, second one was in december during the 6.2 content drought and the third one was earlier this year, still in the 6.2 content drought. My guess is Blizzard does not place their focus on botters right before or after an expansion when they have more important matters. I'm botting 24/7 on my main account not expecting a ban (with saftey precautions). Hell I'm even botting 24/7 in dungeons on two suicide accounts at 10 days played still going strong. I haven't been able to do that for over two years.

However I'm sure about during a potential investigation on your account they would check for repetitive behaviour. If you're only botting for a couple of hours here and there while doing manual stuff on the side you are surely on the safer side. Should there be a banwave we are all doomed though regardless of saftey precautions.

This is based on my own experiences and speculations ofc.

 

[lolurd]

Historically speaking all the banwaves has occured during low activity periods. First one was during the 6.1 selfie camera content patch, second one was in december during the 6.2 content drought and the third one was earlier this year, still in the 6.2 content drought. My guess is Blizzard does not place their focus on botters right before or after an expansion when they have more important matters. I'm botting 24/7 on my main account not expecting a ban (with saftey precautions). Hell I'm even botting 24/7 in dungeons on two suicide accounts at 10 days played still going strong. I haven't been able to do that for over two years.

However I'm sure about during a potential investigation on your account they would check for repetitive behaviour. If you're only botting for a couple of hours here and there while doing manual stuff on the side you are surely on the safer side. Should there be a banwave we are all doomed though regardless of saftey precautions.

This is based on my own experiences and speculations ofc.

Thanks for the great insight guys. This is what I wanted to know, I'll keep my casual botting for now and a few days after Legion drops I'll just stop botting altogether until I see a banwave. That seems like a decent plan.

 

[Joeri]

I was a casual botter too, only used combat routines with manual movement, and only raided with my guild. Still got hit in the banwave.

 

[WolfpackPB]

Don't think you can find a pattern and avoid ban waves by "casually botting". It's up to luck, you could bot 1 minute every 3 days and still fit inside a detection window, you'll get the ban-hammer along with most everyone else. It's simple, don't bot on any account you want to keep, use Honorbuddy on alt accounts to fuel your main account.

 

[Joeri]

This is the reply I got when I appealed my ban last week, clearly states they monitor your active processes.

Following a review of your case, we can confirm that the evidence presented was correct and that the subsequent action taken was appropriate. Our decision in this matter stands and will not be overturned.

For privacy and security reasons, it is our policy never to reveal details regarding account investigations beyond those which are provided in the original notice mail.

If you wish to review our current Rules and Policies, they can be found at: Other - Blizzard Support

This account action has already been thoroughly reviewed and will not be investigated again. Further tickets concerning this issue may be closed without a response.

The game client may monitor your computer's RAM and/or CPU processes for unauthorized third party programs running concurrently with the game.

An unauthorized third party program is defined as any third party software (including Addons) that facilitates cheating; intercepts, mines or collects information from the game database; or allows modifying or hacking of the game interface, environment or experience in any way not expressly authorized by Blizzard Entertainment.

For sensitivity and security reasons, we do not provide evidence of investigations to our customers. However, I can assure you that we have investigated and re-reviewed the evidence presented in this case. This is also done by multiple agents to ensure fairness and in this case the evidence was correct.

This action has been taken in accordance with our Terms of Use and our In-game Policies (Blizzard's Code of Conduct - Blizzard Support), which all players acknowledge and agree to prior to playing World of Warcraft. These policies and conditions allow us to maintain a fun and safe game environment for all of our players.

Our Battle.net Terms of Use can be found at Blizzard Entertainment: Battle.net Terms of Use. Further information on the different levels of account penalty we can apply is available at
Blizzard Support.

We now consider this matter closed and would not look to enter into further discussion on the subject.

 

[WolfpackPB]

When they say "...running concurrently with the game" it means that they are not allowed to scan outside of their own memory space, this has been well known for a loooooong time. Honorbuddy is definitely in the memory of WoW but it does it's best to hide from Blizz Scans. So yeah, they can try and find HB but they will never see your pornhub or Hello Kitty Island Adventure running in the background.

 

[blackjice]

i thought tripwire stops us from gettting detected

 

[Grindfest]

I've been botting my "main" account since 2006 using WoWGlider and have survived every banwave. I believe that the secret is to have your subscription expired when a banwave hits, which has just been dumb luck for me. Typically, I just play the game for (10) days or so at a time before getting bored by the repetition and then let the subscription run out. During those (10) days, I'll bot all night long (mix of leveling and BG's) then only play by hand during the day.

 

[ImpiousCraft]

Yeah I plan on just Quest Botting and watching %90 of the time.
I got a 102 DH and a 100 WL, just started a DK which I'd like to got to 100.
I hope to get my DH and WL to 106-8 and my DK to 100 within he next 2 months and then i'll probably stop botting at together until a ban wave comes and pick up a week or 2 after that.

 

[fightcancer]

Chances of getting banned are 100%. As of the matter of how long it will take, nobody knows. The bans go in waves and if HB is detected then its detected. Over for everyone

This.

 

[shadowrukia]

HB is detected. right away when i press start I got DCed and banned right away. Proof right there. now im to scared,never will bot again everytime i do its banned.

 

[Banshee]

HB is detected. right away when i press start I got DCed and banned right away. Proof right there. now im to scared,never will bot again everytime i do its banned.

LOL?


Anyways, a ban wave should be coming in the next 2 and a half months if Blizzard keeps up with their formula. Entirely speculation and guessing, but math bro.

 

[Grindfest]

LOL?


Anyways, a ban wave should be coming in the next 2 and a half months if Blizzard keeps up with their formula. Entirely speculation and guessing, but math bro.

This. I'm keeping up the strategy that has always worked for me and will let my subscription run out, then will go on a temporary hiatus. I'll monitor the forums and wait for the banwave to hit. I'll return a few weeks later when the dust has settled. I haven't yet had Blizzard ban a single account of mine that didn't have an active subscription.

 

[stewiethecat]

I have done "careful" botting with accounts, and been reckless on other accounts. No matter what you do with the program. If you use it on a regular basis, you're bound to get the hammer. Have fun with it, but know you're going to lose that account eventually, it's just a matter of time.