Those that decide to hack their systems know that there's always the chance of either bricking, or banning. Many of those that installed CFW or installed unauthorized software onto their Nintendo 3DS systems faced an online ban, back in 2017. With exploits and modchips becoming the talk of the town, and the Switch scene progress in general, there's the growing question of "what about bans?".

It began with known Switch hacker Shiny Quagsire finding out that their Switch had been banned. That alone is shocking, but not only was one of their systems banned, but two. They received error code 2124-4007 on their alleged non-hacked Nintendo Switch.

Huh, 2124-4007 on my not-hacked Switch. Wonder what that's about.

— Shiny Quagsire (@ShinyQuagsire) May 19, 2018

​

The screen suggests users to contact Nintendo Support with the error code, which the user in question did. Below, are two alleged chat sessions regarding the error code.

​

One of the responses was that the ban would not be lifted, and that the End User License Agreement had been broken. This error code prevents those from accessing the eShop, online gaming, or the friend list and social aspects. Updating or patching one's game still functions, however.

Banned unit count is at 2, current suspicion: libnx errors getting reported.

— Shiny Quagsire (@ShinyQuagsire) May 19, 2018

​

ShinyQuagsire then attempted to play Splatoon 2, and successfully voted for a team during the Splatfest, but trying to play a match brought back the same error code once more, stating that online features were restricted by Nintendo. It was then revealed that the "unhacked" Switch had once run the Homebrew Launcher, as well as PegaSwitch, the latter of which is an exploit toolkit that can write custom code to the system.

only correlation between my banned unit and the other in our group is libnx error codes being in the settings log, never did crazy save edits/cheating/weird online stuff, both had client certs dumped but I don't think it's that, they're not rejected

— Shiny Quagsire (@ShinyQuagsire) May 19, 2018

​

Later, another Switch hacker, SciresM also spoke up about his own console getting banned. CDN was cited as a potential cause, though ShinyQuagsire wasn't so sure, as the last time they'd done anything regarding that was months ago, meaning Nintendo could have retroactively banned them, or is only going after them now.

This is the console cert I've been using for *all* CDN exploration since June of last year. I'm not surprised in the slightest, tons and tons of invalid requests have been sent from this one. I also updated the console to 5.0.1 when that released.

— Michael (@SciresM) May 22, 2018

​

CDN, "Content Distribution Network", as described by Nintendo themselves is

Content delivery network providers enable faster video streaming and support the delivery of content you have requested, e.g. when using Nintendo eShop, by using a system of distributed servers that deliver the content to you, based on your geographic location. We may therefore share your information (including your IP address) with our third party content delivery network providers that provide content delivery network services in connection with Nintendo Account Services, Nintendo Network and the official Nintendo website, some of which may act as third-party data processors only

CDN downloaders had been used to download content directly to a computer from Nintendo services, and currently, this is what is considered to have most likely caused the bans at this time. Shiny Quagsire also knows another user who had a Switch banned, which never used the Homebrew Launcher, but did access and mess with the CDN. At this time, only Switch hackers appear to have been affected, not the average user. If more information becomes available, this post will be updated to include such.

 

[Powerful]

Wow. Interesting how Nintendo didn't give two shits about Wii/Wii u hacking. But they're all over the switch scene. Out with the ban hammer awfully early this round.

They really didn’t care too much for 3ds either. There’s been only 2 ban waves.

 

[Ericthegreat]

Let me put this simple for everyone.

IF you use HOMEBREW of any kind. You are ALWAYS at risk. The console as soon as you launch any HOMEBREW, it's broken the ToS and is facing a ban risk.
IF you wanna stay SAFE. NEVER EVER use any HOMEBREW. Use it as intended, pay for your games, pay for your online and enjoy it. RIsk of getting banned then is next to null.

Stop asking for "If I do this, will I be safe?" The answer is No, you are never safe!

Everyone stop asking hypothetical "but can I", and just read this. Gotta remember people used cfw on their 3ds for I think years, before Nintendo decided to ban. I hate to be the one saying this, I love experimentation, and would love to tell you all to do what you want with hardware you purchased, but there are too many kids/people who can't afford another switch, who use online features that are going to be sad when they are banned.

 

[nastys]

My opinion: if Nintendo banned everyone who used homebrew from accessing the e$hop and their paid online $ervice$, they'd lose some paying u$er$, so they probably decided to only ban hackers, you know... to prevent them from developing another freeShop-like tool which would be embarassing for Nintendo.

 

[Erol]

Question to someone who has been banned, can you still do the following:

- Can you still use the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App?
- Can you still online features in games (not multiplayer) but something like high score upload, or Baloon Mode in Mario Odyssey etc.?

Thanks!

 

[FAST6191]

Parental controls should be available at menu level (so you can buy a game on holiday or something) and not allowing people access to it could possibly get them in trouble in some markets.

2) No. Online ban means online ban and any game related stuff will be gone. The only differences we have seen are some people still get to use the eshop.

 

[PatrickD85]

Well, today was a surprise as I got banned it seems; Error code 2124-4007

I can still download game updates.
I can not access the eshop in any fashion it seems.
I can not access multiplayer online content it seems.

What have I done
---
SX OS / SX Pro
Homebrew
Only used privately dumped games
Played online with those (probably the reason)

I haven;t messed with any scene release, nsp or whatsoever so ... in general beware really because this was unexpected to say the least.

 

[piratesephiroth]

Well, today was a surprise as I got banned it seems; Error code 2124-4007

I can still download game updates.
I can not access the eshop in any fashion it seems.
I can not access multiplayer online content it seems.

What have I done
---
SX OS / SX Pro
Homebrew
Only used privately dumped games
Played online with those (probably the reason)

I haven;t messed with any scene release, nsp or whatsoever so ... in general beware really because this was unexpected to say the least.

homebrew could also be the reason

 

[PatrickD85]

homebrew could also be the reason

As noted, we dont know. I havent done any crazy stuff from homebrew. BUT it could be homebrew, it could be some logs, it could be SX OS.
NOTHING tells us what exactly. So speculating ... well ... thats fine. But we just can not tell

 

[piratesephiroth]

Nintendo has much greater control over the Switch than any previous console.
Last year a friend of mine was having some trouble loggin into his account so he contacted customer service.
As they were talking through the phone, the employee was navigating through the console's Menus remotely.

 

[Coffee Prosecutor]

One question:
I hacked my 3DS, got banned (due to playing USUMO early) and I intend to buy a Switch next month.

Will I be banned if I use the same NNID as the one I use on my 3DS?

 

[mafaveli]

Does anyone know if linking to the parental control app on a hacked (emuMMC) switch can lead to a ban?

 

[Deleted User]

Does anyone know if linking to the parental control app on a hacked (emuMMC) switch can lead to a ban?

2 year necrobump dude.
and probably, yeah. Don't do online shit with cfw PERIOD.

 

[mafaveli]

2 year necrobump dude.
and probably, yeah. Don't do online shit with cfw PERIOD.

Lol fair enough just wanted to check if there was any communications with nintendo servers through the parental control app that is identifiable to the actual switch. Guess there must be in some level. Just wondering how though considering I've hidden my serial number on the system. (I forget how its now 'XW0000000000' etc on my emuMMC. Glad I didn't do it though.