Server Help :: View topic - Requesting Critique of Netban Policy

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Trash Talk - Requesting Critique of Netban Policy

Mine GO BOOM - Tue Jun 29, 2004 2:43 pm
Post subject: Requesting Critique of Netban Policy

Well, I don't check out other Subspace sites, ever, so I don't know if this is well know or not, but since this is pretty much going to be accepted as a netban policy soon, and since I havn't banned a player in over 2 years, I figure I cannot help too much directly. But since a good chunk of you run your own zones, I figure you could help out the Subspace Council a bit. Give me some feed back so I can give some feed back to the people who can do something about it.

EDIT: Updated Cross-Zone spamming from 30 days to 7 days.
Updated first line's BanG Op to BanG Admin

New version updated by Underlord - wrote:

SSC Net Ban Policy

Net Ban Length
--------------
Net bans of length exceeding 365 days require authorization by a BanG Admin.

Net Ban Offenses
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Cheating - Performing any action that an unmodified client is incapable of performing. Developing, distributing, or promoting cheat software. Minimal 90 day net ban for first offence.

Harassment - Continual harassment of players, zone operators, or server hosts in real life. Examples include contacting ISPs to shut down zones, or researching private player real life information and proceeding to harass or stalk them in real life.

Cross zone Spamming - Following a local zone ban, repeatedly switching names to avoid ?ignore, then spamming or harassing zone staff with cross-zone messages. Maximum 7 day net ban for first offence.

Security - Disrupting or attempting to disrupt the security of the billing server, any SSC zone or server. Examples include flooding servers or players, spreading knowledge of how to disrupt security, unauthorized access to the billing or zone servers, stealing passwords, impersonating SSC Zones, or distributing confidential information about servers or players. Threatening to disrupt security results in a maximum 7 day first offence net ban.

Exceptions - Any other net ban requires authorization from a BanG Administrator, with explaination to the SSC tracking board.

Net Op Policy
-------------

Netwide Banfree - Only used to banfree names inadvertently locked out by another pilot's netban. Restricted to BanG Ops, with explaination posted to the SSC tracking board.

BanG Op Abuse - BanG Operaters intentionally violating net ban policy may have their operator status removed. Minimal 30 day operator status suspension for first offence.

Commenting Bans - All net bans require detailed comments or may be subject for removal by a BanG Administrator. Comments include the reason for the ban, possible modified ban info including the zone the offence took place, possible references to original bans, scope of the ban (IP, MID, Name), and any other relevant details.

Ban Removal - Net ban removal is restricted to the operator who placed the ban. Improper net bans may be removed by a BanG Administrator, who will contact the operator with reasoning why their ban was removed.

Old version for reference - wrote:

SSC Net Banning Policies and Procedures

Bans

Maximum penalty for a ban is 356 days.

Zone-local bans may be given out at the discretion of each zone op without restriction. Net-wide bans may be given for the following reasons only:

Cheating

Cheating is defined as performing any action that a normal unmodified client would be incapable of performing on its own, and should not be interpreted as synonymous with violating zone rules, policies. Cheating usually involves the use of an external cheat program such as speed hack or twister. If a person cheats in an SSC zone, they may receive a net-wide ban of no less than 90 days. Banning cheaters for longer periods, maximum being 356 days is based on the discretion of the banning Op.

Security

Persons who disrupt or attempt to disrupt the security of any SSC zone/server or the SSC as a whole will receive an automatic net-wide ban. Persons who threaten the security of SSC players may be subject to a net-wide ban of no more than 7 days for first offence. A longer ban period is only possible with direct authorization of a Billing Op, or other appointed high level BanG Op.

Security threats include, but are not limited to: flooding servers or other players, hacking servers, or otherwise crashing or disrupting servers. Developing/distributing, creating or promoting cheat software and/or any other information or software that may be used to disrupt SSC activities or gain an unfair advantage. Gaining access to protected SSC files, stealing passwords, impersonating SSC zones, and/or distributing confidential information.

Banfrees

Net-wide banfrees should only be used for names that are proven to be in use by persons who have not violated any of the above rules but find themselves inadvertently banned. Each name that gets banfreed network-wide should be posted on the SSC tracking board with details why it was banfreed, and what is the BanID the name has triggered. Only BanG Administrators are allowed to make banfree's and any that are made illegitimately will be removed without question.

BanG Operator Violations

Any person(s) that violate the Policies and/or Procedures within this document will have their BanG access suspended for no less than 30 days or removed completely.

Comments

Making detailed comments on bans is Mandatory; any ban without clear, concise, and detailed comments may be subject for removal by a BanG Administrator. Details include, but are not limited to: Reason for ban, if modified ban info on original banning Op should be provided, in which zone the offence took place, possible witnesses for the event, if the ban is secondary, reference to the original ban should be provided, the technical scope of the ban (IP, Subnet, Name, MID), any other relevant details to the ban/offender.

Ban Removals

Net bans should never be removed by anyone other than the Operator who originally applied the ban. If the netban was deemed not to be within this document's policy or is adjusted by BanG Admin, they will contact the original ban op and let them know the ban was adjusted and/or removed.

Exceptions

All exceptions to the above guidelines are decided exclusively by the BanG Administrators, and should be posted by the authorizing Administrator on the SSC tracking board for future reference. Net bans may not be used for any actions that are not stated in the above sections.

Extreme Exceptions

Any person(s) that are known or determined to be a determent to the SSC Community at large by continual harassment of players, zone operators, and/or server hosts in real life.

Examples are contacting the IPS of the zone's host in an attempt to get the zone shut down. Researching player information to find who they are in real life and proceed to harass them in real life or at their place of work. Stalking players in a real life capacity to harass them in a sexual manner.

These actions may be subject to a lifetime ban as well as legal action as per the laws governing the country of which the person(s), server, hosts, admin, players, and all other affiliated organizations, companies, or people reside. These legal actions are not limited to civil actions and will be escalated to local law enforcement agencies as the law allows and/or requires.

Cyan~Fire - Tue Jun 29, 2004 3:45 pm
Post subject:

New policy wrote:

Restricted to BanG Ops, with explanation posted to the SSC tracking board.

I would also say that cross-zone spamming shouldn't really be a net-ban offence, although there is not other way of dealing with it currently. The biller shouldn't really transfer private messages to zones in which the sender is banned.

Other than that, sounds good.

Mine GO BOOM - Tue Jun 29, 2004 3:55 pm
Post subject:

That policy is in place because the billing server, subgame2, and client doesn't look like it will be changing within the next couple of years.

Smong - Tue Jun 29, 2004 4:09 pm
Post subject:

I don't like all the first offence stuff, warnings should be given first if possible. Also this is just netban policy, I can imagine some zones would and already have a ton of 'permanent' local bans.

What is a BanG Op and a BanG Administrator, and can anyone see this 'tracking board'?

Mine GO BOOM - Tue Jun 29, 2004 4:18 pm
Post subject:

Bang Ops are anyone with network banning abilities. Bang Administrators are those that are, hopefully, elected to control those who can ban people network wide.

These policies have no effect on how each zone's internal bans, except where it states so specifically.

As for who can see the tracking board, I'd hope anyone.

Cyan~Fire - Tue Jun 29, 2004 4:24 pm
Post subject:

New Policy wrote:

Net bans of length exceeding 365 days require authorization by a BanG Op.

MGB wrote:

Bang Ops are anyone with network banning abilities.

Isn't permission guaranteed, then?

SVS - Tue Jun 29, 2004 4:55 pm
Post subject:

Mistake, by the definition of BanG Admin and BanG Op we are using in the document it should say "Net bans of length exceeding 365 days require authorization by a BanG Admin".

Mistakes happen.

Anonymous - Tue Jun 29, 2004 6:16 pm
Post subject:

Cyan - permission is never fully guaranteed by a BanG Administrator is the reason is within the out of bound reasons. It really has to his the exception area right on target if it is to be over 365.

CypherJF - Tue Jun 29, 2004 6:22 pm
Post subject:

I'm confused; and in either case these rules/policy are never publicised (spelling is wrong i know) when a new player account is created on SSC. So, technically the player can argue they do not know of such things as BanG/bans, etc. heh

Anonymous - Tue Jun 29, 2004 6:49 pm
Post subject:

Very true, new players are ignorant to something of this magnitude. But the fact still is that cheating is cheating, harassment is harassment. If the revision is the next thing to be worked on as the official one over the current old one, I will definitely make sure it's put wherever it can be seen. SSCentral will have it, SSCouncil has it.. I think it should be in the Agreement when first installed. hehe that would just be a perk

As it is though, I'm sure something can be worked out for a new player thats only been around a week or so.. I'm not going to be the one to say that it will always happen, but it can happen.

SVS - Tue Jun 29, 2004 6:56 pm
Post subject:

The actions covered in these rules are known by everyone to be wrong. In no case would someone ever harrass a player or DoS a server and then claim ignorence and be honest about it, they would be lieing. They would know what they did was wrong.

Mine GO BOOM - Tue Jun 29, 2004 6:58 pm
Post subject:

If you go to another country and break their laws, even though it maybe legal in your original country, ignorance doesn't always excuse you. Most of these bans are directly related to cheating (which you have to try to do, your client just doesn't cheat itself) or you actively trying to harm a zone (such as DoS attacks, which again, Continuum doesn't do on its own). The only gotcha is the part about cross-zone spamming, which your client will let you do. But most people, through common sense, which too many people seem to lack, is that this is annoying, and a no-no.

The fact that the Council is trying to make these common-sense rules into hard laws of Subspace is a good thing. This will allow those that do have to make the choice between warnings and bannings have to follow some sort of guidelines. And in the recent wave of stupid netbannings for people who do something as simple as advertising their new zone in another person's so, or for someone calling someone else a doo-doo head, this will be helpful in establishing a way to remove those people from power.

CypherJF - Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:05 pm
Post subject:

I had an idea for a mod of catid's biller, which would require you to goto the network website; fill out a web-based form, jokingly : IQ test > 110; and a test score of over 80% in order to activate your account before entering; but the idea of having them "read" (whether or not they do) they agree to the rules...

Heck though, it's just a game. But obviously when it comes to harassment and DoS things which violate actual laws; I see. But I'm just saying, new players don't even have an idea of the game, let alone the rules, etc. etc.

As far as to the idea of including it in the installer; good idea; but what about all those packages of continuum floating out there... (zip)

I know for myself, I'm not using your installer.. Just there is no need

Cyan~Fire - Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:13 pm
Post subject:

There should be a link on the SSC reg form. It shouldn't be included in the installer since, technically, Continuum has nothing to do with SSC except for the reg form. And, if possible (probably not), a message to all players already registered.

But if Priit is at least a little bit active now, it wouldn't be hard to add a little if statement to detect whether a remote-messaging player is banned in the target zone.

CypherJF - Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:15 pm
Post subject:

CypherJF> ?find priitk
Not online, last seen more than 10 days ago

Priit has left the building for at least now

<re-align topic focus>

50% Packetloss - Tue Jun 29, 2004 7:46 pm
Post subject:

Has there ever been anyone netbanned for harassment?

CypherJF - Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:12 pm
Post subject:

I doubt it; but I have a few people continually IMing me over AIM.. and they'll change their SN and continue to harass me cause they were former staff :/

Anonymous - Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:24 pm
Post subject:

50% Packetloss wrote:

Has there ever been anyone netbanned for harassment?

All the time, cross-zone spamming and a few other reasons.

Anonymous - Tue Jun 29, 2004 10:24 pm
Post subject:

Yes there have been people banned for cross-zone spamming

CypherJF - Tue Jun 29, 2004 10:29 pm
Post subject:

Yup; I know of a situation of a staff member in OF crosszone spamming people in EG.

Smong - Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:21 am
Post subject:

I agree with SVS's last statement. Use common sense and you won't get banned.
I suspect PriitK will be online today (score reset).

Mine GO BOOM - Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:31 am
Post subject:

Smong wrote:

I suspect PriitK will be online today (score reset).

Thats been automated for the past year now. Sorry.

Smong - Wed Jun 30, 2004 9:38 am
Post subject:

So the PriitK we have been looking at every 2 weeks for the past year is just a bot?