@Noexcuses, the mods already have access to our IP adresses. This would just make it easier for them to identify repeat offenders.

Regarding the dynamic IP issue, that's a valid point that I hadn't thought of, since I've never been on a dynamic IP. A possible workaround for this, as mentioned before, would be a hardware ban, via MAC adress. I'm not sure if it's posisble to access that information through flash, but it is through java.

I'm not entirely sure if it's possible to launch a java program through flash, but if it is, Tig could add a command that allows the moderators to flag an IP adress for a hardware ban instead of just IP banning them, and then the next time they log in, it would pop up asking for permission to run. Since hackers generally aren't that bright, most of them would probably just click 'ok', and after that, they'd be hardware banned, unable to use that device to access the game again.

Oh, i thought you were talking about making those Ips available to any player. They already can see how many accounts are linked to an IP,bans... so its already implemented.

I'm no expert on this things but shouldnt be hard to change your MAC adress.

In my case i used to be able to change my MAC when i had a cable modem either on the router connected to it, ethernet card or removing the router.

Noexcuses a dit :

The only way to stop hackers is increasing mods (with the amount of players that plays tfm you need around 1000 mods instead 100) or hire a programmer to just patch hacks (but not sure if they can afford that).

I'd do that for free! If its for a game I love, I'd patch the hacks.

I think more mods are needed since the number of hackers have increased the number of mods should increase.

Gamegamerlol a dit :

I think more mods are needed since the number of hackers have increased the number of mods should increase.

Well that's not the only job mods have ._.

Mods reinforce the rules in general as well as help around with other things.

Im using mac too.

Haruhitastic a dit :

I've not seen any hacks on EN or ID, and BR always has them so I'm not too flustered.

They go to the servers with little to no moderation, thinking that mods from other servers can't ban them. BR canned a ton of their mods and it's hard to find mature players. ES has similar issues.

Also yes, hacks can be patched; but with more people making hacks then its hard to deal with the problem.

As you said, the hackers do group to the servers with less moderation, and often around 1:00 AM to 4:00 AM ET (Eastern Time). I often find myself seeing this

Between the stated times, when there is a hacker online.
While I could go to the Transformice IRC, by the time I get there the hacker has logged off, to avoid a ban, or to avoid being found by a moderator 5 minutes later, after they've been contacted through the IRC.

Championrs a dit :

Im using mac too.

There's a stark difference betwen using a Mac and having a MAC address, lol.

Also a while ago, it was stated that mods jobs arent supposed to be bainning hackers so dont say we need more mods. We need better anti-cheat.

Haruhitastic a dit :

There's a stark difference betwen using a Mac and having a MAC address, lol.

Also a while ago, it was stated that mods jobs arent supposed to be bainning hackers so dont say we need more mods. We need better anti-cheat.

Moderators are meant to enforce the rules. This being any rulebreaking, that has enough evidence against it. Hacking being one of the rules, that is broken most often. Saying it's not their job is fine, but they didn't just wake up one day, log in, and bobs you're uncle, they're moderators. They joined the mod team, with the intention of banning hackers, and punishing rule breakers. So jobs is a term use loosely, it's more of a responsability than a job, seeing as it doesn't have payment.

Melibellule is the one who said that though. I forgot to cite her.
Of course we need more mods, yes, but for hacks we just need a better anti-cheat.

Haruhitastic a dit :

Melibellule is the one who said that though. Care to dispute me? :P

I honestly don't care what Meli said, a moderators responsability is to enforce the rules of the game. Not that they eat, drink, and sleep Moderator, there should still be one online most of the time.
E// I'd like to re-word that.
I agree, with you and Meli, it's not their job to ban hackers. It's their choice to. They can mute their chat, or get offline whenever they please, but having more mods online would never be a problem.

Edited my post because it seemed rude, sorry about that!!

I agree there should be atleast one mod on at a time, it's ridiculous enough that two of the most popular servers are mod-less but for EN to be mod-less as well is a dumb move. I'm hoping with this recent round of mod apps we have some British and Australian players come in, because as far as I'm aware now there's only two mods from Australia and three from England/U.K..

Haruhitastic a dit :

Edited my post because it seemed rude, sorry about that!!

I agree there should be atleast one mod on at a time, it's ridiculous enough that two of the most popular servers are mod-less but for EN to be mod-less as well is a dumb move. I'm hoping with this recent round of mod apps we have some British and Australian players come in, because as far as I'm aware now there's only two mods from Australia and three from England/U.K..

Lol, we both just did then? :P
E// Also, the game could use some better anti-cheat. But this game could use a lot of things the devs haven't gotten around to coding yet. A better, more in depth tutorial, a more functiunal phsyichs system, a better map editor, more bug fixes... The list could go on. The easiest fix to the hacker situation at the moment, would be to get some new mods into the game, really.

Adell a dit :

Please don't forget that Cfmbot only shows a list of <b>public</b> online moderators, and that the vast majority of mods are more than willing to help out on communities other than their own. If you see a hacker on EN but Cfmbot is saying no public mods are online, trying whispering a mod from another community. If that doesn't work, and you haven't already done this, /report the player so that a private mod (from any community) can get to it.

Other than that, IRC is your next best option. The channel #transformice often has several mods hanging out there even if they aren't in-game. A mod there can log in and ban the hacker for you, or at the very least see if there are any private mods online and ask them to do it.

Often the entire room will ban and report the hacker. But the hacker quickly logs out immediatley after, and is seen again the next night, and night after. It's not a problem of the mice not banning or reporting, the hackers just find ways around the system.

can all mods speak english? meaning if we wisper another server mod should we speak english?

As far as I know, speaking English is a requirement for becoming a mod. And it probably wouldn't make much sense if you tried to whisper a mod in a language that you can't speak...

Just replying to a couple of interesting remarks here. While in fact it is possible to change a MAC address, it should not be known by a hacker that it's MAC is actually banned. When he would try to hack again after 15 days he would only come to the realisation that it's impossible. Of course there will be a couple of smart hackers who would find out that they need to change their MAC in order to hack again, but it would at the same time drastically decrease the number of hackers who don't.
I have ran a game server myself, nothing big, a maximum of 1500 online players at peaks, but I can proudly say that I have had nearly to no hackers. (Even though the game I ran a server for was a popular target for hackers).
Most of the hacks can be prevented by adding more server sided checks. This however also means more workload on the server, and the server already has a lot to take care of.

Eventually it all comes down to the fact that it's not the moderation team which is lacking, but the anti-cheat protection system which is insufficient. It is possible to fix/improve it but everything has a price.
After all, it's much better to turn off the valve (anti-cheat system) than to buy 100 cups to catch all the water in (adding more mods)