[REQUEST]How to prevent multi-clienting

09/28/2011 15:36 [Dev]Cataclysm#1
Browsed around and only found things to HELP multi clienting, but of course in this instance, I would like to know how to prevent it, so that the game can only be ran from the Updater, and attempting to use any game.exe will do nothing. All help is apprecaited, thanks :)
09/28/2011 16:52 viper4513#2
I think i remember seeing a question asked about this a while back, and i dont think it was specifically possible to stop multi client by force. Due to all the programs that can "crack" the problem and allow multi client so easily it just isnt possible to do.
Best thing i can suggest doing is to nicely ask your players to not abbuse the multi client, maybe enforce some rules around it.
09/28/2011 17:08 [Dev]Cataclysm#3
I know there are a couple servers that run it via updater, and can not run it any other way, it just gives you that error of game already in operation. But I will try and do a little more research to really find out, but if not then meh lol. Appreciate it Viper
09/28/2011 19:55 viper4513#4
hmm, then i guess it would be from a trigger in the game.exe, try look through with a hex editor and see if you can find anything there.. Sorry i cant be more use, me and Hex are sworn enemies :P
09/29/2011 00:33 Bаne#5
No matter what you do, people will be able to crack it and allow multi. sorry. :(
09/29/2011 00:43 [Dev]Cataclysm#6
Ok, thanks Bane, just wanted to make sure. I just figured there was a way to since some servers can only run it off the updater, but as Viper mentioned, the tools to use to crack it.
09/29/2011 02:20 JohnHeatz#7
There is still one way you can try; I won't say everything, just the mere idea so you will decide if you want to start "developing" it.

You can get it so just one account can be logged-in per IP; this is totally doable, yet it can be easily bypassed by non-lazy people.

Another idea you might consider is updating a new game.exe every X days/weeks so that people would need to crack the new .exe every certain ammount of time (it could be random); this way people will, eventually, give up on trying to crack it ;)
09/30/2011 22:23 -III-#8
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnHeatz View Post
There is still one way you can try; I won't say everything, just the mere idea so you will decide if you want to start "developing" it.

You can get it so just one account can be logged-in per IP; this is totally doable, yet it can be easily bypassed by non-lazy people.

Another idea you might consider is updating a new game.exe every X days/weeks so that people would need to crack the new .exe every certain ammount of time (it could be random); this way people will, eventually, give up on trying to crack it ;)
I was going to suggest modifying the login to check for IP's already logged in, but you beat me to it. And this does work, I have done so for a past server. But yes, it is still avoidable.

To get your started, check out the login SP, and toy around a bit.

However, I allow multi clienting on Absolution, as such, I have never had the need to look into it any further than editing the SP.

I will say this though, people are lazy by nature. Gaming is meant as a break from the real world, as such, too much effort is a waste of time for them. John has a point will continuously adding a new game.exe. You could always just include the game.exe with every patch you do.
10/01/2011 01:32 sondo81#9
01: <Limit GET HEAD POST>
02: order allow,deny
03: allow from all
04: deny from 77.xxx.xx.xx
05: </Limit>

if you have a lot of performance try to limit a wohle range
10/01/2011 04:11 [Dev]Cataclysm#10
I personally do not mind proper use for multi-clienting, and yes -III- a lot of people are lazy, but I find it thrilling to learn everything about a certain thing if I am going to use/run it. Exhausting as it may be to figure such things out, it never hurts to try.

But overall limiting it via IP's in my opinion can hurt ones server in certain situations, but it would also help it from being abused. And even though patching in a new Game.exe every week would be helpful as well, it would almost seem like pain. I guess at some point we need to just accept the Multi-Clienting for the time being.

Thus makes me think, since there are cracks out there to multi-client, one who was smart enough could break down the program and find way to preventing it? I am sure it would be A LOT of work but beneficial later on...just my opinion though.