How does PunkBuster function?

[Richaye]

Let's say you get banned, what exactly does PB ban? What are the steps required to start over?

Do they ban hardware?

[Color]

Let's say you get banned, what exactly does PB ban? What are the steps required to start over?

Do they ban hardware?

• Features
  
• Real-time scanning of memory, by placing a PunkBuster Client on players' computers searching for known hacks/cheats using a built-in database.
• Throttled two-tiered background auto-update system using multiple Internet Master Servers to provide end-user security ensuring that no false or corrupted updates can be installed on players' computers.
• Frequent status reports are sent to the PunkBuster Server by all players. When necessary, the PunkBuster Server raises a violation which (depending upon settings) will cause the offending player to be removed from the game and all other players to be informed of the violation.
• PunkBuster Admins can also manually remove players from the game for a specified number of minutes or permanently ban if desired.
• PunkBuster Servers can optionally be configured to randomly check player settings looking for known exploits of the game engine.
• PunkBuster Servers can be configured to instruct clients to calculate partial MD5 hashes of files inside the game installation directory. The results are compared against a set configuration and differences logged, and optionally, the client removed from the server.
• PunkBuster Admins can request actual screenshot samples from specific players and/or can configure the PB Server to randomly grab screenshot samples from players during gameplay. However, it is possible for a game hack to block screenshots (producing a cropped screenshot) or remove all visual features of a hack (cleaning the screenshot) to remain undetected, leaving the effectiveness of this feature diminished.
• An optional "bad name" facility is provided so that PunkBuster Admins can prevent players from using offensive player names containing unwanted profanity or racial slurs.
• Search functions are provided for PunkBuster Admins who wish to search player's keybindings and scripts for anything that may be known to exploit the game.
• The PunkBuster Player Power facility can be configured to allow players to self-administer game servers when the Server Administrator is not present entirely without the need for passwords, in which the players can call votes to have a player removed from the server for a certain amount of time.
• PunkBuster Servers have an optional built-in mini HTTP web server interface that allows the game server to be remotely administered via a web browser from anywhere over the Internet.
• PunkBuster Admins can stream their server logs in real time to another location.
• PunkBuster has initiated Punkbuster Hardware Bans, that bans hardware components upon detection of cheats that disrupt or circumvent PunkBuster's normal operation. These bans mean permanently banning players whose HD id matches the blacklist at Evenbalance. The cheater will have to buy new hardware to be able to play again.

They ban cd keys.

[Richaye]

• Features
  
• Real-time scanning of memory, by placing a PunkBuster Client on players' computers searching for known hacks/cheats using a built-in database.
• Throttled two-tiered background auto-update system using multiple Internet Master Servers to provide end-user security ensuring that no false or corrupted updates can be installed on players' computers.
• Frequent status reports are sent to the PunkBuster Server by all players. When necessary, the PunkBuster Server raises a violation which (depending upon settings) will cause the offending player to be removed from the game and all other players to be informed of the violation.
• PunkBuster Admins can also manually remove players from the game for a specified number of minutes or permanently ban if desired.
• PunkBuster Servers can optionally be configured to randomly check player settings looking for known exploits of the game engine.
• PunkBuster Servers can be configured to instruct clients to calculate partial MD5 hashes of files inside the game installation directory. The results are compared against a set configuration and differences logged, and optionally, the client removed from the server.
• PunkBuster Admins can request actual screenshot samples from specific players and/or can configure the PB Server to randomly grab screenshot samples from players during gameplay. However, it is possible for a game hack to block screenshots (producing a cropped screenshot) or remove all visual features of a hack (cleaning the screenshot) to remain undetected, leaving the effectiveness of this feature diminished.
• An optional "bad name" facility is provided so that PunkBuster Admins can prevent players from using offensive player names containing unwanted profanity or racial slurs.
• Search functions are provided for PunkBuster Admins who wish to search player's keybindings and scripts for anything that may be known to exploit the game.
• The PunkBuster Player Power facility can be configured to allow players to self-administer game servers when the Server Administrator is not present entirely without the need for passwords, in which the players can call votes to have a player removed from the server for a certain amount of time.
• PunkBuster Servers have an optional built-in mini HTTP web server interface that allows the game server to be remotely administered via a web browser from anywhere over the Internet.
• PunkBuster Admins can stream their server logs in real time to another location.
• PunkBuster has initiated Punkbuster Hardware Bans, that bans hardware components upon detection of cheats that disrupt or circumvent PunkBuster's normal operation. These bans mean permanently banning players whose HD id matches the blacklist at Evenbalance. The cheater will have to buy new hardware to be able to play again.

They ban cd keys.

No IP or Hardware?

Really...? wow. All it takes is a new account?

[Color]

No IP or Hardware?

Really...? wow. All it takes is a new account?

Nope, but you need to make sure your new CD key is registered on your origin or else when you play with your CD key it will ban the new one as well.

[Richaye]

Nope, but you need to make sure your new CD key is registered on your origin or else when you play with your CD key it will ban the new one as well.

Sorry can you explain that again

[[MPGH]Mayion]

Sorry can you explain that again

/Moved to help.
--
Make sure to register your new key on a new origin account not your old banned one or else you'll be banned again.

[jassi32]

please correct last point in ur post
they dont do hardware bans anymore everything is just guid ban