ArenaNet:Developer updates/20080110

[Dev Update] Exploits and Bans – 10 January 2008

An exploit was recently discovered in Guild Wars that allowed client-hackers to travel to a hidden outpost. From that outpost, they could travel directly into the room containing Mallyx, the final boss in the Domain of Anguish.

This hidden outpost existed strictly for testing purposes and was never accessible through normal play. Only by hacking the client, or partying with someone who had done so, could a player access that outpost.

We eliminated the exploit with a build today. We also conducted a detailed investigation into who accessed this exploit and other hidden outposts. As a result of this investigation, we permanently banned 117 players late Wednesday night, Pacific time, and we will ban more accounts as appropriate as we review additional logs gathered after the initial bans. In our investigation, we took into consideration extraordinary circumstances such as players who might have been transported to the outpost unwittingly and against their will by a party leader who was hacking the game. We chose to permanently ban these 117 accounts because it was clear that the players involved had intentionally exploited a server vulnerability for their personal gain.

ArenaNet gives the highest possible priority to maintaining the security of the game and protecting the game economy. You can assist us by letting us know, via the Community mailbox, if you learn of an exploit. Protect your own account by refusing to use exploits and declining to share information about their uses with others.