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Left 4 Dead 2 >  Workshop > Xanaguy's Workshop > HelmsDeepFixDS + CompetitiveBotsDS (Read desc.) > Discussions
HelmsDeepFixDS + CompetitiveBotsDS (Read desc.)
Description Discussions6 Comments65 Change Notes
 This topic has been pinned, so it's probably important
Xanaguy  [developer] 4 Aug, 2019 @ 6:38pm
EMERGENCY! SERVER HIJACKING IN PROGRESS!
The most recent update of Helm's Deep Reborn includes additional core server files in order to both enforce his "banned_user.cfg" on other servers, and disable all plugins as a means to "purge cheating" despite the fact that soucemod is what makes other Community Dedicated Servers fun and balanced. Some of those files also includes files for admin control. This is clearly crossing the line, because if the implementation is successful, then that means that any server with the latest version of Helm's Deep Reborn installed are essentially his to control and profit off of. Potentially stealing money from said servers to go to the addon's author with his donation links.

Please, Valve, this behavior that has potential criminal activity CANNOT stand. Otherwise, this sets a standard for the community that stealing other people's servers and (potentially) subsequently $ is acceptable.

121068229 is the ID of the Helm's Deep Reborn addon, as the following images show.

8/4/2019:

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/795368055538549374/6D1A3022EB306728C2686BEA0B9C3AAC9EF5B31A/


https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/795368055538551163/256DE0CDF3C348F6DC413F50FF8697963860F1AA/

Server.cfg has been changed to enforce his banned_user.cfg, which IS in the addon:
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/795368055538556297/096F51DFC1D2683D42E8DBC09C7099C9A8A9F086/

Listenserver.cfg has yet to be affected, but don't be surprised if he attempts to seize the settings of local servers too:




https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/795368055538554094/82B7F5D5DF85B2C3022B26A72BE5FAC04E467AE8/


8/7/2019:

Admin files are still present, but completely blank.

Obviously, the banned_user.cfg is still there. Which points to him being very keen on making sure his undesired players stay out.

listenserver.cfg is still present, but blank. The author may still have a purpose for it.

https://imgur.com/a/sxlS0FN


9/1/2019:

Still adding additional Cvars in order to impose his desired balance/gameplay for that map.

I will be continuing to update the main post as necessary to log all suspicious details.

A video essay has been uploaded to summarize the whole ordeal and to raise awareness of the issue. It is found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CestDbQ1eOs


9/5/2019: Just to everyone is clear, a custom ban system that will also involve that server's banned_user.cfg is possible and has been proven to work. If the implementation on his end is successful, it will ban any player that he's listed from playing on any server with the latest version installed. Server owners, heed me: This addon is no longer safe for your server. Spread the word and remove the addon from your server!


https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/790867207428689126/B95135E5152B72D9EACE677D3F771B76B11D7FB9/


11/10/2019:

- More attempts have been made with much more success that allows him to disable addons in versus modes which will override that server owner's choice to leave them enabled.

- Additionally, he's also forcing server passwords to be disabled in an attempt to open up the servers for everyone, which also, again, overrides the server owner's choice of having a password

Screenshots of Helm's Deep's addonconfig.cfg and result of running a local versus game:

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/773984798837969983/178686FCD1E1414811F9BBFE577A833956CC3500/

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/773984798837969219/CCC2B6AA46884B7484D0BA397E69907DB21A7880/

2/22/2020

Now the addon is kicking players out of the server as a result of the map's vscript. This is a clear violation of the terms of service as

"Workshop Contributions are Subscriptions, and therefore, you agree that any Subscriber receiving distribution of your workshop contribution will have the same rights to use your Workshop Contribution (and will be subject to the same restrictions) as are set out in this Agreement for any other subscriptions." - Section: 6B
Last edited by Xanaguy; 22 Feb, 2020 @ 7:49pm
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Showing 1-15 of 27 comments
Trunten 4 Aug, 2019 @ 7:27pm 
so now he's definitely about to violate terms of service and subscriber agreements...
just as Jaiz alerted us to before they started closing the discussion topics.
forbidding people to be able to play what you upload.
Last edited by Trunten; 4 Aug, 2019 @ 7:28pm
#1
Xanaguy  [developer] 4 Aug, 2019 @ 7:31pm 
Originally posted by Ryan:
so now he's definitely about to violate terms of service and subscriber agreements...
just as Jaiz alerted us to before they started closing the discussion topics.
forbidding people to be able to play what you upload.

At this point, Ryan, it's could get a whole lot worse than that.
Last edited by Xanaguy; 4 Aug, 2019 @ 7:32pm
#2
Trunten 4 Aug, 2019 @ 7:50pm 
Originally posted by Xanaguy:
At this point, Ryan, it's could get a whole lot worse than that.
I took a risk for the greater good and posted a new forums discussion in workshop section.
Will definitely be interesting seeing how long it lasts and if mods/support come after me.
Last edited by Trunten; 4 Aug, 2019 @ 7:50pm
#3
Xanaguy  [developer] 4 Aug, 2019 @ 7:54pm 
Originally posted by Ryan:
Originally posted by Xanaguy:
At this point, Ryan, it's could get a whole lot worse than that.
I took a risk for the greater good and posted a new forums discussion in workshop section.
Will definitely be interesting seeing how long it lasts and if mods/support come after me.

Ryan, seeing as how this is going, this is going to force some official action to be taken. How it will be is up to them.
#4
Trunten 4 Aug, 2019 @ 8:08pm 
Originally posted by Xanaguy:
Ryan, seeing as how this is going, this is going to force some official action to be taken. How it will be is up to them.
Our right to defend ourselves might get called out and questioned and debated...
But they can't prevent our right to freedom of speech to rightfully spread awareness.
#5
Tsuey 5 Aug, 2019 @ 5:14am 
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/id/shibey/allcomments

Fox is awesome and has been actively helpful throughout:

Ryan 8 hours ago
Our right to defend ourselves might get called out and questioned and debated...
But they can't prevent our right to freedom of speech to rightfully spread awareness.
With all due respect. But please, realize the severity and take it seriously.
If you can only forward it to your superiors, please do.

Fox 1 hour ago
@Ryan : It was already passed on this early morning.

No worries, though : Mods realized the severity of it when I first went deep into the controversy. Sadly, you probably know how Valve works regarding communication and busyness...

It's very frustrating waiting for a final decision from them (let alone actively asking for one...), but it wasn't given up on yet.

Fox 1 hour ago
@Ryan : By the way, while you're here, would you mind giving me the links of the recently closed discussions regarding the subject ?

Tsuey Just now
@Fox / Ryan:

Currently active threads:

Helms Deep is being used to potentially hijack servers! https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/550/discussions/0/1643170269580547230/
one final Helm's Deep topic https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/workshop/discussions/18446744073709551615/1643170269580517538/?appid=550
EMERGENCY! ATTEMPT OF POTENTIAL SERVER HIJACKING! https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/workshop/filedetails/discussion/1792142161/1643170269580362145/

Tsuey Just now
@Fox / Ryan:

Closed threads oldest to youngest:

The author of Helms Deep has been adding malicious code to his addon without you knowing. https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/550/discussions/0/3315110799618772954/
The Supression of critisism on the topic of helms deeps malicious changes. https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/550/discussions/0/1643167006287069190/
Another Thread about Helms Deep. https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/550/discussions/0/3140616601467048598/

I'D HIGHLY ADVISE DELETION OF JUST THE POSTS THAT DIRECTLY REFERENCE OR INSULT THE AUTHOR, RATHER THAN DELETING OR LOCKING THE ENTIRE THREAD. PERSONAL INSULTS ARE NOT WELCOME AND MAKE EVERYONE ELSE LOOK BAD.
#6
Trunten 10 Aug, 2019 @ 6:03pm 
his sock puppets probably caused my last topic to be removed.
guess valve wants a court case and legal matter of this then.
so be it.
we could always go to the GDPR
#7
Ricky Tax Audit 10 Aug, 2019 @ 6:37pm 
Originally posted by Ryan:
his sock puppets probably caused my last topic to be removed.
guess valve wants a court case and legal matter of this then.
so be it.
we could always go to the GDPR

They've locked/taken down 3 topics of mine. Trust me lad. Until ♥♥♥♥ truly happens, its out of our hands.
#8
Tsuey 10 Aug, 2019 @ 6:38pm 
Originally posted by Ryan:
his sock puppets probably caused my last topic to be removed.
guess valve wants a court case and legal matter of this then.
so be it.
we could always go to the GDPR

Seeing as only both of us posted in that thread, you should go here and salvage your posts and replicate them here:

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/my/commenthistory

I have all posts saved regarding Helm's Deep, I could dig up yours, but it's better if you did it in addition to removing whatever vaguely might've violated ToS. Genuinely not sure what was wrong with that thread, but I'd bet some report against it conveniently mis-construed something and a paid moderator acted on it based solely on that one out-of-context nugget.

Following is my single post from:

one final Helm's Deep topic https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/workshop/discussions/18446744073709551615/1643170269580517538/?appid=550

Nothing within my below reincarnated post violates the Steam Subscriber Agreement (even though other posts within it may have, including the one I merely quote below), and it is my data and during my chat with Fox here I was actively speaking with a lawyer:

This item was moved or deleted.
Aug 5 @ 4:05am - Discussion
This subforum was probably always the better place for this because it will get the eyes of Workshop contributors who strive to release "clean" and well-tested content, and actually stay completely on topic and needs to address the content and not the author.

Originally posted by Ryan:
A fair psychoanalysis of L4D2 Helm's Deep Reborn, credit to user "Tsuey".
https://18c862e5-60f6-40b9-96ab-4bccc0db834a.htmlpasta.com

Speaking hypothetically just to pose an unaddressed point of view: I have never heard of this "SourceMod"? IDK why all these files for this Workshop item I downloaded are including these foreign files for something that's not even natively included with L4D2. Are Internet browser bookmarks and home videos going to be included next? I didn't subscribe for a bunch of non-L4D2 personal files.

The addon was just updated, and to point out 2 change notes:

August 4, 2019

- Removed the custom anti-cheat against plugins. Servers will no longer shut down if cheats are used.

- Added new anti-cheat which needs to be tested.

An active effort is being made to address community concerns with the mod, especially given prior notes of adding back in single player and some mutations.

This resulted in old anti-cheat being removed, replaced by these SourceMod files.

And it "still needs to be tested".

Still needs to be tested? Let's dispatch that to 1000's of subscribers who can be live beta testers, as the overwhelming majority of other Workshop contributors slave over testing their addons before releasing them to the public or even just friends.
Last edited by Tsuey; 10 Aug, 2019 @ 6:41pm
#9
Trunten 10 Aug, 2019 @ 6:48pm 
That's a bit to quote and edit so i won't annoy anyone by doing so.
But yea, Tsuey, i got the standard automated copy paste reply from support.
It had what appeared my whole post in it... but nothing indicating the name shaming.
Got accused of name shaming but they didn't specify what exactly set it off.
So be it... at this point, as I said previously, I guess they can risk a legal matter.
Let's just sit back and let Daniel violate the agreements and do his criminal activity.
Willing to bet plenty of server admins might be ready to sue and press charges.
Valve/Steam should maybe ask us what's wrong instead of silencing us.
#10
Trunten 10 Aug, 2019 @ 6:53pm 
Originally posted by Reserectile Disfucntion:
They've locked/taken down 3 topics of mine. Trust me lad. Until ♥♥♥♥ truly happens, its out of our hands.
Hi! I'm glad to see you still around somewhere.
Now I can finally tell you that other people have tried taking up the cause on your behalf.
#11
Tsuey 10 Aug, 2019 @ 6:55pm 
Originally posted by Ryan:
That's a bit to quote and edit so i won't annoy anyone by doing so.
But yea, Tsuey, i got the standard automated copy paste reply from support.
It had what appeared my whole post in it... but nothing indicating the name shaming.
Got accused of name shaming but they didn't specify what exactly set it off.
So be it... at this point, as I said previously, I guess they can risk a legal matter.
Let's just sit back and let Daniel violate the agreements and do his criminal activity.
Willing to bet plenty of server admins might be ready to sue and press charges.
Valve/Steam should maybe ask us what's wrong instead of silencing us.

Taking naming and shaming out of context is overly simple, for example:

Your avatar is showing a human male who is possibly yourself wearing a hat indoors and some would say that wearing hats indoors is impolite.

You've just been named and shamed, to the miniscule extent that causes moderation to act if enough people complained about it.
#12
Trunten 10 Aug, 2019 @ 7:02pm 
well anyway i think i found what you were referring to...
there's A LOT of "item was removed or deleted" or whatever it says.
but yea like any typical message board/forum software...
surely our content is just in some staff only "trash can" forum or whatnot.
anyway, i requested to see it we can get it back, and of course, "cleaned" as necessary.
how else can this whole mess with him and the map be resolved if info is missing?
#13
Trunten 10 Aug, 2019 @ 7:02pm 
also, your avatar is literally mooning me, i am so offended, lol
#14
Tsuey 10 Aug, 2019 @ 7:09pm 
Originally posted by Ryan:
also, your avatar is literally mooning me, i am so offended, lol

ikr

also:

Naming & Shaming: Explained https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=848934862

1. Because when a large amount of users mass report a possible cheater (we'll call him Bob), it creates a huge clutter for Support (or spam if you will). Since Support reviews each report case by case, they're having to take more time to go through all of the repetitive reports on Bob. There for, Support is dramatically slowed down and the rate of bans have been reduced. Not only that, other cheaters in the community are running around longer cause Support was bogged down due to that mass report.

It's completely possible that your thread was blamed for triggering an influx of reports against the Workshop mod, while Steam Support just looked at it from the angle of, "Well, there is already an internal discussion for this with Fox and Rayman1103, this is beating a dead horse because we're already aware of this, and we don't need more reports, therefore kill further reports at the alleged source".

I personally wish you could post your Steam Support response here, but I understand if you don't want to. If I had to guess, it wasn't traditional "naming and shaming" but rather the "call to action" that provoked unnecessary response given Valve already being aware -- albeit profoundly negligent -- of this situation.
#15
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