Serial - Revision history

Dutchman101 at 10:19, 24 June 2023

2023-06-24T10:19:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:19, 24 June 2023
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			__NOTOC__ {{Note\|NEVER use serials for anything too critical (like handling admin rights, or automatically logging in) as they can't be guaranteed to be unique or non-fakable.}}

	Serials are used by MTA and server administrators to reliably identify a PC that a player is using. Serials are 32 characters long and contain letters and numbers.		Serials are used by MTA and server administrators to reliably identify a PC that a player is using. Serials are 32 characters long and contain letters and numbers.

	They are mostly used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change IP every now and then, making IP bans ineffective. MTA wants to give server owners a more reliable way to ban players and keep out unwanted players, which is why serials were invented.		They are mostly used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change IP every now and then, making IP bans ineffective. MTA wants to give server owners a more reliable way to ban players and keep out unwanted players, which is why serials were invented.

	Their reliability is so high that many players tend to have the same serial for 6 years or longer (in theory unlimited amount of years) unless they use a different PC at some point. This gives serials a wide range of potential uses in scripting and anti-abuse purposes and systems. But for vast reasons, please avoid using them in place of user accounts, a practise that will come with a variety of problems (some of which for security reasons we won't mention, and situations like when a player starts using a different PC and loses their account data without ability to transfer it, or somehow ends up changing their serial as per the below paragraph (intended or by accident). So basically, again, do not rely on serials for critical functions on your server.		Their reliability is so high that many players tend to have the same serial for 6 years or longer (in theory unlimited amount of years) unless they use a different PC at some point. This gives serials a wide range of potential uses in scripting and anti-abuse purposes and systems. But for vast reasons, please avoid using them in place of user accounts, a practise that will come with a variety of problems (some of which for security reasons we won't mention, and situations like when a player starts using a different PC and loses their account data without ability to transfer it, or somehow ends up changing their serial as per the below paragraph (intended or by accident). So basically, again, do not rely on serials for critical functions on your server. Even more so, it's not guaranteed that serials cannot be compromised (hackers using someone else's serial), hence the warning that tells you to never use serials for anything critical.

	==Notes==		==Notes==

Dutchman101 at 21:45, 29 October 2021

2021-10-29T21:45:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:45, 29 October 2021
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	Serials are used by MTA and server administrators to reliably identify a PC that a player is using. Serials are 32 characters long and contain letters and numbers.		Serials are used by MTA and server administrators to reliably identify a PC that a player is using. Serials are 32 characters long and contain letters and numbers.

	They are mostly used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change IP every now and then, making IP bans ineffective. MTA wants to give server owners a more reliable way to ban players and keep ~~them~~ out, which is why serials were invented.		They are mostly used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change IP every now and then, making IP bans ineffective. MTA wants to give server owners a more reliable way to ban players and keep out unwanted players, which is why serials were invented.

	Their reliability is so high that many players tend to have the same serial for 6 years or longer (in theory unlimited amount of years) unless they use a different PC at some point. This gives serials a wide range of potential uses in scripting and anti-abuse purposes and systems. But for vast reasons, please avoid using them in place of user accounts, a practise that will come with a variety of problems (some of which for security reasons we won't mention, and situations like when a player starts using a different PC and loses their account data without ability to transfer it, or somehow ends up changing their serial as per the below paragraph (intended or by accident). So basically, again, do not rely on serials for critical functions on your server.		Their reliability is so high that many players tend to have the same serial for 6 years or longer (in theory unlimited amount of years) unless they use a different PC at some point. This gives serials a wide range of potential uses in scripting and anti-abuse purposes and systems. But for vast reasons, please avoid using them in place of user accounts, a practise that will come with a variety of problems (some of which for security reasons we won't mention, and situations like when a player starts using a different PC and loses their account data without ability to transfer it, or somehow ends up changing their serial as per the below paragraph (intended or by accident). So basically, again, do not rely on serials for critical functions on your server.

Dutchman101: clarify

2021-10-29T21:43:10Z

clarify

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:43, 29 October 2021
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	Serials are the most accurate form of identifying players that MTA has. However, you shouldn't rely on them entirely: players may change their serial, although this is very difficult to do due to MTA AC protections (serials aren't only based on hardware, but more). Besides, a player can simply use another computer with a different serial in order to fool your scripts or evade server bans.		Serials are the most accurate form of identifying players that MTA has. However, you shouldn't rely on them entirely: players may change their serial, although this is very difficult to do due to MTA AC protections (serials aren't only based on hardware, but more). Besides, a player can simply use another computer with a different serial in order to fool your scripts or evade server bans.

	Please note that the reliability of serials isn't as high for internet cafe's. In internet cafe's, the risk of serial duplication is ~~much, much higher than otherwise~~ (~~for reasons~~ we don't want to explain ~~due to~~ security concerns) so if you suspect a duplication, please check the player for AC / SD code #34. This is easily done in the default Admin panel (under "AC Detected" on player info), but note that if your server has a high amount of problems due to duplicated serials from netcafe players, you could make a special script to alternate for those players or eventually put SD #34 in your mtaserver.conf (see [[Anti-cheat_guide#.3Cenablesd.3E.3C.2Fenablesd.3E\|AC guide - CTRL + F to SD #34]] but also make sure to read the warning on that entry, so as not to overuse it/only use it when you have no other choice.		Please note that the reliability of serials isn't as high for internet cafe's. In internet cafe's, the risk of serial duplication is present (Due to technical limitations we don't want to explain for security concerns). This applies globally, so the PC of multiple players from around the world (in different internet cafe's) can have the same serial as eachother. If you suspect a duplication like this, please check the player for AC / SD code #34. This is easily done in the default Admin panel (under "AC Detected" on player info), but note that if your server has a high amount of problems due to duplicated serials from netcafe players, you could make a special script to alternate for those players or eventually put SD #34 in your mtaserver.conf (see [[Anti-cheat_guide#.3Cenablesd.3E.3C.2Fenablesd.3E\|AC guide - CTRL + F to SD #34]] but also make sure to read the warning on that entry, so as not to overuse it/only use it when you have no other choice.

	==Practical Examples==		==Practical Examples==

Dutchman101: Added netcafe note

2021-10-29T21:37:55Z

Added netcafe note

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 29 October 2021
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	==Notes==		==Notes==
	Serials are the most accurate form of identifying players that MTA has. However, you shouldn't rely on them entirely: players may change their serial, although this is very difficult to do due to MTA AC protections (serials aren't only based on hardware, but more). Besides, a player can simply use another computer with a different serial in order to fool your scripts or evade server bans.		Serials are the most accurate form of identifying players that MTA has. However, you shouldn't rely on them entirely: players may change their serial, although this is very difficult to do due to MTA AC protections (serials aren't only based on hardware, but more). Besides, a player can simply use another computer with a different serial in order to fool your scripts or evade server bans.

			Please note that the reliability of serials isn't as high for internet cafe's. In internet cafe's, the risk of serial duplication is much, much higher than otherwise (for reasons we don't want to explain due to security concerns) so if you suspect a duplication, please check the player for AC / SD code #34. This is easily done in the default Admin panel (under "AC Detected" on player info), but note that if your server has a high amount of problems due to duplicated serials from netcafe players, you could make a special script to alternate for those players or eventually put SD #34 in your mtaserver.conf (see [[Anti-cheat_guide#.3Cenablesd.3E.3C.2Fenablesd.3E\|AC guide - CTRL + F to SD #34]] but also make sure to read the warning on that entry, so as not to overuse it/only use it when you have no other choice.

	==Practical Examples==		==Practical Examples==

Dutchman101: Protected "Serial": Information about serials should be guaranteed to be reliable (provided by AC or MTA team) and not be prone to users editing it in order to mislead some server owner for their ban ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [...

2021-02-25T00:31:07Z

Protected "Serial": Information about serials should be guaranteed to be reliable (provided by AC or MTA team) and not be prone to users editing it in order to mislead some server owner for their ban ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [...

← Older revision

Revision as of 00:31, 25 February 2021

Dutchman101: clear examples for massive newbs

2021-02-25T00:29:25Z

clear examples for massive newbs

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:29, 25 February 2021
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	==Notes==		==Notes==
	Serials are the most accurate form of identifying players that MTA has. However, you shouldn't rely on them entirely: players may change their serial, although this is very difficult to do due to MTA AC protections (serials aren't only based on hardware, but more). Besides, a player can simply use another computer with a different serial in order to fool your scripts or evade server bans.		Serials are the most accurate form of identifying players that MTA has. However, you shouldn't rely on them entirely: players may change their serial, although this is very difficult to do due to MTA AC protections (serials aren't only based on hardware, but more). Besides, a player can simply use another computer with a different serial in order to fool your scripts or evade server bans.

			==Practical Examples==
			You can find the serial of an individual player by opening the [[Resource:Admin\|admin panel]], selecting the relevant player from list and looking at the player information tab, or by opening '''server\mods\deathmatch\logs\ > server.log''' and finding a relevant entry, which will look like this:

			''CONNECT: PlayerName connected (IP: 11.246.33.390 Serial: 3AE8CACD72H193D950D0T3L6373AQ144 Version: 1.5.8-9.20802.0)''. In this example, that player's serial would be 3AE8CACD72H193D950D0T3L6373AQ144

			In order to ban this player from your server, you'd go to 'Bans' tab in admin panel and select "Ban Serial", then enter that serial.. or the equivalent in your custom admin panel / using [[addBan]], [[banPlayer]], or by editing banlist.xml to add that entry while the server is not running.

	==Related scripting functions==		==Related scripting functions==

Dutchman101: t

2021-02-25T00:14:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:14, 25 February 2021
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	They are mostly used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change IP every now and then, making IP bans ineffective. MTA wants to give server owners a more reliable way to ban players and keep them out, which is why serials were invented.		They are mostly used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change IP every now and then, making IP bans ineffective. MTA wants to give server owners a more reliable way to ban players and keep them out, which is why serials were invented.

	Their reliability is so high that many players tend to have the same serial for 6 years or longer (in theory unlimited amount of years) unless they use a different PC at some point. This gives serials a wide range of ~~potemtial~~ uses in scripting and anti-abuse purposes and systems. But for vast reasons, please avoid using them in place of user accounts, a practise that will come with a variety of problems (some of which for security reasons we won't mention, and situations like when a player starts using a different PC and loses their account data without ability to transfer it, or somehow ends up changing their serial as per the below paragraph (intended or by accident). So basically, again, do not rely on serials for critical functions on your server.		Their reliability is so high that many players tend to have the same serial for 6 years or longer (in theory unlimited amount of years) unless they use a different PC at some point. This gives serials a wide range of potential uses in scripting and anti-abuse purposes and systems. But for vast reasons, please avoid using them in place of user accounts, a practise that will come with a variety of problems (some of which for security reasons we won't mention, and situations like when a player starts using a different PC and loses their account data without ability to transfer it, or somehow ends up changing their serial as per the below paragraph (intended or by accident). So basically, again, do not rely on serials for critical functions on your server.

	==Notes==		==Notes==

Dutchman101: more improvements and better warning + compensate for removed 'serial duplication' line

2021-02-25T00:14:22Z

more improvements and better warning + compensate for removed 'serial duplication' line

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:14, 25 February 2021
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Serials are used by MTA and server administrators to reliably identify a PC that a player is using. Serials are 32 characters long and contain letters and numbers.		Serials are used by MTA and server administrators to reliably identify a PC that a player is using. Serials are 32 characters long and contain letters and numbers.

	~~Serials~~ are ~~most~~ used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change IP every now and then, making IP bans ineffective. MTA wants to give server owners a more reliable way to ban players and keep them out, which is why serials were invented.		They are mostly used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change IP every now and then, making IP bans ineffective. MTA wants to give server owners a more reliable way to ban players and keep them out, which is why serials were invented.

			Their reliability is so high that many players tend to have the same serial for 6 years or longer (in theory unlimited amount of years) unless they use a different PC at some point. This gives serials a wide range of potemtial uses in scripting and anti-abuse purposes and systems. But for vast reasons, please avoid using them in place of user accounts, a practise that will come with a variety of problems (some of which for security reasons we won't mention, and situations like when a player starts using a different PC and loses their account data without ability to transfer it, or somehow ends up changing their serial as per the below paragraph (intended or by accident). So basically, again, do not rely on serials for critical functions on your server.

	==Notes==		==Notes==

Dutchman101: improvements + remove 'duplicated serials' line (decision of AC team - abuse of players sending this article to server owners for convincing them, and server owners not attributing the deserved amount of trust towards serials) as rarity is 1 on 500,000

2021-02-25T00:08:49Z

improvements + remove 'duplicated serials' line (decision of AC team - abuse of players sending this article to server owners for convincing them, and server owners not attributing the deserved amount of trust towards serials) as rarity is 1 on 500,000

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:08, 25 February 2021
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	Serials are used by MTA and server administrators to reliably identify a PC that a player is using~~. They are bound to the software and hardware configuration~~. Serials are 32 characters long and contain letters and numbers.		Serials are used by MTA and server administrators to reliably identify a PC that a player is using. Serials are 32 characters long and contain letters and numbers.

	Serials are most used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change ~~when the computer requests a new~~ IP, ~~but resources can~~ give them ~~new uses~~.		Serials are most used for banning players, because a computer with a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_IP dynamic IP] can change IP every now and then, making IP bans ineffective. MTA wants to give server owners a more reliable way to ban players and keep them out, which is why serials were invented.

	==Notes==		==Notes==
	Serials are the most accurate form of identifying players that MTA has. However, you shouldn't rely on them entirely: ~~serials~~ may ~~be able to be faked~~, although this is ~~quite~~ difficult to do~~, and it~~'~~s very likely to cause errors to the client that can lead to a global ban if asking for help to fix them. It is also not guaranteed that two players will not have the same serial~~, but ~~that is extremely unlikely~~. ~~And finally~~, a player can simply use another computer with a different serial.		Serials are the most accurate form of identifying players that MTA has. However, you shouldn't rely on them entirely: players may change their serial, although this is very difficult to do due to MTA AC protections (serials aren't only based on hardware, but more). Besides, a player can simply use another computer with a different serial in order to fool your scripts or evade server bans.

	==Related scripting functions==		==Related scripting functions==

Turret001 at 14:02, 11 January 2021

2021-01-11T14:02:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:02, 11 January 2021
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	{{Serial functions}}		{{Serial functions}}

			[[tr:Serial]]
	[[Category:Scripting_Concepts]]		[[Category:Scripting_Concepts]]