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[Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC] 4 Feb, 2021 @ 6:09pm
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PSA: (How to) Block Fake Spam Servers | Most Effective Methods
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2502626384

Looks like we got a dirty admin on our hands, the fastpath community has been flooding the server lists with servers that appear to be full, run a variety of maps with a variety of players online. Once you join you get redirected to a server called Fastpath which directly on the MOTD starts offering paid options that give you more powers than other players. They will also try and claim the servers go offline if no donation is made within a day (Which wouldn't be a bad thing).

This is NOT representative of the game, its a dirty server operator trying to grab a quick buck by flooding the game with fake servers.

I will be trying to find a method to combat this, for now leave immediately if you see their server and DO NOT DONATE.

Update: I have published a script that can automatically add all his known IP's to your firewall. It is a batch script so anyone is able to read the code and verify it does nothing malicious. The list of IP's is also published alongside the script so you can verify for yourself that i only have the rogue servers on here.

You can find it on https://content.hl2dm.org/spamfilter/

To use the script simply download the GameSpamFilter.bat file an execute it, everything else is automatic and you will not need a new copy of the script if new IP's are added. The script will automatically maintain the firewall rules itself, including the removal of IP's no longer on the list. And it should not touch any other firewall rules on your system because it searches for its own name. All the rules are easily identifable if you want to clean them up later.

Update 2: Looks like if you use a blacklist without the ports added the game still blocks them, its not as effective because you can only block this ingame and it won't be blocked for all games at once. I still recommend the GameSpamFilter method, but for people having trouble with this script or for players who do not use Windows i have now added a Download_Blacklist option which will download a blacklist based on the known IP's.

Update 3: Made it an easy guide availible here : https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2502626384
Last edited by [Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC]; 18 Nov @ 3:57am
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Showing 1-15 of 112 comments
[B.n.B] Steve 5 Feb, 2021 @ 2:52am 
That is BS, if you can't afford to run a server don't open one.

Donations are nice when they happen but don't hold a gun to peoples head with threats of closure.

All it seems to be these days are certain owner / admins wanting paid to run the server, pathetic.

#1
[Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC] 5 Feb, 2021 @ 6:57am 
It is definately a money making scheme, its 2 gameservers and a handful of redirect servers. Me and humam have been providing 6 servers + backend servers to the community mostly for free. Only getting sponsored for 2 servers in regions that do not have enough players to warrent the cost.

This guy is spending $30 at most, spams the server list all in an effort to get money. He also does everything in his power to block people from finding out all the players are bots. Doesn't mark the bots as bots in the server list which is against the TOS and he also fakes the player counts outright, also against the TOS.

I am working on a script that will allow players to automatically add all the affiliated IP's of these rogue servers to the windows firewall given this guy can't be blacklisted using the ingame option.

Then people can just run the tool to get updated with all known ip's.

Update: I caught 20 !! different payed for instances that spam the list, so his expenses are likely a lot higher than i gave him credit for. But 99% of that is spent on spamming fake servers, and only around $5 on the real experience he is trying to offer.
Last edited by [Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC]; 5 Feb, 2021 @ 7:56am
#2
UmbralPenumbra 5 Feb, 2021 @ 11:33pm 
Originally posted by Bouncy-|Henky‼|-TTC:
we got a dirty admin on our hands
par for the course in the extent of human endeavors
#3
sandvichguy 14 Mar, 2021 @ 10:36pm 
ok thanks for telling me
#4
[Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC] 21 Mar, 2021 @ 9:44am 
Noticed they got more aggressive at this, updated the script with new IP's. If anyone has downloaded it before all you have to do is run it to get the update. They also no longer advertise the same maps for these servers.
#5
Peter Brev 21 Mar, 2021 @ 12:26pm 
Thanks for the word Henk! We were made aware this issue also exists in BM's multiplayer side. We brought this internally with the devs.

PS: https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/app/362890/discussions/5/3105768154695934551/

I put a quick word on the BMS forums here.
Eventually, if you could make a script that blacklists fastpath servers for BM as well, we would appreciate it.
Last edited by Peter Brev; 21 Mar, 2021 @ 12:55pm
#6
[Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC] 22 Mar, 2021 @ 3:42am 
The script edits the windows firewall so chances are it already works for BMS. They spam a ton of ports and instances so i had to do something at a deeper level.

If you do still notice it on BMS after running the script let me know the IP and port so i can verify and add it to the list.
#7
Facts and Figures Gaming 22 Mar, 2021 @ 12:27pm 
I think I've joined something like this but I'm not sure. It was russian and almost everyone seemed like a bot except for me and one more guy. Weirdest thing is that any other server I tried to join redirected to that one and the same thing happened to the other guy (we talked through public chat).

I just exited the game but I'm wondering how dangerous this is? Is it just a guy trying to scam for donations or should I also run a virus check? Please help
#8
[Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC] 22 Mar, 2021 @ 11:35pm 
Its not malicious to your pc just very spammy, however i have reasons to believe that he uses the data from people joining to trick steam into considering the fake players legitimate for a while which allows them to be higher.

If you want to block it to have a clean server list you can use the tool i provide.
#9
Facts and Figures Gaming 23 Mar, 2021 @ 1:58pm 
Originally posted by Bouncy-|Henky‼|-TTC:
Its not malicious to your pc just very spammy, however i have reasons to believe that he uses the data from people joining to trick steam into considering the fake players legitimate for a while which allows them to be higher.

If you want to block it to have a clean server list you can use the tool i provide.

Ok, thank you. The server list does work now and I did run a virus check anyway.
#10
Peter Brev 24 Mar, 2021 @ 3:17am 
Sounds to me fastpath is like a Saigns 2.0
#11
[Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC] 24 Mar, 2021 @ 12:34pm 
Its way worse, Saigns is just a server with a ton of bots with masked ping.
Fastpath turns AFK players into bots (Admittedly a cool feature) but also has bots of their own. On the real server it shows the bot count, but then they have a ton of servers based on an anti-ddos project they modified to show fake data. These servers take the legitimacy of the players they fool in joining in, and use that to advertise a higher player count for long after.

I had a warning server up for a while, but i can't yet replicate how they do this. So mine wasn't high on the ingame list only on the steam list. They have some way of bypassing the games defenses to detect fake players. And its likely by caching the authentication tickets and using them as long as they can. They will also steal player and server names, having used my own gaming communities server names as fakes in the past.

They also block any command related to finding out the server's real IP's, bot count, player steamid's, real pings, etc.
Last edited by [Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC]; 24 Mar, 2021 @ 12:35pm
#12
MeowDread 3 Apr, 2021 @ 6:13pm 
Wow, fastpath is really scummy
#13
༄ˡᵛ᭄✿ᴋᴀᴡᴀɪɪ 10 Apr, 2021 @ 9:25am 
Works in bm,dod:s and hl2dm.
#14
[Bouncy]-|Henky‼|-[TTC] 10 Apr, 2021 @ 2:07pm 
Originally posted by ♡ Princess Cadance ♡:
Works in bm,dod:s and hl2dm.

It indeed works, and if i am missing IP addresses down the line or if they launch IP addresses specific to other games feel free to let me know and ill update the list.
#15
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Half-Life 2: Deathmatch > General Discussions > Topic Details
Date Posted: 4 Feb, 2021 @ 6:09pm
Posts: 112

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