Is a client-side bot a "hacking tool"? Does it breach a network's security?

No and No. Client-side quake bots are not illegal or pirated software. They are not "hacking tools" (as you will read below) either. They are gaming aids to help an multiplayer quake or quake2 player (usually with a disadvantaged connection speed) compete better.

There are those who incorrectly claim that client-side quake bots breach network security. By using this falsehood , and encouraging others to flood the site hosts with email complaints,  they prey on the ignorance of some web hosting organizations and ISPs in order to get sites such as mine removed.  Do you really think Stanford University would allow this site to stay up on their university web if were true that client-side bots were hacking tools?

Lets examine the examples of system or network security violations and apply them to client-side quake bots:

Examples of system or network security violations include, without limitation, attempts, whether or not successful, to do any of the following:

1. Probe hosts or networks without the explicit authorization of the administration of those systems.

The client-side quake bot does not probe the server for restricted information. It receives the same information that non-bot users receive. No data that the bot receives is restricted or unauthorized; otherwise, the server would not send it.

2. Breach the security of a host, network component, or authentication system without the explicit permission of the administration of those systems.

The client-side bot does not access restricted information. Some quake servers use software and scripts intended to detect and remove players using these client-side software aids to calculate and improve their game play. These "anti-bot" scripts and software are not developed or licensed by the company that created the base game server program (Id), and as such, they cannot be considered native to the security of the quake2 software. That said, many servers do not prohibit client-side bots to begin with, so using a bot there is not not even against "the rules", much less the preference of the server.

3. Monitor data on any network or system without the explicit authorization of the administration of that system or network.

All players (whether using a bot or not) connected to a public quake gaming server receive the same data from the server. A client-side quake bot does not receive any data that is not sent to ALL players. The client-side bot enables a player to make use off all the data sent by the server.

4. Interfere with service to any user, host or network, including deliberate attempts to overload a server, network connected device, or network component.

The client-side bot does not interfere with any other player's use of the server. The "client-side" quake bot does not overload or additionally tax the server's resources, nor does it interfere with the functioning of any network devices or component.

5. Originate malformed data or network traffic that results in damage to, or disruption of, a service or network connected device.

The data sent from a player using a client-side bot to a server is identical to the data sent by a non-bot user.

6. Forgery of data designed to misrepresent the origination user or source.

The client-side bot does not "spoof" an IP.

7. Send unsolicited, mass electronic mail messages to one or more recipients or systems ('Spamming'), resulting in a complaint
from the recipient(s) to us. Any electronic messages, which are sent in an unsolicited manner to 10 or more recipients, or a series of unsolicited electronic messages, qualify as Spamming.

8. Forgery of electronic mail headers (including any portion of the IP packet header and/or electronic mail address), or any other method used to forge, disguise, or conceal the user's identity when using our Services ('Spoofing').

9. Use of another party's electronic mail server to relay electronic mail without the explicit permission from that third party ('E-mail Relay').

10. Send mass volumes of data, or any other abusive behavior that is intended to disrupt or disable the recipient system (Denial of Service (DOS) or 'SYN Flood' attacks).

11. Cross-posting of the same or similar messages to two or more USENET newsgroups. All postings to USENET newsgroups by customer or user must comply with that newsgroups' charter and other policies.

I do not spam newsgroups or messageboards. It has been brought to my attention that others have posted a link to my site more than once in some newsgroups. DO NOT waste your time complaining to my web host that I spammed your forum - for one thing, I didn't - and for another, when you have a spammer you should complain to the spammer's ISP, not the host of a website. Anyone can make a post anywhere and ascribe my name to it...doesn't mean its me.

If you operate a bot site and your webhost gets complaint letters -or- if you have had a letter sent to your ISP because you used a client-side bot on a quake server- feel free to point them to this page. If you relevant or helpful information to contribute to this page, please drop me an email!

Jimmy Z