HWID-Tracker (Notification/Listing/Kick/Ban) by Area
Maintaining a fair and secure environment on a multiplayer server is a constant battle against cheaters, griefers, and players who attempt to evade consequences by simply creating new accounts. Traditional ban methods relying solely on usernames or IP addresses are increasingly ineffective in an era where changing identities is trivial. This is where the HWID-Tracker (Notification/Listing/Kick/Ban) by Area add-on steps in as a game-changer for server administrators. By targeting the physical hardware of a player's machine rather than their digital footprint, this utility provides a robust layer of security that is significantly harder to bypass.
Understanding Hardware ID Bans
The core functionality of this mod revolves around the concept of the Hardware ID, or HWID. Unlike an IP ban, which can be circumvented by restarting a router, or a username ban, which is defeated by registering a new account, an HWID ban ties the restriction to the specific components of the player's computer. When a user attempts to join, the mod silently collects identifiers such as the mainboard serial, CPU ID, and total RAM. These values are combined and hashed using SHA-256 directly on the client side before being sent to the server.
This process ensures absolute privacy; no raw hardware data ever leaves the player's machine, and the mod makes zero external network connections. All data is stored locally on your server in simple text files, making it lightweight and efficient. If a banned player tries to rejoin with a new account from the same computer, the server recognizes the matching hardware hash and disconnects them immediately, displaying the ban reason and expiry date.
Key Features for Server Security
The versatility of HWID-Tracker (Notification/Listing/Kick/Ban) by Area extends beyond simple permanent bans. Administrators gain access to a powerful suite of commands designed to manage player behavior with precision. The /hban command allows you to issue bans that cover HWID, UUID, and IP simultaneously, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Furthermore, the system supports temporary bans with customizable durations ranging from minutes to weeks. Once the timer expires, the ban is automatically lifted across all lists, saving admins from manual cleanup tasks.
One of the most critical features is its multi-account detection capability. In scenarios where siblings share a PC or trusted staff members operate multiple accounts, the mod includes a bypass list. Using the /hbypass command, you can exempt specific users from the automatic kick triggered when duplicate hardware is detected. For everyone else, if a second account joins while the first is still online, the newcomer is instantly kicked, and all online operators receive an immediate in-game notification.
Installation and Compatibility
Getting this essential tool running on your server is straightforward, provided you are using the correct environment. This add-on is built specifically for the NeoForge mod loader. It supports a wide range of modern versions, including Minecraft 1.21.1 through 1.21.5 (using a single universal file), as well as specific builds for 1.21.8, 1.21.10, 1.21.11, and version 26.1. It is crucial to note that this is a required mod for both the server and the client. Players attempting to connect without the mod installed will be unable to join, ensuring that every participant is subject to the same security protocols.
For those looking to streamline their mod management experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers a seamless way to handle such dependencies. With its integrated add-on catalog, you can locate HWID-Tracker (Notification/Listing/Kick/Ban) by Area and install it with a single click, automatically resolving version compatibility issues so you can focus on configuring your server rules rather than troubleshooting file paths.
How to Install and Configure
To begin, download HWID-Tracker (Notification/Listing/Kick/Ban) by Area matching your specific server version from the files tab. Place the jar file into the mods folder of both your server and your client installation. Upon the first server startup, the mod will automatically generate a configuration file located at config/hwidtracker-server.toml. Here, you can toggle the multi_account_kick_enabled setting. Setting this to false disables the automatic kick for shared hardware while keeping the tracking and manual ban commands fully functional, offering flexibility for different community types.
If you are wondering how to install the mod manually without a launcher, simply ensure your Java version matches the requirement (Java 21 for 1.21.x versions or Java 25 for version 26.1) and drop the file into the directory. The mod creates individual text files for each player in the config/user-hwids/ directory, storing names, UUIDs, hashes, and timestamps. Additionally, all active bans are recorded in bans.json, which integrates seamlessly with vanilla ban lists like banned-players.json and banned-ips.json.
Conclusion
In the ongoing effort to keep Minecraft servers safe and enjoyable, relying on outdated banning methods is no longer sufficient. HWID-Tracker (Notification/Listing/Kick/Ban) by Area provides a sophisticated, privacy-conscious, and highly effective solution for stopping repeat offenders. Whether you need to issue a temporary timeout for a minor infraction or permanently block a determined cheater, this tool gives you the control you need. By leveraging hardware-level identification, you ensure that your community remains secure, fair, and free from the disruption of alternate accounts.