Minecraft/Offline Mode

Information from The State of Sarkhan Official Records

Minecraft, developed by Mojang Studios, is a wildly popular sandbox video game that allows players to build and explore virtual worlds. While the official version requires a valid Minecraft account to access multiplayer servers, there exists an "Offline Mode" that enables cracked clients to connect to servers without authentication. This article talks about the restricted topic of Offline Mode, its implications for cracked clients, and the potential risks of running an offline server without proper authentication plugins.

Understanding Offline Mode:

Offline Mode or Cracked Clients in Minecraft refers to Launching Minecraft client without a valid Minecraft account. This feature allow players without legitimate accounts to experience gameplay of Minecraft without purchasing the game has raised concerns in the Minecraft community. It has become a way for cracked clients, which are unauthorized copies of the game, to access multiplayer servers.

Cracked Clients and Impersonation Risks:

Using cracked clients to connect to servers through Offline Mode poses several risks, particularly related to impersonation. Since cracked clients do not require authentication, anyone can connect using any username they choose. This anonymity can lead to impersonation, as players can easily assume the identity of others, creating confusion and potential disruptions in the game environment.

Impersonation can have various consequences, including:

  1. Reputation Damage: Impersonators can tarnish the reputation of legitimate players by engaging in inappropriate behavior, cheating, or causing conflicts. This can negatively impact the overall gaming experience for others on the server.
  2. Security Concerns: Without authentication plugins or proper server-side measures, it becomes challenging to identify and address security issues. Impersonators may exploit vulnerabilities, leading to data breaches, griefing, or other malicious activities.
  3. Trust and Community Integrity: Minecraft servers thrive on a sense of community and trust. Impersonation undermines this trust and can disrupt the social fabric of the server, leading to mistrust among players and potential community fragmentation.
  4. Privacy Concerns: Keeping your coordinates safe is important, by using offline mode, anyone with Internet Access can port scan and discover your Minecraft Server, might even checks that your username is the OP and decides to leave you a pig.

The Importance of Authentication Plugins:

To mitigate the risks associated with Offline Mode, server administrators should consider implementing authentication plugins. These plugins require players to authenticate their Minecraft accounts before accessing the server, ensuring that only legitimate users with valid accounts can join.

There is several Authentication plugins that provide common benefits, including:

  1. User Verification: By enforcing authentication, plugins validate the legitimacy of each player, reducing the likelihood of impersonation and unauthorized access.
  2. Account Security: Authentication plugins add an extra layer of security, preventing unauthorized players from using stolen or shared Minecraft accounts to gain entry.
  3. Community Building: With authentication in place, players can trust that the identities of their fellow gamers are verified, promoting a safer and more reliable gaming environment.
  4. Deterring Bot Accounts: The existence of authentication plugin might not prevent botting in your server but it can serves as a preventative measures against them.

Conclusion and Disclaimer:

Offline Mode in Minecraft serves as a means for cracked clients to access multiplayer servers, bypassing the need for authentication. However, running an offline server without proper authentication plugins can expose server administrators to the risks of impersonation, reputation damage, and security concerns.

It is important to note that Offline Mode, cracked clients, and piracy are not endorsed by this article or the wider Minecraft community. This discussion aims to shed light on the potential risks and encourage responsible server administration by implementing authentication plugins and adhering to Minecraft's terms of service.

Ultimately, creating a secure and enjoyable Minecraft multiplayer experience relies on fostering a community that respects the game's integrity, authenticity, and the rights of its creators.

Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect any official endorsement or support usage of Offline Mode, cracked clients, or piracy by this wiki or its affiliates.

Offline UUIDs

In Minecraft, UUIDs (Universally Unique Identifiers) are how the game identifies players — not by username. This allows players to change usernames without losing their data, like inventories, permissions, or land claims.

Let’s break it down:


🧠 Online Mode UUID (Mojang / Microsoft Account)

When the server is in online mode (online-mode=true in server.properties), the Minecraft client authenticates with Mojang’s (now Microsoft’s) servers. The UUID is retrieved from the official Minecraft API and looks like this:

f84c6a790a4e4582b42e6f1d4c7f3ca2  → Notch

This UUID never changes for a given account, no matter the username.


🛠️ Offline Mode UUID (No Authentication / Cracked Servers)

When the server is in offline mode (often used for testing or ahem certain gray-area uses), the server has no access to Mojang’s authentication system. So it generates UUIDs locally, based on the username.

This is done using the following method:

UUID.nameUUIDFromBytes(("OfflinePlayer:" + username).getBytes(StandardCharsets.UTF_8));

This generates a version 3 (name-based) UUID, and the prefix "OfflinePlayer:" ensures it won’t collide with online-mode UUIDs.

Example:

OfflinePlayer:Steve → 8667ba71-b85a-4004-af54-457a9734eed7
OfflinePlayer:MoNoLidThZ→ 1aee0d33-de1d-3ecc-9758-90c22cdb9ca6

⚠️ Why This Matters

  • If you're switching between online and offline mode, the same username will get different UUIDs, causing data mismatch.
  • That’s why plugins like LuckPerms or Essentials store data by UUID rather than username.

✨ TL;DR

Mode UUID Type Based On Persistent?
Online Mode Mojang-provided UUID Tied to Microsoft account ✅ Yes
Offline Mode Name-based UUID v3 OfflinePlayer: + Username ✅ Yes*

*Yes, persistent as long as the username doesn't change (but no guarantees it's unique across different servers).

So yeah, Steve from a cracked server is not the same Steve from an online one, UUID-wise.

Incident Report

Frenchmen attempting to hack my Minecraft Server

Date: 2023-06-28

Reported By: MoNoRi-Chan

Location: Califrog's Minecraft Server

Description of Incident:

On 2023-06-26, at approximately 02:46 AM, an incident occurred involving user "Califrog" being impersonated by an unknown individual originating from an IP address 51.159.223.59 located in France. The incident took place on the Minecraft server hosted by MoNoRi-Chan. At the time of the incident, the server did not have authentication plugins implemented.

The impersonator took advantage of off-peak hours (where real Califrog was sleeping) to gain unauthorized access to the server and proceeded to grant operator (OP) privileges to a user named "WorldEditError", The individual's intention was to potentially cause griefing and disruption to the server. However, their actions were promptly detected before any significant damage occurred.

Evidence:

[02:46:41] [User Authenticator #103/INFO]: UUID of player Califrog is (REDACTED)
[02:46:42] [Server thread/INFO]: Califrog joined the game
[02:46:42] [Server thread/INFO]: Califrog[/51.159.223.59:52229] logged in with entity id 824299 at ([world]xxxx.xxx, 92.0, zzzz.zzz)
[02:46:53] [Server thread/INFO]: Califrog issued server command: /gm 1
[02:46:56] [Server thread/INFO]: Califrog issued server command: /v
[02:46:58] [Server thread/INFO]: Califrog issued server command: /tp wakInkubpom
[02:47:39] [Server thread/INFO]: Califrog issued server command: /op WorldEditError
[02:47:40] [Server thread/INFO]: [Califrog: Made WorldEditError a server operator]
[02:47:52] [Server thread/INFO]: Califrog issued server command: /pl

Actions Taken:

  1. Califrog raised concerns about the impersonation, immediately took action to protect the server and its users.
  2. Authentication plugins were promptly installed on the server to ensure that only verified players could access it in the future.
  3. The server logs were carefully examined, revealing the attempted OP privileges granted to "WorldEditError" by (fake,french) Califrog.
  4. A thorough investigation of the server logs and OP list was conducted to identify any suspicious activity related to the incident.
  5. It was determined that the impersonators' IP address did not match the known IP address associated with Califrog's residence.
  6. Considering the severity of the offense and the fact that impersonating admins is strictly prohibited, both "WorldEditError" and "WorldGuardError" were permanently banned from the server.

Lessons Learned and Recommendations:

  1. The incident highlights the importance of implementing authentication plugins to prevent unauthorized access and impersonation.
  2. Server administrators should regularly check server logs for suspicious activity and be vigilant for any signs of impersonation or unauthorized actions.
  3. It is crucial to educate all server users about the risks of impersonation and the necessity of using authentication plugins to protect the community.
  4. A reminder should be issued to all server users to exercise caution and avoid trusting unknown individuals on the internet, even within the context of an anarchy server.
  5. Server administrators should consider implementing additional security measures, such as IP whitelisting, to further safeguard against unauthorized access.

Conclusion:

The incident involving the impersonation of "Califrog" on the Minecraft server served as a reminder of the risks associated with unauthenticated access and the potential for malicious activities. By swiftly implementing authentication plugins, investigating the incident, and taking appropriate action, Califrog demonstrated a commitment to the security and integrity of the server community. This incident emphasizes the importance of using authentication plugins, regularly reviewing server logs, and fostering a sense of caution when interacting with others online.

Disclaimer: This incident report is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. The actions taken in response to this incident should be tailored to the specific circumstances of each server environment.

Further Reading