I wondered about and did worry about hacking/cheating etc. But if someone does cheat (using Fritz Rybeka whatever) or changes packets they get nothing from it do they? They don't get better at chess. Personally I can and do hack a lot of networks, computers etc. But here, its not worth it. What is the motivation?
Since I've been playing I haven't had any opponents I even suspected of cheating nor has anyone called me a cheater. For they time being, its a non-problem IMNSHO.
Why wait for proof that online clock cheating is being committed when it is possible to prevent it in the first place?
It would be more cost-effective and productive for chess.com to spend the time and resources fixing the bug rather than proving that the known bug is being exploited.
I wonder if the recent DNS issues were related to the exploit. 
On a seprate note: How are chess engine users caught during online tournaments?
Am I in the twilight zone or something?
Why wait for proof that online clock cheating is being committed when it is possible to prevent it in the first place?
It would be more cost-effective and productive for chess.com to spend the time and resources fixing the bug rather than proving that the known bug is being exploited.
I wonder if the recent DNS issues were related to the exploit.
On a seprate note: How are chess engine users caught during online tournaments?
Generally you'll want to ensure that there's actually value in doing something before investing the time, cost and effort. Trying to proactively account for every possibility quickly becomes and expensive proposition, so it's better to try to prioritize them by likelihood and impact, of which I suspect this issue ranks quite low on both accounts.
As for the engine use question you will find all sorts of discussion around that, including the answer to your question, in the cheating group I linked to earlier.
As for the engine use question you will find all sorts of discussion around that, including the answer to your question, in the cheating group I linked to earlier.
Cheating forum, not a cheating group ! (At least not any more.)
@TheGrobe: Well I just re-read Erik's single post in this thread. All he needed was proof that it could be done and how it was done. I quote, "...show proof of intentional clock hacking and how it is done." So all one has to do is simulate the exploit to him and explain how one did it.
I can see how the arguments here were revolving around the interpretation that Erik needed someone outside of chess.com to prove that the bug was beig exploited by any number of users already.
I believe that someone would have access to chess.com's servers to be able to place network monitors to gather proof that the bug is being exploited, and Erik is in the perfect position to do so. All he would need is the technicalities of the exploit, and he would know where to monitor and record.
If the staff of chess.com finds that the whole clock hack is not even an exploit that cannot be re-created consistently on every simulation but instead be attributed to intermittent lag or anything random, then I figure that they won't have to do anything else and everything goes back to business as usual.
However, how would we know that the chess.com staff is not working on the bug fix already?
@Atos: I just read a sticky thread on the Cheating Forum. The staff of chess.com will not disclose what they use a basis to accuse a user for using chess engines. I quote from the sticky FAQ: "What do we recommend that you do/think about cheating? Forget about it! We are here to worry about the issue for you..."
This lines up perfectly with the intention of this thread's OP and what chess.com does with the information. The burden of the (mass) proof is on the shoulders of chess.com. And since they are clear that they do not disclose their methods for detecting, analyzing and monitoring cheaters, we can only speculate what they do with the information about clock hacking.
EDIT
Oh, come on. Nobody cheats on chess.com. Why would they?
Talking about it will only discourage people from playing online chess, so shhhhh! Go to this bubble so you don't damage the rest of the community with your hogwash.
Funny why the chess.com staffer, Erik, did not recommend/force this thread be moved to that "bubble" forum.
Maybe because he encourages the discussion and he wanted to reach a wide audience with his challenge to report the exploit to him in exchange for a fancy prize?
I do see connection problems, but my opponent is losing time on the clock. Are we talking about the clock actually stopping? I've played 382 live games and never saw the clock stop for either side when it was their turn to move.
I do see connection problems, but my opponent is losing time on the clock. Are we talking about the clock actually stopping? I've played 382 live games and never saw the clock stop for either side when it was their turn to move.
You can say that the hack is supposed to make the exploiter's clock tick slower than it should.
The usage varies depending on who's suspecting such behavior.
The thing is that seasoned blitz players can move upto two (and when needed three) times on the same second on their clock. I've seen it happen on touch-sensitive Chronos II clocks in clubs.
That physical and mental capability can definitely make every second an eternity for an unknowing opponent in blitz games.
If that is what the OP experienced, then it's a different story all-together.
EDIT
Loomis,
Did you read the first post? I specifically asked to avoid this type of banter. You are diluting the thread. I asked only for those who were like minded to join me and help. I didn't want to spend time discussing whether or not there is hacking, rather what to do about it. I believe I was very specific in my OP.
Please respect that. I don't want to start flames.
You went on for quite a bit in your first post about what kind of expertise you have and why this makes you an authority. I think that makes your inability to formulat a logical argument germane to the discussion.
The stance that anyone who agrees with you and no one should post anything that questions your authority doesn't actually strengthen your position.
I do see connection problems, but my opponent is losing time on the clock. Are we talking about the clock actually stopping? I've played 382 live games and never saw the clock stop for either side when it was their turn to move.
I've seen it. My opponent was at 0 time for a full 10 seconds (or more) before it was my move, and they received bonus time for moving, so never lost on time.
Both of us had full green bars ("Excellent Connection - No Lag" category).
Loomis,
Did you read the first post? I specifically asked to avoid this type of banter. You are diluting the thread. I asked only for those who were like minded to join me and help. I didn't want to spend time discussing whether or not there is hacking, rather what to do about it. I believe I was very specific in my OP.
Please respect that. I don't want to start flames.
You went on for quite a bit in your first post about what kind of expertise you have and why this makes you an authority. I think that makes your inability to formulat a logical argument germane to the discussion.
The stance that anyone who agrees with you and no one should post anything that questions your authority doesn't actually strengthen your position.
Loomis, you have issues. I hope you get some peace ;-)
hehe, that makes me laugh, I'm the one with issues? You think people are packet editing to beat you at chess. :-) And then you flip out if people don't kowtow to what you think should be in this thread. I'm sending all my peace to you, brother.
It's always telling when the argument at hand gets brushed aside in favour of an ad hominem attack. Loomis' point is spot on, and deserves to be addressed directly.
<Insert Jeopardy theme about here>
read what you want, ignore the rest.
like we've all said, yes it's possible. nobody here claims clock hacking isn't possible but it seems like you should take some time to get to know a site and how it works before you blaze your guns. just sayin'.
and again (for the record) most "good" blitz players (1600-1800 range) won't need a hack to beat a 1400 player. that's kinda obvious. fun that you don't recognize that.
Hey there Flagboyant. Listen up. You are clueless and I don't appreicate the vomit coming from your keyboard. Go to another thread please, you are not welcomed here.
Hey Erik, or whoever monitors this thing. I am done trying. If you want to see the hack working, please let me know. If not, I am done trying to convince a bunch of nut jobs that there are hackers in your community. What a bunch of noobs.
Well said TheGrobe.