Should be noticed by Niantic: It seems BlueStacks app can help players cheat
BlueStacks is a desktop software simulating Android OS in desktop. In the latest version of BlueStacks, there is an app called “Location Provider” (“位置提供商” in Chinese) and it seems can simulate location data inside the whole simulated Android OS.
“Location Provider” screenshot on imgur/a/Iipk9qr. (Sorry for no URLs in Ingress Community, you should add .com by yourself.)
And the BlueStacks official website can see the HPWU logo, and may be advertising or suggesting as “you can use BlueStacks to simulate data to play HPWU”.
HPWU logo on their website: imgur/a/QyC3UFc
Did Niantic take action with it? “Location Provider” app is obviously breaking the ToS of Niantic.
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Comments
BlueStacks is awesome, for getting banned.
Use to report all kinds of Twitch streamers who used BlueStacks to play Pokemon Go.
Is HPWU even supported on tab?
@TheFarix Is it very common on Twitch?
@SouLPrison3r I don't quite understand what's it, but I can tell you I haven't try to use BS to play any Niantic games, so maybe I can't answer this question.
UPDATE
Holy S(no swear), there is another Android OS simulator called “MuMu”, which is developed by Netease, also can simulate location data to play games.
Screenshot: imgur/a/j1tIqD0
Maybe Niantic should find all the Android OS simulator software to check if the simulator can cheat in Ingress or all Niantic games.
B.T.W. I download the Android OS simulator just for playing “Arknights” game which is allowed to be run on Android OS simulator.
@Kirrior When Pokemon GO first launched, it was very common to see people stream it using BlueStacks. It got so bad that Twitch eventually took the position that any stream that was obviously spoofing—such as the telltale background around app—or using bots or was promoting spoofing and bots were immediate grounds for a ban.
@TheFarix I know the just beginning of Pokémon GO, and the cheat problem was serious in China, which I wrote a post to persuaded cheaters. I mean, is cheat still serious for now in Twitch?
Blue Stacks and other standard Android emulators can't get passed the verification check that is needed for Ingress. It installed but won't let you log on. Spoofers are going much deeper and are using custom coded Android emulators like you can build in Android Studio. There's also other options people use with rooted phones. But Niantic has the tools to tell if someone is using such rooted devices or an emulaotr
Guess they're already ahead of you.