Presence of cheaters / hackers

[frogsterjr]

Has anyone else noticed that on some puzzles, the top 10 solve times features some pretty suspicious times? I'm talking about 14x14 3-star puzzles with a record solve time of <10 seconds.

User Aladen is a good example of this: https://starbattle.puzzlebaron.com/profile.php?u=4985

Their average solve time for 14x14 puzzles is 10 seconds. Their average solve time for 12x12 2 star puzzles is 7.8 seconds. But, their average solve time for 10x10 2 star puzzles is 853.8 seconds. This is a crazily imbalanced average solve time, and it's really suspicious that the harder puzzles has such an inhumanly fast solve time.

I can only conclude that this user (and potentially others) are using some sort of code / software to cheat while playing, and I hope Puzzle Baron does something about it.

[admin]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, frogsterjr - this user is obviously using a script to game the system. His/her stats have been removed from the monthly and all-time competitions, and will be wiped from individual puzzle statistics as well.

[frogsterjr]

Thank you!! Awesome to see that this site has active admins - keep up the great work!

[Champagnedrinker]

14*14 in under 10 seconds?? I'm seriously impressed by all those who do the 8*8 in 13 or so seconds. I don't think I've ever taken less than about 40. I guess some can see the "no" without having to put dots in, but that's still a lot to remember even if you do save time not clicking thrm

[Luckr]

14*14 in under 10 seconds?? I'm seriously impressed by all those who do the 8*8 in 13 or so seconds. I don't think I've ever taken less than about 40. I guess some can see the "no" without having to put dots in, but that's still a lot to remember even if you do save time not clicking thrm

14*14 in under 10 seconds is physically impossible, that's why the person who got those times got banned.
8*8 on the other hand is very possible. After playing a lot, it almost becomes instinctive where to stars should be, and it becomes easier to recognize patterns. Sometimes you make a wrong placement and it takes longer, but sometimes your pattern recognition or instinct is right and you can place all starts in 10 or even less seconds :)

[kirkmcg]

8*8 on the other hand is very possible.

Can agree with this, but what I keep seeing is a lot of the top 10 results are from people who've managed to replay the same puzzle, not sure how that's possible? Surely leads to cheating?

[sgro]

Can agree with this, but what I keep seeing is a lot of the top 10 results are from people who've managed to replay the same puzzle, not sure how that's possible? Surely leads to cheating?

How do you know they replayed the same puzzle? Unless you mean because there's multiple comments from them but then you can see how far apart they played it. There are thousands of puzzles for each size but if you play enough you get the same ones again eventually. By the time you get one again you won't remember it.

[kirkmcg]

How do you know they replayed the same puzzle? Unless you mean because there's multiple comments from them but then you can see how far apart they played it.

To be fair only seen one where I've noticed the date since - was a month between first and second attempt. So yeah I guess that checks out

[Goodeone]

Another one to call out, user Sgro. Seems to be the #1 finisher on a lot of the 10x10 2 star puzzles, yet only has a 35% overall success rate? Seems like a bot that was trained and now cranking out unrealistic times.

[sgro]

Another one to call out, user Sgro. Seems to be the #1 finisher on a lot of the 10x10 2 star puzzles, yet only has a 35% overall success rate? Seems like a bot that was trained and now cranking out unrealistic times.

Nothing unrealistic about my times. I'm just the only person doing 10x10 2 stars without putting dots on non-stars. My success rate is lower because I have to make guesses at some point in most puzzles since I'm going as fast as possible and not putting dots. If I guess wrong and can't correct it pretty fast I just move on. Also, I've been working on those records for a year.

[varl]

Can agree with this, but what I keep seeing is a lot of the top 10 results are from people who've managed to replay the same puzzle, not sure how that's possible? Surely leads to cheating?

tbqh if you're doing hundreds or even dozens of puzzles, you're almost certainly not going to retain any information on the solved layout. I've done puzzles multiple times, sometimes slower, sometimes faster, and I've literally never thought "oh yeah I've seen this one."

Also, re: the 10x10 2*, If I can hit into the 40's as someone who draws dots, sgro can 100% hit better times without drawing them

image.png

[AnthC1]

14*14 in under 10 seconds?? I'm seriously impressed by all those who do the 8*8 in 13 or so seconds. I don't think I've ever taken less than about 40. I guess some can see the "no" without having to put dots in, but that's still a lot to remember even if you do save time not clicking thrm

Im not quite at the top but have A LOT of first place finishes and am consistently in the top 10 in like 80-90% of the runs I do. I think the guys doing under 10 seconds like kraker and patrick in 8x8 are not puting in dots but I have some good times sub 15 secs and I generally cover atleast 80-90% of the board with dots.

[AnthC1]

tbqh if you're doing hundreds or even dozens of puzzles, you're almost certainly not going to retain any information on the solved layout. I've done puzzles multiple times, sometimes slower, sometimes faster, and I've literally never thought "oh yeah I've seen this one."

Also, re: the 10x10 2*, If I can hit into the 40's as someone who draws dots, sgro can 100% hit better times without drawing them

image.png

I've done thousands of 8x8 and can say that I do recognise some of the puzzles when I see them again but absolutely dont remember the solutions. I doubt any normal human can be seriously remembering solutions and cheating this way.