'Pokémon GO' News: Users of Third-Party Maps, Calculators Get In-Game Warnings
Some "Pokémon GO" players have begun to receive a pop-up message upon launching the game. The message warns users that they could lose their account if they do not stop using unauthorized third-party software.
A Reddit thread started by Reddit user fiancepeas shows a screenshot of the notification that Niantic sent in-game. A moderator on the sub-Reddit has confirmed that the pop-up warning is a legitimate message from Niantic for "Pokémon GO" players.
The warning text is a rather lengthy message from the company. "We have detected activity on your account that suggests you or someone accessing your account are using modified client software or unauthorized third party software which accesses Pokémon GO in violation of our Terms of Service," the pop-up message states, with the text and the preceding exclamation point symbol colored red to drive the point home that this is a serious warning.
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The message continues, reminding the user of the possible consequences: "Please be aware that the use of such software can result in the loss of your account. If you have been using such software, we strongly encourage you to stop." The user can then acknowledge the warning by tapping on the button labeled "Got It."
A few applications can trigger the warning, according to iMore. To see if any applications are tripping Niantic's cheat monitoring system, a user can open his or her Google Security Settings page. In this page, there is a list of applications that are authorized to access the user's Google account.
If a player has been seeing the warning message from Niantic, he or she can check if there are any applications that can trigger the warning — apps such as Individual Value (IV) calculators, Pokémon trackers, Pokémon area maps, Global Positioning System (GPS) sliders or similar software that are could be considered cheating aids by "Pokémon GO."
