Your Server

How can blizzard find out if youve been playing on a private server?

Im asking this question because im thinking of playing WoW again and I did try out a private server but it was incredibly boring compared to retail Wow so I stopped using the private server. Ive been hearing that blizzard can ban you for playing on a private server. The second question I guess, is... How can I keep them from finding this out? My account wasn't active when I played the private server.

Public Comments

1. I don't think they can without invading your privacy. Private servers are considered stolen, and it is illegal to run/play on them. Consequences could be serious if they DO happen to find out, one of which includes a CD key ban.
2. It probably runs a check on the WoW directory and look for anything that's out of the ordinary. Didn't you have to download something to play on a private server? Whatever you downloaded is probably what Blizzard is looking for.