Macroers

Macros (also known as Autos, Autoers, Bots, and Macroers) are players who use illegal third-party programs while playing RuneScape which automatically perform boring tasks such as training or making money. These programs directly break Rule 7 and enable these players to unfairly gain large amounts of resources, money, and high skill levels without actually working for any of it. This also has a negative effect on hard-working players who play fairly and earn their skills and money, as the large number of macros have caused a drop in the price of sharks, lobsters, yew logs, magic logs, coal, and other commodities. This problem is largest in the free worlds though does occur in the member worlds on rare occasion. Most macro characters have the default look  (Bald, brown beard, green pants, and light green shirt), have low combat levels, and have names like Jingzhao998, 1087937239 or Ssxd34k8 which make it hard for any player to report. The goal of these players is usually to gain high levels and profits at the same time.

Names
As stated above, macro usernames can be difficult to type or remember when reporting them. This not always, but most of the time intentional. A tip to remember when you are reporting them is to type their names a few characters at a time. These names may not be intentional as many of the macroer's owners are Chinese, so the macroer has has a Chinese name which most English speakers find hard to spell due to them not being their norm. Another way is to type the name into the chat box open up the report screen then copy the text from the chat box into the report screen.

False Reports
Some people walk by a user who is training a repetitive skill (usually woodcutting) will automatically assume that the person is a macroer and reports them. To avoid this, players should try to start a conversation with people who might be suspicious of them every once in a while. Although with more advanced macros some can talk and even type in characters usernames.

There are many types of macroers, one of the lesser known ones is a Autobuyer.

RuneScape's Largest Crisis
The macro invasion has really started hitting RuneScape's economy hard in late 2006.

Problems Arising
 * Between December 2006 and April 2007 - Raw sharks and cooked sharks slipped in price from 1,000 coins each to 800 coins each. After a protest against macros was held in mid-April, the macroers responded angrily and flooded the market, causing both raw and cooked sharks to plummet to 500-600 coins each. Fishing bots are directly responsible for this. After the market was flooded, sharks have slowly rebounded to around 700 coins each, but are sure to continue slipping in price.
 * Early 2007 - Green Dragon hide plummeted by 500 coins from 2k each to 1.5k thanks to the Green Dragon bots.
 * Another macro increasing in annoyance level in 2007 is the autobuyer. In many of the rune stores, one or more level 3's are in trade with the store (player is busy, if you try to trade them) and every chaos and death rune is bought out as it appears. Even if they are within the luring range of a monster, they have probably already been there long enough not to be bothered by it.
 * May 1st - 2007 Jagex announced a crackdown on bots and announced that bots are usually East Asian players trading these resources for real world cash in violation of Rule 12.
 * May 19th - Raw lobster and cooked lobster prices become the same.
 * July 8th - The price of willow logs has decreased by 10 coins to 20 coins.

Jagex's Reaction
Almost every player in RuneScape would agree that Jagex's response to macros has been lackluster and ineffective. Jagex claims to have a system which is designed to catch macroers and other players using third-party programs while playing RuneScape, and has pointed out that they cannot reveal the strategy of the system to the macroers, as this would allow the macroers to adapt their programs and techniques accordingly. Some players claim that Jagex allows macros as they create extra income for the company.

This view changed on May 1st 2007 after Jagex announced a crackdown on bots.
 * On the 11th May 2007 it had been reported that 19075 macro accounts had been banned.