Authenticator
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Microsoft launches a cross-platform password autofill feature
Microsoft's password manager keeps logins synced across devices, using the Authenticator app on iOS and Android, and an Autofill extension for Google Chrome.
Google Authenticator for Android can finally move accounts between devices
Google has given Authenticator a much-needed update on Android with account transfers between devices and a fresh look.
Facebook won't require a phone number for two-factor authentication
One good thing to come from Facebook's government scrutiny is that the social network makes an advancement in security, it's very loud about the fact. Today Facebook announced that protecting your account via two-factor authentication is getting easier. In a blog post, Scott Dickens of the social network's security team said that now you can use Google Authenticator and Duo Security to prevent unauthorized logins. You'll still be able to use your phone number for code delivery, of course, it's just that now you have a few more options beyond that. If you're traveling abroad and forget to write down any recovery codes in advance, this should make life a little less stressful.
LastPass fixes fingerprint security flaw in its Authenticator app
Password manager LastPass has an extra layer of protection for its Authenticator app, in the form of a fingerprint and/or PIN that ostensibly keeps people out of your passwords if they find your phone unlocked. Last week, a developer posted that he'd been able to bypass this security feature on the Android version of the app. As of right now, though, LastPass users can download an update to the app that fixes the issue and adds a one-time code when the fingerprint/PIN feature is first enabled.
Google Authenticator takes security codes from your smartwatch
It can be annoying to set up two-factor authentication and boost the security of your accounts, but Google may have found a way to ease your pain. It's delivering an update to Authenticator for Android that not only touts a "refreshed" design, but receives codes from Android Wear smartwatches. You're no longer stuck using this solely on your phone. To top things off, Google is rolling in early support (sadly, developer-only) for the FIDO Alliance's NFC Security keys -- in the future, you may only need to tap devices together to sign in. If you can't bear the thought of logging in with a regular password, you'll want to grab this upgrade in short order.
Perfect Ten: Mobile apps to enhance your MMO lifestyle
We're living in the age of smart phones, when there are more cell phones than there are people on this planet. I can't go anywhere without seeing people constantly whipping out their little rectangular companions for the constant stream of information, social connection, and Candy Crush interludes. While MMOs aren't making great headway on these devices, in part due to the limited input scheme, several wise studios have made good use of the mobile market to give players a way to keep in touch with their games even while AFK. Today we're going to count down, count up, and count sideways 10 official mobile apps that will enhance your MMO lifestyle.
WildStar offering a free mount to players with 2-step verification
Do you have 2-step verification on your WildStar account already? The team at Carbine Studios really wants you to, since the added layer of security helps ensure that no one steals your stuff. So you're getting a little added incentive starting on July 10th -- a free bike! The Retroblade mount is free to all accounts with 2-step verification starting tomorrow, while everyone without 2-step verification will simply have to stare at your new ride with envy. Or, you know, get verified. This bonus is in addition to the existing benefits offered by the verification process, which includes a cosmetic headpiece, a title, and a 2% experience boost on all characters. Plus confidence that your account won't get stolen, which is also fun. The announcement has more details about the process if you haven't already gotten in on the verification train; all you'll need is a smartphone and a few moments to log in.
Secure both your WildStar account and cool bonuses with Google Authenticator
WildStar players making plans to jump into this weekend's headstart now have one more thing on their preparation list: to connect their accounts with Google Authenticator. Carbine Studios is offering several goodies for players that make their account extra-secure with Google's two-step authentication. These bonuses include a cybernetic eyepatch, an in-game title, and a 2% bonus to XP, renown, and prestige. You'll need to download the Google Authenticator app and connect it to your NCsoft account to secure these bonuses. WildStar Report has the step-by-step directions for those interested.
Mobile authenticator app update for iOS is coming soon
If you use the mobile authenticator app on your iPhone or other Apple device, an update is going to be rolled out soon. This update will give the app full compatibility with iOS 7 and have an appropriate resolution for the iPhone 5 and 5s. The snag here is that when you update, the app may lose track of the fact that it's your authenticator -- and that can lock you out of Blizzard games. To make sure you don't get locked out, before you upgrade you'll want to write down your restore code: from the app menu, click setup and then continue. You'll have a serial number and a restore code here which you can write down or take a screenshot of for reference. Then, if your new app isn't working, open the menu, click restore, then "I want to perform a restoration," then enter your serial number and restore code. If you haven't already, you can also set up SMS protect, which allows you to remove a broken authenticator -- or broken authenticator app, in this case -- from your account via a text message to your phone, so you can detach the old authenticator and connect a new one. Anyone who has their iPhone set to automatically update apps should be especially wary, as this means your authenticator app will update as soon as the update appears on iTunes. Make sure you're ready for the update so you don't get locked out!
Reaching Blizzard support if you can't log in
Earlier this year, Blizzard launched a new Support Callback feature that allowed players with account issues to simply fill out a form and wait for a callback from support. This was a fantastic move in terms of getting rid of the need to spend hours on hold -- but it did have some players concerned and wondering how, exactly, one was supposed to contact support if one was locked out of their account and could not access the appropriate Battle.net page. Customer Support representative Araxom has written up a response to just that particular situation over on Reddit. If you cannot access your account, or log into Battle.net, there is a support page that will still allow you to live chat with customer service, set up a callback, or even submit a ticket, all without having to log in. Although callbacks and live chat may not be available every hour of every day, you can still submit a ticket with this method and get a response in a reasonable amount of time. And remember -- if you're worried about account security, picking up an Authenticator is always an excellent idea.
Authenticator problems? You'll need to contact support
Removing an authenticator from your account is pretty easy -- so long as you have the authenticator handy. But if you don't -- like if you've upgraded your smartphone and your mobile authenticator doesn't work anymore -- then you've got a bit more trouble ahead. Usually Blizzard has an online form to help you out of a problem like this, but the form is currently MIA which makes getting help a bit harder. Blizzard is working to get the page back online, but in the meanwhile, you'll have to resort to contacting customer support directly for help. Customer Support rep Araxom says anyone having trouble removing an authenticator will need to contact support using one of the methods at the bottom of the support page -- which means you can open a ticket, set up a phone callback, or jump into a live chat. None of these methods are instant, but they will wind up getting you the authenticator help you need without too much of a wait. Just remember to add a new authenticator once you've removed this one -- it's a security feature you won't regret having.
Blizzard store re-opens
After a couple of months on hiatus, the Blizzard online store has re-opened its doors as Blizzard Gear. Not to be confused with the digital-only Battle.net Shop, the Blizzard Gear store is where you'll find the usual assortment of shirts, posters, plushies, and other Blizzard memorabilia. There's also a new section titled Caverns of Time which sells leftover items from past BlizzCons. Perhaps most relevant to WoW players is the ability to get your hands on a physical authenticator once again, which is available in a few different flavors. According to their shipping page, they will ship most of their products to a number of countries outside of the United States. You can visit the Blizzard Gear store here.
Blizzard says beware of dangerous Trojan
If you play World of Warcraft, you might want to check for a dangerous new Trojan that is leading to compromised accounts. Blizzard warned customers that this Trojan, apparently brought on by a fake Curse client, can steal both the account information and the authenticator password, making even players who use the authenticator vulnerable. Customer service gave instructions on what to look for so players can see whether or not their machine has been infected. Although no current virus scanners can detect and remove the Trojan, Technical Support posted that a sample of the malware has been sent to anti-malware scanners and offered instructions for removing the malware by hand.
Resolve to improve your account security in 2014
Blizzard's European Customer Support team has invited players to make a New Year's resolution that we at WoW Insider can definitely support. It's easier than giving up chocolate, and probably more useful than that gym subscription you were planning on getting. Thinking about New Year's resolutions? Improve your account and computer security! http://t.co/8mO7przV68 #SafeGaming - Blizzard CS EU (@BlizzardCSEU_EN) December 28, 2013 Following the link in the tweet above will take you to their page on account security that is just packed with helpful tips to secure your battle.net account, and your computer. Some of the most common causes of account theft relate to lax security on the side of the user, and following these tips can really help you avoid that. There's also legitimate links to all the major sources of free anti-virus software, and the article is packed with other tips to avoid things like phishing sites, spyware, and malicious processes. In the absence of physical items on the battle.net store, there's also advice on retailers that can sell you authenticators.
Heading out of town for the holidays? Don't get locked out of WoW!
Over on /r/wow/, Blizzard CS rep Araxom offers some tips to avoid getting locked out of your WoW account if you're traveling this holiday season. Logging on from a different physical location can trigger some security features on Blizzard's side -- especially for accounts that don't have an authenticator attached. Avoiding holiday account lockouts is pretty simple: Make sure you have an authenticator attached to your account, which makes it less likely your account will get locked for something like this. (And if you use the mobile authenticator app, be sure you have your restore code written down or screenshotted in case you run into issues with your phone.) Enable SMS Protect, which can let you bypass your authenticator using your cell phone if you run into any problems. Both of these are generally good ideas, but during the holidays having the right security setup can mean the difference between relaxing with some WoW and wrestling with resetting your password -- and we're pretty sure you'd all prefer the former. Not sure where to get started with account security? Check out our security guide for a walkthrough.
Age of Wushu promises latency improvements and matrix authenticator
In a new set of questions and answers from the Age of Wushu community, Snail Games promised that North American players experiencing lag will soon see relief. "We are taking serious measures to solve the latency problems after escalation," the devs promised. "Server fixes are already on their way. Players in North America will see considerable improvement starting from this week!" The devs said that a mobile matrix authenticator is coming later this month to provide better account security. "Think of it as a private Bingo card that works as a key to your account," Snail PR explained. A separate mobile authenticator is being worked on for iOS and Android, but no release date has been set. The Q&A article covered other topics such as the cash shop skill, bug fixes, cross-server interactions, and unnecessary chat spam. For those interested in Age of Wushu's upcoming Steam release, the devs said that this is still in the works but currently there is no release date set. In a separate post, the studio announced that the Phantom Twin Dagger skill set will be coming to the game next week. [We erroneously reported the matrix as a mobile authenticator and have corrected the article accordingly.]
PSA: Battle.net authenticator may not be friendly with iOS 7 update
Battle.net members with a mobile authenticator on an iPhone, iPad or iPod, listen up: Today's iOS 7 update may reset your authentication info. Blizzard has a few suggestions to make sure you're still protected after the update hits: Write down your authenticator's serial number and restore code, and restore it to your phone after the update Remove the authenticator before updating and reattach it after iOS 7 is installed Use Blizzard's SMS Protect, a free service that can remove an authenticator from your account Update via wi-fi, since this reduces the risk of an accidental reset altogether Read through the mobile authenticator troubleshooting page for specific questions, and enjoy that fancy new version of iOS.
Google Authenticator for iOS returns, lost entries are back but may cause dupes
Just a few days ago Google released a 2.0 version of its Authenticator app for iOS, but a bug made user's entries not show up and the company yanked it. Now v2.0.1 is back in the App Store, and it contains a fix for any two factor authentication users that downloaded the busted version. Based on the release notes, your old keys weren't cleared by the update, but they just weren't displaying. We tried it out on our iOS device that was blank after 2.0 and it worked as advertised, all accounts show up again. Although it's safe to upgrade there is one more issue: anyone who created replacement accounts already will have duplicates. To avoid that, your best bet is to rename any new entries before updating -- staying secure is fun and easy, isn't it?
Google Authenticator for iOS updated, requires a fresh setup afterwards (updated)
Two factor authentication is becoming an increasingly common part of keeping one's accounts secure online, and Google has just updated its Authenticator app for iOS. Outwardly, version 2.0 brings a new look that matches the style recently seen in other Google apps like Google+, YouTube and Gmail. The app is also retina display and iPhone 5 ready now, however there's still no native support for the iPad. It still functions the same way, cranking out a login code for users to access their accounts on demand, however there's one quirk you'll want to be aware of before pressing the update button. As Steve Streza points out on Twitter (and we experienced ourselves), the new version clears your account details and will need to be paired again before it works. It shouldn't be too much of a hassle (you did tie your account to a good backup phone number, right?) to get things set up again, but since it's not mentioned in the changelog consider this a friendly heads-up. Update: Just so we're all caught up, Google is aware of the issue and working on a fix. Just as important, it's pulled the update from the App Store while it works out the kinks to ensure no one else loses their precious Authenticator tokens... even if just temporarily. Update 2: A Google spokesperson has just provided us with the following quote: "We're aware of this issue and are working to release an updated version as soon as possible." Not much new beyond what we could already deduce ourselves, but there you have it. Update 3: Google has now posted an entire Support section regarding the matter.
What to do if your WoW account has been hacked
The worst has happened: you've tried to log on to your World of Warcraft account and you can't. Or perhaps you can log on to your account, but your characters are have been stripped of gear and gold. Your account has been stolen, hacked, or compromised somehow. But don't panic, because Blizzard can help you get your account back. It's a bit of trouble on your part -- which is why you ought to take care to keep your account secure! -- but it's certainly not impossible. We'll walk you through the whole process, step by step. The process may seem lengthy -- and annoying -- but be patient, and you'll eventually get your account back just as you left it.
