wow-account-security
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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!
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.
Blizzard wins victory in legal battle over security breach
Blizzard has emerged (mostly) victorious in the case of Bell v. Blizzard Entertainment, which was filed in response to the Battle.net security breach last sumer. Though no financial data was taken, the lawsuit claimed the data breach harmed customers and targeted authenticators, which it said were required for players to have "even minimal protection for their sensitive personal, private, and financial data." From the beginning, Blizzard has said that the suit was without merit, and the court has dismissed 6 of the lawsuit's 8 claims, saying that the plaintiffs failed to to prove that they were harmed by the data breach and that Blizzard did not misrepresent its security practices. The part of the lawsuit that moves forward relates to Blizzard failing to fully disclose the importance of an authenticator to users, though Blizzard is certain to continue the fight. As in most legal battles, the situation is more complicated than can be explained in a couple of paragraphs: if you're interested in digging further, you can read the full text of the complaint or legal analysis by Mayer-Brown.
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.
How to secure your World of Warcraft account
Whether you're just getting started or you've maxed out the number of characters on your World of Warcraft account, your account is valuable to hackers. And if they happen to steal your account, it can be a pain -- and a long wait -- to get it back to you. All of this makes securing your World of Warcraft account serious business. But fortunately, it's easy enough to keep your account under (virtual) lock and key by taking some precautions in advance -- and when we say "in advance," we mean these are things you should do right now. We'll walk you through the very basics of keeping your account secure with a good password and an authenticator. Read on for all you need to know about getting started with good security!
Watch out: Most game hacks are actually malware
We know that all of our readers are swell guys and gals who would never cheat at World of Warcraft, but just in case you needed another reason to avoid that kind of thing, anti-virus maker AVG is reporting that 90% of game hacks contain malware. And beyond the fact that using a hack will get your account banned by Blizzard, malware has a good chance to steal your WoW account and other sensitive information -- like bank account information or credit card numbers. We know it seems to take forever to grind for gold or levels sometimes, but if you see something offering to get you gold, levels, achievements, or anything else with the click of a button -- don't click! If these things sound too good to be true, they probably are. So instead, keep your account secure by avoiding hacks and being sure you only download addons from trusted sources. Your account, safe and secure, will thank you! [Via The Escapist]
Blizzard increases security with SMS Protect
If you're concerned about account security, there's a new feature Blizzard want you to know about. They've been reminding us all about this feature via the forums, and have posted this informative, if somewhat bizarre video to tell us all about it. The new feature, introduced a few months back, is Battle.net SMS Protect. It's a free service, as long as your mobile phone service provider doesn't charge you to receive text messages, in which case text messages would be charged at the usual rate. SMS Protect cannot use any type of messaging other than text messaging, and doesn't require a smartphone to work -- all your phone needs is the ability to receive SMS text messages, making this a nice feature for those players who don't have smartphones. There have been mixed reports on whether it works with prepaid mobile phones, but where it hasn't been working that's usually because carriers don't allow the receipt of SMS text messages. SMS Protect is not designed to replace the authenticator, either the phone authenticator or the physical authenticator. Rather, it is an alert system, designed to warn you about suspicious activity on your account, and allow you to perform certain actions with your phone. Hit the break for more information!
Opt-out option incoming for recent authenticator security change
If you follow WoW account security, then you've probably heard about (or personally encountered) a recent change to the way Battle.net authenticator devices work. Basically, when you log into the game, the client attempts to determine if you're logging in from your "home" computer or at least a computer you use regularly. It uses several factors to make this determination, such as your MAC address and your IP address. If the information doesn't indicate that the login is taking place from a safe machine, it'll prompt you for your authenticator code. If it is a safe computer, then you'll only be asked for your code randomly, once a week or so. The change, aimed to make authenticators less of a hassle for those who log on from the same computer quite a bit, caused an odd uproar on the official forums from players who were worried that this change somehow made their account less secure. Addressing these concerns, Blizzard Community Manager Zarhym announced today that Blizzard is working on providing an opt-out option for this convenience feature. Details were scarce since, as Zarhym noted, Blizzard hasn't quite nailed down specifics yet, but he assured players that it's something Blizzard's been looking into since the authenticator change was first announced. The full announcement post and followups are after the break.
