No more links on the forums?
by Eliah Hecht 
Jun 12th 2007 at 8:15PM
The official forums are unpleasant in so many ways. Quite aside from flamers, trolls, Rickrollers, and other assorted Internet demons, there are more serious risks. Although being on a Mac I'm not vulnerable to most of these, the vast majority of WoWers could encounter viruses, trojans, keyloggers, and other such nastyware at the other end of every link in the forums. Although Blizzard put in the interceptor ("You are attempting to visit a page that is not a Blizzard website. It's not our fault if it kills your computer."), most of us are used to automatically clicking past that. So some posters, like Sweet here, think it would be best if no more (external) links were allowed at all in the forums. It looks like Blue agrees (Tyren):
We are always looking to increase security for our players, and while it may be inconvenient, in this case, I think your suggestion is the best way to go, and we will look into doing away with auto links.
It took me a while to figure out what he meant by "auto links," but I'm pretty sure he means the functionality where if you type, for instance, "http://www.wow.com" in a forum post, the forum software turns it into a live link. If this is correct, it means to go to a link in a forum post, people will have to copy the URL and paste it into their address bars. Would that really get fewer people keylogged? Some responders think not, and think it would just irritate folks. I say it can't really be more irritating than that interceptor page. What do you think?
We are always looking to increase security for our players, and while it may be inconvenient, in this case, I think your suggestion is the best way to go, and we will look into doing away with auto links.
It took me a while to figure out what he meant by "auto links," but I'm pretty sure he means the functionality where if you type, for instance, "http://www.wow.com" in a forum post, the forum software turns it into a live link. If this is correct, it means to go to a link in a forum post, people will have to copy the URL and paste it into their address bars. Would that really get fewer people keylogged? Some responders think not, and think it would just irritate folks. I say it can't really be more irritating than that interceptor page. What do you think?
Filed under: Odds and ends, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jj Jun 12th 2007 8:34PM
I agree, the interceptor page is quite annoying. I realize that I have clicked on a link that is not part of the wow forums. Now just take me there.
As far as posting links, I have never been able to log into the forums. For some reason it will not recognize my account name and password.
therationalpi Jun 12th 2007 8:55PM
I, personally, feel that the interceptor page becomes too invisible to serve as a barrier to keylogging sites. However, disallowing links in the forums will simply diminish the usability of them, and serve as a major annoyance to users.
The problem is that there is no logic behind the interceptor page. It does not display that page only when you are going to a known dangerous site, it intercepts any and all links. If there was a function of "Report this link as dangerous," and some underlying logic that restricted either the page or the domain based on the number of reports, then the interceptor page would only appear to warn people when they should be warned and would not become as invisible as it is now.
As it stands, I just click through the interceptor. However, I have McAfee site advisor on my system, and when that tells me that a site is dangerous, in a similar manner to the interceptor, I pay it heed because it doesn't cry wolf.
mike_a Jun 12th 2007 8:58PM
A reaction to a couple of the "blues" being
keylogged?
http://blue.cardplace.com/newcache/forums.worldofwarcraft.com/109933223.htm
Hmmmm PS the link isn't a keylogger, trust me.
someone Jun 12th 2007 9:01PM
This is because two cms got key loggged
http://blue.cardplace.com/newcache/us/109933223.htm
Blizzard is retarded.
Medros Jun 12th 2007 11:54PM
I don't think it will work in the least, but they had to do something.
CaptainGoatse Jun 12th 2007 10:59PM
If you install a keylogger on your machine its your own fault. Pay attention to any links you randomly click on. First step: install zonealarm:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
Emoroan Jun 12th 2007 11:24PM
The whole keylogger thing is going too far and it is time that blizzard do something
about it, perhaps they could semi-disable links working.
* allow any that go to known sites marked as ok (blizzard.com, worldofwarcraft.com, wowhead.com)
* hide any that are in reported posts, with text/styles saying 'this post contained a link but has been reported' maybe with the option of seeing the link
* Non clickable/hidden links for those short url creators
* Maybe allow others after that to be clicked, but show the warning.
IKT Jun 13th 2007 1:29AM
Emoroan - If you get keylogger on your machine you are retard and should use a mac.
ben1778 Jun 13th 2007 11:43AM
you can save your password(s) in a text file in your computer and just copy/paste your account info so there are no keystrokes to log.
Gurei Jun 13th 2007 11:51AM
If you use a windows PC and click on of the stupid links its your fault if you get hacked,i hope you are LOL.
RogueJedi86 Jun 14th 2007 1:53AM
IKT, don't be a Mac elitist. I'm not ragging on Macs, and feel free to delete this if necessary, but the Legendary Maddox said it best:
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=macs_cant
Oh and with Firefox, you can skip the link interceptor. Just right-click the link and hit Open In New Tab.
Also, let them disable auto-links if they want. Firefox Extension(Linkification) makes auto-links for all urls on pages anyways.
Nanosecond Sep 9th 2007 5:20AM
Part of the problem is Blizzard themselves and their horrendous, cesspool forums to begin with.
When a customer sees pages upon pages of an obvious keylogger being posted, goes to the CS forums to alert someone and is met by nothing but swine players (CSF/MVP wannabe GMs) telling them to get out of their playground and use the biohazard button, there's half your problem.
Today I read the most ridiculous thread where Thunderwulf (ex-MVP of Blizzard) ripped posters apart one by one for posting inappropriate threads in the CS Forum while the keylogger went on a multi-page rampage, unscathed.
In Thunderwulf's view, it was more important to berate the customer for deviating from forum rules. What is ironic is that he deviates from the same rules on a daily basis, but thinks nothing of his own shortcomings.
To make matters worse, he constantly sucks up to the Blues, giving an air to everyone else as if there is behind the scenes special treatment going on that puts him outside having to obey the same rules he shoves down everyone else's throat.
In the meantime, the players are walking away in disgust, some even quitting, while the keyloggers are having free reign to do as they please while the customer gets slammed for trying to help.
I've never seen anything like it in my life, but until Blizzard gets a handle on their priorities and starts banning these people who constantly harrass players on the CS forums, more and more are going to start getting the impression Customer Service is synonymous with abuse and double-standards.
Thunderwulf is awful with the public. He has no patience for reality and insists the forums be run on a military regime level (rules of which, he doesn't have to adhere to) with no common sense factored into it at all.
When you have guys like this running your forums for you, it's no wonder you have the problems you do. And Blizzard tolerates it. By saying nothing to this guy at all, they essentially condone it and attract more just like him.
Today I've returned to LoTRO where this nonsense is not tolerated and my efforts at reporting concerns are appreciated.
Mike Sep 9th 2007 9:55AM
The customer service forums have been that way for some time now. It's either you get chewed out when it is a game issue you're bringing up or, you don't belong there and they act like they own the place. No in-between. They get off on burning people.
It's been suspected before that this guy is friends with someone at Blizzard and that keeps him from being banned. I mean all you have to do is look at his posts and realize he's getting away with murder and no one ever does anything about it. The sad part is, all the kids want to be just like him and pull the same crap.
So now you're stuck with a useless board that only pisses people off and caters to those who are just downright nasty people. People who noticeably have nothing better to do but hang out on a forum and play boss because no one actually listens to them IRL. So they take it out on a game where they think they have some kind of importance.
Too bad Blizz is too stupid to see that. If you want to keep your sanity, you don't post on WoW forums and avoid CS at all costs. Use e-mail if you have a problem because those people are out for your blood and loving every drop you give them. They're quite insane.
- Mike