Authenticator back in stock in September
by Michael Gray 
Sep 16th 2008 at 4:30PM
There's always enough interest in the Blizzard Authenticator that we wanted to make sure our readership (who is clearly smarter than the average bear) is aware that it's back in stock. There's been a little rockiness, as Daniel put it, and there's sometimes a little question whether it's actually available. This time looks to be for real, and with an added benefit -- the Authenticator is now available in New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and Latin America.
The Authenticator has had some history behind it already. It's an obvious preventive against the many and varied keyloggers. There's nothing worse than getting your account hacked, since it often puts both you and your Guild in danger of getting robbed blind. There was an issue reported a while back about someone getting hacked even though they were using the Authenticator, though Belfaire confirmed that the Authenticator wasn't actually removed. Also, as I mentioned, there've been some oddities in whether it's in stock and if the order process goes smoothly. Trying to place an order for the Authenticator today, one of your intrepid Insider reporters saw style-sheet errors similar to the time of Failoc, the Fail Murloc.
Still, it's an added level of protection for you and your account. If you're at all worried about the security of your WoW account, you should see about picking one up.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, News items, Hardware
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Mattimus Sep 16th 2008 4:38PM
The authenticator will protect your Warcraft account, but not your bank information, e-mail, passwords, etc... so why not try and protect your computer, instead of just your WoW account? I could never fathom how so many people made a huge stink about wanting the Authenticator, but not being able to get one, when they could and SHOULD just protect their whole computer with some free programs and not visiting every single link promising Sex Leg.
pudds Sep 16th 2008 5:22PM
^^ This.
Keyloggers present a larger issue than simply losing your WoW accoung; they're a major security problem. Users need to learn to browse smarter and safer, rather than relying on gimmicky technology.
Simply put, the authenticator is a bandaid fix to something that could (and should) be a non-factor for smart users.
shkss Sep 16th 2008 5:36PM
Unfortunately, that's not always the case. I have some good anti virus and such, but that didn't help when the flash vulnerability came. I got hacked purely because of this vulnerability. I now have one of these, so at least my WoW account won't be hacked, and I don't have any other passwords or stuff that really matter.
The point is, that you never know whats going to happen. If someone creates a trojan thats brand new, you could have it within seconds and you'd be powerless because your anti malware wouldn't detect it as a threat if it's new. And there can always be more vulnerabilities being exploited.
It's worth having. I live in Britain, and the authenticator, postage, packaging and tax, all came to 12 pounds. not even 20 dollars that is. And to protect my WoW account, I don't see how that is going to hurt more than having 4 characters deleted, all my epics sharded, all my money taken and everything else deleted.
Mattimus Sep 16th 2008 8:19PM
@shkss
I feel for you, but just not clicking on stuff is all the security you really need. I automatically distrust all links on the WoW forums (and all forums in general, really), especially since keyloggers are beginning to evolve.
I never had an issue with the Flash vulnerability, but I automatically distrusted any and all random Flash sites long before that was announced. After my friend thought it hilarious to link one of those !@#$ing annoying Javascript sites that makes your window jump around the screen with an error message (the jerk), I've pretty much given up on going to anything that's not a recognizable URL.
Jeremy Sep 16th 2008 4:40PM
I think they should include these in the Collecters Edition of Wrath. The diehard fans want it and the diehard fans will buy the CE.
Tweaky Sep 16th 2008 4:46PM
Good idea! Considering it's only ~7 bucks for one of these, they can certainly add it in and either bump up the cost of the CE to cover it, or eat the cost themselves. Already got an authenticator though :)
dylan Sep 16th 2008 4:47PM
thats actually a really good idea +50 for you sir
jonnywrigs Sep 18th 2008 12:58AM
ya its only $6.50.... unless you live in Canada then it sell for $6.50 PLUS 58.00 for shipping.
WTF Blizz
Nicholas Sep 16th 2008 4:49PM
I just picked up two for my girlfriend and I. Thanks for the tip. I will gladly pay 6.50 to add some oomph to my security.
mith Sep 16th 2008 4:50PM
Any and all Canucks be warned - Blizz is charging $55 to ship this thing to Canada. There are reliable ways to ship this thing for 5 bucks, but they're not using them.
If you don't live in the USA you're looking at $62 for an authenticator.
Rey Sep 16th 2008 4:59PM
Yeah....so the shipping cost to Canada is $58.13! I don't think I'll be getting one anytime soon.
Jeff Sep 16th 2008 5:04PM
Damn, I live in Canada and was going to place an order for the authenticator, untill I got to the shipping and handling part.. $54.38 for Shipping!!!! WTF. So I cancelled the order.
To Price for the authenticator to my door was $60
derek Sep 16th 2008 5:46PM
HOLY F...
Ya, someone PLEASE tell me it doesn't cost $54 to ship from California to British Columbia. I can find flights to LA that cost that much.
nate Sep 16th 2008 6:21PM
Shipping to Canada can be very expensive.... The 54 probably covers the customs fee, and you may still have to pay additional when it gets there, still.
This is why we (not blizzard) stopped shipping to canada, sadly.
Fobok Sep 16th 2008 8:08PM
My guess is they're using UPS. Shipping a small package like that across the border in no other shipping company comes to nearly that much. Expensive? Sure, like, $15 shipping for a $5 item. Not $58 expensive, though, unless you use UPS. (And you specifically ask about border fees. UPS has a habit of not telling the shipper about the huge extra fees, and then expecting the Canadian who receives the package to pay at the door. I used to own a tabletop gaming store, and UPS showed up expecting us to pay nearly $100 in 'border fees' for a *free* package of prize support from Wizkids Games for a tournament. We called Wizkids and UPS hadn't told them about that fee.)
andrew Sep 16th 2008 5:44PM
apparently it costs $50 in shipping to get it to toronto canada. so much for a cheap way to protect your account.
Ruby Sep 16th 2008 5:33PM
Went to buy authenticators for me, my bf and my sister... and they charged 100 dollars to send three KEYCHAINS to the Brazil! Ridiculous, why do they put Latin America on the list if they're gonna charge that much for shipping?
Tuscansalami Sep 16th 2008 5:39PM
And $77.81 to Australia. I think somebody just screwed up on the placement of a decimal point - I imagine 1/10th of that price would be much more realistic/accurate.
Matazuma Sep 16th 2008 5:37PM
OMFG 60+ dollars for 2 authenticators, because I live in Canada......Highway robbery
Galla Sep 16th 2008 6:07PM
aah... just placed an order for 3 of these little guys for my two friends and I.
A cool $20.88 for all 3.