The Daily Blues
by Adam Holisky 
Dec 22nd 2010 at 9:00AM
Today there are a couple blue posts, but nothing earth-shattering. Remember that a lot of the blues are probably on vacation already, and this week tends to be kind of slow, historically. If there's not a lot of blue news tomorrow, we probably won't run The Daily Blues and instead save everything for Friday or Saturday.
Crithto -- Why a thread is 404'dQuote:
What causes a thread to go 404? I have had three threads 404 minutes after I make them. They are usually just questions about the game with nothing in them I can think of that would cause them to get deleted. Anyone know what it means if your thread just disappears? blah blah blah
What causes a thread to go 404? I have had three threads 404 minutes after I make them. They are usually just questions about the game with nothing in them I can think of that would cause them to get deleted. Anyone know what it means if your thread just disappears? blah blah blah
Just to clarify, both of your threads were deleted. You didn't do anything wrong with what you posted, per se, other than re-post what was previously deleted the second time you created the thread (typically a no-no around these parts). More importantly, though, we have a UI & Macro forum which is in place to have such discussions and lessen the clutter that can pop up in General. You can find it here:
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/forum/1011693/
On a side note, I'll be sure to ping someone about your suggestion. =)
Nevalistis -- Account security resourcesQuote:
I've been key logged... again. This time after they took all my gold they decided to delete my main. Why..? Does this help cover their tracks or something? Are they just doing it out of spite?
Steeling my gold is bad enough, but I can understand why they do it. But deleting my main? Come on man!
At least this pushed my lazy butt to download that authenticator Iphone app. Seems password changes and a virus scan isn't enough these days.
I've been key logged... again. This time after they took all my gold they decided to delete my main. Why..? Does this help cover their tracks or something? Are they just doing it out of spite?
Steeling my gold is bad enough, but I can understand why they do it. But deleting my main? Come on man!
At least this pushed my lazy butt to download that authenticator Iphone app. Seems password changes and a virus scan isn't enough these days.
Antibody, we have a number of articles on account and computer security that you may consider checking out. And of course, if you have not already submitted a petition to request restorations for your characters, you may want to use our Account Recovery web form to do so.
I highly recommend doing a full security sweep for both your computer and your registered e-mail address first, however. Be aware that many of these types will work their way into your e-mail address so that they may have more control over your account. Changing your e-mail address password is important to do as well, or possibly even changing the e-mail associated with your Battle.net e-mail account, preferably to an e-mail you only use for Battle.net.
Account Recovery web form
https://us.battle.net/account/support/account-recovery.html
Battle.net Account Security Awareness
http://us.battle.net/security/
Account and Computer Security
http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/30794
Battle.net Authenticator
http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/24986
Battle.net Dial-in Authenticator
http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/35806
Filed under: The Daily Blues
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Stoop Dec 22nd 2010 9:11AM
A long complex password, an authenticator, a dedicated email for battlenet that does NOT share a a password with anything else, and a clean system are the keys to account security.
lazymangaka Dec 22nd 2010 9:18AM
All good advice. And if you're feeling really frisky, you could load up WoW under your Linux distro of choice--I'm an Ubuntu man myself--to fend off 99.9% of those pesky keyloggers that can get loaded into the background. It doesn't alleviate the need for basic account security, but it does provide an extra piece of mind.
JT Dec 22nd 2010 9:42AM
I had all of the above EXCEPT the auth and still was hacked.
They should've just packaged one in the Cata box.
Rakah Dec 22nd 2010 9:53AM
most people get "hacked" by putting their info in places they shouldn't.
Stoop Dec 22nd 2010 10:10AM
There are 3 basic layers to secure authentication.
What you know. (Passwords, combination, secret questions)
What you have. (Passcards, authenticators, keys)
What you are. (Fingerprints, retina scan, voice print)
The more layers you combine, the more inherently secure you are. No system is "hack-proof" but the more difficult you make your account to steal, the more likely a thief is to move on to an easier target.
Just having a password, even if it is a good password, is not security enough.
Nitride Dec 22nd 2010 10:11AM
Or, just use a Mac. And an authenticator.
Amaxe Dec 22nd 2010 10:33AM
Good to know I have done all that can be done then.
Of course my dedicated email for my WoW account got hacked, but luckily I was alerted, and luckily it is a different password from my actual WoW account.
Faith Trust Dec 22nd 2010 10:42AM
@Nitride you do know, there are keyloggers for mac as well, right?
SR Dec 22nd 2010 11:02AM
Maybe the reason Macs have less viruses is because people that aren't worthy of a hacker's attention often uses Macs hoping they won't be hacked?
I mean, a lot of Mac users I know IRL are often quite poor... Juuuust sayin'.
I am also sick and tired of people giving out this bullshit argument that Macs are more secure. They prolly think that running multiple anti-virus programs makes you MORE secure.
/nerdrage
The Phoenix Dec 22nd 2010 11:42AM
Mac's ARE NOT! as secure as a PC in most cases they dont have enough programs compatible with them to even have a virus. In most cases Mac Users wont even notice if they do have a virus cause they think they are on such a high pedistal that the snake wont get them. well.... news for you there are vultures for people like you ill give you a Mac virus if you really want one.
MightyMuffin Dec 22nd 2010 11:39AM
@SR
I am running on a Mac, and its been through some crazy things. And still, it has not gotten a virus or something that caused detrimental damage to it. While that just might be me practicing very safe internet protocols, I am under the belief that over the course of the 3 years I've had this mac laptop, at least one major virus would've appeared.
Macs are expensive and expensive to maintain. I am a college student, and anyone who owns a Mac in college are not considered "poor." Whoever your friends are must've gotten very lucky, that or they bought their macs a loooooooong time ago. (Note: this is not to be mean against people who are in fact poor, but stating an obvious fact. I wish macs were more affordable, but they aren't imo right now. Also, if you are saying that mac users end up quite poor after buying a mac, I think you need to visit a lot of those companies that use macs for business and ask them if they are bankrupt).
Macs are also more secure, not because its some Godsend holy relic, but because it used to be a smaller populace using it. Why hack a computer owned by a company that could afford the money to find out who you were and sue you, when you could hack a computer some 13 year old boy was surfing the net? Why hack a computer only 5% of the population uses, making a program specific to that OS, when you can hack and make a program that the other 95% uses? Its a math game for the hackers, if there are more people using PCs, then there is a bigger target. Its like any games with targets. Do you go for the smaller targets, increasing your chances of losing? Or hit the bigger targets over and over, knowing you'll only lose a very little amount over a long period of time?
Apple has done a lot to promote their products, and I wouldn't be surprised if in the future there were more hacking attempts made on their products. iPhones, iPads...they'll all have viruses. Viruses exist on Macs and Windows, but Macs are not as targeted (but is probably increasingly more targeted over the past few years) as Windows.
I, however, hate my Mac because it won't play me my games I want, and the graphics cards are part of the motherboard...fml.
/nerdrageagainstnerdrage
Szandor Dec 22nd 2010 11:50AM
Seriously macs are the most expensive computers out there if you seriously think your mates are poor for having macs then you need your head looking at. Macs are secure and thats not just to do with less viruses its to do with the system architecture and that actually making viruses can be quite hard, with Blizzards Warden program floating around WoW too Mac's may as well not bother with anti-viruses I sure as hell dont just on my Win7 box I throw every anti-virus imaginable because you know what? Windows 7 isnt as safe as a Mac. Never.Ever
SR Dec 22nd 2010 11:52AM
I'm not against the Mac population, per se, but against idiots that thinks that Macs are built to be secure. Which they aren't. *COUGH Nitride COUGH*
And we can't really say that Apple actually likes their customers, and not their money. Their unfriendliness toward its users is... legendary.
"Oh, I don't want you using their crap, so we'll cripple the living shit outta you so you'd be forced to buy OUR crap."
I dunno. I never liked their marketing either. It's always "Hey, we're shinier and thus better. We don't really explain HOW it's better, but it's shiny." or "Hey, PCs are worse because we're shinier. Buy us and join the cool kids club."
Dunno. I really, really, really can't come to like that company.
SR Dec 22nd 2010 11:54AM
Aaaaand Szandor comes and shatters all hope for the Mac users. It's usually "Oh, it's what the company says it is, so I'll take it to the grave with me" with these folks.
Learn a bit about what you're defending before you go all orgasmic on it. Seriously.
Rors Dec 22nd 2010 12:17PM
And killing anyone close to you and changing your identity.
Morgatho Dec 22nd 2010 12:13PM
I change my password every month, I take two 10 sided dices and pick a 10 digit password with random letters and numbers in it and write it down and keep it in my wallet.
And the authenticator is the best investment I made in wow.
Raziellionheart Dec 22nd 2010 3:28PM
@mightymuffin
"Macs are also more secure, not because its some Godsend holy relic, but because it used to be a smaller populace using it."
I just want to point out that this point is completely illogical. The fact that less people use macs does not make them more secure. I believe you are trying to make a valid point but this does not make the Mac secure. This does not automatically give macs some technology that refuses keyloggers or keeps hackers out of your email accounts. I think what you mean to say is there is less risk in being hacked or keylogged, I can agree with that point but the fact that not many people use Mac does not make Mac more secure.
(cutaia) Dec 22nd 2010 12:28PM
A post about account security spawned a Mac vs. PC argument? I'm surprised!
*imagines all of you with a white background...some of you are all young and hip, while others are old and wearing glasses and suits. But you're all bloody from the ongoing knife fight. And that sweet little tune plays in the background*
Como Dec 22nd 2010 12:29PM
@Szandor
Please don't comment when you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. OS X is not more secure from an architectural standpoint nor is most of apples software in fact it is probably the least secure. The system tends to be safer to use in general use since it has a smaller audience and less targets can be hit with general exploit. But if someone wants to hack your software or there is software out that that is widely known to be on both machines (aka wow) it is actually much easier to use OS X as an attack vector. Apple software is routinely the first to fail in most situation including Pwn2Own. This paraphrase from a quote puts it best. "Using windows is like living in a bad neighborhood with bared up windows and doors. Using os x is like living in the country with just a screen door"
icepyro Dec 22nd 2010 1:35PM
So... just to put it out there... there is a hacking contest called Pwn2Own where the goal is to hack computers and read a certain file off the hard drive. One of the contests consists of using a web browser to go to a malicious site. For the last few years, Safari on Macs have consistently been the first to fall. Just sayin'. Oh and this year's contest also took out IE8 and Firefox on Windows 7 as well as Safari on an iPhone.
IN OTHER WORDS: if you open a web browser and go to an internet site, there is a chance of being hacked. Regardless of OS, device, or other warm fuzzy inducing marketing ploys or statistics. The real reason you don't or may be statistically safer is purely at the hackers discretion and is by no means a guarantee that current trends will hold. "I have never been hacked, therefore I will never be hacked," is not valid logic no matter which way you cut it.