Regarding Unauthorized Programs (Oct. 4)

[Sykes]

#Important Notices
From: PlayOnline
Oct. 4, 2006 11:00
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Regarding Unauthorized Programs (Oct. 4)
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After an investigation, we have confirmed the existence of an exploit that may allow unauthorized programs to steal both your PlayOnline ID and password.

As a countermeasure, an emergency update of the PlayOnline Viewer is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2006 (JST). After the update, this exploit will be patched. However, this is a temporary solution. Full countermeasures will be implemented in the near future.

The Development Team will continue to work on countermeasures against the leak caused by unauthorized programs. We would also like to remind you not to use any third party programs, open unknown mail/files, or access suspicious websites.

It is recommended that you change your PlayOnline password on a regular basis. This can be done through the "Service & Support" screen accessed from the PlayOnline Menu. Choose "Membership," select "PlayOnline ID," then select "Change Password."

Keep your data safe! Keep your PlayOnline ID and password secure!

*If you have not used third party programs and your PC has not been infected with a virus, there is no danger of either your PlayOnline ID or password being stolen.
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Finally trying to prevent accounts from being stolen? Seems like it took them long enough. >.>

[Beckwin]

Looks more like scare tactics than anything :/

[solsovly]

Well not like they can do THAT much about people downloading mr.argus or whatever the newest tool with all the newest accessories. The newest accessories being keyloggers or other such sillyness.

[Haiko]

However, this is a temporary solution. Full countermeasures will be implemented in the near future.

I wonder what they are going to do next

[Not Kuno]

All I'm scared of is bears and NinjaPirateZombieRobots.

[Titanss]

Looks more like scare tactics than anything :/

/agree

[Tordall]

Maybe it will work like fraud detection with credit cards. I can see it now:

Dear Player,

We have determined that you have logged in from a computer which is outside your player profile. In order to protect your account it has been temporarially suspended. Please call our customer support line with your original content IDs in order to verify that you are who you say you are.

[Ryko]

Bears are evil.... in america!

[phlux]

This change probably just encrypts your password that's stored in memory while the game is running.

[solsovly]

However, this is a temporary solution. Full countermeasures will be implemented in the near future.

I wonder what they are going to do next

SE is going to release their own set of fleetools and claimbots complete with trojans. Your information will be sent to GM's that will proceed to desynth all your rare/ex in Rolanberry fields. They will then liquidate all your gil and items to IGE, but will still lack evidence to ban the gilsellers as they move your gear to them for cash. Any Taru mages will be transformed into Galka, wearing only subligar delivered bound and gagged into Septimus' moghouse. In your next login, you will yelp with surprise as you are naked, unable to sit down for the rest of your FFXI career.

[Kaziel]

All I'm scared of is bears...

We've got to keep America safe!

[Eternus]

This change probably just encrypts your password that's stored in memory while the game is running.

Eh that is just fucked up and would make your password even easier to hack lol.

[SephYuyX]

Hope it doesnt break windower, hate playing for a week after a POL maint without it.

[Sykes]

Perhaps instead of storing your POL ID and password in clear text (what it does now), it will store a login token if you choose to save your login information.

With the current system, login information is just asking to be stolen.

That said, I'm really not sure how they plan to deal with keyloggers. To be honest, I'm just going to agree that this is just lip service and it's not going to change anything. Instead they should be focusing on facilitating account and item recovery when someone does compromise an account.

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

VIRUS' ARE SO FUCKING METUHL

[rincewind]

i haven't changed my password since the game was released

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

i haven't changed my password since the game was released

Whoa, is that soem sort of sick joke? You've totally gotta' be shittin' me.

[Chupunpupun]

I think this broke windower. I just crashed after the warp taru warped me....

[Matricide]

remember when their 'temporary countermeasures' to stop mrargus and the like were to change the window name

[Sheeny]

Finally trying to prevent accounts from being stolen? Seems like it took them long enough. >.>

If you ask me, I don't see why SE should be responsible for idiots downloading hacks and getting jacked.

I guess it's to keep would-be-hacked kids as their customers, but if I were in charge of SE (from my evil mountain stronghold headquarters with my army of GM's in orange jumpsuits) I'd give up that revenue so I could sit back and laugh like a maniac at would-be-cheaters getting hacked and let them reap what they sow.