Account stolen last night at 2:53 AM EST

[Tsukuyomi]

there are myriad ways to protect accounts, SE merely needs to examine more reliable account protection schemes. a password is known to be paper thin security and very possible to circumvent. the greatest game or system in the world is useless if users can't rely on it, and a gaping security hole doesn't lend that trust.

Today while talking with a very rude guy from the call center, I did tell him that SE doesn't do anything to protect their customers - the reply was that hey, I should go look at the ToS where it is stated clearly that account safety is my own problem and if I lose it, it's my fault and they don't care. Really nice reply, also seeing how there have been security problems caused by them lately >_>

It's also funny that if you check on the Q&A on their site, they say that in case of account theft you should contact the information center, and if information center is not open, to contact a GM in game. I did contact a GM in game but the reply was "wait for the information center to open" (in 6+ hours!). If they would actually do something, and something *fast* that doesn't include having to wait more than an hour to talk with someone, in our case we would've got the account back without even losing items. =_=

[Spekkio]

a question to those with their accounts stolen: do you use the same password for ffxi as for a forum somewhere? do you use the same one for your totally useless POL mail account? i'm wondering if there was a widescale security breach somewhere as there's been a seeming rash of these thefts in the past week or two based on the comments on this thread.

in response to tsu, they have no vested interest in your security until it starts affecting their bottom line. you'll always have some dissatisfied customers. that's just life. however, when more and more customers begin getting disgruntled, this will tend to come back to bite them. look at the STF and their results. that was a direct reaction to a massive outcry by the playerbase about the CGF problem. this is even worse, and if SE values their playerbase, it would likely be to their advantage to take action and do more than forcibly institute good password policies. let's face it. taj could have had dozens of accounts if he wanted them. i'm not going to weigh in on the ethics of what he did, the only relevant information from it was that SE's password policy change is already too little, too late. they need to take a large scale stand against it before things get worse.

[Pyree]

I know that my friend that was hacked did not use the same password for FFXI as he did for forums or anything else. Even if there were some correlation, they'd still have difficulty getting your actual POL ID.

[Gordie]

My heart goes out to you guys. At least when Taj and Lynsy stole my account they gave the password back. I spent 2 weeks on the phone with SE and I finally just gave up and decided to take the 100 dollar hit in the ass. I have never dealt with a company that has such little regard for their customers. Hopefully they wont spend all your IS points and shit like Lynsy did to me.

[Jeny]

Anybody wanna find out what the fake Jeny is up to on Bahamut? I'm rather curious as to what RMT activities they have engaged in. They've been at Woodlands for quite a while now... on my Blue Mage. The bitch is wearing my homam probably. -.-

[Kazen]

Anybody wanna find out what the fake Jeny is up to on Bahamut? I'm rather curious as to what RMT activities they have engaged in. They've been at Woodlands for quite a while now... on my Blue Mage. The bitch is wearing my homam probably. -.-

Hasnt been online for the past few hours, last I seen them was about 3hrs ago in SSG with gilsellers.

[Sodaru]

Is it just me...or do all of these hacked accounts look like the GS did it...if it was IGE, can we file police reports?

[Jeny]

Anybody wanna find out what the fake Jeny is up to on Bahamut? I'm rather curious as to what RMT activities they have engaged in. They've been at Woodlands for quite a while now... on my Blue Mage. The bitch is wearing my homam probably. -.-

Hasnt been online for the past few hours, last I seen them was about 3hrs ago in SSG with gilsellers.

Oh? Frickin wierd RMTs ~~

[ronin sparthos]

Today while talking with a very rude guy from the call center, I did tell him that SE doesn't do anything to protect their customers - the reply was that hey, I should go look at the ToS where it is stated clearly that account safety is my own problem and if I lose it, it's my fault and they don't care. Really nice reply, also seeing how there have been security problems caused by them lately

This is EXACTLY what they told me today.

This has to be all interconnected. the MO is all the same, you get disconnected -> your password changes in record time + CC info -> person that hijacks the character moves to another server before anything can be done. This generally happens when the Information Center (which is useless regardless if its open or closed) is closed.

The RMT have their nuts against the ropes, figures they need to stop pulling punches and play dirty.

......and the good guys as usual cant do the same.

SE - Common Sense. USE IT. Hell... pay me 10 dollars an hr and i'll do the job for them >.>

[Khajit]

Is it just me...or do all of these hacked accounts look like the GS did it...if it was IGE, can we file police reports?

nope. IGE doesnt actually have gilsellers as employees. They just pay em rl money do the exact same things as if they were employees. This results in them technically not being associated with any wrongdoing. Say the police payed a bounty hunter to bring a guy in. The police cant be charged with brutality if the bounty hunter did anything while the bounty hunter can. That's basically how IGE protects itself from legal issues.
This reminds me of that time SE tried to sue IGE but couldnt prove that gilselling was harming thier company. I think we can safely say that line has just been crossed.

[Sodaru]

Even if it isn't IGE...I hear that alot of Gill sellers are using these hacked accounts? Wtf? It seemed to happen at the same time...are they pissed? I know I was always an enemy of the gill sellers, maybe that makes me a big target. But I can't imagine evryone else is. I meen, I'm usre every gill seller knew me...but still...

[Sodaru]

Is it just me...or do all of these hacked accounts look like the GS did it...if it was IGE, can we file police reports?

nope. IGE doesnt actually have gilsellers as employees. They just pay em rl money do the exact same things as if they were employees. This results in them technically not being associated with any wrongdoing. Say the police payed a bounty hunter to bring a guy in. The police cant be charged with brutality if the bounty hunter did anything while the bounty hunter can. That's basically how IGE protects itself from legal issues.
This reminds me of that time SE tried to sue IGE but couldnt prove that gilselling was harming thier company. I think we can safely say that line has just been crossed.

Well SE still has the accounts being paid for...it's just gill sellers...Who's ever credit card it's on can be tried on internet crimes charges, however...for anyone interested, I know I want to.

[ronin sparthos]

Issue is the RMT arent braindead, they know that the chance someone gets through to them directly is slim to nil when Square-Enix has their backs in terms of sheltering them. (Gee, if i had 100 accounts on 1 credit card it wouldnt be the SLIGHTEST bit suspicious in the eyes of Support/Service)

'Shots in the Dark' - Good way of putting an attempt of trying to pin a lawsuit on these RMT.

SE needs to get with the times, we're paying customers and if something gets changed and it LOOKS out of place - they need to place a phonecall or email - even if its automated to the people.

[ronin sparthos]

SE would never say the Linkshell Community was breeched and since so many accounts have been hacked, im thinking they messed something up.

Go Go SE blaming everything on the Customer without actually looking at a situation.

THE CUSTOMERS ALWAYS WRONG?

[Phantomwarrior]

my friend and i spent about 3 - 4 hours contacting SE via web chat, phone, GMs in game etc and were both in teh place we started. I have more photo evidence of the player who stole the account in /tells (guy is a dumbass to telling me so much).

However, even with photo evidence SE is telling us the same, we cant do anything until he goes to the authorities, but once a subpoena is obtained then the special task force can do further investigations upon the account. How exacly did u approach the police about, bc we both live in small towns where people are like "wuts the internet. lulz"
For the record the accout that was stolen in this case is a character by the name of Lnchbx on remora.
He is in PerfectIllusion linkshell (which I believe is a sky/sea ls that no1 has ever heard of), mules are are tinybox and hewhoseeksgil. I have been attempting to keep tabs on the char in game for my friend who cant get on, but were pretty much in a stand still until we attempt to get a subpoena.

[Pyree]

For those who haven't noticed yet, there's a topic that was created to create a collective list of all hacked accounts. If you've already made a post about being hacked, please go there to post as well:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=27042

[Sodaru]

Yes please, only SERIOUS posts >.>; I'll bring that list to SE.

[Lordwafik]

Quick question to those of you who got hacked : Using SE's windower by any chance ?

[Jeny]

Quick question to those of you who got hacked : Using SE's windower by any chance ?

Nope, that shit is terrible.

[vagus]

3 accounts were compromised from our shell within 3 days this week. SE really needs to fix this problem. Or atleast make it more difficult to change information. Maybe require the original CD key to change any type of information on an account. Jeny, GL and keep is informed on what your local sheriff does. One of the members contacted the sheriff and has a report filed. Haven't seen her in a few days, so not sure what the status is atm.

-V