TT Volume 1.6 Account Safety and Security in SWTOR

“Our shields can’t repel firepower of that magnitude!”

One thing that has become increasingly clear over the past several years in the gaming industry as well as most other aspects of the world is that your digital footprint is there and it isn’t going away.  The worst part is that there are people just waiting to prey on others the way a Imperial Agent sits with a sniper scope awaiting her target.  A vast majority of gamers either have had or will have their online identities stolen at one point or another.  I for one can vouch for this as I had my account hacked for “The Game That Shall Not Be Mentioned” a couple of years back and I will tell you right now the fear and shock that ripped through me were horrible.  Luckily I caught the intrepid thief while he was trying to do it and I was able to recover my account but the sheer weight of having someone tamper with something you have worked so hard on is a very intrusive and heart wrenching experience.  I have also seen fellow gamers and friends go through this as well and it is no easier watching them have to take the time and wait to have their accounts restored to them.

With the recent attack on the Sony Playstation Network it is once again clear that no matter how large or small you are we are all vulnerable to this kind of attack.  We have already seen the developers letting us know that there are already scams in the works for “Beta Keys” and “Credit Vendors” that are starting up before the game is launched.  So I will almost guarantee that we will see this continue into the launch of SWTOR.

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There are a few simple ways to make sure that your account is not easily attacked.  First let me state that are these ways in no way of making your account un-hackable but I have found that they do help.  (PS Talion-Thoughts is not liable if an expert hacker does get through your systems and sells off all your loot and your companions into slavery)

• First choose wisely when picking your username, even making this a little bit difficult makes it a little bit tougher to crack as people can use searches to try and find you username

• Alpha/Numeric Passwords, use a combination of numbers and letters (uppercase and lowercase), if the site will let you through in a symbol for good measure.  The more permutations that are available on your password the harder it is for a program to crack

• DON’T use a husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, or child’s name.  Your digital footprint will have all this information as well, Names of your character or server don’t work well either.  Find something obscure or even a made up word and make it your own.

• If SWTOR offers an authenticator service I encourage you to get it.  Be it a Mobile Authenticator, or a Smartphone Authenticator these are invaluable to the protection of your account. 

• I know it may sound silly but don’t give your username or password to anyone…..even someone claiming to be an employee of the company. Chances are they are phishing for something.

Hopefully these tips and tricks will help you stay as secure in your gaming as a Smuggler’s Lockbox and you can enjoy your gaming expierence without fear or dread of having to call in an Admin to restore your account.