Security Key: I think it's a waste

[Invictos]

I also share Ciphers opinion on this.

 

Why would I make it harder for me to log in to the game for no benefit? I've never been hacked and go to great lengths to keep my computer clean of such garbage as an overall practice. Proper firewalls and simple security steps all but eliminate these types of problems a keygen fob prevents. I figure, at best, someday, ill have a problem with the keygen that will keep me out of my account for however long it takes Biowares inept CS dept at this point to clear it up. Simply not worth it. If I someday get hacked it wont even change my mind, as I would look at it as an overall security problem.

 

Buying a keyfob thing like this is really for the lazy or the types of people that dont really care or understand if their computer is overrun with viruses and the such, yet still want to play. I prefer to keep my overall computer clean and free of such things instead of putting additional layers of security on top of my what already should be secure computer.

 

Its not for me, but hey, if you want it, more power to you. Just my opinion.

 

Yeah. I certainly don't consider myself immune to hacking, but I don't understand the notion that I should worry about my account in a video game more than I'd worry about, say, my bank account. Seems to me that if I get hacked, my online assets in SWTOR would be less than the very least of my concerns.

 

But hey, I didn't play WoW, so maybe there's a fundamental disconnect somewhere. I have played other MMOs for about 12 years, though (and before that, MUDs) -- all without hearing anyone say that an external security supplement was necessary or even desirable.

 

So anyway, the upshot for me is to try to make everything as secure as I can. YMMV.

Edited February 15, 2012 by Invictos

[Keta]

Just curious, why do you need multiple authenticators for one account? Is it that you share the account with family? Not a flame, just curious.

 

In my case I travel (a lot) for a living and I'd just like to have the option to use one or the other while one is charging up or temporarily available. TBH, it's not really a huge deal to me, just one of those "Oh it'd be nice if ..." type things.

[Ngamok]

My iPhone is usually always with me. I bought the CE but use the mobile app instead.

[iain_b]

I also share Ciphers opinion on this.

 

Why would I make it harder for me to log in to the game for no benefit? I've never been hacked and go to great lengths to keep my computer clean of such garbage as an overall practice. Proper firewalls and simple security steps all but eliminate these types of problems a keygen fob prevents. I figure, at best, someday, ill have a problem with the keygen that will keep me out of my account for however long it takes Biowares inept CS dept at this point to clear it up. Simply not worth it. If I someday get hacked it wont even change my mind, as I would look at it as an overall security problem.

 

Buying a keyfob thing like this is really for the lazy or the types of people that dont really care or understand if their computer is overrun with viruses and the such, yet still want to play. I prefer to keep my overall computer clean and free of such things instead of putting additional layers of security on top of my what already should be secure computer.

 

Its not for me, but hey, if you want it, more power to you. Just my opinion.

 

Famous last words. It's funny how the people who post stuff like this are always the ones crying when their account is compromised.

 

And before you reply with that "Bioware should have better security" garbage you need to understand something- security is only as good as it's weakest link and in the case of MMOs that is almost always the user.

 

I am hyper-vigilant about security when it comes to my devices but I also see no reason not to use a free authenticator to give my account that extra layer of security and you would have to be a fool to think otherwise.

[IrotNoot]

It is obvious that you are another person that doesn't understand the concept of Multi-factor authentication. I sometimes feel for software companies, either they aren't secure enough or they are too secure in the eyes of some customers.

 

I underand multi-factor authentication just fine, I just dont believe its necessary in a properly secured environment, especially for a game. My dang bank doesnt require a secure keygen fob, yet they are as secure as anything Bioware would need. Dont pretend you know anything about me or what security precautions I've taken to protect my account. Im saying there are better ways to make sure your computer is secure than just making sure your precious SWTOR account is safe. Its like, great! my SWTOR acocunt is safe because of this keyfob, but your machine is a spam and virus tossing internet plague bearer doesnt make it okay.

[cipher_nemo]

Just curious, why do you need multiple authenticators for one account? Is it that you share the account with family? Not a flame, just curious.

 

No problem, I understand. I would prefer multiple because I use both the forums and the client across multiple PCs with physically different locations. It's an inconvenience to carry a separate mobile authenticator around just for SWTOR. If I could add multiple authenticators to one account (ie: multiple encryption keys), then I would use them as an extra layer of security. But since I can't it's simply an inconvenience I'm unwilling to live with.

 

And before people respond with "but getting your account hacked is a much bigger inconvenience", you must look at the risk factor. Does everyone drive under the speed limit and avoid aggressive driving because they know the risks of causing/contributing to a vehicular accident are lower? It's a risk vs. reward/convenience system that's built into every human. My SWTOR account will most likely never be hacked in my lifetime of playing the game. So why frustrate myself every single day, multiple times a day with the burden of a security key I must take around with me everywhere?

[JustTed]

More layers of security is always nice, and I would welcome it, provided that it doesn't seriously detract from my day-to-day conveniences.

 

So you want additional security, but you don't want it to impact you at all. Got it.

[iain_b]

I underand multi-factor authentication just fine, I just dont believe its necessary in a properly secured environment, especially for a game. My dang bank doesnt require a secure keygen fob, yet they are as secure as anything Bioware would need. Dont pretend you know anything about me or what security precautions I've taken to protect my account. Im saying there are better ways to make sure your computer is secure than just making sure your precious SWTOR account is safe. Its like, great! my SWTOR acocunt is safe because of this keyfob, but your machine is a spam and virus tossing internet plague bearer doesnt make it okay.

 

Holy strawman Batman. You keep making the assinine assumption that anyone who uses an authenticator doesn't secure their computers properly as well as trying to draw some correlation between your bank website and a mmo.

 

Where is that Picard facepalm when you need it?

 

And if your bank isn't using any form of 2-factor authentication it's not because they are "doing security right", it's because they haven't had any serious security breaches attempted.

[cipher_nemo]

So you want additional security, but you don't want it to impact you at all. Got it.

 

Wrong, straw man. I want additional security security but I'm only willing to have it impact me to a point. Ability to use multiple authenticators per account would solve me issue with them. It wouldn't address all of the issues in my op, but it would get me using them again.

Edited February 15, 2012 by cipher_nemo

[jamews]

So just because a company does it one way Bioware has to copy them exactly, even the bad parts?

 

Oh wait, it's Blizzard. This is to be expected. Carry on.

 

if what i read is correct vassco/ digipass supplies the keys to wow swtor and rift there's a reason they all use them because there good ,i just wish BW could fix letting us replace a old device as my android tablet broke on me and i had to get a new one i called CS and was surprised after reading all the bw CS sucks threads was only on the phone for 5 mins when my call was answered they toke the old key off ,but now i can't put a new one on till they fix whatever it is they have to do.

[iain_b]

No problem, I understand. I would prefer multiple because I use both the forums and the client across multiple PCs with physically different locations. It's an inconvenience to carry a separate mobile authenticator around just for SWTOR. If I could add multiple authenticators to one account (ie: multiple encryption keys), then I would use them as an extra layer of security. But since I can't it's simply an inconvenience I'm unwilling to live with.

 

And before people respond with "but getting your account hacked is a much bigger inconvenience", you must look at the risk factor. Does everyone drive under the speed limit and avoid aggressive driving because they know the risks of causing/contributing to a vehicular accident are lower? It's a risk vs. reward/convenience system that's built into every human. My SWTOR account will most likely never be hacked in my lifetime of playing the game. So why frustrate myself every single day, multiple times a day with the burden of a security key I must take around with me everywhere?

 

I already carry my cellphone with me everywhere I go. I hardly think of it as a burden.

[thebaldwin]

 

No matter how secure you think you are when browsing, no matter how many commercial options for security you have in place, you aren't as secure as you think you are. Remember, in most cases security software is playing catchup to the threat....not the other way around.

 

In truly ideal secure world, no one would be able to access anything.

 

Back on topic. It works as advertised. I put my info in, it supplies me a code, I type the code in and my risk of being hacked is lowered. Weigh the things you don't like about it against the risk of not using it and come to your decision. Good luck! Please let the internet at large know when you cancel it since you are supersafe no one will hack you anyway.

[cipher_nemo]

I already carry my cellphone with me everywhere I go. I hardly think of it as a burden.

 

I don't. I'm not a slave to my droid, thank you very much. Yes, people have different lifestyles than you. Go figure.

[IrotNoot]

Holy strawman Batman. You keep making the assinine assumption that anyone who uses an authenticator doesn't secure their computers properly as well as trying to draw some correlation between your bank website and a mmo.

 

Where is that Picard facepalm when you need it?

 

And if your bank isn't using any form of 2-factor authentication it's not because they are "doing security right", it's because they haven't had any serious security breaches attempted.

 

As im sure you know about security than my bank, right...

[iain_b]

As im sure you know about security than my bank, right...

 

I know enough not to trust a single password to protect the contents of my bank accounts.

[JansanRuno]

 

More layers of security is always nice, and I would welcome it, provided that it doesn't seriously detract from my day-to-day conveniences.

 

 

That's the thing about good security practices, they are not convenient.

[iain_b]

I don't. I'm not a slave to my droid, thank you very much. Yes, people have different lifestyles than you. Go figure.

 

Wow, another strawman argument. Shocking.

 

Where are you ever in a location where you can play the game and you don't have your phone with you?

[Frenzelein]

so its pay more or your account get hacked and we don't care if it happens cause u did not pay extra

 

that's class a customer binding right there

 

god i love this era

[iain_b]

so its pay more or your account get hacked and we don't care if it happens cause u did not pay extra

 

that's class a customer binding right there

 

god i love this era

 

The authenticator is free if you have an iPhone, Android or eventually a Blackberry.

[IrotNoot]

I know enough not to trust a single password to protect the contents of my bank accounts.

 

So you're saying your bank issues a keygen that you have to have to log into your account? Sounds like a pita to me. My bank manages to have double authentication without the requirement of an additional piece of hardware or software running on my smartphone.

[JustTed]

Wrong, straw man. I want additional security security but I'm only willing to have it impact me to a point. Ability to use multiple authenticators per account would solve me issue with them.

 

It would also make them not secure.

 

It's not a straw man. You want additional security, you get inconvenience.

[Woodspoon]

Definitely not a waste

Maybe a minor inconvenience at times but definitely not a waste

An extra layer of security is never a waste

Everybody thinks it'll never happen to them until it does.

[cipher_nemo]

Where are you ever in a location where you can play the game and you don't have your phone with you?

 

Sorry, I grew up in an era before everyone felt naked without their phone. You'd be surprised what us Gen X people do sometimes. And no, I don't own an iPad/tablet/Kindle, nor do I want one.

 

You want additional security, you get inconvenience.

 

How is multiple authenticators on one account not "additional security"? And again people making straw man arguments.

[iain_b]

So you're saying your bank issues a keygen that you have to have to log into your account? Sounds like a pita to me. My bank manages to have double authentication without the requirement of an additional piece of hardware or software running on my smartphone.

 

Now you reveal that your bank does in fact use a multiple factor authentication system when you left it fairly ambiguous earlier to try and further your argument.

 

And no, I never said they use a keyfob or random number generator. They use a combination of a secondary passcode and an image verification to confirm identity.

[Cormey]

What's your opinion on this security key?

 

My opinion is this thread is a waste of time and space, Bioware/EA aren't going to get rid of them due to a few people not liking them. Either use them or don't.

 

So, what are we going to complain about next? Having to use a mouse and keyboard to play the game?