Introducing Account Guard

By PWE_BranFlakes @ June 27, 2012 at 7:23pm

34 Comments »

• thebigarniedog55 @ Nov 21st, 2012 3:32PM

  secure yes, but its also good at keeping you out of your own account....

• metl @ Jun 28th, 2012 7:33PM

  Unneeded garbage. Useless.

• nennavari

  So you've never had security issues with your account - GREAT! Some people have, or will have at some point in the future. This will help. Ergo, not garbage. Just because you personally feel that you have no use for a feature doesn't mean that everyone else has no use for it. Personally I appreciate the added security, especially in today's cyber environment, where very little is truly secure.

• pwebranflakes @ Jun 28th, 2012 7:00PM

  Hi Captains, There seems to be some confusion. These questions and answers should help: ==== Q: I use a wide range of IPs through my ISP, and change it frequently. It sounds like I will need to opt-out of Account Guard because I am easily going to be hitting the max IPs allowed? Users with changing IPs on a single computer will not need to opt out of Account Guard. Account Guard performs its security checks against your computer or your web browser, not the originating IP. Your last originating IP, however, will be visible to you under the "Manage Account Guard" on the Cryptic Billing Portal. Q: When this get implemented to the game, am I going to have to alt-tab out of the game to get this code? If so, can this be added to the launcher instead? A: Account Guard, which is currently available on our test shards, will be implemented into our main clients in the near future. When that happens, users will receive an e-mailed code to proceed into the game. However, once the code is entered, Account Guard will work silently to verify the security of your account whenever you log in from that computer, regardless of its originating IP. A new code will only be required when you log in from a different computer. Q: Do we have to enter a code every time we enter the game or website, or does it just apply when buying ZEN? A: As of 6/28/2012, the web portion of Account Guard is only active on the Cryptic Billing Platform (secure.crypticstudios.com). The Cryptic Billing Platform allows you to manage your secure account information, and can be accessed from your account page on the Perfect World Website. Once you have saved a web browser (Billing Platform) and a computer (Game Client), you will not need to submit another Account Guard code unless you change computers (for game logins), or clear your specific browser's cookies (for Cryptic Billing Platform logins on the web). ==== Cheers, Brandon =/\=

• cheroj @ Jun 28th, 2012 10:07AM

  Considering how we can comment on updates and announcements like this now, that tells me that Cryptic is interested in our input and sincerely would like to improve our gaming experience. BUT, it is our responsibility to make sure that the feedback we give is constructive, mature, and professional. Otherwise we have no one to blame but ourselves.

• nyiad @ Jun 28th, 2012 9:29AM

  Lets see how they F this one up.

• vvelox @ Jun 28th, 2012 9:27AM

  If the system is IP address based it will mean just as everyone has suggested, turning it off or changing it every couple of weeks or months. A more sensible approach would be tying it to the computers Ethernet cards MAC.address, that will only change when you migrate to another computer, and then the 10 limit will be manageable for your gaming clients who you will not want to alienate.

• koolteller @ Jun 28th, 2012 8:30AM

  i know u can hear me plzs repwans to me plzs

• nennavari

  You do realize that this feature isn't even active yet, right? At least not on the live shard. It's supremely unlikely that this is causing your problems, so best to actually READ the articles, as opposed to jumping straight to the comments section to scream "I HAZ BROKEN ACCOUNT COZ OF THIS!!!111!!shift1!11" Try switching between "Cryptic" and "Perfect World" account types at the game log-in screen. It's more likely that you've missed something like that, or equally as obvious.

• koolteller @ Jun 28th, 2012 8:28AM

  ok i'm mad i can't play ur game i was hi ransomething good but ur hurtinnk player on it plzs fix i know u think ur doing g ur self byng this doi

• koolteller @ Jun 28th, 2012 8:24AM

  i want to play the game play the game and i know other game that don't do this

• koolteller @ Jun 28th, 2012 8:21AM

  i hate the new update still can't got on an play the game

• koolteller @ Jun 28th, 2012 8:16AM

  if you want to make people happy just listsn to them

• koolteller @ Jun 28th, 2012 8:12AM

  i don't like it i can't get on s.t.and it making mad good old password was TD HAT WICHT WORK GOO

• palpha2clearance @ Jun 28th, 2012 7:27AM

  Can we get a customer support phone number.....I tried it red shirt and I do not want it

• koolteller

  AND I MEAN IT

• danielpenfold @ Jun 28th, 2012 7:12AM

  I like the look of this but i think it should be left the way it is nothing else mad of it.

• vexs1 @ Jun 28th, 2012 6:09AM

  Mmmmm it's the same system of Steam.

• antaran5

  Sounds like it which makes it good and it works. i can't see why people are complaining.

• aquitaine985 @ Jun 28th, 2012 4:26AM

  If it is via IP, then hopefully there will be an option only the account holder has access to that can SWITCH OFF Account Guard should we choose too. My IP never changes but I have a few friends who each share info with each other for whatever reason, so hopefully I can just trun this off. That said I guess this is a good feature, show's they're at least working on quality of life stuff!

• nennavari

  FAQ says you can opt-out.

• hesht @ Jun 28th, 2012 1:12AM

  Sounds like the FB system to me

• dialgastar @ Jun 27th, 2012 9:38PM

  If Account Guard is actually an IP Address-based protection system, as so many other people who have left comments here have speculated, then I will be one of the people affected by it. My ISP resets my connection at least once a day, and every time they do it, I get a new IP address as a result. Heck, even when I power-cycle my modem for troubleshooting purposes, I also get a different IP address. Going through 1 IP Address a day is not going to bode well for me, if this new Account Guard Security System has an IP Address registration cap.

• misoratkovac

  I thin you will provide Account Guard with your computer name first time and there will be no more job to do even when you reset your IP address. That was on tribble Account Guards Test few week before.

• jgaboury @ Jun 27th, 2012 8:58PM

  I am not sure why you would not just use an authenticator like the ones SWTOR or WoW are currently using to keep accounts safe. the thing can even be virtual authenticator you purchase in the C-Store and add it to an account. For an incentive for people to purchase the item add a unique bridge officer.

• aveldra

  Yes, adopting a PWE Authenticator system would be a much better solution in the long run as it won't run into the trouble of IP cycling which affects many users. Inevitably I see this causing even greater problems for support staff.

• lordxenite @ Jun 27th, 2012 8:41PM

  At this time, we can only speculate whether or not it's an IP-based system. For all we know it could be a client-side script that captures information about the computer/browser and sends it to the Server to produce a code that is unique to the computer/browser that is attempting to access the game/website. They could be using OS information for example to produce a UUID which has nothing to do with the computers' IP.

• votemittromney @ Jun 27th, 2012 8:15PM

  as a roadrunner user who has their internet provider randomly change their IP im afraid of what this will mean for me

• grimchar @ Jun 27th, 2012 8:01PM

  Sorry, I should have said "... letting STO players know ahead of time ..."

• grimchar @ Jun 27th, 2012 8:00PM

  I know it requires forethought and a concern for your customer base, but does the thought of letting STO players know of changes that will directly affect the game/individual accounts ever, even fleetingly, cross management's mind over there at Perfect World?

• allysnowleopard @ Jun 27th, 2012 7:51PM

  I love how you don't tell people in this article that it's a IP Address based protection system and that you can only have ten IP address registered at a time, and if your like a lot of people whom have an ISP that force a Dynamic IP upon they're customers the ten IP address cap will passed in a matter of months, and once that cap is met, if a new IP is needed to be authorized one will have to call customer support, prove they are the account holder and then have one or more systems deauthorize... There has to be a better way to keep our accounts safe without having to deal with this kind of thing. I'd much rather have a Authenticator like those used with WOW, Blackberry/ Andorid / iOS device free version would be cool, but I'd be willing to pay 1000ZEN for a physical Unit. ( one could even sell it in the C-Store so that people could work for it via the Dilithum Exchange. )

• captainrevo1

  the FAQ does not mention that. it just deletes the oldest IP and keeps removing old IP's. If you then need to reuse an old IP you just have to reauthorise it. The only time you need to contact Billing is to disable it if you wish. At least that is how i read the FAQ.

• eiledon @ Jun 27th, 2012 7:31PM

  "will be promoted" or "will be prompted"?

• cheroj

  It's prompted.