Introducing the Square Enix Security Token (10/03/2009)

[Redx]

As a result of growing account security concerns within the online gaming community, Square Enix is proud to introduce the Square Enix Security Token. The token greatly increases the security of PlayOnline accounts by allowing users to log on by using a constantly changing one-time password that is displayed on the screen. The Square Enix Security Token will be available for purchase through the PlayOnline Viewer in the near future for those who wish to take advantage of the added security this optional service provides. As a special incentive, each Square Enix Security Token will come with an exciting in-game bonus which may just prove indispensible during your many adventures in Vana'diel!

Information on the Security Token's release date and price, as well as further details regarding the in-game bonus, will be announced at a later date.

we use RSA security token's like these in work along with a 4 digit PIN.

nice touch adding an in-game item along with the purchase.

 

[Genkaku]

Blizzard came up with the same thing for Wow like what? a year ago?

Way to keep up with the times SE.

Better late than never I guess.

 

[Tristam Green]

lol, so wait.

This won't be offered as a security update, but rather as an additional item for purchase?

Amazing. I wonder if anyone would actually use WPA2 encryption on wireless networks or 802.1x Authentication if they were purchase-only items, rather than free implementations of existing free/nonfree software...

As a result of growing account security concerns within the online community, SoftwareCo is proud to introduce the SoftwareCo(TM) Security Token. The token greatly increases the security of ServerSoftware accounts by allowing users to log on by using a constantly changing one-time password that is displayed on the screen. SoftwareCo(TM) Security Token will be available for purchase through the [ServerSoftware] console in the near future for those who wish to take advantage of the added security this optional service provides. As a special incentive, each SoftwareCo(TM) Security Token will come with an exciting USB dongle (256MB) which may just prove indispensible during your many adventures on the Secure Internet!!

A+ for security beefing
F- for coupling it with a business plan.

 

[Grandphoenix]

lol, so wait.

This won't be offered as a security update, but rather as an additional item for purchase?

Amazing. I wonder if anyone would actually use WPA2 encryption on wireless networks or 802.1x Authentication if they were purchase-only items, rather than free implementations of existing free/nonfree software...



A+ for security beefing
F- for coupling it with a business plan.

Exactly what I was thinking. They want people to pay extra because they can't strengthen their security enough? Most instances it's not even them but they should have the means to do the restores simple enough and without all the hassles of get this notarized etc.

 

[Genkaku]

Exactly what I was thinking. They want people to pay extra because they can't strengthen their security enough? Most instances it's not even them but they should have the means to do the restores simple enough and without all the hassles of get this notarized etc.

This is nothing more than "Oh hey, if they can make money with this idea, so can we"

Nothing more. Nothing less.

 

[Grandphoenix]

This is nothing more than "Oh hey, if they can make money with this idea, so can we"

Nothing more. Nothing less.

Most other companies just give it to you but meh I understand the concept fine. I'm just sure SE is going to try and put a 20~30 dollar price range for a junky USB device.

 

[Shirai]

I'd do it to protect my almost 5 years of playtime depending on price, anything over 25 bucks is too much.

Knowing SE they'll probably ask 50 bucks for the token and superspecial ingame item.

And GP, it aint a usb device.

 

[Grandphoenix]

I'd do it to protect my almost 5 years of playtime depending on price, anything over 25 bucks is too much.

Knowing SE they'll probably ask 50 bucks for the token and superspecial ingame item.

And GP, it aint a usb device.

Yeah it appears to more of a key fob but a lot of security tokens are normally USB. Didn't have access to the pic earlier.

Alas, I have a strong feeling that this is going to make SE think they can slack their customer service even more and say they gave you all the tools to protect yourself so they don't have to spend time researching into recovering your acount etc.

 

[Tristam Green]

These measures should have already been in place years ago, and supplied by SE. Given the lack of innovation provided in terms of this game in recent years (with respect to how much revenue they get from all the monthly subscriptions), I'm willing to bet their buffed security won't be worth what the pricetag will end up being.

 

[Lucki]

I don't know why everyone is saying that SE should be giving us this additional security tool for free. This key is a luxury, and not a necessity. I can't think of any company that gives out luxuries for free. It's not their fault that some people are retarded when it comes to their passwords and security of their personal computer.

 

[Morari]

If this is like the WoW-version, then it doesn't connect to the computer/internet at all. You tie the device to the account, press a button and get a random number as a password. Then the decoding is done on SE's end.

I don't think that SE is wanting to "cash in" on anything, but business contracts between the involved parties can take a while to set up. According to the hubbub at blue-gartr, this is one of the highest forms of security available. We are probably seeing the result of months of work right now. [/benefitofthedoubt]

I'm wondering what the ingame item is going to be more than anything.

 

[Shirai]

According to the hubbub at blue-gartr, this is one of the highest forms of security available.

By the looks of it it is indeed a RSA token.
RSA tokens are indeed known for their high security values, we ourselves use them at work too to be able to log on to our VPN from anywhere on the web.

I'm wondering what the ingame item is going to be more than anything.

This is where the entire idea comes from that SE is doing this to get even more money out of us.
Marketing wise it might have been smarter to not make an ingame item.

Personally I could care less.
It's the token I'm interested in as I occasionally log in from WIFI locations on my laptop.
Other then that, my home PC is fine security wise.

 

[Kurgon]

My understanding isn't that the game isn't up to snuff security wise, it is the users downloading stuff, resulting in keyloggers, or going to websites that have had there pages hijacked to take advantage of flash programming. Then there are those who "trust" folks with their passwords, get there stuff stolen and run to sites swearing they were hacked. I've yet to hear that SE gave away accounts due to social engineering, nor SE having their servers hacked where passwords were compromised.

The only thing I can lay at SE feet would be how they handle recovering stolen accounts.

 

[Warseth]

we use RSA security token's like these in work along with a 4 digit PIN.

nice touch adding an in-game item along with the purchase.

Its pretty bad today in MMO world and I think because of account thefts so rampant across all games .. It's pretty much a extra security measure one may need.

Im sure most mmorpg companies have a lot of security up to prevent your account from being hacked through on there side. The problem is they cant prevent it from your PC end without these devices.

There are some security features they could adopt still on the software side but how good they are I don't know.

For one in Perfect World International:
Keyboard onscreen for password typing (ffxi has now which is good)
Banks in game you can create passwords to even get in them.

Requiem Bloodymare: They have a password to log in and to use your character you have to use this 10 key pad on screen to type in a passcode to play that character...and each time you press a key..it reshuffles the keybad numbers around randomly with each entry.

How good these work I am not sure. But it seems that these thieves are hell bent on stealing accounts from Popular pay to play and even Free to play mmo's with online real money item purchase to support them.

I bet there will be a day that games will be sold with these secruity usb keys on the shelf next to them. It seems its almost a must if you dont want to lose years of effort on an account.

Can you imagine the time lost and money to pay the people to hunt down these thieves and restore accounts ..etc etc...just staggering on how much of a problem this is across all games.

all I can say is good move SE...a bit late..But good move...

 

[Xalioniaf]

Real men put in their passwords knowing a keylogger is on their computer.
I think. I'm on PS2, so I dunno.

 

[Warseth]

Real men put in their passwords knowing a keylogger is on their computer.
I think. I'm on PS2, so I dunno.

=) well you are a lucky dog PS2 console guy. The PC world is full of traps and tricks.

Allakhazaam at one time had some keylogger in a banner add... you didnt have to click squat...just view the page and Bamn ...you are screwed.. "Unless you have quality security on your PC". Horrible ...I had 3 members in my WoW guild that were hit in one night. Talk about nightmare for them. Banks were full on mules...and emptied over night.

They became firefox believers after that and also purchased security software ...free stuff is only as good as what you paid for it im afraid :biggrin:

 

[Spalko]

i wonder what is the in game item that comes with it, might attracts PS2 and 360 players to buy too

 

[K. Ishitar]

SE always has a nice way of telecommuting the message that it's broke

 

[Tim Wakefield]

I don't know why everyone is saying that SE should be giving us this additional security tool for free. This key is a luxury, and not a necessity. I can't think of any company that gives out luxuries for free. It's not their fault that some people are retarded when it comes to their passwords and security of their personal computer.

So you mean ABC123 isn't a safe password? FUCK!

 

[Skaw]

So you mean ABC123 isn't a safe password? FUCK!

Real pros use "password" as their password.