Guild Wars 2 Starter Guide (Social) and Problems

IGN has written a Guild Wars 2 starter guide for players with an emphasis on grouping, including information about overflow maps, whether you can a friend can play together regardless of race, drawing on the map, etc. Some tips are useful whether you play GW2 solo or with friends.
http://www.ign.com/wikis/guild-wars-2/Starter_Guide

Note that GW2 is having major problems.  Their servers are so full that they have temporarily suspended digital sales.  It does look like those who pre-purchased the game can still download it and play, however.  Here's a listing of the problem areas which include security issues.
http://www.reddit.com/r/Guildwars2/comments/z3qqm/guild_wars_2_status_thursday_august_30/

Around 3,000 players have been permanently banned for buying mis-priced high level karma weapons in huge numbers and creating even higher level items from them.  GW2's developers are going to allow the permanently banned a second chance if they promise to get rid of these items.  They will be allowed back after a 72 hour ban but if you have the items in your inventory still, it's permanent ban time again.
http://www.pcgamer.com/2012/08/31/3000-guild-wars-2-players-permanently-banned-for-karma-exploit/

Here's more about account hacking.
http://www.videogamer.com/pc/guild_wars_2/news/guild_wars_2_accounts_hacked_as_ncsoft_warns_players_to_be_vigilant_3.html

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Uplay: Ubisoft Security Risk

Ubisoft's UPlay service comes with a security risk.  Here're the details and now to remove the problem plug-in.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/07/30/psa-possible-security-risk-in-some-ubisoft-pc-games/

Here's the patch to fix UPlay.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/07/30/ubisoft-respond-to-uplay-security-drama/


Ubisoft says this was caused by a coding error.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/07/31/coding-error-caused-uplay-exploit/

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Rift: Mobile Authenticator for iPhones Available UPDATED

Looks like the mobile authenticator is now available for iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches.  Here is what you do after you download the free app from iTunes.
https://www.riftgame.com/en/products/authenticator.php

 Please note that the random number generated by the iPhone or iPod Touch (or Android phone) changes rapidly.  You only have a short amount of time to type in the letters/numbers before it changes to something else, which can be rough on folks with physical impairments.

UPDATE:  Here's a detailed essay on protecting yourself as a gamer from hackers.
http://www.riftsocial.com/prevent-hacking

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Rift: Mobile Authenticator Released for Droid Phones

Rift has just announced a mobile authenticator has been released for those with Android phones.  An iPhone authenticator is in the works.
http://rift.zam.com/story.html?story=25808

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Rift Security: Account Hacks

A Rift player discovered how to access accounts without any account information.
http://www.riftjunkies.com/2011/03/19/rift-junkies-not-the-source-of-account-hacks/

Apparently this security hole has been patched by Trion.
http://www.riftjunkies.com/2011/03/19/scott-hartsman-weekend-security-update/

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Rift Security: Coin Lock

The Solo MMO Player has been on vacation and was surprised to discover the new "coin lock" procedure (implemented March 17) had him locked out of Rift.  Here's the best summary I found about how it works.
http://forums.riftgame.com/showthread.php?122396-Update-on-Hacked-Accounts

Note that some sort of authenticator system is in the works.

Apparently the new coin lock system had problems.
http://forums.riftgame.com/showthread.php?129952-Coin-Lock-is-there..wait..no-it-s-not

So Rift updated (March 19) the coin lock system they implemented in such a way that everyone has to use an email code to get into their account. More information about how it all works here:
http://rift.ign.com/articles/news/7486/Coin-Lock-Update

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Blizzard Announces an Online Hacked Account Form

Instead of emailing or calling Blizzard, now you are supposed to fill out a form on this website.  It looks like the personal information they will ask for to restore a hacked account will be even more insecure now.
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/09/22/blizzard-announces-automated-account-recovery-form-for-hacked-ac/

More details.
http://www.wowhead.com/blog=169026

I consider this as just another form of cost-cutting on Blizzard's part.  If I were hacked, I'd want a real person to talk to about the problem, not an online form.  Customer service this is not.

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Worried About In-Game Security?

Thanks to Pwnwear, I've found this blog decided to security issues in-game.  It's full of good advice and examples of various attempts to hack gamer accounts.
http://securingwow.blogspot.com/

Gordon has some good ideas for improving security for MMOs, which don't take security very seriously, perhaps because their target audience is 12 years old and doesn't like to read.
http://blog.weflyspitfires.com/2010/06/30/mmo-account-security/

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Copyright Solo MMO Player at http://solommo.blogspot.com

Google Search and Flash Security Problems UPDATED

Blizzard alerts players to a Google search result that leads to a malware site masquerading as Curse.com and a security issue with Adobe's Flash player.  I'm still waiting for Blizzard to improve their own security by changing from an email address login to something safer. Of course now it is too late as spammers and hackers have the WOW email address logins and are using them to send out gold seller spam and phishing emails.
http://www.wow.com/2010/06/07/new-issues-with-adobe-flash-google-search-links-could-compromis/

UPDATE:  Thanks to Pwnwear, I have a link to a blog that talks a bit about the Adobe Flash security issue and has a link to the download page for an update to plug the hole.  This is a good site to bookmark as it talks about security issues in WOW.
http://securingwow.blogspot.com/2010/06/patch-your-flash.html

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Real ID a Security Loophole?

WOW Insider believes that the new Real ID system that will be introduced in Patch 3.3.5 as a way of connecting with friends isn't a security worry.  They are wrong.  Using a real email address as a login is always a security concern, especially given that the Solo MMO Player's email address (used only for logging into the game) is constantly bombarded with gold seller spam and pshishing emails.  How else does that happen except Blizzard's Battle.net system has been hacked?  Do you think things will be any different with Real ID?  I don't.  Set up a free account that you never use for anything except logging into WOW and urge your friends to do the same.
http://www.wow.com/2010/05/28/real-id-security-concerns/

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Are Bank Withdrawal Limits Broken?

Warcraft Hunters Union reports that despite their guild bank having controls limiting withdrawals to three stacks a day, a hacked guild member's character was able to just about empty the bank.  A problem ticket has been sent to Blizzard about the fact that the controls were bypassed.  I hope if any more information comes out about this that we'll hear about it.
http://www.warcrafthuntersunion.com/2010/05/bank-robbery/

If you run a guild, be warned.  Read the Comments for tips.

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Papa Lou's Power Leveling

The second in a series produced by Aion Online's developer and Rooster Teeth about playing MMOs.

http://kotaku.com/5521044/the-not+so+real-dangers-of-power+leveling

Here is the first video, about buying gold.  It's not as funny as #2 but at least they are trying to reach the game players.

http://na.aiononline.com/board/notices/view?articleID=235&page=2

Thanks for the laugh, Kotaku!

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Security Tips (With Download Locations)

Birdfall lists security tips and recommends programs (I think they are all free) to help anyone who wants to update their computer security.
http://birdfall.blogspot.com/2010/02/security-programs-or-when-youre-in.html

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