Comments on: Blizzard: The Grinch? http://kestrelsaerie.com/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/ An Eclectic Collection of Musings on Life, Living, and Blogging Sun, 09 Oct 2011 01:16:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: How to Improve your WoW Account Security | Altitis http://kestrelsaerie.com/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/comment-page-1/#comment-470 How to Improve your WoW Account Security | Altitis Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:57:22 +0000 http://kestrelsaerie.us/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/#comment-470 [...] As you will have noticed, there’s a widespread account hacking activity going on at the moment, and many people, me included, aren’t exactly happy about the customer service options currently provided by Blizzard. [...] [...] As you will have noticed, there’s a widespread account hacking activity going on at the moment, and many people, me included, aren’t exactly happy about the customer service options currently provided by Blizzard. [...]

]]> By: Kestrel http://kestrelsaerie.com/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/comment-page-1/#comment-468 Kestrel Thu, 27 Dec 2007 06:01:45 +0000 http://kestrelsaerie.us/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/#comment-468 But, they already have those people. It's simply a matter of giving them the tools to be able to prevent some asswipe from spending hours flaunting Blizzard's unwillingness to serve their customers. Instead of providing more service (and they can well afford it, even if they had to add people, without increasing our fees--they simply need to have a broader vision of support for their customers than that focused on the bottom line; believe me, I know the costs associated with such service), it seems they are providing less: When's the last time you got even an email reply from Blizzard after reporting egregious profanity or gold spammers? But, they already have those people. It’s simply a matter of giving them the tools to be able to prevent some asswipe from spending hours flaunting Blizzard’s unwillingness to serve their customers.

Instead of providing more service (and they can well afford it, even if they had to add people, without increasing our fees–they simply need to have a broader vision of support for their customers than that focused on the bottom line; believe me, I know the costs associated with such service), it seems they are providing less: When’s the last time you got even an email reply from Blizzard after reporting egregious profanity or gold spammers?

]]> By: Matticus http://kestrelsaerie.com/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/comment-page-1/#comment-467 Matticus Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:08:09 +0000 http://kestrelsaerie.us/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/#comment-467 I wonder how many accounts get broken into on a daily basis. Realize that if Blizzard starts setting up 3 shifts of 24/7 account recovery guys on a hotline, I daresay it would increase the cost of this game per month. We're already paying $15 a month. I don't know if I'm willing to pay $20 a month for a service like that when I'm already doing the most diligent of things to protect my account. I change my password every 2 weeks. I ensure my username's already in my client so I don't have to type it. I run weekly antivirus checks. I make sure the addons I download are from reputable websites and not part of some "guild package". Is it a hard thing to do? No. Is it time consuming for some people? Well, yeah, maybe it is for some people. I got burned once by a keylogger and I have no intention of allowing that to happen again. I wonder how many accounts get broken into on a daily basis. Realize that if Blizzard starts setting up 3 shifts of 24/7 account recovery guys on a hotline, I daresay it would increase the cost of this game per month. We’re already paying $15 a month. I don’t know if I’m willing to pay $20 a month for a service like that when I’m already doing the most diligent of things to protect my account.

I change my password every 2 weeks.
I ensure my username’s already in my client so I don’t have to type it.
I run weekly antivirus checks.
I make sure the addons I download are from reputable websites and not part of some “guild package”.

Is it a hard thing to do? No. Is it time consuming for some people? Well, yeah, maybe it is for some people. I got burned once by a keylogger and I have no intention of allowing that to happen again.

]]> By: Someone http://kestrelsaerie.com/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/comment-page-1/#comment-465 Someone Wed, 26 Dec 2007 23:42:04 +0000 http://kestrelsaerie.us/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/#comment-465 While I completely agree with Karthis, this doesn't take Blizzard of the hook. Sure, if I were Blizzard, I'd restore nothing, nil. (For 2nd+ time offenders!) Everyone can fall for it the first time, but if they keep falling, then they're dumb or playing with fire and should pay for it. As for "first timers", Blizzard's response should be much swifter and they don't even need 24/7 support for that! 1) Enforce reply-to-mail password change confirmation (this prevents the thief from locking the proper user out of the web-based account management). 2) Implement a "Lock Now" emergency button on said account. 3) Implement a special in-game ticket where users could report a fellow GUILDie as having his account being stolen. Require 3 people and only accept reports for members of the same guild. If 3 Guildies report someone as being hacked right now, instantly log that person off, block the account and schedule that account and reports for processing on next business day. If the report turns out to be a prank, suspend the reporters for a whole month. If they do it again, ban their accounts for good. If it was a real hack in progress, then Blizzard will have less work to do as less items will have been stolen. All of these can be done with little work and DON'T require 24/7 support. They would stop 99% of the cases. It's better than 0% and can be done very INEXPENSIVELY... While I completely agree with Karthis, this doesn’t take Blizzard of the hook. Sure, if I were Blizzard, I’d restore nothing, nil. (For 2nd+ time offenders!)

Everyone can fall for it the first time, but if they keep falling, then they’re dumb or playing with fire and should pay for it.

As for “first timers”, Blizzard’s response should be much swifter and they don’t even need 24/7 support for that!

1) Enforce reply-to-mail password change confirmation (this prevents the thief from locking the proper user out of the web-based account management).

2) Implement a “Lock Now” emergency button on said account.

3) Implement a special in-game ticket where users could report a fellow GUILDie as having his account being stolen. Require 3 people and only accept reports for members of the same guild. If 3 Guildies report someone as being hacked right now, instantly log that person off, block the account and schedule that account and reports for processing on next business day. If the report turns out to be a prank, suspend the reporters for a whole month. If they do it again, ban their accounts for good. If it was a real hack in progress, then Blizzard will have less work to do as less items will have been stolen.

All of these can be done with little work and DON’T require 24/7 support. They would stop 99% of the cases. It’s better than 0% and can be done very INEXPENSIVELY…

]]> By: Gun Lovin’ Dwarf Chick » Call A Tow Truck… http://kestrelsaerie.com/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/comment-page-1/#comment-464 Gun Lovin’ Dwarf Chick » Call A Tow Truck… Wed, 26 Dec 2007 23:03:31 +0000 http://kestrelsaerie.us/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/#comment-464 [...] want 24/7 customer service. We want someone who will talk to us in the middle of the night when our account is hacked. We want [...] [...] want 24/7 customer service. We want someone who will talk to us in the middle of the night when our account is hacked. We want [...]

]]> By: Karthis http://kestrelsaerie.com/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/comment-page-1/#comment-459 Karthis Tue, 25 Dec 2007 03:48:33 +0000 http://kestrelsaerie.us/2007/12/blizzard-the-grinch/#comment-459 Bah. The officer obviously has a keylogger, and was probably too spaced out (or addicted) to properly clean his computer before relogging with his restored account. Seriously - I have little pity if it happens a second time like this. People - especially officers - ought to learn to freaking protect themselves! Burned once - fine, honest mistake - burned twice - stop being a dolt. Bah. The officer obviously has a keylogger, and was probably too spaced out (or addicted) to properly clean his computer before relogging with his restored account. Seriously – I have little pity if it happens a second time like this. People – especially officers – ought to learn to freaking protect themselves! Burned once – fine, honest mistake – burned twice – stop being a dolt.

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