Greetings
Until this moment, I thought likely that character hacks where the work of ex girlfriend/boyfriend, sloppy borrowing of passwords or bad practical jokes.
My husband home early from work while playing dewidkat saw my character log on Thursday afternoon. He whispered to the character, who threatened to delete the ID. He was able to raise a GM and drove to work for me to authorize a new pw, log in was completed and d/c the guy. I am grateful to guild members who kept this fellow busy while he held Junbugg hostage. After this event I did as instructed by the GM: new pw to secure, unrelated email, ran virus software, changed pw, contact information and email address and initiated a ticket in game. I am fortunate to have most of the clothes on my back but bags and bank empty. On second login after running 2 additional virus programs, I found that my account was suspended and I was temporilary banned.
I am patiently waiting but have heard no further news (now Sunday). Understanding that this is usually a key logger I share this experience because at baseline I don’t feel that vulnerable. I use a Mac, not IE, I never share pw, (not even Dewi) and have never bought gold or surfed those sites. I do use links on the
TG page and during Christmas was on the blizzard site, but never use links as a rule nor open emails or links or emails.
Risk assessment is a life process and no security will seem enough when it fails and protection vs. functionality loss is a balance in life. For example, my paranoia prompted me to update my security on my laptop which promptly caused my wireless function to no longer work.
On the forum it is clear blizzard feels that security is the user’s responsibility, but certainly the customer has some expectation that blizzard also creates a secure environment. This episode may only coincidentally follow my open ticket last Sunday night, as the trinket I had gotten in Karazan was not in my bags and they were not full I had submitted a ticket, but I am concerned and am reporting that as well.
Freezing accounts are probably in my best interest, but with no response to phone report or ticket for the suspended time, seems part of the victimization as well. I would equate it to a patient coming to the ER with a heart attack and the doctor saying well “heck you should have taken better care of your diabetes. I’ll wait 72 hours before I think about your case” or getting carjacked at the mall and having the police wait 72 hours before interviewing you cause you didn’t park close enough.
Customer service in any business is most likely to be resolving something the customer had some responsibility for.
I am hopeful that I will get my character restored (reactivated but still empty bags now Sunday night 11 PM) as you guys are aware she is the only toon I really play and I am quite attached to her.
I feel fortunate to have the clothes that were equipped so I can immediately play. I have taken some additional steps to prevent keyloggers specifically and I suggest folks think through their security processes.
Good adventure to you and be careful out there in VR
Junebugg
