Curse

prism2525 · Jul 08, 2008, 04:50 AM // 04:50

Only to my other personalities

Seriously though, I've never given it out nor will I ever do so.

super strokey · Jul 08, 2008, 04:52 AM // 04:52

My bro, and then he bought it shortly afterward.

Spazzer · Jul 08, 2008, 04:54 AM // 04:54

My bestest internet buddy holds a passcode to my account. When I ship out to basic, I want to know my account will still have its perfect hat record.

Ditto · Jul 08, 2008, 05:10 AM // 05:10

Yep, my boyfriend can access my GW account just like I can access his (and steal his dye..bwaahahaaaahaa....).

Other than that though, I can't think of anybody else I would ever let into my account.

the_jos · Jul 08, 2008, 10:44 AM // 10:44

I have not shared my login details with anyone yet.
But in case of a guild emergency I have two RL friends who also play the game who I would give the details without any doubt and one, maybe two guildies to whom I would also give them. Just in the unfortunate event that something happens while I would not be able to get online fast enough to solve things myself.

cataphract · Jul 08, 2008, 01:28 PM // 13:28

I gave my account password to a friend. Asked him if he could pick me up a Dragon Mask because I was away that weekend. My ex-girlfriend had access to my GW account, as I had access to hers. Also, I had access to a friend's account - I kept excess gold and materials in her storage because she didn't play much.

Painbringer · Jul 08, 2008, 05:47 PM // 17:47

Only to the (*)#*_ * MALWARE that i can not seem to get rid of D&*) IT

the Puppeteer · Jul 08, 2008, 05:54 PM // 17:54

poll.........?

Fril Estelin · Jul 08, 2008, 07:09 PM // 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Puppeteer

poll.........?

Can't do, as I'm not a GWG subscriber.

I'd like to create a poll now that I've got a better idea of what should be in it, so if one of the GWG subscribers feel generous (though I don't want to break GWG rules ...). And we'll then be able to discuss the issue at heart.

Nemo the Capitalist · Jul 08, 2008, 07:20 PM // 19:20

NEVER.......4 k hrs invested no way....

although i have left AFK games on in the university...lcukiyl no one stole account

Zomgyogi · Jul 08, 2008, 08:48 PM // 20:48

I have my friends account but i didn't give him mine :P

Fril Estelin · Jul 09, 2008, 10:12 AM // 10:12

I guess I won't be getting to many answers to the following question:

did you ever give access to someone so that they can power-level your characters? (i.e., play the game for you so that you don't have to do what you consider boring stuff, for example get to level 20 with all your heroes at level 20, or achieve 1 million+ gold)

Nick Of Troy · Jul 09, 2008, 11:40 AM // 11:40

Ive never given out my account details to anyone, though i do have a friend (who I got into Guild Wars in the first place) whose details i have so i could get him a mask in last weekends Festival

Big_Iron · Jul 09, 2008, 01:06 PM // 13:06

Never have, never will...under any circumstances.

Fril Estelin · Jul 14, 2008, 12:13 PM // 12:13

Well, it seems that there won't be a poll on this topic, or any other discussion. So I'm going to publish the final "rough numbers" here and post a short discussion/links.

Number of answers: 97

The who?
1) Absolutely not: 36 (37.1%)
2) No but I considered it: 7 (7.2%)
3) I refused access given by to others to their account: 2 (2%)
4) To close friends that I trust: 34 (35%)
5) To people I know in person: 12 (12.3%)
6) To family members: 23 (23.7%)
7) To someone I met in game: 4 (4.1%)
8) I also have access to other people's account: 18 (18.5%)

Average number of other people that can access acount:
107/97 = 1.1

Motivations (the why?):
1) To check something for me: 2 (2%)
2) Shared account: 2 (2%)
3) To increase one of my title or play the game for me: 9 (9.3%)
4) For special events (e.g. festivals): 7 (7.2%)
5) To try the game in order to decide if I should buy it: 6 (6.2%)
6) For storage: 2 (2%)
7) Just because I trust them (or they trust me): 14 (14.4%)
8) Someone gave me their account: 1 (1%)
9) Only for a particular event or situation: 13 (13.4%)
10) For playing the game with different maxed characters: 1 (1%)
11) In order to be able to play while I was banned[I]: 1(1%)[/U]

Account sharing: a deliberate risk that should be avoided

What's important to understand with account sharing is that you basically give others your online identity (or they give you theirs). They entirely become you (or you become them), except that they are not. It's exactly like giving your credit card with its pin to someone else. They may not play as safely as you do, or may not know who to trust or not trust in your guild, alliance or friendlist for particular things. This creates a gap that can be exploited by malicious people to discover information about you, and ultimately your account login and password information.

Similarly, people giving you access to their account creates a responsibility on you (that you may or may not not want to assume) that can lead to real problems. It's a matter of trust, and do as you would like others to do for you.

While this is a risk that you can take when you know the person "fully well", it should not remove the need to check that they know what they're doing with the information you provided. Do they know about GW scams? Is the computer they're using secure? Will they themselve share your account information with anyone else? Of course, there's nothing fundalentally wrong with trusting your family members if you genuinely think you know them well, or on the contrary not sharing any personal information with anyone because of the potential risk.

Overall, it's your decision, but do not take it lightly. You can always share your account for a limited time, then change the password. Or share one account but not others if you have several accounts. A policy of never sharing is always a good policy (1/3 of people who answered in this thread), as the Internet generally requires people to be cautious (but not paranoid) in all circumstances. But depending on your life/play-style, this can have some consequences.

The final thought I want to convey with this thread is this: just imagine that people who play the game are connected via multilple links (because they're in the same guild, alliance, friendlist, they know each other outside of the game or in real life, they' know each other on GW Guru, etc.); information go through these links all the time, but imagine the flow of your personal information (real name, login, password, email address) in this network; you may give access to your account to someone who will talk while doing some GW activity, thus propagating information along the link without realising, and this information may be used to get more information about you; may be several pieces of information will end up with a malicious person who will then try to get access to your account, possibly by hacking your computer if he managed to get your IP address (say, if someone installed a pirated software? this is a rare case, but yet it happens).

This is NOT a call for paranoia, for refusing to disclose information to anyone, not even your family and friends, or for having more distrust of GW players in general. But the risk is very real, though you may not see it. Just act according to the information you know, and always ask in order to know more. Play it safe by limiting as much as possible the number of people you give access to your account to (it's never a good idea to share with several people at the same time).

Kusandaa · Jul 14, 2008, 12:52 PM // 12:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

I guess I won't be getting to many answers to the following question:

did you ever give access to someone so that they can power-level your characters? (i.e., play the game for you so that you don't have to do what you consider boring stuff, for example get to level 20 with all your heroes at level 20, or achieve 1 million+ gold)

Here's an answer

No, never gave it for that.

Yet.

However, I considered the option of giving the info to a friend so he could do Polymock for me (I HATE POLYMOCK, seriously...). But it feels awkward getting something achieved for me so I haven't bothered with asking him.

I've had someone's account to get an event hat, forgot the info though...

Kyomi Tachibana · Jul 14, 2008, 01:05 PM // 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

I guess I won't be getting to many answers to the following question:

did you ever give access to someone so that they can power-level your characters? (i.e., play the game for you so that you don't have to do what you consider boring stuff, for example get to level 20 with all your heroes at level 20, or achieve 1 million+ gold)

Nope. Not yet at least.

I'm dreading having to do the Remains of Salahajha or whatever for my carto title, and I know a very good friend of mine that's excellent at it, I may ask him to do it for me when he as the time, again, just maybe, if I find I haven't gained any skill after a few tries.

faf · Jul 14, 2008, 01:11 PM // 13:11

I never did, my friend yes though. He found his account with all characters deleted and his storage emptied next day.

MrSlayer · Jul 14, 2008, 01:44 PM // 13:44

Yes. 2 of my guildies and close friends. I did Polymock for a couple of people, and to show they could trust me, they went on my account and made ugly characters. We then did a run of some instance with each other's whacky interfaces and characters. Was fun

Inspired my friend to make a Monk.

Edit: Kusandaa: I'll still do it for yuo sometime if you want ;D

Don Doggy · Jul 14, 2008, 02:07 PM // 14:07

I have never given my account information to others and I don't intend to.