Fed up with account "security"

Ah. Well I know my account is linked to an NCsoft account, but I don't remember ever changing it through that. In any case....that makes this a b**** about NCSoft security, not ANet's, right?

Kind sir, this statement is false.

That user is right, once linked to NCMA you cannot change the password via Guild Wars anymore, you have to go to the NC Soft website. That's happen on every account I linked, I really wish the e-mail was still changeable via the NC Soft website. I stopped linking accounts because it's simply not worth it, there's nothing I need to buy I can't already get in game or somewhere else from the Guild Wars store.

Actually, I just changed mine via gw to check, and it worked. So either you two are spreading misinformation, or the effects of licking accounts isn't consistent.

Very interesting. Perhaps a-net changed things on their end. Or perhaps it's inconsistent. I know for certain that it was, by design, not previously possible for anyone.

No. Learn something about account and internet security.

how did you guess my password?!?!

Bruteforcing - Unlikely unless your using a password like puppy1234

Keylogger - Plausible, you can get one just from pictures and websites. A good anti-virus and firewall will protect you.

Ignorance - The most likely. This is giving your account info out to anyone(including family members). Also buying from gold sellers and buying used accounts.

Security Issues - Plausible. In the past when someone logged into a NCMA they somehow got logged on to someone else's and from there a glitch was found to steal account info. There are also many other rumors about cracks in NCsofts security. We can only hope they are not as stupid as Sony(derp).

While I do think 13 characters is enough, I do agree that they should allow symbols in the passwords. But there's really no need to create a whole rant topic about it.

This is the truth.

The reason accounts get hacked is because they use the same password on GW as they do on Guru, QQ or whatever other GW forum. Or that they have a password like "password1" or some equivalent. Or they give it out in local chat when some troll goes "Check it out, GW censors your password when you type it, mine's *******!!!" I've seen it happen more times than you'd think.

All in all, no one ever got their account hacked because they only had alphabet and numeric characters and didn't have a symbol. People get their account hacked out of stupidity more often than not. Hate to break it to you. Letting people put a # or & in their password won't change the number of accounts that get hacked on a daily basis.

LOL ,We'll To be honest Guildwars only warns that Anet would never ask for your password, it doesn't warn you about not typing it in chat so you can't blame people for getting hacked.

This is why i like login delay or lock after X times attemps , like on guru.
Is that hard to implement to game?

just make your pass max lenght and change it a lot

i change mine every 2 weeks, 5 years old account, never hacked, at least i never found anything missing

Log-in delay is implemented in Guild Wars. If you keep putting in the wrong password it will keep taking longer and longer to be able to try again.

This whole thread is based on false premises anyway. To everyone who claims you can only change your password through your NCsoft master account after it is linked: Wrong

Simply LOG IN to your account the normal way, THEN, on the character screen, choose 'edit account', and you can change your password right there. AND you are allowed to use symbols!

As has been pointed out this used to NOT be possible, which is one the reasons people didn't like/want to link their account.

But as has also been pointed out this is no longer the case, no need to post just to tell people they are wrong,you used to NOT be able to simple as that.

The main issue is between your keyboard and your chair (you!). Yes anet could do a better job at protecting accounts, but 99.9% off all hacked accounts have a source outside of anet's control namely at the user. Don't share your account with anyone, don't keep a record of your password on your computer (if you must, write it down and keep it in a secure place), don't use your gw password on other websites specially websites that are gw related like the guru, don't use a password that is too easy to guess.

Some idea's to keep your password safe:
What is your favourite song? for example, when it is Where the streets have no name, make a password Wtshnn87 (first letters from every word and 87 for the year it is published). you can also use a book title, or any line of text that is long enough. It will be easy for you to remember, but hard to guess.

..making random passwords is easy...simple hit the keyboard with a glove...then add a few *(&^% in between the letters, capitalize one and viola! random password...like this:

ru4;-w9bjq20...now add the *&^...for: r*u4;-&wbJq20 ....nice and random....
not hard at all...though I do like using the other characters and as the OP says, wishes that the master account would indeed allow them (I had fun when they changed over to the new system what, 4 years ago and my old password had symbols--and was 16 characters long--yepo had fun getting a new password for that one )

any time they improve the security, even by just allowing symbols, its a good thing and I believe the OP was just expressing his wishes that they would indeed add this to theirs.

It doesn't matter how hard your password is, I had a hard one and they still got in and changed it.
People will always say: Oh you must have shared your account, had an easy password or had a keylogger...
Things lie deeper than that i'm afraid.

There simply must be something that makes some people targets and others not.
I don't ever remember anyone saying they got hacked after x years and their only character and 500 gold got stolen.

Its usually their 20 suits of obsidian armour 10 stacks of ectos etc.
Beginning to think either people find their targets in chat or on forums etc.
A hacker really needs to find likely targets to attack.

So if you just bragged about your fabulous wealth online emailed someone you met in the game and told them your giving up playing for some time, expect the removal men to move into your account soon.

Because someone out there knows your email address character name and probably a few other things like what country you are in and how long you have been playing and how many of the games you own.
Always wondered why so many stand around trash talking for hours.