When I talk to my friends and officemates in the Customer Care department, we do have a lot of hack complaints, calls and tickets.
When I ask about the number cause of hacks or account compromises, the most common cause is NEGLIGIENCE.
That’s right, kids. Sometimes, we take small things for granted, like typing slow or inputting our password in a public place (like a cafe) surrounded by unscrupulous individuals.
I already discussed some common tips to avoid being hacked back in my old blog. But here’s an update from the RF boards. The hackers and account thieves are being more advanced now, using mediums such as Yahoo, YM, and even friendster to get into your MMORPG account. This is true not just here in the Philippines but anywhere too.
The tips after the jump
Regarding Password Security:
1. Time and time again… NEVER, EVER give your username and password to anyone else. Let them call you a prick, let them call you a snob… just DO NOT give your account details! EVER!
2. Remember your passwords all the time, and never ever put it on a piece of paper. Have at least three(3) reserve passwords so you can rotate those passwords once a week or a week of two.
3. Avoid using words from the dictionary, easily guessed codes like your birthday, mother’s name, your name, your girl/boyfriend’s name, etc. Choose passwords not related to you.
4. Make your passwords long and complex. Combine different CaPiTaLizaTIonS, use difrnt spehlleengz and use numb3r5 and symb()|s to make it hard for passwords to be cracked.
5. When in doubt, change your password right away. Change your email password first, then your game account password.
6. Never login your RF username and password in any site except Level-Up Sites and the RF client. Same as your email username and password.
Regarding pilots:
1. Don’t get a pilot. Not matter how close you think you are, pilots are a severe safety risk to your account. (if you can’t play your character, then don’t. or just set it to mine/afk pt )
Regarding Email address security:
1. Seperate your public email address from your account email address. (ie friendster account = hackmeplz@yahoo.com; game account = secretaccount@yahoo.com)
2. When changing passwords, it is advisable to do it at HOME.
Regarding PC security:
1. Scan your PC for viruses, adware, and malware regularly. Not only could you preserve your PC, but your account details too.
2. Before playing on a cafe make sure of the nature of that cafe, the enviroment of the players, as well as the owner or owners personnel.
3. Avoid hopping between internet shops, especially where you’re not familiar with. Who knows? Even nation-wide computer shops (like a certain **topia) have keyloggers installed in them.
4. Check programs that are installed by running the task manager and see all the processes in it. If you see malicious programs etc. (this programs either eat a lot of memory or vice versa ex. 28750KB or 570KB w/o seeing any programs open on your desktop)advise the owner of the shop, if he/she doesnt respond never ever PLAY on that cafe/computer shop!
Regarding ‘Eye’-logging
1. Be careful of those 360 degree-watchful eyes they might snipe your keyboard key strokes when you’re on password input.
2. Learn to type fast, and if your shop has sliding keyboard holders, use them to hide the keyboard and your hands. This helps defeat eye-loggers. Also, learn to type blind, so you can keep your eyes open for any overly-curious strangers.
3. Watch out for recording celphone cams. It’s been done before, video-recording your keystrokes.
4. Be careful when opening websites and attached files. When websites that direct you to a Yahoo! login screen, be warned! Those websites are fake, the site merely gets your Yahoo! username and password. Most of these sites(e.g. www.anghellocsin.tk) are being announced in Map Chat, so be careful with opening such websites.