[Square Enix Account] Notification regarding Login Restriction

Ok. Got this today. with this message;

Quote:

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Dear Valued Square Enix Customer,
Thank you for using the Square Enix Account Management System.
We are writing to inform you that we have temporarily restricted access to your Square Enix Account. This was done for your protection as unusual access to your account was detected on our system. For your protection, we have temporarily closed the account.

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I did what the email suggested and created a new password (annoyed about it since every game I play that requires a password, has its own unique password).

I would like to know what "unusual access" to my account means. I have been not been doing anything I consider unusual. What was so abnormal that required this extreme measure (and I do consider it extreme).

Is it just to try to encourage me to buy an authenticator?, was my account hacked?, seems doubtful, but if it was was it because of a breach on Squares End, since there is no keylogger on my system, and my FFXIV password was a unique string, only used for logging into FFXIV or the Square-Enix Website.

What was so abnormal about my account activity that caused my account to be locked? I want to know. Does square just randomly lock people's accounts on whims? Please Explain? In email, if you do not want to do it on the forums, but I am sure other people would like more detailed reasons than "unusual access" if they had their accounts locked.

Thank you for your time
G

I received this exact same mail this morning. In 10 years of playing MMOs, this has never happened to me, so I guess this must be either a security breach in their databases or just a prevention message randomly sent to people...

I'm going to log in-game and check if anything suspicious has been done on my character '-'

Edit : Everything seems to be in order... I guess nobody accessed my account. Strange, but reassuring !

I got the same Message when I tried to log from a different PC/ labtop or use the PS3 platform. Did you try to do something likethat?

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Originally Posted by Liger

I got the same Message when I tried to log from a different PC/ labtop or use the PS3 platform. Did you try to do something likethat?

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Personally, I always logged using the same computer ... :eek:

Yes, I just checked my account. My character seemed to be in the exact same place I parked her, with no changes to inventory. And I always play on the same computer (which no-one has access to)

The only other thing i can think off is maybe they just wanted people to change their passwords (similiar how GW2 did a few months after launch because of a breach) but SE did not want to actually be honest with their customers. I enjoy the game, but this has really annoyed me, since it is so vague and seems to be suggesting I was doing something wrong.

It's also possible that someone tried a bruteforce login to your account.

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Originally Posted by amaginon

I would like to know what "unusual access" to my account means.

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The most common is logging in from an IP address which the system hasn't seen you log in from before. I don't know when SE's systems decide to flag it, I've had it once over a year ago when I changed ISPs, however just after launch I was using a VPN to get round ISP throttling and I didn't get hit.

I know SE can lock down accounts if your IP doesn't match a previous login and you don't have a security token (but not always for some reason), but are you sure this email is genuine? It just screams "phishing email" from the wording used:

For example, "Dear Valued Square Enix Customer" - bit generic? SE would have your name/should be using it.

Does the link in the email go direct to one of their official domains or via some unknown site first?

Just with all the people having their accounts broken into, things like this would be the obvious way of doing it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by worldofneil

I know SE can lock down accounts if your IP doesn't match a previous login and you don't have a security token (but not always for some reason), but are you sure this email is genuine? It just screams "phishing email" from the wording used:

For example, "Dear Valued Square Enix Customer" - bit generic? SE would have your name/should be using it.

Does the link in the email go direct to one of their official domains or via some unknown site first?

Just with all the people having their accounts broken into, things like this would be the obvious way of doing it.

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I agree, sounds like you were phished, i recommend changing your PW ASAP

Hello, Thanks for your reply.
It is definitely not a phishing email, since i actually became aware of it, by not being able to log into the game, then i checked my email and found the email from Square. ( I then tried to log onto the forums to ask about it, but was unable to logon here either. The links checked out so I followed it's direction to change my password, and was finally able to logon to game and website.

Source Email = autoinfo_eu@account.square-enix.com

It maybe an IP address issue, but if it is, it is something no other MMO has ever considered an issue before, but if this is why, why not just be upfront about it rather than using obtuse language like "unusual access"

you account got locked because you either:
* logged in to your account from a different IP address and have no security/software token linked to your account
OR
*Logged into your account from a different device or PC and have no security/software token linked to your account

i do not care what anyone thinks, having just a password on your SE account is not enough security, RMT hackers can always find away to get into your account if they really want it. i would suggest getting either the software token or the physical security token. all it takes is for either your account to get hacked or your email and you will loose everything, then get frustrated, have to work getting everything again, etc.

if your email account gets compromised by some hacker then all your account information relating to games etc will be sold to RMT's etc. so just a password is not enough

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KraggyKor

The most common is logging in from an IP address which the system hasn't seen you log in from before. I don't know when SE's systems decide to flag it, I've had it once over a year ago when I changed ISPs, however just after launch I was using a VPN to get round ISP throttling and I didn't get hit.

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Honestly I think unknown IP screening is at the root of a decent amount of suspensions and log on restrictions. I just received a similar email/message today from the Launcher. This comes after having totally reformatting my computer this weekend to ensure NO viruses/malware were present, and all I've done was reformat/install windows/update windows+drivers/ install and register FFxiv/ Play FFxiv.

While not impossible, I find it hard to belive that my computer had shadey interwebz stds.

I don't mind SE restricting my account based on unknown IP's but at least be a little more clear on why the account is restricted (GW2 was very transparent on why your log-in was restricted)

It has to be the system reacting to logging in from a different IP. The first time this happened to me a week ago I had brought my laptop to a family member's home and got the message. Now, just recently I got the message trying to log in from a coffee shop. I checked the time that the e-mail was sent to me about the change and it was the exact time I tried to log in. Now that I know the reason for the change I am much more relieved someone isnt constantly trying to hack my account.