Security Token Battery Life?

Im just curious about how long will this token's battery will last for. Ive seen all from 1 year up to 10 on various forum sites.

But has the been a statement from SE how long it will last for if you use it once every day etc. Would love to know so that I dont one day sit here and cannot log into my account since my token isnt showing me the magic numbers.

They have a very long life but they can die at anytime some can last for years and some can die within a few months. There no real date or time set or how long they could live for it just random to each token.

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Originally Posted by Altera

Im just curious about how long will this token's battery will last for. Ive seen all from 1 year up to 10 on various forum sites.

But has the been a statement from SE how long it will last for if you use it once every day etc. Would love to know so that I dont one day sit here and cannot log into my account since my token isnt showing me the magic numbers.

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I haven't seen any official statement. Been using mine just about daily since they came out for XI. So that about 4 years(?) of sometime multiple uses a day as I had two accounts for XI.

Its the exact same token thats used for WoW (Digipass Go 6). I've had mine since Blizzard started using them, and I havent once heard anyone complain that the battery died in theirs yet. So to answer your question, i'm sure it varies to some degree, but we're still talking years of battery life. The good news is that unlike physically losing it, even if its dead customer support can verify that it's really you and not some scammer trying to social engineer his way into your account with the serial number of the device.

Anyway, it's long enough that it's not worth worrying about until it's been four or five years, then you might want to start thinking about preemptively buying a new one and switching it over to avoid the potential of a future headache.

Thanks for the feedback:) Think i will buy a backup token just in case. But if SE were to make a Mobile token for android/iphones, i would prefer that:)

Can you just swap a new battery into the token instead of having to buy a new one? Just seems rather wasteful to chuck something like that (yes, I'm wondering about how "green" it is).

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Originally Posted by Bahn

Can you just swap a new battery into the token instead of having to buy a new one? Just seems rather wasteful to chuck something like that (yes, I'm wondering about how "green" it is).

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You can't Swap a battery the token work with the Clock.

Let's say you press it at 1PM and give you the code 111111 How would the FFXIV system know that your Token goes with your account? Well simple remember the clock? the FFXIV system would read that at 1PM Code 111111 would happen for Token A. So what happen if you take out the battery? it become useless because the time would not be link with the FFXIV system anymore.

So ya you have to buy a new token but don't worry they said they be release a smart phone version sometime later from 2.0 release.

^ That should also explain why you have 30 seconds to enter a code, it's the tolerance of the system to prevent the token from desyncing. It also doesn't have any screws so I guess once it's dead, you need a new one.

I bought my security token the day they were released for FF11 (april of 2009), and it has worked since then. I still use it today, so it has been 2.5 years on the same token without running out of battery. Nothing has ever gone wrong with it, aside from a week or so ago the protective plastic coating on the screen started to peel off (so i removed it), but that actually made the numbers clearer and easier for me to read xD

i think they should bring out an app for iphones and other phones like blizzard did with there tokens but safer and easyer to keep with u for as long as u need it.

i havent registered my token for fear that it would one day die and i get locked out. how would i even register a new one without a code from the dead one? o_o

They can remove the token if you give them the code at the back of it, so running out of battery is not a problem, while physically losing it, is.

I've been using the same token since they were first released by SE ever back on FFXI. However many years that's been

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Originally Posted by ssppiikkeeyy

i think they should bring out an app for iphones and other phones like blizzard did with there tokens but safer and easyer to keep with u for as long as u need it.

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I understand the appeal of this, this is what I do with my Blizzard account. But if you erase your iPhone or other device without unlinking it too your account it's as bad as loosing your token or phone.

I wouldn't worry about the battery life. It will last a long long time. All these fears are are unjustified about the short battery life.

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Originally Posted by Soukyuu

^ That should also explain why you have 30 seconds to enter a code, it's the tolerance of the system to prevent the token from desyncing. It also doesn't have any screws so I guess once it's dead, you need a new one.

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You never had 30 seconds to enter the code, it could work even 10 minutes after on FF XI at least. (i just tried on XIV forum, worked after 4 minutes). As long as your one time password is not used within that time frame, then you can still type it. The grace period is somewhere between 10 and 15 minutes. Definitely -not- 30 seconds.

30 seconds is what SE lists in their explanation. I know i "saved" 2-3 keys for an emergency in a txt file and they were all labeled as invalid the next day.

I don't think it's necessarily 30 seconds, or 10 minutes. Have you ever pressed the token and then pressed it again immediately after? The code is always unique, as though it follows an algorithm unique to YOUR token and will never use the same code twice.

I am in support of a phone-based app. I am so paranoid of losing my token, and despite being very careful, it has happened to me before. (I found it, but it was still a minor annoyance)... It is especially likely if you choose not to play for a few weeks. I do not believe there is a time limit for a code, even if SE says there is. The 'time limit' that is imposed by Blizzard is on the mobile app... a small bar runs out of time, and then generates a new code if you don't input it in time.

I don't think the code is necessarily generated based on time. Even the best watches sometimes fall out of speed and need to be synced. An isolated battery-operated clock inside a small plastic device isn't going to stay precise for years, and definitely not down to 30 seconds! Even computers, consoles and watches need to be adjusted every now and then. The tokens are far too cheap. I'm 99% positive that it works using an algorithm linked specifically to YOUR key.

It's probably just a list or algorithm that blocks all old codes when you enter a new one.

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Originally Posted by Ryuko

I don't think it's necessarily 30 seconds, or 10 minutes. Have you ever pressed the token and then pressed it again immediately after? The code is always unique, as though it follows an algorithm unique to YOUR token and will never use the same code twice.

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Actually, if you turn it off and immediately on again, you will see the old code. At least on mine.

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Originally Posted by Coldfire

It's probably just a list or algorithm that blocks all old codes when you enter a new one.

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You'd have to save all the old codes then though, which seems unlikely to me

I believe the 'old' codes are saved on the token as well as the server. The server records it as 'used' and the token saves it as 'used' so that it never tries to use the same code again. I don't think it would take a lot of space... Let's assume you log on once a day... that's only 365 codes for one year. I'm sure the token could save thousands of codes with the smallest chip imaginable.

As far as it turning off/on with the same code... I've had it go both ways for me (give me the same code, give me a different code). I believe there is an internal timer giving you a certain amount to record down the code that was just generated, but I don't think it's timed on an external basis. Clocks fall off rhythm all the time. It just seems like a terrible thing to rely on.

The whole idea is... algorithms are hard to break, especially if someone has such a small sample size of codes to go by. So, even if someone could get a hold of a list of your old codes, I doubt they would put enough effort in to crack a person's individual algorithm.

Remember your old NES games? You know how some of them have a save file? That save file only exists because there's a little battery inside constantly powering what little RAM it has so it doesn't lose your data. Most (all?) of my NES games still have their save data after all these years. I don't know how an NES battery power/size compares to the one in the security token, nor do I know whether they sap the same amount of energy constantly. Assuming that they are similar in both those regards, your security token probably has a good 20+ years of life.

Answers to other misc. stuff that's been brought up:

1) The codes are generated using an algorithm, the current time, and the long number on the back of the token.

2) The 30 seconds SE mentioned was in reference to the fact that the token will generate a new code approximately every 30 seconds. Continually press the button on it, you'll get the same number most of the time, but every 30 seconds or so, it'll be a new one.

3) The reason why your codes are valid for an extended period of time is because, like the person above stated, clocks fall out of rhythm after a while, and the tokens have no way of knowing. It's far safer to let your codes last for ~10 minutes than it is to have an angry mob of people beating down your door because they can't log in for reasons they don't understand.

You know how the security token screen turns off after a few seconds, well I spilt coffee on mine and now it stays on until I press the button again. I prefer it this way so I guess it worked out. I just hope I don't forget to turn it off :) sorry off topic but I felt like sharing and it didn't require its own thread lol.

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Originally Posted by Bahn

Can you just swap a new battery into the token instead of having to buy a new one? Just seems rather wasteful to chuck something like that (yes, I'm wondering about how "green" it is).

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It's not green at all. Please give to RadioShack for disposal with other hazardous batteries (who will then chuck it into the trash can and set it on fire while doing the worship fire dance, naughty bastads!).