SE losing war versus Bots and RMTs

[mindful]

people are gonna cheat, that's the reality. if you ban all the accounts, odds are most of them are going to return. if they have nothing better to do but buy game copies only to get banned a few days later, then let them. it just supports SE more.

The thing is they are not buying the game most of the time there using hacked accounts, and there getting the copies for free from the torrent sites. So square losing money not including the people see the spams and are one that would pay the subs, Just like wtf and leave the game. Even if they lost there 29$ bucks, most people in NA , if product sucks try get $ back if not, Quit.

[mindful]

So they banned bunch of accounts, but just outside Ulda'h in Central Thanalan, there is like 5-6 bots mining 24/7.
Some are teleporting into mountains, some are running in scripted paths, some are naked - obvious bots.
City states are full of RMT shouts, I did not feel any change after the ban hammer.
Video - http://youtu.be/0oeYAiN5YFo (currently uploading...)
They need to implement some system that bans them automatically, or this will never end.

They can end all hacks if they put in the cell phone system, When someone logs into your character on different isp , you get a text message with a code that need to be put in before logging in and if they log in can use that code to dc a person that log into your account in a 15 minute window. if want to change any information get a code sent to your cellphone. If got a token then can change your cell phone number. If got a new one and add 5 or more security q's.

[Morthis]

The problem with RMT spam is that these days RMT is typically about stolen accounts, not "gold farmers" or whatever old notions are still left. They obviously need to fix their filters to actually temp mute people who spam like that, but you can never truly get rid of them, because there's always another person who will make some poor decisions with their account info and lose it.

[complexxL9]

The problem with RMT spam is that these days RMT is typically about stolen accounts, not "gold farmers" or whatever old notions are still left. They obviously need to fix their filters to actually temp mute people who spam like that, but you can never truly get rid of them, because there's always another person who will make some poor decisions with their account info and lose it.

That might be true for RMT, but for botting there must be a solution, either make a system to scan for client computer and identify bot processes or sit there and catch them manually, wow has it's mining bots also, but amount of bots in ARR is ridiculous.

[Rillifane]

make a system to scan for client computer and identify bot processes

They had this for lineage 2 and a few other korean MMO's didn't stop the botters from making programs to bypass this so no it won't work, it's just a short term solution that will get bypassed just like any "new" copy protection that got put on old games when they were released, stop people copying them for a short space of time till people found a way around it.

[complexxL9]

They had this for lineage 2 and a few other korean MMO's didn't stop the botters from making programs to bypass this so no it won't work, it's just a short term solution that will get bypassed just like any "new" copy protection that got put on old games when they were released, stop people copying them for a short space of time till people found a way around it.

I don't really care how they do this, but they should do better then now, ask blizzard for advice if you need, because you rarely run into bots there. And in arr just step outside the city and there are armies of bots gathering.

[Rillifane]

I don't really care how they do this, but they should do better then now, ask blizzard for advice if you need, because you rarely run into bots there. And in arr just step outside the city and there are armies of bots gathering.

Rarely run in to bots in WoW? Do you go around with your eyes closed or something? WoW has a bot problem too, you never seen all the "invisible miners" or the ones that go under the world to mine the nodes?

[Morthis]

That might be true for RMT, but for botting there must be a solution, either make a system to scan for client computer and identify bot processes or sit there and catch them manually, wow has it's mining bots also, but amount of bots in ARR is ridiculous.

They probably are fighting against botting, but it's an unwinnable fight, all you can do is mitigate it. If there were some perfect solution that catches all botters without false positives or being an inconvenience to the user base, they would have done it by now.

[Kayo]

Banning alone has never worked. This "special task force" is useless until they do to real preventative measures. SE, most of your customers are incredibly stupid. They make my PC illiterate parents look like software engineers. A million potential idiots not having the security token and/or freely browsing the net with no concern for security measures ... its just impossible to fight directly.

Take a note from Trion (and I believe Blizzard does this as well) have a system that locks account when the users IP changes or shows up at a remote location far from where it was before. Trion called it "Coin Lock" where your account characters would not be able to use a ton of the games features until they verified who they were through email or otherwise. Blizzard, IIRC, just completely locks you and and requires you to call. Its simple as that. Sure ... youll still have idiots who lose even their email accounts but it helps tremendously. Have this lockout occur only with accounts that do not have the security app/token applied to their account. No point in further inconveniencing those who have already taken measures to protect their account.

[Juz10y0]

Rarely run into bots with blizzard? People are hacking their flying mounts in panda land and running in air to mine their way to 90. You just don't see it because of flying mounts and all the nodes not being clustered into one area.


Edit: And dont even get me started on the damn arch bots. Let alone the Auction House bots. Half of my damn guild botted and when they were reported blizzard slapped them on their wrist with a 72 hour ban, and they just went right back to it.

You need to stop acting like the grass is greener on the other side, because it honestly isnt.


Edit 2: You think square doesn't take notice to some random retainer having over 7k+ shards on the market board at one time? They are just not vocal about what they do so gil can't be shuffled, and their measures can't be avoided.