Beware of Suddenly Missing FC Members...

[Dree-Elle]

Character hijacking is still a thing.

A few days ago, our FC's resident tank/healer, who'd been in since Beta, with the FC since its inception, and is currently on hiatus awaiting EA, logged on, quit the FC, and disappeared. He was later found (using the Lodestone), renamed, on another server, in an FC with three clones of the same character and two more who were probably stolen (the clones all low-level- including the FC leader, and the others were max level/gear, with matching names).

I placed a "missing character" report with Support, but now dread telling him when he logs on that his character's gone, probably for good. Whether he'll fight it remains to be seen. It's happened to someone in our FC before, and it took her months to get her character back.

So consider this a reminder to use common sense. Change passwords regularly. Don't share passwords with ANYONE. EVER. Use a security token if you can. And keep your security question up-to-date.

Stay vigilant. Stay safe.

[Kyomagi]

yikes, thats why i never ever play without a Security Token

[Kettle]

tell them to get more accuracy. oh

[Saccharin]

So consider this a reminder to use common sense. Change passwords regularly. Don't share passwords with ANYONE. EVER. Use a security token if you can. And keep your security question up-to-date.

Stay vigilant. Stay safe.

If it's a logger no password will stop them. maybe they used the same password for a fan site etc... A token will however stop that but you have bigger issues if someone can access your account.

[Catwho]

It's possible to get hacked using a token (happened once in FFXI) using a very sophisticated injection virus that hooks into your launcher, steals your username and one time password the second you enter it but without sending the information to SE, and then crashing your client permanently. Any good virus detection program will detect such a virus the second you launch the client - BUT a sketchy illegal third party program also has to do the same thing. The XI account hacks were believed to be the result of an infection after visiting a bot site, then later on unfortunately the legit website Vana'diel Atlas. Moral of the story: use the token, use good antivirus software (even Microsoft's free one is better than nothing), and don't trust third party illegal things.

[Gilraen]

You'd think this'd all be common sense. There was a recent thread that, I kid you not, had the originator complaining about having to change their password whenever they played from different networks (you know, Square's attempt at helping keep player accounts secure) only to complain about how much of a 'hassle' a token would be. I don't know about some people...

[MrsFluffyButt]

ILLUMINATI NOT CONFIRMED

[Dree-Elle]

tell them to get more accuracy. oh

I laughed way harder than I should have. Thanks for the levity while I ponder what to do next.

[Kyomagi]

however, you can reset the password by resetting the token. Say you enter the token and it crashes, you just hit the back button the token (cell phone) or the red button the SE provided token to reset the pass

[ScarletDawn]

They must of used the same password for their email, because when my IP changes it locks me out of log in until i reset my password, so that then leads me to think he has a logger or virus on his system.