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swissarmy68

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Question about password stealing...

I tend to check out the devs posting on the main site and there was a thread about password stealing. Apparently people are getting PM'ed and being asked for their password for a school project.

I guess I don't understand why or how they could convince someone to give up their password.

Does anyone have any insight on this?

Edit: also wanted to give a heads up to everyone that this is going on.

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

05/31/06 13:28

govtmorgue

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RE: Question about password stealing...

A lot of times when you password steal and get someone unwise enough to hand over the password, the stealer can go into that persons account. The account has enough information to steal identity, and your credit card number. On top of this, they can change your password, locking you out of the account, and then can sell it.

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05/31/06 13:43

swissarmy68

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RE: Question about password stealing...

ouch! That is harsh. The devs stated the best thing to do if this happens is to /petition it immediately.

This is to give everyone a heads up. Don't give your password out. I will be telling my kids the same thing (They have toons on my account).

How can they convince people to do it? I would think most people would not fall for it.

05/31/06 14:16

Dyvel

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RE: Question about password stealing...

OK, I gota laugh a little bit.

Swiss, step outside yourself for a little bit. It's very appearent you are a computer and internet wise person. It seams beyond stupid to you that someone would give up their password... You know what you are doing. Now granted, players of these games tend to be much more computer literate and so less likely to be fooled... But... some really only know how to follow the instructions to install that came in the book. Then they learn the play of the game. but they don't know everything or even a part of everything really, about computers, on-line, or anything like that.

My mother has a computer. She is a corporate VP for a major national bank. Smart lady. I've tought her how to do what she needs to do to use her internet, find the sewing stuff she likes on the web, get and respond to her e-mail... But she did still get scammed and handed over her internet password on a faked website and they then used her e-mail to send out somethiing in excess of 10,000 spam e-mails over like a 3 hour period.

When you interact with alot of people who "get it" as well as you do you start to think everybody does. Trust me... Everybody does not. Even otherwise smart people often don't know much about this world of computers that we computer geeks take for granted.

I'm installing a network at my daughters Dr. this week. When I asked about what the current computer system they have was (now remember I'm talking to an well educated, one of the top 3 avian vets in the state...) I got the answer, "It's beige and uses DOS." That answer was totally serious as if that was going to answer the question I had asked.

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05/31/06 15:29

Phase_of_Echoes

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RE: Question about password stealing...

Well I'm not computer smart by any means.

I remember when Rainah and I got our first computer. I had a question so I called her in the room.

Here is the conversation:

Phase: Hey I'm having a problem with the computer.

Rainah: Already!? What's wrong?

Phase: I broke the cup holder that comes out of the tower, and I can't get it to change gears.

Rainah: What the hell are you talking about?

Phase: I found the Shift key, but I think we forgot to buy a clutch.

Needless to say I was no longer allowed to use the computer at home.

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05/31/06 15:49

Dyvel

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RE: Question about password stealing...

Don't start me. In college I TA'd and worked in the lab and I probibly have several hundred stories about new people to the department and some of the weird things they either did or expected of the computers.

05/31/06 16:02

blacktomcat

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RE: Question about password stealing...

QUOTE

Okay, I've heard this old urban legend before. Suffice it to say, not only do I not buy it from you, I won't even ask to borrow it for a few minutes. :P

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05/31/06 16:35

Phase_of_Echoes

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RE: Question about password stealing...

QUOTE

Okay, I've heard this old urban legend before. Suffice it to say, not only do I not buy it from you, I won't even ask to borrow it for a few minutes. :P

I'm not usually one to come right out and admit guilt but....

I just like to make light of situations.

05/31/06 16:38

Thundarpants

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RE: Question about password stealing...

I work in computer support myself. And if you think the cupholder gag is some sort of urban legend....don't be fooled!

As for the original topic. It's hard to teach the populus common sense from here or anywhere else.

NEVER give out personal information of any kind from someone who solicits it! NEVER NEVER NEVER!

It's an easy rule of thumb that covers a wide range of topics. I myself have purchased a few things online, and bought stuff over the phone using a credit card. I contacted those retail establishments, I initiated the transcation. Even if you get an add for something and decide, ooooo, gotta have it. Don't click a link supplied to you. Go google it and find the front door to the internet establishment.

My game password is known by 2 other people that I personally sit in the room and LAN party with. Good friends, but I'm still paranoid that I gave out one of my passwords. But I'm just a paranoid kinda person.

05/31/06 16:40

blacktomcat

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RE: Question about password stealing...

QUOTE

Both my old roommate and I worked computer labs and had a lot of, ahem, interresting stories. One of his was the best:

He was working in a lab when a dingy girl came walking up to him and said she was just sitting there, working on her paper, when her screen went black. He told her that it was just sleeping and she could wake it up by shaking the desk. She then proceeded to walk back to her computer, shake her desk a little (which moved the mouse around, thus bringing it out of screen-saver mode) and the screen lit up again. She waved and smiled in thanks. But that's not the end. Shortly after, a few of her friends came in and while they were chatting, one of the girls' computers had its screen go black. Expertly, the first girl told them, 'Don't worry, it's just sleeping. Let me show you how to wake it up.'

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05/31/06 16:40

thejeni

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RE: Question about password stealing...

QUOTE

How can they convince people to do it? I would think most people would not fall for it.

There are a lot of people who aren't computer savy who play games. There are some people who don't realize you shouldn't give your info out to ANYONE. If they see something that looks official, they don't really no any better.

These are the same people who fall for the email scams. I get them and laugh about them, but I know there are some people who get them, and think they are real.

But as a rule for anything online, DO NOT GIVE OUT YOUR INFORMATION. The place you are dealing with has your user names and passwords and account numbers. They will NEVER send you anything requesting them.

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05/31/06 16:43

Sapphire_Gypsy

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RE: Question about password stealing...

I worked in the IT department at a local corporation when i was in HS (it was a job some friends of mine could have killed for) But I was basically in charge of answering the phones... I got all the stupid phone calls from the various departments when something would go wrong.

I was the "did you re-boot your machine?" lady for about 3 years... during that time I got to know a lady that worked at a desk near me... one of the smartest people I knew... really knew he stuff when it came to financial information... heck she's part of the reason that when I graduated from HS I was able to buy a new car... and had it paid for not long after... but that's another story.

So one day, she comes over to my cube in kind of a panic. Her computer has just shot down and she can't figure out what's wrong. They just rebuilt it and she hadn't even had a chance to open her e-mails when it just died. So since she knew she would have to go through me first she asked if I could take a look at it. I go over... check the machine... make sure all the cables are connected and correctly, I check that the machine is flipped on at the powersupply... all the usual stuff... then I notice her power strip. She had kicked the button on the power strip turning off everything on her machine.

One of the smartest people I knew at the time...... didn't think to check the power strip.

Yes, people saddly are that dumb sometimes. They beleive that giving someone information like that can't be all bad, after all what can they do with it. I change my passwords every 6 months... and stupidly I tend to use the same password for everything... except the important stuff, like financial info and things like that.

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05/31/06 17:20

twiztid guardian

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RE: Question about password stealing...

My step-dad works for a major electronics & computer retail company.. and being relatively knowledgeable about pc operations.. he tends to side with over-paranoia. he changes all our passwords every 90 days ( he has to at work that often anyway, so why not ), he uses different ones for everything ( annoying yes, but safe ), and just in case he does forget one, he says he has just one spreadsheet on a flashdrive to store the current ones.
As has been said, NEVER give out your information, on-line, over the phone, in-person or under any condition. Also not a good idea to write down or store on a piece of paper anywhere that very same information. You never know when a friend of a child could see it or someone you thought was your friend..

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05/31/06 18:12

Madclergy

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RE: Question about password stealing...

QUOTE

How can they convince people to do it? I would think most people would not fall for it.

Not to get off topic here but I get a few (spam emails) that i can't help but laugh at like...

Subject:
Donald Trump wants to give you money
Sender:
132ko93123

Subject:
Ease Menopause symptoms
Sender:
(Insert Random Person from My Friends List)

Pinnacle (My server of love)

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05/31/06 20:40

Delphon

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Joined: 08/02/2005
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RE: Question about password stealing...My thoughts

QUOTE

How can they convince people to do it? I would think most people would not fall for it.

I have actually been hit up for this before.(but didnt fall for it).. A seemingly nice person offering to power level heroes for a low low price in a short period of time...all they need is your account number and password and like $10 through paypal...they'll do the rest.. HA

Now look what you have really done, through PlayNC you have given them access to your name, address, (most of your credit card number), AND the ability to lock you out of this account while they sell it, Also, you were fool enough to let them have your paypal account name and if you are like so many people the password if it happens to be the same clever creation you used for your PlayNC account.

In a few hours someone on Ebay will have your account they bought and IF your Paypal account drafts from your bank account they most likely drained that as well....

From working in this industry for 10 years or more (not any more) I would advise, at a minimum; have a disaster recovery plan for this sort of thing.

Keep a list of all the account address, names, etc and the 800 numbers where you can call someone (not always easy to find) if you should wish to cancel or put a hold on something. Make this effort up front, not while your money is being spent. Keep it in a safe place but where you can get it quickly. Do not keep passwords with the list and use a different password for every account.

You will quickly find that emailing any of these companies and telling them your plight will most likely only cause them to email the person who stole your information to try and confirm your identity, as they don’t know who is the real person.....by phone knowing who you called you can verify your identity in several ways.

Del

Addendum - applicable contacts for CoH

PlayNC BILLING AND TECHNICAL TELEPHONE SUPPORT
We offer telephone support for billing and technical support issues. You may contact a member of our Billing or Technical Support Teams by calling the number below. We do not offer general game support via telephone and as such those calls will be directed to contact us using one of the other methods listed in this document.

1-512-225-6359
Mon-Sat
1pm to 9pm Central

PayPal-Ebay Customer Service Agents are available to help you during the following times:

4:00 AM PDT to 10:00 PM PDT Monday through Friday
6:00 AM PDT to 8:00 PM PDT on Saturday and Sunday

Call us at: 1-402-935-2050 (a U.S. telephone number)

***THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED***

06/01/06 08:07

Delphon

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RE: Question about password stealing...

I revised the post above to include the phone numbers for the game related sites.

Del

06/01/06 12:29

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