Potions Must Be Discarded Before Boarding The Zeppelin. Thank You For Flying Orgrimmar Airlines
So They Came Into The Outway
It Was Sunday - What A Black Day
From (This is) CNN. You just know that by "organized crime," they really mean "terrorists:"
Popular massively multiplayer online games, such as "World of Warcraft," have created a market for valuable game identities loaded with gold or other hard-earned forms of in-game currency that can be used to buy new weapons, magic spells or other trappings to advance within the game.
Using malware or software designed to infiltrate a computer system, hackers steal account information for users of MMO games and then sell off virtual gold, weapons and other items for real money.
"Those of you who are working on massively multiplayer online games, organized crime is already looking at you," said Dave Weinstein, a Microsoft security development engineer at the company's Gamefest video game development conference.
How to tell if your guildmate's account has been stolen by an Al Qaeda operative:
- Declines rez, holding out for 72 virgins ftw.
- Suicidally runs into massive agro, screaming like an idiot. (Leeroy Jenkins excluded)
- Is caught trying to ignite "Blazing Boots of Fennin Ro" on crowded boat.
- Keeps screaming "DEATH TO AMERICA" but does not LOL afterwards.
- You apologize for accidentally ks'ing his mob, he beheads you.
- Will not STFU about inaccuracies in Desert Of Flames.
- Requires your female toon to stay 10 paces back, and fully covered. Also not allowed to drive or vote.
- Is even more batshit insane than the average MMO player.
Just a little service from me to you. HtH.
August 24th, 2006 at 11:22 am
Durka Durka, Leeroy Jihad.
August 24th, 2006 at 1:43 pm
Oh, the complete and total irony of a MICROSOFT security engineer commenting on the security of someone else’s computer system.
(BTW, first time I have commented here, but I have been reading for a few months now. You and I share a mutual blog-friend in Abalieno.)
August 24th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Welcome Tom!
Abalieno is good stuff. I don’t know him personally, but I picture him wired to his computer with a caffeine IV drip. Maybe Abalieno is lurking and can verify… =P
And yeah, Microsoft security engineer. Sorta like “mature playerbase” or “Sony Online Entertainment.”
August 24th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
Pffft. Sony has been kicked around so much that they’ve nearly become underdogs. The flop of the PS3 should finish it.
In five years, everyone will be rooting for them.
Sony, by the way, is America’s Favorite Brand.
August 24th, 2006 at 3:57 pm
I know, I know, it was a cheap shot and I’m a baaaad person. =P I just couldn’t resist. No cookie for Amber…
I was having an email discussion with a friend last week about EQ2, and I have to admit I kinda started to miss it a little. *sigh*
August 24th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
Its even better, since what he is complaining about has nothing to do with the security of the games in question, its a problem with Microsoft’s shitty OS. Maybe he’s saying game developers should start making their games portable so people can run them on better OSs that don’t have the “malware” problems?
August 25th, 2006 at 1:18 am
It’s ridiculous because it’s so simple to implement a solution at the OS level to stop all this. I don’t understand why they don’t do it. I had to code my own which is a bit of a hotch potch of code but is quite effective.
If you want more information, just email me your name, address and bank details and login information for any MMO you play.