For now, let's look at a couple of ways people can get your game account info. First and most commonly known in the gaming community is the Keylogger.
What is a Keylogger? According to some...
In its simplest form, a keylogger trojan is malicious, surreptitious software that monitors your keystrokes, logging them to a file and sending them off to remote attackers. Some keyloggers are sold as commercial software - the type a parent might use to record their children's online activities or a suspicious spouse might install to keep tabs on their partner.
Keyloggers may record all keystrokes, or they may be sophisticated enough to monitor for specific activity - like opening a web browser pointing to your online banking site. When the desired behavior is observed, the keylogger goes into record mode, capturing your login username and password.
Keyloggers may record all keystrokes, or they may be sophisticated enough to monitor for specific activity - like opening a web browser pointing to your online banking site. When the desired behavior is observed, the keylogger goes into record mode, capturing your login username and password.
A keylogger builds a log of everything typed into a keyboard to be reviewed by a third party. Keyloggers can be used for legitimate purposes to troubleshoot networks, analyze employee productivity, or to assist law enforcement, for example; or they can be used for illegitimate purposes to surreptitiously spy on people for personal gain. A keylogger can be a hardware device or a software program.
Author: R. Kayne (Edited by O. Wallace)
Source: WiseGeek
url: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-keylogger.htm
Source: WiseGeek
url: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-keylogger.htm
- bad websites
- someone who's already infected sends you an email asking you to click on a link
- by downloading something from the aforementioned infected person
- pop-ups
There are some easy steps you can take to help prevent some of these invasions. Keep in mind, however, that there is no method that is 100% sure. The people who try to get your game account info are generally very smart and always coming up with new ways to deliver their venom. I recommend keeping your computer up to date with the latest antivirus software. There are plenty of good free ones out there such as Microsoft Security Essentials. I suggest that not only you use this program, but I would also recommend running Spybot Search & Destroy or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware as well. Run them regularly - at the very least, once a week. I personally run them daily.
Another method people use to gain access to your game account (and this is done more commonly than people would like to think) is through website registration. There are a few methods that are used:
Mock Websites | People wanting to get your account info will set up a mock site and entice you to sign up hoping that you'll use the same login information that you use in the targeted game. |
Database Hacking | The more advanced people trying to get your game account information will attempt to unlawfully gain access to the database of clan sites/official game forums/related game sites. Again, they're hoping that someone will use the same username and password they use to log into the game. |
The Email Scam |
This is where an email is sent to you with a very convincing story, i.e. "Your game account has been compromised. To restore your account click here." The link will look very close to the one you would see from the game you play. These people will go to great lengths to making their site look exactly like the game's official support site, with one simple problem: the information they ask you to fill out is not going to the official game - it goes to someone who now has all of your account info and is planning to access your account. |
Simple ways to help prevent this:
- DO NOT use the same login info on ANY site that is related to the game you play
- If you are not sure of any file you are about to download or link you're about to go to, common sense dictates that you DON'T do it. Would you stick your hand in a box blindly not knowing if what's inside will hurt you? No you wouldn't! I know some smart asses out there will say "yes", but it's just plain dumb if you do these things to your computer without having the common sense to go that extra step and make sure your information is a little more secure!
A message from DragonShadow