Introducing the WoWInterface Authenticator!

[Cairenn]

[Edit] April Fools! Yes, this was our April Fools joke for 2011. A number of you saw right through it really quick, thanks for understanding why we deleted your posts so that it wouldn't give away the joke. For the rest, gotcha!

In all seriousness, though, please don't take our joke as mocking the security concerns these days. Unfortunately a lot of what I posted about malicious programmers etc. is, in fact, a problem. Also, your safety using, and enjoyment of, our site really is our first concern. That said, we aren't adding an authenticator to the site at this time.

Please browse and download from the internet safely!

=========================================

As you know, we pride ourselves first and foremost on providing a safe and enjoyable experience for our users, both in downloading files and in participating in our community via our forums and irc channels. In an effort to further enhance this safe environment, we are happy to introduce the WoWInterface Authenticator!

It is an unfortunate reality these days that malicious programmers run amok, keylogging people, stealing identities, infecting computers with viruses and trojans. While we have an almost completely impeccable reputation (we’ve only ever been compromised once in our 9+ years of running our sites), we are constantly working to increase the security of our sites, implementing new layers to our protocols. Taking a page from Blizzard’s book, and now Trion as well, we are adding an authenticator to our site’s repertoire as well.

For the ability to post in any threads or comments, upload or download files, or to use our SVN repositories, Git repositories or Portal system, you will have to log in and authenticate. You will still be able to browse our site without an authenticator, but in order to use any of our services beyond just browsing, you will need to have one attached to your account and use it prior to doing anything more than browsing.

For authors, this helps guarantee that even in the extremely unlikely event that we are ever compromised again, you can still be assured that the only one that is accessing your uploads/repositories/portal system is you. This helps protect you from accusations of releasing malicious files.

For all users, this is yet again another level of security that helps you be assured in the knowledge that anything you download from our site has been provided by a reputable author. As well, this will help immensely in guaranteeing that the posts you read, PMs you receive, etc. are by people who are invested in the community. This should cut down drastically on the number of spammers or malicious coders who try to post messages or send PMs that appear authentic but are actually harmful.

This new protocol will go into effect on 11 April 2011, which will allow people the time to order their authenticators and for their shipments to be received. We also, however, don’t want to make it so that people feel that they can’t use our site any more due to the cost of the authenticators. As such, we’ve made a deal with our suppliers that will allow us to sell them to you for the extremely reasonable price of $4.99 USD.


Activities on WoWInterface that will require sign in and use of the Authenticator:

• Posting in any threads or comments;
• Using our Private Messaging system or our Email system;
• Downloading any files;
• Authors uploading any files;
• Submitting to our SVN or Git repositories;
• Submitting to our Portal System.

Activities on WoWInterface that will not require sign in and use of the Authenticator:

• Reading threads and comments;
• Browsing addons.

Please note:

• This protocol will go into effect on 11 April 2011;
• Authenticators will cost $4.99 USD
• Domestic orders will ship within 1 to 2 business days from receipt of order;
• International orders will ship within 1 week from receipt of order;
• Please go to our store to place your order;
• No private information (payment options, shipping address) will be required until your final checkout.

How this will work:

• When you first receive your authenticator, you will need to log into your account on the site.;
• Below your username on the right end of the menu bar, you will see a “User Control Panel” option;
• After clicking that, you will see a menu down the left hand side of the page. Choose “Edit Profile”;
• Under that , you will see a spot where you can enter the Serial Number of your Authenticator to tie it to your account. This serial number can be found on the back of your authenticator;
• Enter the serial number and press “Save changes” at the bottom of that page;
• The next time you log into the site, you will see a spot for you to enter the numeric code at the same time as your username and password;
• Press the button on the front of the authenticator to get the random numeric code to enter for your current session;
• You will only have to log in once per session;
• A session will last 4 hours, or any time you’ve navigated away from the site and come back.

We’re really excited about this further layer of security for our site and we hope you will see the benefits in it as well. Go here to order yours now!

[Psychoholic]

So you have to pay 5 dollars in order to post addons and such?
(just to make sure i get this right)

But I think it's worth it. Seeing how its a big step towards security

EDIT: my first time to be FIRST!!

and i got fooled ...

[Nibelheim]

Ouch. Seems a little heavy-handed, and no doubt it'll reduce a fair amount of WoW-I posters/authors. However, if the extra security benefit is seen as worth it, then I guess that's the way it is

Is there going to be an application for smart-phones?

[Nobgul]

Ok so it's 2 am ish my computer starts beeping like crazy my rss client is feeding new news from the only one I have WOWI front page news. Anyway I look and WTF guys way to let your staff know about something this big!

So now I have a WoW Authenticator, Rift Authenticator, Final Fantasy Authenticator, Banking Authenticator and now Wowinterface. I will need a separate keyring just for all of them.

yea ok GG I am going back to bed way to tired to deal with this now. I sure hope I get one for free, even know I am just the uninformed staff.

[Nibelheim]

Originally Posted by Nobgul So now I have a WoW Authenticator, Rift Authenticator, Final Fantasy Authenticator, Banking Authenticator and now Wowinterface. I will need a separate keyring just for all of them.

You need an authenticator for your authenticators, so you can authenticate that your authenticators are authentic.

Edit:

"Due to high demand we are now out of stock, we expect more April 21st."
"This protocol will go into effect on 11 April 2011."

Looks like there will be a Posting Gap

[unlimit]

I can't wait!

I wish all of my favorite sites had autheticators.

Really happy I ordered mine before they went OOS.

[Dolby]

Yes $5 and it lasts for a year. Small price to pay for security in my opinion.

We are working on an iphone and android app, should be out in a few weeks.

[Hegarol]

Originally Posted by Dolby Yes $5 and it lasts for a year. Small price to pay for security in my opinion. We are working on an iphone and android app, should be out in a few weeks.

Great to there. I won't order then and wait for the app

[Nibelheim]

What about my user-base? They can't pay $5 for asking me a question. This is bad

[Ynyswarlock]

i think its a grand idea security is of paramount importance in these times, shame its out of stock and takes so long to ship to the UK

[dslater38]

Originally Posted by Dolby Yes $5 and it lasts for a year. Small price to pay for security in my opinion. We are working on an iphone and android app, should be out in a few weeks.

Do you really need to create a custom app for this? I have a generic RSA SecureID application on my iPhone now and my PC. All it needs to make it work with a particular site is some kind of key file from the server.

I don't have an issue with the $4.99 price tag - but I do have an issue with having to carry around yet another piece of hardware just for the sake of accessing a web site - it's just one more small item to get lost right when I need it.

[Coote]

But I can't afford the $4.99 for one. Somebody please buy one for me, and mail it to me.



Please PM TMcManon51 if you are willing to buy one for him, to get his mailing address. TMcManon, you should never put personal information like that right out in the public like that. Danger Will Robinson Danger! ~ Cairenn

[Cladhaire]

I, for one, welcome our new authenticated overlords.

[Nestaron]

Right, i can understand that WoWI wants to improve their security, but doing this at the cost of the users?
First of all, if my law education is right and compared that with the Blizzard Entertainment addon policy (AddOns must be free of charge) your charging a user 4.99 to access a site with addons, so basicly users have to pay for addons that should be free.
I can understand if you could download and browse addons for free, but have to pay for the upload, comments etc, even that will probably take away the donations from some addon developers.

This is just my personal view of this decision about the WoWI authenticator.
Goodbye WoWI community.

[Yasharah]

hmmm...1. april?

[Rigorous]

Indeed, it is .... amusing....that such a drastic measure would just happen to be announced on April 1st, of all days.
What are the chances that is merely a coincidence? Worse than 1 in 365, I'd say.

Methinks Dolby and Cairenn be pullin' a fast one on us all.

If so, then "Bravo!" I say...well played.
If not, well then "Bye! Thanks for the memories!"

[Nobgul]

Methinks Dolby and Cairenn be pullin' a fast one on us all. If so, then "Bravo!" I say...well played. If not, well then "Bye! Thanks for the memories!"

I honestly Don't think it is a joke, I got the shipping receipt in my e-mail this morning from the order that Cairenn or Dolby placed for me. I assume that the rest of the staff have gotten Similar e-mails.

It seems to be a bit to much work to go through for a joke.

[Yasharah]

http://www.wowpedia.org/2011_April_Fools

it has to be a joke!

[Rigorous]

Originally Posted by Nobgul It seems to be a bit to much work to go through for a joke.

Sorry, but the above and your "shipping receipt" are a bit suspect given your "Super Moderator" (read: "In On It Now") title.

I seem to recall that this site has a long history of well played April Fools pranks.

[Lordyfrb]

I actually called April fools back on page 2 just before Haylie posted, but some how my post mysteriously dissapeared!