Steam Account ~ Security Info

CatzEyes93 · 09-21-2009, 10:29 PM

There seems to be a lot of threads on the Steam Forums lately discussing the ups and downs of account security. What should it be, what shouldn't it be. Is the user or the program really doing its part in maintaining the security of your steam account, blah blah blah....

This is just a reminder to everyone that security is still owned by the user, not the software/program. For most of the userbase, (95% or higher) simple and basic computer security practices will keep your account safe and out of harms way. This is just a list of some of those basics to keep in mind.

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1) E-Mail Verification USE IT FOR GOODNESS SAKE!
Verifying your email address with Steam improves the security of your Steam Account. Once you've verified your email address with Steam, both your Steam Account password and access to your email account are required in order to make any changes to your Steam Account credentials, such as your password, secret question and answer, and contact email address. This helps further protect your Steam Account from being stolen by a potential phisher.

There is absolutly no reason you should not be doing this. Go here for more info:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article...=5151-RUAS-1543

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2) Protect your steam account login info with your life. Do NOT use the same username/password as what you have on other websites/forums. Do not give your key or password to:

- Your mom, brother, dad, sister or other relatives
- Your friends, pretend friends, bestest bestest friends in the whole wide world
- Im's, Pm's, or other messaging systems ANYWHERE
- Any other websites * - Not websites offering free games, free sex, or free anything. There are websites that phish for account details rather well so be careful...Especially "links" sent to you through a "friend" that take you to a fake website that LOOKS like the steam community.

* The only places you should be keying your password into is the steam interface itself, the store https://store.steampowered.com/login or the website https://steamcommunity.com (notice the S in https for SECURITY!) that you typed into the url address bar YOURSELF. Just because it says https://steamcommunity.com doesnt mean it really is https://steamcommunity.com. amirite!? Right! So don't click it!

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3) Be careful of outside programs that could compromise your account.
Viruses, keyloggers, spyware... all of that is a potential issue for your steam account so be sure you have programs to keep you clean and clean often!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) Cheats or Modified core game files.

If you have done either of these things then you need to stay away from vac secured servers.

Example: You install and play PARANOIA which is a mod that clearly announces that it uses a modified opengl32.dll file. This is not a "cheat", however because it uses a modified game file... and if you do not switch it back to the original game file before going on a vac secured server... you WILL BE FLAGGED FOR A VAC BAN. No it will not be unbanned. VAC bans for specific code behaviors, not intentions.

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5) "No thank you!" Be careful who you accept gifts from! Be VERY careful!

Example: Joe Shmoe is a Smuck. He stole his best friends mom's credit card and went out and purchased a bunch of games with it. He then turned around and either gave them away via the "gift" system or he SOLD the games. The unsuspecting person receives this gift or game and assigns it to his uber leet kewl steam account that has over $200 dollars worth of games on it. A month later Steam disables the whole account due to credit card fraud. You heard me. They shutdown the whole account...not just the game that was purchased with a stolen credit card! So take care of where you get your games from!

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6) "OMG! I have been hijacked!" If for some reason your account IS stolen from you:

Screenshot Instructions
http://www.catzeyes93.com/images/SteamAccountHijackHelp

Text Instructions
You have a steam account to play games on
You have a steam forum account to post on the Steam forums
You have a steam support account for times you are having issues with your steam account

1) Register a steam support account here: https://support.steampowered.com/register.php
2) Then go to create a support ticket here: https://support.steampowered.com/newticket.php
3) Be sure to give them as much information about your steam account and what happened.
4) Be prepared to offer them proof of ownership. (Purchase receipt, CC billing statement, jpg scan of cd key or other proof of purchase)
5) You will be using your steam support account to check on the status of your ticket here https://support.steampowered.com/ticketlist.php as well as sending any additional requested info.

Note: Tickets are answered in the order they are received, however they normally are taken care of in 3 - 5 business days.

While you are waiting on your ticket here is some info to read:
Reclaiming a Hijacked Steam Account
Contacting VALVe Billing and Support
Account Security Recommendations
Valve Anti-Cheat System (VAC)

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Lost · 09-22-2009, 01:11 AM

Wow, hot damn, that's a lot of work in that Catz.

I had my account hijacked once but they gave it back when I verified it was mine with my original HL1 CD key. Good ol' 1999 technology.

Bridget · 09-22-2009, 02:50 AM

I have had my steam account hijacked twice in the far past before I had like twenty-seven games (I had two at the time), and both of the times had been due to my own stupidity. However, I simply emailed Steam and proved my credit card purchases and had them back the next day. Even if security fails you, if you can prove the account belongs to you, it's going to be back under your control in a matter of days. I can give Steam a thumbs up on that.

Scuzzy · 09-22-2009, 03:04 AM

Do what I do, every game has a separate steam account.

Scuzzy

uBeR · 09-22-2009, 03:08 AM

Do what I do, make a secure password and don't give it to anyone.

uBeR

Dr.Satan · 09-22-2009, 04:35 AM

added to the list

Very nice work Catz!!

Anshinritsumai · 09-22-2009, 06:03 AM

This thread needs to be pinned as a global announcement like the forum rules.

Dr.Satan · 09-22-2009, 04:08 PM

if i had access to do it, I so would!

CatzEyes93 · 09-22-2009, 05:27 PM

That first point is something new and not many folks know about. That is why I am trying to do my part and getting the info out there.

I am very glad it is worthy of "THE" list of threads.

GeoKill-----> · 09-23-2009, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Satan

if i had access to do it, I so would!

You do... well I do so you should too

Dr.Satan · 09-23-2009, 04:12 PM

nope...I don't, not that i can see at least.

Scuzzy · 09-22-2009, 06:52 PM

Stuck.

Desyphur · 10-08-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatzEyes93

There seems to be a lot of threads on the Steam Forums lately discussing

5) "No thank you!" Be careful who you accept gifts from! Be VERY careful!

Example: Joe Shmoe is a Smuck. He stole his best friends mom's credit card and went out and purchased a bunch of games with it. He then turned around and either gave them away via the "gift" system or he SOLD the games. The unsuspecting person receives this gift or game and assigns it to his uber leet kewl steam account that has over $200 dollars worth of games on it. A month later Steam disables the whole account due to credit card fraud. You heard me. They shutdown the whole account...not just the game that was purchased with a stolen credit card! So take care of where you get your games from!

Had this happen to my old steam account. >.<

Gamingmaster000 · 09-19-2012, 02:14 PM

Crap, my friend sent me a website for free steam game.And I fell for it, but so far I didn't get hijacked into. And I got a free copy of L4D2! Luckily, I gave it to someone else.

the_cake · 12-11-2013, 07:57 AM

I dedicate this post to the memory of Gamingmaster000. May we never forget his brief mastery of gaming in the Fortress Forever community.

NeonLight · 12-11-2013, 04:50 PM

Ripe

FDA_Approved · 12-11-2013, 06:03 PM

Guys, SQUEEK IS SUCH A SANE TRAIN.

09-21-2009, 10:29 PM	#1
CatzEyes93 Black Mesa Voice Actor Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	Steam Account ~ Security Info There seems to be a lot of threads on the Steam Forums lately discussing the ups and downs of account security. What should it be, what shouldn't it be. Is the user or the program really doing its part in maintaining the security of your steam account, blah blah blah.... This is just a reminder to everyone that security is still owned by the user, not the software/program. For most of the userbase, (95% or higher) simple and basic computer security practices will keep your account safe and out of harms way. This is just a list of some of those basics to keep in mind. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) E-Mail Verification USE IT FOR GOODNESS SAKE! Verifying your email address with Steam improves the security of your Steam Account. Once you've verified your email address with Steam, both your Steam Account password and access to your email account are required in order to make any changes to your Steam Account credentials, such as your password, secret question and answer, and contact email address. This helps further protect your Steam Account from being stolen by a potential phisher. There is absolutly no reason you should not be doing this. Go here for more info: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article...=5151-RUAS-1543 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Protect your steam account login info with your life. Do NOT use the same username/password as what you have on other websites/forums. Do not give your key or password to: - Your mom, brother, dad, sister or other relatives - Your friends, pretend friends, bestest bestest friends in the whole wide world - Im's, Pm's, or other messaging systems ANYWHERE - Any other websites * - Not websites offering free games, free sex, or free anything. There are websites that phish for account details rather well so be careful...Especially "links" sent to you through a "friend" that take you to a fake website that LOOKS like the steam community. * The only places you should be keying your password into is the steam interface itself, the store https://store.steampowered.com/login or the website https://steamcommunity.com (notice the S in https for SECURITY!) that you typed into the url address bar YOURSELF. Just because it says https://steamcommunity.com doesnt mean it really is https://steamcommunity.com. amirite!? Right! So don't click it! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) Be careful of outside programs that could compromise your account. Viruses, keyloggers, spyware... all of that is a potential issue for your steam account so be sure you have programs to keep you clean and clean often! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Cheats or Modified core game files. If you have done either of these things then you need to stay away from vac secured servers. Example: You install and play PARANOIA which is a mod that clearly announces that it uses a modified opengl32.dll file. This is not a "cheat", however because it uses a modified game file... and if you do not switch it back to the original game file before going on a vac secured server... you WILL BE FLAGGED FOR A VAC BAN. No it will not be unbanned. VAC bans for specific code behaviors, not intentions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) "No thank you!" Be careful who you accept gifts from! Be VERY careful! Example: Joe Shmoe is a Smuck. He stole his best friends mom's credit card and went out and purchased a bunch of games with it. He then turned around and either gave them away via the "gift" system or he SOLD the games. The unsuspecting person receives this gift or game and assigns it to his uber leet kewl steam account that has over $200 dollars worth of games on it. A month later Steam disables the whole account due to credit card fraud. You heard me. They shutdown the whole account...not just the game that was purchased with a stolen credit card! So take care of where you get your games from! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) "OMG! I have been hijacked!" If for some reason your account IS stolen from you: Screenshot Instructions http://www.catzeyes93.com/images/SteamAccountHijackHelp Text Instructions You have a steam account to play games on You have a steam forum account to post on the Steam forums You have a steam support account for times you are having issues with your steam account 1) Register a steam support account here: https://support.steampowered.com/register.php 2) Then go to create a support ticket here: https://support.steampowered.com/newticket.php 3) Be sure to give them as much information about your steam account and what happened. 4) Be prepared to offer them proof of ownership. (Purchase receipt, CC billing statement, jpg scan of cd key or other proof of purchase) 5) You will be using your steam support account to check on the status of your ticket here https://support.steampowered.com/ticketlist.php as well as sending any additional requested info. Note: Tickets are answered in the order they are received, however they normally are taken care of in 3 - 5 business days. While you are waiting on your ticket here is some info to read: Reclaiming a Hijacked Steam Account Contacting VALVe Billing and Support Account Security Recommendations Valve Anti-Cheat System (VAC) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

09-22-2009, 01:11 AM	#2
Lost Fear teh crowbar. Retired FF Staff Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oklahoma Gametype: CTF ftw, yeh Posts Rated Helpful 6 Times	Wow, hot damn, that's a lot of work in that Catz. I had my account hijacked once but they gave it back when I verified it was mine with my original HL1 CD key. Good ol' 1999 technology. __________________ Do what you want cuz a pirate is free! You are a pirate!

09-22-2009, 03:04 AM	#4
Scuzzy The Old Timers Clan D&A Member Retired FF Staff Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Server: 206.217.134.170:27016 Posts Rated Helpful 2 Times	Do what I do, every game has a separate steam account. Scuzzy __________________ "Player Quality, not Quantity, is what we strive for." - The LLama Wrangler "A clan is defined by the nature of it's enemies. - The Llama Wrangler

09-22-2009, 03:08 AM	#5
uBeR Not ****** Yet D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Do what I do, make a secure password and don't give it to anyone. uBeR __________________ OCCUPATION 101. *One would think a simple task would be, well, simple. Maybe not for simpletons.*

09-22-2009, 04:35 AM	#6
Dr.Satan Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greeley, CO Class/Position: Med / Solly Gametype: PAYLOAD Affiliations: DET- Posts Rated Helpful 19 Times	added to the list Very nice work Catz!! __________________ FF Community Map Pack(s): 1 / 2 (Released) conc_school \| hellion_classic \| ksour_PAYLOAD \| mulch_faf (Beta) alchimy_b1 (Lua) base_payload_2015 (Models) props_trainyard Support FF:

09-22-2009, 02:50 AM	#3
Bridget Banned Join Date: Sep 2008 Class/Position: Soldier Gametype: AVD Affiliations: TALOS Posts Rated Helpful 5 Times	I have had my steam account hijacked twice in the far past before I had like twenty-seven games (I had two at the time), and both of the times had been due to my own stupidity. However, I simply emailed Steam and proved my credit card purchases and had them back the next day. Even if security fails you, if you can prove the account belongs to you, it's going to be back under your control in a matter of days. I can give Steam a thumbs up on that.

09-22-2009, 06:03 AM	#7
Anshinritsumai °_o Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 127.0.0.1 Class/Position: Medic & Engy Gametype: AvD Affiliations: DM, OC, -[CfH]- Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	This thread needs to be pinned as a global announcement like the forum rules. __________________ Steam \| Xfire \| Twitter \| Last.FM \| Anime \| DevART

09-22-2009, 04:08 PM	#8
Dr.Satan Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greeley, CO Class/Position: Med / Solly Gametype: PAYLOAD Affiliations: DET- Posts Rated Helpful 19 Times	if i had access to do it, I so would! __________________ FF Community Map Pack(s): 1 / 2 (Released) conc_school \| hellion_classic \| ksour_PAYLOAD \| mulch_faf (Beta) alchimy_b1 (Lua) base_payload_2015 (Models) props_trainyard Support FF:

09-22-2009, 05:27 PM	#9
CatzEyes93 Black Mesa Voice Actor Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	That first point is something new and not many folks know about. That is why I am trying to do my part and getting the info out there. I am very glad it is worthy of "THE" list of threads.

09-23-2009, 04:12 PM	#11
Dr.Satan Wiki Team Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Greeley, CO Class/Position: Med / Solly Gametype: PAYLOAD Affiliations: DET- Posts Rated Helpful 19 Times	nope...I don't, not that i can see at least. __________________ FF Community Map Pack(s): 1 / 2 (Released) conc_school \| hellion_classic \| ksour_PAYLOAD \| mulch_faf (Beta) alchimy_b1 (Lua) base_payload_2015 (Models) props_trainyard Support FF:

09-22-2009, 06:52 PM	#12
Scuzzy The Old Timers Clan D&A Member Retired FF Staff Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Server: 206.217.134.170:27016 Posts Rated Helpful 2 Times	Stuck. __________________ "Player Quality, not Quantity, is what we strive for." - The LLama Wrangler "A clan is defined by the nature of it's enemies. - The Llama Wrangler

09-19-2012, 02:14 PM	#14
Gamingmaster000 Banned Join Date: Sep 2012 Gametype: CTF Affiliations: Dalokohs & Sandvich,I'm 12 Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	Crap, my friend sent me a website for free steam game.And I fell for it, but so far I didn't get hijacked into. And I got a free copy of L4D2! Luckily, I gave it to someone else.

12-11-2013, 07:57 AM	#15
the_cake Beta Tester Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts Rated Helpful 144 Times	I dedicate this post to the memory of Gamingmaster000. May we never forget his brief mastery of gaming in the Fortress Forever community.

12-11-2013, 04:50 PM	#16
NeonLight NeoNL Wiki Team Beta Tester Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Boston, Mass Class/Position: Soldier, Medic Gametype: AvD Affiliations: +M\|M+ -RS Posts Rated Helpful 170 Times	Ripe __________________ Stream(720p 60FPS) Recover Montage Fidd_l SpiderX Zutalors_B2 Quark_Classic DM2_MGE NeoN's Config Emporium

12-11-2013, 06:03 PM	#17
FDA_Approved Beta Tester Join Date: Nov 2011 Gametype: Capture the Flag Posts Rated Helpful 293 Times	Guys, SQUEEK IS SUCH A SANE TRAIN. __________________ Currently equipped: Rad Scarf of liberating happiness.

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