Home of the SWTOR Tip of the Day
AskaJedi has compiled a list of all of the items available from the Security Key vendor. This is the vendor that becomes available to you if you tie a security authentication key to your account. I’ve already written about why everyone needs to have one. Now, Bioware has given us even more of an incentive to get one by offering in game items.
Right now, they appear to be mostly cosmetic, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t add anything new in the future. Yet another great job Bioware!
When the recently announced security authentication keys become available for SWTOR, everyone needs to get one. Without exception. Seriously.
Why? Because just like a certain brand of mint gum, two is better than one (link included for anyone under 30). By requiring two things to authenticate you before you start playing, you will greatly reduce the likelihood that your account will get hacked. In this case, the authentication will require that you possess something (the key) which will generate a unique password (something you know).
Typically, these keys generate a new password each day. So not only do you need to posses the key in order to generate the password, the password will always change. If someone does compromise your account whether it is in game or through the forums, by the time they get to your password, it will be obsolete.
It looks like the security keys for WoW retail for $25.00. People may balk at paying more money for something SWTOR related, but this will be money well spent. How much would you pay to ensure that no one else could ever log into your SWTOR account?
BluesNews notes that EA has changed their EULA as a result of the controversy that erupted last week on the official forums:
“The EULA no longer says you must avoid using the service if you don’t want your information to be collected, and EA has also removed the portion saying they may “use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you.” It also no longer states that “EA reserves the right to monitor communications on the Application and disclose any information EA deems necessary.” And here is some new language that’s been added:
EA would never sell your personally identifiable information to anyone, nor would it ever use spyware or install spyware on users’ machines. We and agents acting on our behalf do not share information that personally identifies you without your consent, except in rare instances where disclosure is required by law or to enforce EA’s legal rights.”
It is good to see that EA reversed course on their decision to use Origin as a piece of spyware. I for one can feel a little better about installing Origin on my PC, but for good measure I will still uninstall it after I’ve downloaded SWTOR. Also, because I’m paranoid, I’ll have two machine guns pointed at my router taking aim at any malicious traffic that goes across my wire for a good two weeks after the uninstall.
Hats off to the EA Community! You were the reason for change.
1UP featured an article yesterday about the Orwellian Origin end user license agreement:
“You agree that EA may collect, use, store and transmit technical and related information that identifies your computer (including the Internet Protocol Address), operating system, Application usage (including but not limited to successful installation and/or removal), software, software usage and peripheral hardware, that may be gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, dynamically served content, product support and other services to you, including online services. EA may also use this information combined with personal information for marketing purposes and to improve our products and services. We may also share that data with our third party service providers in a form that does not personally identify you. IF YOU DO NOT WANT EA TO COLLECT, USE, STORE, TRANSMIT OR DISPLAY THE DATA DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION, PLEASE DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE APPLICATION. This and all other data provided to EA and/or collected by EA in connection with your installation and use of this Application is collected, used, stored and transmitted in accordance with EA’s Privacy Policy located at www.ea.com. To the extent that anything in this section conflicts with the terms of EA’s Privacy Policy, the terms of the Privacy Policy shall control.”
Wow. At least they didn’t try to hide anything by using any vague or confusing language. They tell you straight up in bold lettering that if you don’t want EA to use any of your personal information, DON”T INSTALL Origin. I almost want to give them bonus points for honesty……almost.
SWTOR fans took notice and raised a bantha-sized stink on the official forums which prompted Stephen Reid, senior online community manager for SWTOR to respond:
“Regardless of what other games may choose to do in their integration with Origin’s desktop client, here’s what our situation is:
You are not required to use the Origin desktop client to download, patch or play the game client for Star Wars: The Old Republic.
This applies whether you purchase The Old Republic via Origin.com or from a retailer in boxed form. You will not be forced to install the Origin desktop client.
There are still various consumer benefits to the client itself, but it’s not required for The Old Republic.”
Knowing that you can uninstall Origin and keep playing SWTOR is a relief. I’m a security minded individual, and I don’t want to have to compromise my privacy in order to play a game. Privacy concerns are the reason that I’m not on Facebook (feel free to Like this post though).
I don’t know about you, but if I were trying to get the mass market to adopt a new digital distribution method, I would think twice about having such an open ended EULA that would make some people think twice about using. But, the younger generation tends not to care so much about these sorts of things. If this is SWTOR’s target audience, then maybe EA is counting on the “kids” keeping the service installed and counting anyone above their key demographic using Origin a bonus.
I for one am going to uninstall Origin. Aside from the spyware factor, I like having as little “extra” programs running as possible. Anything that does not need to be running isn’t. It keeps the computer running smooth and the RAM free.
How about you? Are you going to keep Origin installed despite the fact that they are capturing your information and using it? Has it changed your view of Origin at all? Will you use it to purchase other EA games in the future? Let us know in the comments below.
A huge thank you to SWTORStrategies for allowing me to write a guest post for their site. The link is here.
http://torsyndicate.com/