Valve Unveils Hardware-Based Steam Securit

Bloomfield · 19 Mar 2011 at 14:03

Well I tried to log onto Steam yesterday to see if there was any updates for the games I have on there, normally I just keep my laptop offline and my main PC online for Steam.

I kept putting my password in and it didn't do anything, log in screen disappeared for a couple of seconds then reappeared again with the password blank and no error messages.

Assumed I was using the wrong password or something, so tried logging in on the Steam website on main PC, then the Steam-Guard message came up.

Logged back into Steam on my main PC and disabled it, then I could log into Steam fine on the laptop.

Was annoying, so I'm just leaving it disabled, my Steam account has been fine for the 7 years or whatever I've had it, don't see any reason to use it personally.

buchtis · 19 Mar 2011 at 14:11

Can't use my mate's account to play games now.

PapaLazaru · 19 Mar 2011 at 14:13

buchtis said:
Can't use my mate's account to play games now.

Does he trust you?

Just set up a new gmail account and have that linked to the Steam account. As long as you both have the passwords it should be no problem.

buchtis · 19 Mar 2011 at 14:26

Yeah i'll have to sort it out with him. Use it to get items on TF2 and to try the new games he buys.

Quicken · 19 Mar 2011 at 14:27

I think it's a very good idea, and glad its software based and not dongle nonsense.
Had not problems with it so far.
:-)

orderoftheflame · 19 Mar 2011 at 14:27

buchtis said:
Can't use my mate's account to play games now.

Unless you've been using it without him knowing... Just ask him to authenticate your machine to use it. It's a one off thing.

MeMeMeMe · 19 Mar 2011 at 15:59

orderoftheflame said:
And I know I'm free from getting VAC banned, having my Steam cloud save overwritten, my Steam wallet spent or having my friends list erased. I've yet to see any cons that outweigh the five minutes of inconvenience that it took me weeks ago.

I don't play multiplayer games, I don't use steam wallet, and any friends I am bothered about could be added again instantly.
Regarding steam cloud saves, I use GameSaveManager, so that's not an issue.

I can see the advantage for people who have reason to worry about VAC bans and steam wallet hijacking, so it makes more sense to me now than before.

KIA · 19 Mar 2011 at 16:03

I love it. On by default is a good thing. Too many noobs out there falling prey to phishing attacks.

MeMeMeMe · 19 Mar 2011 at 16:06

Did you just call yourself a noob?
How would someone else falling prey to a phishing attack compromise your account?

orderoftheflame · 19 Mar 2011 at 16:15

MeMeMeMe said:
I don't play multiplayer games, I don't use steam wallet, and any friends I am bothered about could be added again instantly.
Regarding steam cloud saves, I use GameSaveManager, so that's not an issue.

I can see the advantage for people who have reason to worry about VAC bans and steam wallet hijacking, so it makes more sense to me now than before.

I'm not saying it's for everyone, clearly Valve agree as they've given an option to turn it off. My comment before claiming you'd be an idiot not to use it was an exaggeration and more just retaliatory to someone saying this is designed "just for idiots that lose their account regularly" or whatever.

As I said people refusing to use it, arrogantly thinking their accounts are 100% secure because they'll "never fall for phishing attacks", seem slightly naive to me. If you're not fussed about potential damage that could be avoided by using it, and would prefer the convenience of having it disabled, fair enough.

I've never had a problem so far determining a phishing idiot from the Steam site, and I'd like to think I never will. As someone with a lot invested in my Steam account, I'm more than happy to bolster the security of my account with this.

MeMeMeMe said:
Did you just call yourself a noob?
How would someone else falling prey to a phishing attack compromise your account?

I think what he's saying is that having it on by default is a good thing, due to the people that are susceptible to phishing attacks generally aren't the kind of people that would go and enable something like this of their own accord.

Nemeses · 19 Mar 2011 at 16:32

Its the idiots who get hacked so never feel sorry for them, they always do something to bring it on them, selfs then whine no end about it.

ChrisJSY · 21 Mar 2011 at 05:08

Klo said:
Surely an extra level of security is good whatever, whether you are an 'idiot' or not?

Did I say the security method wasn't good? No I did not.

Ravenger · 21 Mar 2011 at 10:50

If Valve are offering this service to publishers then this could be a way of removing 3rd party limited activations DRM from Steam, and encouraging devs to go with their method.

I still don't see the need for limited activations though when a game is tied to an account.

Evilsod · 21 Mar 2011 at 10:56

Ravenger said:
If Valve are offering this service to publishers then this could be a way of removing 3rd party limited activations DRM from Steam, and encouraging devs to go with their method.

I still don't see the need for limited activations though when a game is tied to an account.

I wouldn't bet 5p on that. NOTHING will stop publishers including there own stupid DRM services with Steam purchases.

orderoftheflame · 21 Mar 2011 at 11:46

Ravenger said:
If Valve are offering this service to publishers then this could be a way of removing 3rd party limited activations DRM from Steam, and encouraging devs to go with their method.

I still don't see the need for limited activations though when a game is tied to an account.

Are there any Steamworks games with limited activations?

For non Steamworks games, Evilsod is right. There's no incentive to a dev/publisher to remove limited activation DRM that they'd chosen to include with the retail version of the game.

Psycho Sonny · 21 Mar 2011 at 14:39

wab said:
Its the idiots who get hacked so never feel sorry for them, they always do something to bring it on them, selfs then whine no end about it.

lol, you dont have a clue, i threw my games out after using some of them for 5+ years on my steam account, i thought why do i need the discs, little did i know someone goes through your trash at a sorting site and then sold/gave the games to someone who then stole them all from my steam account.

platypus · 21 Mar 2011 at 14:51

Vtec9k said:
they should use an iPhone app like blizz, very cool

And useful only the small amount of people who have an iPhone.

Dave85 · 21 Mar 2011 at 16:39

Blizz also do an android app

ic1male · 21 Mar 2011 at 16:41

Anyone want to give me their password so I can test it?

Psycho Sonny · 21 Mar 2011 at 16:45

DAvE18 said:
Blizz also do an android app

how many people would have a smartphone?

what if you and your bro play games and he is 14 years old?

etc, etc.

they need to re-think their methods used when rightfully detecting who owns the game, its easy to know who owns the game if you use your brain rather than some pre-made rules and pre made statements/replies.

they should be free to investigate on their own and come to a conclusion like a jury in a trial, rather than using a system which isnt full proof and easily manipulated.