Valve Unveils Hardware-Based Steam Securit

Dj_Jestar · 4 Mar 2011 at 17:21

iviv said:
You have to rebuy all your games again, obviously. Its all a cunning plan to make people have to buy games again

No, it's a ballache. It's all a cunning plan to make things a pain in the arse for those of us competent enough not to give our passwords away to others, nor use a weak password like "steam".

aastii · 4 Mar 2011 at 17:23

iviv said:
Stop panicing

Management of the account! As in changing the email/password. You can still access the account and game on as many PCs/laptops as you want. You just need to use the main PC to change passwords/settings.
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1777798

Seriously, this is actually a pretty cool move. Its not forcing people into anything, and in some ways is less intrusive than the Blizz authenticator as I wouldn't have to put a code in each time I started steam up.
That said, I don't think I'm going to upgrade anytime soon, so it doesn't matter much to me.

EDIT:

Also see: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7785-WADB-1165

We all know that hardware can fail. Assuming my main PC fails, then what? I can't log on to let my temporary, replacement or upgraded system be used with my Steam account.

I've never used the Blizzard system, I quite WoW before they brought it in, but is it similar to a Barclay's card reader that they use for online protection, where by you put your card in (for WoW I assume account credentials), type in your pin (I assume WoW pass) and it comes up with a "unique" code, but you can use your card in any reader because they are all the same?

I know it is a lot of faffing, but this is surely better than anything that can potentially fail. You lose your pass creator, just get a new one.

However, you still need a username and pass, and that would have to be stored to be confirmed, so that is just another step, but essentially what you have now, with just an extra piece of hardware...

I quite like the picture idea mentioned before, they send you a unique picture or code or something that you use to say "this is my account"

Tombo · 4 Mar 2011 at 17:27

Then don't use this optional system :\

I'd also hope you had the intelligence to turn it off before sold your CPU.

chaparral · 4 Mar 2011 at 17:28

This sounds like a major headache for me :mad:

As have over 200 games on steam and i play them on my main Desktop PC and my HTPC

Tombo · 4 Mar 2011 at 17:28

Then don't use it, also as said above it's only limiting the PC you can change the password and settings on.

Gerard · 4 Mar 2011 at 17:30

bushmins said:
Um... why are they wasting time on this? Er...EP3? Get back to work you ********!

And you somwehow think the same people working on a security measure are the same people developing a game? :confused:

Its obvious that the people working with this are steam developers.

Tombo · 4 Mar 2011 at 17:31

Duh, Valve is just one team working on everything Gerard.

iviv · 4 Mar 2011 at 17:57

aastii said:
We all know that hardware can fail. Assuming my main PC fails, then what? I can't log on to let my temporary, replacement or upgraded system be used with my Steam account.

I've never used the Blizzard system, I quite WoW before they brought it in, but is it similar to a Barclay's card reader that they use for online protection, where by you put your card in (for WoW I assume account credentials), type in your pin (I assume WoW pass) and it comes up with a "unique" code, but you can use your card in any reader because they are all the same?

I know it is a lot of faffing, but this is surely better than anything that can potentially fail. You lose your pass creator, just get a new one.

However, you still need a username and pass, and that would have to be stored to be confirmed, so that is just another step, but essentially what you have now, with just an extra piece of hardware...

I quite like the picture idea mentioned before, they send you a unique picture or code or something that you use to say "this is my account"

If your hardware fails, I would assume you go through exactly the same hoops that you have to go through if you forget your password/email. Send a pic of a boxed game with the cd key in view, and they reset it/remove the cpu requirement from the account.

They obviously aren't going to force this as an option, given they would be losing so many customers. 30% don't have intel CPUs, and of those, I would imagine a very high percentage don't have a sandybridge CPU. If you want to use it, then good on you. If you don't, life goes on. But people prefer to jump to conclusions and declare this the work of the devil.

Pixel · 4 Mar 2011 at 17:59

Thankfully I have no intention of ever buying an Intel CPU, so I have no need to even think about this poor security plan.

MeMeMeMe · 4 Mar 2011 at 18:02

If this is just for account verification, what is the purpose of this:

Steam Guard will be available to third-party developers to incorporate into their software via Steamworks.

It means a stronger from of DRM on a per-game basis, that when it inevitably fails, locks you completely out of your game.

Tefal · 4 Mar 2011 at 18:02

meh i'd never remember to disable it before upgrading the cpu and woudlahve to put the old pc back together agai

tom113 · 4 Mar 2011 at 18:38

Looks like this has just become available if you use the latest steam beta.

" As a beta participant, once you've verified your email address with Steam, Steam Guard becomes available for your use and is enabled for your Steam account by default. "

iviv · 4 Mar 2011 at 18:58

tom113 said:
Looks like this has just become available if you use the latest steam beta.

" As a beta participant, once you've verified your email address with Steam, Steam Guard becomes available for your use and is enabled for your Steam account by default. "

Hmm, not so keen that its automatically enabled by default. Then again, the Intel part of it seems to be an extra layer, rather than what Steam Guard is build around.

Semiskimmed · 4 Mar 2011 at 19:10

this would actually put me off buying that sort of CPU, i hope AMD dont make anything similar!

eggcup · 4 Mar 2011 at 19:27

oh dear god!!!!!!!! dont use it if you dont like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

mrbios · 4 Mar 2011 at 19:33

tom113 said:
Looks like this has just become available if you use the latest steam beta.

" As a beta participant, once you've verified your email address with Steam, Steam Guard becomes available for your use and is enabled for your Steam account by default. "

Reading through the steam gaurd FAQ it appears, at least as far as i can tell, that some people are getting their wires crossed.

One FAQ links mentions that no IPT is used and that steam gaurd merely has a second layer of security to logins on additional PCs from your main one, and that you can activate additional PCs by entering a code on the logon page which gets sent to your steam verified email address.

So as far as i can tell the beta is testing a less irritating form of security while the IPT method hasn't even been released to beta yet.

...or is it me that's got it wrong? (must admit though, it amazes me as to peoples reactions.. they release it clearly specifying that it's selective usage, you don't HAVE to use it if you don't want and yet everyone throws their arms in the air raving on about how bad it'll be)

KIA · 4 Mar 2011 at 19:58

"Account phishing and hijacking are our top support issues," said Gabe Newell, President of Valve.

They're trying to protect the idiots. Give Valve a break.

Gimpymoo · 4 Mar 2011 at 21:36

MeMeMeMe said:
If this is just for account verification, what is the purpose of this:

It means a stronger from of DRM on a per-game basis, that when it inevitably fails, locks you completely out of your game.

I quoted that earlier, that is what most concerns me to be honest.

Completely misses the point of Steam for those of us who game on more than one computer.

UNLESS it is a move towards allowing more than one instance of a Steam account to be opened at any one time which is something I would love to see.

Sinny · 4 Mar 2011 at 21:39

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

was thinking that, Authenticators are by far the best thing, especially since you can easily get them on your phone/smartphone for free.

orderoftheflame · 4 Mar 2011 at 21:42

mrbios said:
Reading through the steam gaurd FAQ it appears, at least as far as i can tell, that some people are getting their wires crossed.

One FAQ links mentions that no IPT is used and that steam gaurd merely has a second layer of security to logins on additional PCs from your main one, and that you can activate additional PCs by entering a code on the logon page which gets sent to your steam verified email address.

So as far as i can tell the beta is testing a less irritating form of security while the IPT method hasn't even been released to beta yet.

...or is it me that's got it wrong? (must admit though, it amazes me as to peoples reactions.. they release it clearly specifying that it's selective usage, you don't HAVE to use it if you don't want and yet everyone throws their arms in the air raving on about how bad it'll be)

Yep. I think you've got it right.

Has anyone linked to the FAQ on it yet?

https://support.steampowered.com/kb...GZ-8021&auth=b7ecc37bd8f4a297efbafdce3d00a564

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

I thought of that when I first read about it, but thinking about it I think it would just get annoying. It's not so bad if you just do it now and then when you launch a game, but I start Steam up with my computer as I'm sure many do, having to verify every time I popped on would get annoying.

I do like this idea of having to verify individual machines on an individual basis though.

Going to get on the beta I think.