Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

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MadMikael
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Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

Post by MadMikael »

MANY players lately are contacting the staff, saying their accounts have been hacked. In all cases, there was no hacking at all. Apparently, most don't know what "hacking" is. For them:

Besides the common definiton of "hack" (cut something using repeated blows etc.) there is the computer science related definition:

The first definition refers to the hobby/profession of working with technology in a creative way, often computers are involved. The second definition refers to breaking into computer systems, what is correctly called "cracking", but the popular media uses the word "hacking" instead.

Cracking - Computer Definition
Gaining unauthorized access to computer systems to commit a crime, such as digging into the code to make a copy-protected program run and flooding Internet sites, thus denying service to legitimate users. During a cracking exploit, important information can be erased or corrupted. Websites can be deliberately defaced. Unauthorized access is typically done by decrypting a password or bypassing a copy-protection scheme. Around 1985, the term “cracker” was coined by hackers as an attempt to defend themselves against journalistic misuse of the word “hacker.” An attempt around 1981 to establish “worm” in this sense on Usenet was largely a failure.

Cracker - Computer Definition
A cracker is someone who breaks into someone else's computer system, often on a network; bypasses passwords or licenses in computer programs; or in other ways intentionally breaches computer security.

Conclusion
If someone is trying to guess at your password, this is known as CRACKING, not hacking. Hacking is if they are trying to get into the server, or your phone, to access your account. This has not happened. However, the admins still take the time to look into these issues of false hacking claims.

So you are aware... if you lose your account, before you contact an admin:
IF YOU SHARED YOUR PASSWORD, and lost your account because of it, IT IS YOUR FAULT!
IF YOU SHARED YOUR DEVICE, and lost your account because of it, IT IS YOUR FAULT!
IF YOU USED AN EASY PASSWORD, and someone guessed it, IT IS YOUR FAULT!

Using passwords like your character name, your real name, your pet's name etc. or "12345" are NOT SAFE!

For reference:
Game rules - viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2560 (READ ACCOUNT RULE #1, #2, AND #6)
Advice on password creation - viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1851
Funny video about unsafe passwords- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6iW-8xPw3k
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Insider
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Re: WHAT IS HACKING????

Post by Insider »

Good post!Gratz!
HAMMERBITE
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Re: Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

Post by HAMMERBITE »

I like the ITS YOUR FAULT PART
Ditto3000e
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Re: Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

Post by Ditto3000e »

I hope others dont so the hard working people dont get upset due to others lack of happiness.
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MadMikael
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Re: Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

Post by MadMikael »

TBH, I feel really horrible when a 10 or 12 year old kid is crying about losing his account he worked so hard on...

But the truth is, EVERY case of so-called "hacking" brought to the staff's attention was not so.

Usually its a trade gone wrong, where the other person did not honor his half. Sorry, but we cannot intervene in these cases, even if all the logs show it is so. Trading is not recommended, and is not allowed on forum, facebook group, and in some cases, in-game.

Sometimes, its a shared account, where one player decided to change the password and keep the account. We cannot tell who the account belongs to in these instances.

Occasionally, if an easy password is guessed, the account is stolen. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing if this person was given the password or he guessed it.

In a perfect world, I would punish the cheaters/abusers, and reward the deserving.. but the world is not perfect. I apologise for being harsh, but I am trying to get through to those who don't seem to get it.
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Sir.d0nQuix0te
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Re: Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

Post by Sir.d0nQuix0te »

Step your game up.... i am not sure i could cuz admin is good and i like game but if i was to crack a password it would b 1000+ and i would just delete them. Not really worth the effort though when u can smoke them in game and that's fun.
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Re: Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

Post by Trusted »

Good topic MadMikael,
good definition for cracker and cracking ^^
rickyclemm
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Re: Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

Post by rickyclemm »

Cain and abel ;-0
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Re: Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

Post by Asmodeous »

Love cain and abel lol
NASWAN
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Re: Clarification: what is "hacking" ?

Post by NASWAN »

Someone hacked my accounts
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