Valve Unveils Hardware-Based Steam Security

[Arachon]

I joked ! Of course they wouldn't do something like that !

Oh! Should have used tags youknow

 

[theultimateend]

I was under the impression that once you authenticate your steam to the system with that processor it'll only work on systems with that processor.

The article itself is admittedly vague, but the bold-faced header is quite clearly stated:

Valve has announced a new hardware-based security system for Steam called Steam Guard, which will allow users to link their account management options to a single PC.

Note the underlined part.

So in other words, I wouldn't be able to hack your password, then go into your account management to change it and lock you out.

Well in my defense I'm bold blind.

It's afflicted me since a child, because of it stressed suggestions on exams, specific instructions at traffic stops, and the begging pleas of my stalking victims online are all misunderstood or completely overlooked.

 

[Triaed]

I love how Steam is touting this initiative as `protection for the consumer` while it is another way to protect their distributed material from being accessed from multiple places. What will be next, single IP authorisations? Face detection? Fart-smell validation?

 

[MrTub]

I love how Steam is touting this initiative as `protection for the consumer` while it is another way to protect their distributed material from being accessed from multiple places. What will be next, single IP authorisations? Face detection? Fart-smell validation?

I love how people like to make up stuff. "which will allow users to link their account management options to a single PC." Learn to read please.

 

[Yarrghman]

cool. now where is half life episode 3?

 

[Ghengis John]

Wasn't part of the whole appeal of steam that you could access your games from anywhere? What happened to that and will I have to jump through hoops to transfer licenses if I want to install my games on another system?

 

[MrTub]

Wasn't part of the whole appeal of steam that you could access your games from anywhere? What happened to that and will I have to jump through hoops to transfer licenses if I want to install my games on another system?

"which will allow users to link their account management options to a single PC."

 

[kingmob]

Really nice feature, although I do hope they allow you to link it to more than just one PC. Basically it is not much different from an SSH key if I understand correctly?

 

[MrTub]

Really nice feature, although I do hope they allow you to link it to more than just one PC. Basically it is not much different from an SSH key if I understand correctly?

"which will allow users to link their account management options to a single PC."

so you will still be able to play on any computer (I guess so at least)

 

[InsertEvilLaugh]

The new system allows a user to link their Steam account to as many computers as they please.

How it works is simple, it doesn't install anything extra onto your computer, first you just participate in the Steam Beta that's out right now which means it's completely optional. Once signed up for the beta, it's automatically set.

Steam will check every time you log on what computer your on without using any malware. It will automatically trust whatever computer you started the beta on. From then on if someone tries to sign on with your information, before they are allowed on, they will be required to input a special onetime use code which can only be acquired through an email which is sent to the Verified Email address linked with that Steam account. Unless they have that code, they can't get into your Steam Account even if they have your username and password.

This will also help if you want to add a new computer to the trusted list. You log on to your steam on the new computer, go to your email, select whether or not you want to trust that computer, and your done, and if some hacker tries to you can just hit deny and they will not be able to get on.

And you'll be able to set up a kind of, "Master Control" computer, scary name but just listen. It'll essentially be the only computer that can change major account details, like Password, email and what not.

So no worrying about "Trusted Computing" crap, Steam isn't installing anything new on your computer, it's just adding some extra checks when you log on. So n o need to worry about Hal saying, "I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you log onto your Steam Account." Or some stupid program that will let outside companies control your computer.

This is not Steam or Valve trying to control how you play games or how much content you can or can not access, this is just a long needed, SECURITY update for the user that will help stop a lot of phishing scams and help alleviate some of the stress on Steams User Support since their main flow of support tickets comes from people who've had their accounts hijacked.

Gabe Newell has so much confidence in this new feature, he gave out his usename and password for his Steam Account to the public. And nope, he hasn't been successfully hacked yet.

 

[MrTub]

The new system allows a user to link their Steam account to as many computers as they please.

How it works is simple, it doesn't install anything extra onto your computer, first you just participate in the Steam Beta that's out right now which means it's completely optional. Once signed up for the beta, it's automatically set.

Steam will check every time you log on what computer your on without using any malware. It will automatically trust whatever computer you started the beta on. From then on if someone tries to sign on with your information, before they are allowed on, they will be required to input a special onetime use code which can only be acquired through an email which is sent to the Verified Email address linked with that Steam account. Unless they have that code, they can't get into your Steam Account even if they have your username and password.

This will also help if you want to add a new computer to the trusted list. You log on to your steam on the new computer, go to your email, select whether or not you want to trust that computer, and your done, and if some hacker tries to you can just hit deny and they will not be able to get on.

And you'll be able to set up a kind of, "Master Control" computer, scary name but just listen. It'll essentially be the only computer that can change major account details, like Password, email and what not.

So no worrying about "Trusted Computing" crap, Steam isn't installing anything new on your computer, it's just adding some extra checks when you log on. So n o need to worry about Hal saying, "I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you log onto your Steam Account." Or some stupid program that will let outside companies control your computer.

This is not Steam or Valve trying to control how you play games or how much content you can or can not access, this is just a long needed, SECURITY update for the user that will help stop a lot of phishing scams and help alleviate some of the stress on Steams User Support since their main flow of support tickets comes from people who've had their accounts hijacked.

Gabe Newell has so much confidence in this new feature, he gave out his usename and password for his Steam Account to the public. And nope, he hasn't been successfully hacked yet.

Hmm I'm in the beta and I got a SB processor.. Do I need to do something more?

 

[InsertEvilLaugh]

The new system allows a user to link their Steam account to as many computers as they please.

How it works is simple, it doesn't install anything extra onto your computer, first you just participate in the Steam Beta that's out right now which means it's completely optional. Once signed up for the beta, it's automatically set.

Steam will check every time you log on what computer your on without using any malware. It will automatically trust whatever computer you started the beta on. From then on if someone tries to sign on with your information, before they are allowed on, they will be required to input a special onetime use code which can only be acquired through an email which is sent to the Verified Email address linked with that Steam account. Unless they have that code, they can't get into your Steam Account even if they have your username and password.

This will also help if you want to add a new computer to the trusted list. You log on to your steam on the new computer, go to your email, select whether or not you want to trust that computer, and your done, and if some hacker tries to you can just hit deny and they will not be able to get on.

And you'll be able to set up a kind of, "Master Control" computer, scary name but just listen. It'll essentially be the only computer that can change major account details, like Password, email and what not.

So no worrying about "Trusted Computing" crap, Steam isn't installing anything new on your computer, it's just adding some extra checks when you log on. So n o need to worry about Hal saying, "I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you log onto your Steam Account." Or some stupid program that will let outside companies control your computer.

This is not Steam or Valve trying to control how you play games or how much content you can or can not access, this is just a long needed, SECURITY update for the user that will help stop a lot of phishing scams and help alleviate some of the stress on Steams User Support since their main flow of support tickets comes from people who've had their accounts hijacked.

Gabe Newell has so much confidence in this new feature, he gave out his usename and password for his Steam Account to the public. And nope, he hasn't been successfully hacked yet.

Hmm I'm in the beta and I got a SB processor.. Do I need to do something more?

Right now, no, currently it does not require special hardware, that was a big thing, they didn't want to require a specific brand or make or model of a certain piece of hardware you'd need to enjoy this feature. I'm not exactly sure as to how it works to be perfectly honest, but no, you do not need a specific piece of hardware for it to work. Though Valve has said it will be working later on with Intel and their chipsets they plan on releasing.

And also I think this link should be passed around more

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8232-WSGZ-8021

straight from the people who implemented it without any website mudding up what it says

 

[MrTub]

The new system allows a user to link their Steam account to as many computers as they please.

How it works is simple, it doesn't install anything extra onto your computer, first you just participate in the Steam Beta that's out right now which means it's completely optional. Once signed up for the beta, it's automatically set.

Steam will check every time you log on what computer your on without using any malware. It will automatically trust whatever computer you started the beta on. From then on if someone tries to sign on with your information, before they are allowed on, they will be required to input a special onetime use code which can only be acquired through an email which is sent to the Verified Email address linked with that Steam account. Unless they have that code, they can't get into your Steam Account even if they have your username and password.

This will also help if you want to add a new computer to the trusted list. You log on to your steam on the new computer, go to your email, select whether or not you want to trust that computer, and your done, and if some hacker tries to you can just hit deny and they will not be able to get on.

And you'll be able to set up a kind of, "Master Control" computer, scary name but just listen. It'll essentially be the only computer that can change major account details, like Password, email and what not.

So no worrying about "Trusted Computing" crap, Steam isn't installing anything new on your computer, it's just adding some extra checks when you log on. So n o need to worry about Hal saying, "I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you log onto your Steam Account." Or some stupid program that will let outside companies control your computer.

This is not Steam or Valve trying to control how you play games or how much content you can or can not access, this is just a long needed, SECURITY update for the user that will help stop a lot of phishing scams and help alleviate some of the stress on Steams User Support since their main flow of support tickets comes from people who've had their accounts hijacked.

Gabe Newell has so much confidence in this new feature, he gave out his usename and password for his Steam Account to the public. And nope, he hasn't been successfully hacked yet.

Hmm I'm in the beta and I got a SB processor.. Do I need to do something more?

Right now, no, currently it does not require special hardware, that was a big thing, they didn't want to require a specific brand or make or model of a certain piece of hardware you'd need to enjoy this feature. I'm not exactly sure as to how it works to be perfectly honest, but no, you do not need a specific piece of hardware for it to work. Though Valve has said it will be working later on with Intel and their chipsets they plan on releasing.

And also I think this link should be passed around more

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8232-WSGZ-8021

straight from the people who implemented it without any website mudding up what it says

Ahh forgot I had to restart 3 times

 

[InsertEvilLaugh]

Ahh forgot I had to restart 3 times

'

Yeah lol, but still in the end, after you have done those three restarts you don't get a popup telling you it's done but, if you do have the unfortunate chance of someone attempting to hack into your account, you will be sent an email about it and they won't be given access unless they have that code.

 

[MrTub]

Ahh forgot I had to restart 3 times

'

Yeah lol, but still in the end, after you have done those three restarts you don't get a popup telling you it's done but, if you do have the unfortunate chance of someone attempting to hack into your account, you will be sent an email about it and they won't be given access unless they have that code.

Yeah I know =) I'm quite happy they added this feature

 

[kingmob]

Really nice feature, although I do hope they allow you to link it to more than just one PC. Basically it is not much different from an SSH key if I understand correctly?

"which will allow users to link their account management options to a single PC."

so you will still be able to play on any computer (I guess so at least)

Yeah I know it seems to be kind of explicit, but I can hardly believe they would do that. Technology should not limit this and it makes little sense to reduce people's options.

I understand that you can play from anywhere, it would just be nice if you can restrict the management access to several computers, not in the least so you won't have to call support the minute your main PC crashes

 

[tahrey]

I'm sure this has been said a hundred times in this thread already, but just to make it a louder shout:

This is all well and good until your computer is stolen, or destroyed in a fire, etc.