Greetings Readers,
So I finally heard back from Blizzard regarding my account suspension. The email is included below.
From: wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com
Sent: Fri 9/04/09 12:48 AM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: World of Warcraft - Account Access Restored
Greetings,
We have restored access to the World of Warcraft account [REDACTED]. You should now be able to log in with your old password.
For your own security, we recommend you scan the computer you are using to remove all viruses, Trojan files and key-loggers. We also suggest you change your password at your earliest convenience. For tips on selecting a secure password, please visit http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/20574. For additional safety and security tips, please visit http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/20572.
Thank you for your understanding and please feel free to contact us at wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com with any further questions you may have. Enjoy yourself in Azeroth!
Sincerely,
[EMPLOYEE NAME REDACTED]
Account Administration
Blizzard Entertainment
www.blizzard.com
Nothing like getting a form-letter response that does not actually address the issue. Also note the time, Fri 9/04/09 12:48 AM. That means they helpfully "restored access" approximately 13 hours after the suspension was automatically lifted. Of course, they still don't actually address my prior message at all, and I still have no idea exactly what happened.
Admittedly, I had hoped that, since there was an employee name there, that employee may have actually read my email. However, that does seem like it would be too much to ask.
Anyway, I responded to that email again. Response below:
From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Fri 9/04/09 8:15 AM
To: wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com
Subject: RE: World of Warcraft - Account Access Restored
[REDACTED],
Thank you for your assistance. By the time I received this message, the 72 hour suspension had already been automatically lifted. However, I am still interested in the reason why my account was suspended initially, and whether this incident is remaining as some sort of black mark on my account record. The suspension itself does not concern me as much as the fact that it was a final warning.
Thank you for your assistance.
[REDACTED]
So, of course, now I'll be waiting again to hear back from them, probably receiving another form letter. I've already received the automated email again, as shown below:
W
From: donotreply@blizzard.com
Sent: Fri 9/04/09 8:19 AM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: World of Warcraft - Account Administration
Thank you for contacting the Account Administration team regarding this issue. This is an automated email to let you know that we have received your inquiry. Please do not reply to this email; a response to your message will be sent to you as soon as possible.
While we will attempt to address all concerns as promptly as possible, it may be several days before we are able to respond depending on the total inquiries we receive. We must ask that no additional emails be submitted regarding this issue, as additional emails will ultimately result in undue delays in response time.
In the meantime, we offer other forms of support that are immediately available to you while we process your email.
======================================================
Website Support:
A wide variety of Account Administration questions and answers are available on our web site at: http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowaa
======================================================
======================================================
Server Status Forum:
If you cannot log onto World of Warcraft, you may want to check the Server Status Forum for current maintenance downtime and information at: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/board.html?sid=1&forumId=11113
======================================================
======================================================
Game Masters:
Game Masters (GMs) are Blizzard Entertainment personnel that are available in-game to assist you with your gameplay related questions, problems, etc. Learn more about Game Masters, including how to contact them at http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowgm/
======================================================
======================================================
Best regards,
World of Warcraft Account Administration Team
http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowaa
Blizzard Entertainment
So, time to play the waiting game. Sometimes, my own patience for this sort of thing amazes me.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Suspension Lifted, But Not All Good News
Greetings Readers,
So, the suspension is over, which gave me action to the forums finally. Still haven't logged in to the account itself. Being at work isn't conducive to that.
The bad news is that I still haven't seen a response on my email to Account Administration, so I still have no idea what triggered the ban. I'm hoping strongly for an update very soon. I've read cases where people were banned yesterday for "economy exploit" as well, but received notice from Account Administration and their bans lifted already.
Admittedly, I wonder, if they answer their emails in order, why is it the large group of people that got banned for such on August 31st are still waiting on responses that someone who was banned September 2nd already received. I won't spend much time on the thought, though, since it would ultimately serve no purpose to me to continue thinking about.
I am also wondering, though, why so many people were banned for the same reason on the same day. Was it an "end of the month" or a "Monday" thing? I have no idea, but I'm kind of curious to find out.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
So, the suspension is over, which gave me action to the forums finally. Still haven't logged in to the account itself. Being at work isn't conducive to that.
The bad news is that I still haven't seen a response on my email to Account Administration, so I still have no idea what triggered the ban. I'm hoping strongly for an update very soon. I've read cases where people were banned yesterday for "economy exploit" as well, but received notice from Account Administration and their bans lifted already.
Admittedly, I wonder, if they answer their emails in order, why is it the large group of people that got banned for such on August 31st are still waiting on responses that someone who was banned September 2nd already received. I won't spend much time on the thought, though, since it would ultimately serve no purpose to me to continue thinking about.
I am also wondering, though, why so many people were banned for the same reason on the same day. Was it an "end of the month" or a "Monday" thing? I have no idea, but I'm kind of curious to find out.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
A Quick Update Regarding Suspension Time
Greetings Readers,
Rather than alter the prior messages, I simply thought I would note here that I was wrong on the UTC offset, and therefore the earlier messages regarding the amount of time since my suspension, and the time of my reactivation, were off by one hour. MDT is an offset of -6 to UTC, and thus 11:33 AM would be the time my account would be reinstated. The times shown in the emails earlier also appear to be PDT, and thus the times are all 1 hour earlier than the local time when I received them.
I apologize for the incorrect nature of that information, and it is why I felt the correction important.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
Rather than alter the prior messages, I simply thought I would note here that I was wrong on the UTC offset, and therefore the earlier messages regarding the amount of time since my suspension, and the time of my reactivation, were off by one hour. MDT is an offset of -6 to UTC, and thus 11:33 AM would be the time my account would be reinstated. The times shown in the emails earlier also appear to be PDT, and thus the times are all 1 hour earlier than the local time when I received them.
I apologize for the incorrect nature of that information, and it is why I felt the correction important.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
Zalmoran Account Action - 68 Hours Later
Greetings Readers,
So, there's approximately 4 hours to go in my World of Warcraft account suspension. To be honest, at this point I'm more concerned than I have been. Ironically, the closer the suspension is to being over, the more the idea of it being over is starting to bother me.
Of course, I still have not heard back from Blizzard. It's not a surprise to me that this is the case. However, since I honestly still don't know what happened, I'm very concerned that it will happen again. I am particularly concerned that it will happen shortly after the suspension, at which time I would be at work anyway and unable to do anything about it. I kind of wish I could actually get them to extend the account suspension until my email (and possibly email conversation) with Account Administration is complete.
So, at this point I've done a full anti-virus scan of all my files, registry keys, internet plugins, stored email messages, recorded TV shows in Media Center, literally everything I can think of. I've scanned the system more than twice with 3 different pieces of software, all mentioned earlier in this thread. It honestly bothers me that I still haven't come up with anything. I'd have more peace of mind if it found something than in the fact that it hasn't.
At this point I am about to begin yet another scan of my system. This time, instead of just using existing anti-virus definitions, I'm running a full heuristic scan of all memory and files, looking for any and all activity that could be considered even remotely threatening. Due to the nature of my job, it is particularly important to me to be certain now that this is an absolutely secure system.
In the mean time, I've also changed my account password for World of Warcraft again. I did it shortly after I got the message telling me to do so, but then it occurred to me that if there was a key-logger on my system it would provide no protection. Further, after finding the viruses on my roommate's computer, I decided that I did not trust our home network at all. While it's fairly reasonable to expect that Blizzard uses a fairly strong method of encryption when dealing with account information that should theoretically be well-protected against remote packet sniffing, I don't want to take a chance. Instead, I changed my password on my cell phone using the Edge network. It's the only way I can have some peace of mind that at least the password should be secure.
Speaking of cell phones, I recently read about Blizzard's Mobile Authenticator. It's much like the existing hardware device they'll send, but available on most phones. The fact that I said "most" becomes particularly relevant as this does not include my phone, any other Android phone, or my entire phone network. I am admittedly disappointed.
Anyway, at this point I've finished updating my anti-virus software, and need to begin the heuristic scan. I expect it could take quite a bit of time, but hopefully it will be done before I have to leave for work. If not, I'm going to be worried about this all day.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
So, there's approximately 4 hours to go in my World of Warcraft account suspension. To be honest, at this point I'm more concerned than I have been. Ironically, the closer the suspension is to being over, the more the idea of it being over is starting to bother me.
Of course, I still have not heard back from Blizzard. It's not a surprise to me that this is the case. However, since I honestly still don't know what happened, I'm very concerned that it will happen again. I am particularly concerned that it will happen shortly after the suspension, at which time I would be at work anyway and unable to do anything about it. I kind of wish I could actually get them to extend the account suspension until my email (and possibly email conversation) with Account Administration is complete.
So, at this point I've done a full anti-virus scan of all my files, registry keys, internet plugins, stored email messages, recorded TV shows in Media Center, literally everything I can think of. I've scanned the system more than twice with 3 different pieces of software, all mentioned earlier in this thread. It honestly bothers me that I still haven't come up with anything. I'd have more peace of mind if it found something than in the fact that it hasn't.
At this point I am about to begin yet another scan of my system. This time, instead of just using existing anti-virus definitions, I'm running a full heuristic scan of all memory and files, looking for any and all activity that could be considered even remotely threatening. Due to the nature of my job, it is particularly important to me to be certain now that this is an absolutely secure system.
In the mean time, I've also changed my account password for World of Warcraft again. I did it shortly after I got the message telling me to do so, but then it occurred to me that if there was a key-logger on my system it would provide no protection. Further, after finding the viruses on my roommate's computer, I decided that I did not trust our home network at all. While it's fairly reasonable to expect that Blizzard uses a fairly strong method of encryption when dealing with account information that should theoretically be well-protected against remote packet sniffing, I don't want to take a chance. Instead, I changed my password on my cell phone using the Edge network. It's the only way I can have some peace of mind that at least the password should be secure.
Speaking of cell phones, I recently read about Blizzard's Mobile Authenticator. It's much like the existing hardware device they'll send, but available on most phones. The fact that I said "most" becomes particularly relevant as this does not include my phone, any other Android phone, or my entire phone network. I am admittedly disappointed.
Anyway, at this point I've finished updating my anti-virus software, and need to begin the heuristic scan. I expect it could take quite a bit of time, but hopefully it will be done before I have to leave for work. If not, I'm going to be worried about this all day.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Quick Update Regarding Account Ban
Welcome Readers,
So, this is just a quick update regarding my account suspension. Since I still haven't had a response, and still cannot login, I figured I'd troll the forums a bit and watch what's going on, particularly in customer service. I keep hoping someone with a similar problem will post on there and from that I may be able to deduce the problem I'm having.
Today I noticed something interesting. There are actually other people whose accounts have been suspended who are able to post on the forums. I get the notice that I cannot. This makes me more curious about the nature of my suspension. I can't determine, if they can separate the access of the forums from the game, what sort of "economy exploit" I could have used that would be dangerous to also allow me access to the forums. I would assume, based on that, they have blocked me due to a perceived exploit of an in-game bug or unexpected feature, and do not wish me to disclose the nature of that exploit. I can't imagine that the use of an add-on, power-leveling service, or gold for money trade would warrant a forum ban, since talking about such things would not empower or embolden other players to perform similar actions.
Again, as with all my cause posts, this is speculative. I certainly have not used any exploit of which I am aware. Though I do program for a living, reverse-engineering is a skill I don't think I'll ever really comprehend. Just a bit above me, to be honest.
I do look forward to the account suspension ending tomorrow at 10:33 AM MDT, so that I can finally go on the forums and try to get some answers. I am still afraid to log in until I know what happened. I'm too afraid that I'd make the same mistake that I may have made, and with final warning, one more mistake is one more than I have.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
So, this is just a quick update regarding my account suspension. Since I still haven't had a response, and still cannot login, I figured I'd troll the forums a bit and watch what's going on, particularly in customer service. I keep hoping someone with a similar problem will post on there and from that I may be able to deduce the problem I'm having.
Today I noticed something interesting. There are actually other people whose accounts have been suspended who are able to post on the forums. I get the notice that I cannot. This makes me more curious about the nature of my suspension. I can't determine, if they can separate the access of the forums from the game, what sort of "economy exploit" I could have used that would be dangerous to also allow me access to the forums. I would assume, based on that, they have blocked me due to a perceived exploit of an in-game bug or unexpected feature, and do not wish me to disclose the nature of that exploit. I can't imagine that the use of an add-on, power-leveling service, or gold for money trade would warrant a forum ban, since talking about such things would not empower or embolden other players to perform similar actions.
Again, as with all my cause posts, this is speculative. I certainly have not used any exploit of which I am aware. Though I do program for a living, reverse-engineering is a skill I don't think I'll ever really comprehend. Just a bit above me, to be honest.
I do look forward to the account suspension ending tomorrow at 10:33 AM MDT, so that I can finally go on the forums and try to get some answers. I am still afraid to log in until I know what happened. I'm too afraid that I'd make the same mistake that I may have made, and with final warning, one more mistake is one more than I have.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
Zalmoran Account Suspension - 48 Hours Later
Greetings Readers,
It's now been 48 hours since my World of Warcraft account was suspended for "economy exploit". Again, I wish I could report that I have received a response from Blizzard at this point but, sadly, I have not.
I spent yesterday evening checking and rechecking my system for viruses to ensure that there was not a Trojan or key-logger on the system. In order to ensure I was as likely to catch anything as possible, I used a trio of security software. First I used the built in Windows Defender. I do not have a great amount of faith in it, but it's a start. I then also did a full system scan with Lavasoft's AdAware. It turned up 3 cookies, and nothing else. Figuring it was very unlikely a cookie could have created a security vulnerability for a key-logger or software for tracking the login, I pressed on.
At the recommendation of several friends, and because it's a recognized partner of Microsoft, with Vista-compatible anti-virus software, I used Panda Security's 2009 Anti-virus software. Running in safe-mode, I did a full system scan once again with Panda, Windows Defender, and AdAware. The net total of this effort: the removal of 12 cookies. No additional suspect software located.
All in all, it does not seem likely that a virus or key-logger was used to track my account information. However, we did find 2 viruses on my roommate's computer. For his security software, he had chosen AVG Anti-Virus. As mentioned, two viruses were detected on his machine. Unfortunately he did not provide me the information on what these were, so I am unable to relate them further. However, I would hope they would not have provided a threat toward my account, since the only way to deal with that from another system should be through packet-sniffing the router, and I would sincerely hope that Blizzard is using proper encryption algorithms and either SSL or TLS for transmission.
Luckily, since my roommate is still able to access his account, we were able to both post in the forums regarding this issue (which I will provide a link for when I am able. Work systems do not allow access to World of Warcraft), and we were also able to contact members of the guild for me to get outside contact information.
I have to say that I am very thankful to our guild master, RayneRaven. After I explained the situation to him, he has been proactive in assisting me in at least gaining more information on what is going on with my account. He is posting a ticket in game to try to get a GM response on at least a more detailed reason for the suspension. I appreciate it greatly as I am somewhat concerned about logging in again, even after the suspension, without knowing what caused it. I wouldn't want to have another infraction, since I'm already on final warning.
Anyway, that's about all I've got to say about the situation at the moment. I hope that I will be able to provide more information soon, but I do have my doubts that I will be hearing anything today. I figure I'll be lucky to hear anything before the suspension is automatically lifted.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
It's now been 48 hours since my World of Warcraft account was suspended for "economy exploit". Again, I wish I could report that I have received a response from Blizzard at this point but, sadly, I have not.
I spent yesterday evening checking and rechecking my system for viruses to ensure that there was not a Trojan or key-logger on the system. In order to ensure I was as likely to catch anything as possible, I used a trio of security software. First I used the built in Windows Defender. I do not have a great amount of faith in it, but it's a start. I then also did a full system scan with Lavasoft's AdAware. It turned up 3 cookies, and nothing else. Figuring it was very unlikely a cookie could have created a security vulnerability for a key-logger or software for tracking the login, I pressed on.
At the recommendation of several friends, and because it's a recognized partner of Microsoft, with Vista-compatible anti-virus software, I used Panda Security's 2009 Anti-virus software. Running in safe-mode, I did a full system scan once again with Panda, Windows Defender, and AdAware. The net total of this effort: the removal of 12 cookies. No additional suspect software located.
All in all, it does not seem likely that a virus or key-logger was used to track my account information. However, we did find 2 viruses on my roommate's computer. For his security software, he had chosen AVG Anti-Virus. As mentioned, two viruses were detected on his machine. Unfortunately he did not provide me the information on what these were, so I am unable to relate them further. However, I would hope they would not have provided a threat toward my account, since the only way to deal with that from another system should be through packet-sniffing the router, and I would sincerely hope that Blizzard is using proper encryption algorithms and either SSL or TLS for transmission.
Luckily, since my roommate is still able to access his account, we were able to both post in the forums regarding this issue (which I will provide a link for when I am able. Work systems do not allow access to World of Warcraft), and we were also able to contact members of the guild for me to get outside contact information.
I have to say that I am very thankful to our guild master, RayneRaven. After I explained the situation to him, he has been proactive in assisting me in at least gaining more information on what is going on with my account. He is posting a ticket in game to try to get a GM response on at least a more detailed reason for the suspension. I appreciate it greatly as I am somewhat concerned about logging in again, even after the suspension, without knowing what caused it. I wouldn't want to have another infraction, since I'm already on final warning.
Anyway, that's about all I've got to say about the situation at the moment. I hope that I will be able to provide more information soon, but I do have my doubts that I will be hearing anything today. I figure I'll be lucky to hear anything before the suspension is automatically lifted.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Zalmoran Account Suspension - 29 Hours Later
Greetings Readers,
It's been 29 hours since my World of Warcraft account was given final warning and suspended for 72 hours. I wish that at this time I had more to report in terms of communication with Blizzard regarding the issue, but I have not received an email at this time.
This post largely will be speculative, serving to provide an account of my activities as I'm certain most people would be wondering exactly what I had been doing up until the suspension. The information I provide here, again, is speculation, and has not in any way been confirmed by Blizzard or any representative of Blizzard at this time.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, I do use Auctioneer in order to handle my interactions with the Auction House. This does not provide additional access away from the auction house, nor do I use it to provide me any notifications that I could not get through the existing, Blizzard-made interface. Literally all of my interaction with this app must be done at the Auction House. That said, there is a supplemental addon, AucDb, which provides material costs, action recommendations, and average prices that the items sell for on US and EU servers. However, it has been mentioned on several forums that this addon has not caused bans in the past, and does not fall within a Term of Service violation. It also could not reasonably lead to me controlling the auction house, as prices are only recommended. It does not automate the sale or purchase of items. It also, as mentioned above, does not notify me of when I've been undercut, outbid, or any other interaction, except when I search my auctions at the Auction House. Thus, I figure it is not likely that this was the cause of my suspension.
The next possibility would be a belief that I was gold farming. I have admittedly made on average for Zalmoran 50g per day according to my statistics. I do not know if that is a high number, but I do attribute the success to careful attention to the trends in inscription sales on my server, and making glyphs that either sell high or are not represented often on auction. An hour before my ban, I had flown all over Zangarmarsh collecting herbs and ingredients to fill my new 32-slot inscription and herbalism bags. I then proceeded in similar fashion in Elwynn Forest to collect low-level ingredients to continue my minor inscription research, since I had been getting low on those supplies. I suppose it is possible that, since I was on in the morning before work and performing mind-numbingly repetitive tasks, they may have believed that I was not manually controlling the character. I would be surprised if this was the action that got my account suspended, since I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be the only person going around performing mind-numbingly repetitive tasks. This is an MMO after all, and I've seen people with 450 fishing skill.
It's possible that they believe I was selling gold, I suppose. I have, on several occasions, provided small gifts of gold and items to family or friends that start an account on my server, as well as primary characters joining our guild at low level. An accounting of these would show that I have given approximately 30g, 1 guild tabard, and 1 bag or pet to each of these individuals. In total that may come to about 120g (one person refused cash), 5 guild tabards (which I spent 1g on each), 2 pets (both cats, given to family members, 30s each), and 3 netherweave bags (about 8g each). That would make my total in contributions toward all of the characters almost 150g. Divided between them that still only comes to 30g each. If I had sold that to them, I couldn't imagine I'd have gotten much since the common ads on my server list 1000g for $15. (Yes, we get enough of them for me to remember the offers rather easily. Not much of a price war there.) Based on that as a market rate, if they had paid me for that stuff, we're talking a microtransaction of about 45 cents each. I can't imagine it would be worth it to me, since I have a full-time job that pays me far more than 45 cents per hour, which would be a generous estimate on the time I've put toward those contributions.
Also, there's the possibility that they would believe I was using a power-leveling service. It is true that, in less than 3 months, I got my primary character up to 72, a couple alts up to 33, a couple more alts in the 20s, and a couple more into the teens. I don't know the average rate at which a person levels. To me, it does seem that this could have been fast, but it can easily be explained. When I began my account, it was under recruit-a-friend with my sister. Shortly after, I used recruit-a-friend with my significant other. This meant that every time I grouped with either of them, for the first 90 days of my account, I was gaining triple experience on all enemies and quests. In addition, the Midsummer Festival occurred during that time, and the daily quests it provided were easily giving me more than 10,000-15,000 experience at level 30. I believe the high end got it up to almost 20,000. I was very quickly leveling at that time, when you account for 3 daily quests each day and several honor/extinquish the flames quests. For my alts, most levels were gained this way, though one used the recruit-a-friend free levels from my partner's primary in order to gain approximately 20 levels. The recruit-a-friend levels I gained through this translated 1:2 for me to give levels to my sister. I did as many as I could from that character to her primary on the same server, and then switched to my primary to level her up further with the levels he had earned. This resulted in us each having fairly high level characters with admittedly minimal work, but all through approved perks in the recruit-a-friend program administered by Blizzard. Ultimately, it seems most likely to me that this progression was monitored and inadvertently translated to power-leveling. The fact that I put a little time in each morning doing the short, repetetive, tasks before I play again when I get home from work could be a contributing factor to this theory.
The only other possibility would be an accidental association. When I first arrived in Northrend, a player immediately sent me a group invite. I accepted and was surprised to see a level 59 player. Not wanting to appear rude, I continued with the quests I was working on. I attempted several times to talk to the person, and ask them what quests they were on, etc, and didn't get any response. I became suspicious and asked my guild for advice. While they were responding, I noticed he'd go invisible during a battle, then claim the loot. At that point I booted him from group, angry that he was not assisting, and under the advice I received from my guild. It occurred to me at that time that the person may have been a farmer, and that I had assisted them in getting a very small amount of loot to sell. On retrospect, this could be the most likely case for the issue, though I don't think it would fall under an 'economy exploit'.
Anyway, that's all I've got. I'm hoping to get some people I talk to in game to read this blog and provide insight. Anyone else who has any, please post. I also could use the support on this. I've been going without sleep, and feeling highly stressed, trying to figure out exactly what happened.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
It's been 29 hours since my World of Warcraft account was given final warning and suspended for 72 hours. I wish that at this time I had more to report in terms of communication with Blizzard regarding the issue, but I have not received an email at this time.
This post largely will be speculative, serving to provide an account of my activities as I'm certain most people would be wondering exactly what I had been doing up until the suspension. The information I provide here, again, is speculation, and has not in any way been confirmed by Blizzard or any representative of Blizzard at this time.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, I do use Auctioneer in order to handle my interactions with the Auction House. This does not provide additional access away from the auction house, nor do I use it to provide me any notifications that I could not get through the existing, Blizzard-made interface. Literally all of my interaction with this app must be done at the Auction House. That said, there is a supplemental addon, AucDb, which provides material costs, action recommendations, and average prices that the items sell for on US and EU servers. However, it has been mentioned on several forums that this addon has not caused bans in the past, and does not fall within a Term of Service violation. It also could not reasonably lead to me controlling the auction house, as prices are only recommended. It does not automate the sale or purchase of items. It also, as mentioned above, does not notify me of when I've been undercut, outbid, or any other interaction, except when I search my auctions at the Auction House. Thus, I figure it is not likely that this was the cause of my suspension.
The next possibility would be a belief that I was gold farming. I have admittedly made on average for Zalmoran 50g per day according to my statistics. I do not know if that is a high number, but I do attribute the success to careful attention to the trends in inscription sales on my server, and making glyphs that either sell high or are not represented often on auction. An hour before my ban, I had flown all over Zangarmarsh collecting herbs and ingredients to fill my new 32-slot inscription and herbalism bags. I then proceeded in similar fashion in Elwynn Forest to collect low-level ingredients to continue my minor inscription research, since I had been getting low on those supplies. I suppose it is possible that, since I was on in the morning before work and performing mind-numbingly repetitive tasks, they may have believed that I was not manually controlling the character. I would be surprised if this was the action that got my account suspended, since I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be the only person going around performing mind-numbingly repetitive tasks. This is an MMO after all, and I've seen people with 450 fishing skill.
It's possible that they believe I was selling gold, I suppose. I have, on several occasions, provided small gifts of gold and items to family or friends that start an account on my server, as well as primary characters joining our guild at low level. An accounting of these would show that I have given approximately 30g, 1 guild tabard, and 1 bag or pet to each of these individuals. In total that may come to about 120g (one person refused cash), 5 guild tabards (which I spent 1g on each), 2 pets (both cats, given to family members, 30s each), and 3 netherweave bags (about 8g each). That would make my total in contributions toward all of the characters almost 150g. Divided between them that still only comes to 30g each. If I had sold that to them, I couldn't imagine I'd have gotten much since the common ads on my server list 1000g for $15. (Yes, we get enough of them for me to remember the offers rather easily. Not much of a price war there.) Based on that as a market rate, if they had paid me for that stuff, we're talking a microtransaction of about 45 cents each. I can't imagine it would be worth it to me, since I have a full-time job that pays me far more than 45 cents per hour, which would be a generous estimate on the time I've put toward those contributions.
Also, there's the possibility that they would believe I was using a power-leveling service. It is true that, in less than 3 months, I got my primary character up to 72, a couple alts up to 33, a couple more alts in the 20s, and a couple more into the teens. I don't know the average rate at which a person levels. To me, it does seem that this could have been fast, but it can easily be explained. When I began my account, it was under recruit-a-friend with my sister. Shortly after, I used recruit-a-friend with my significant other. This meant that every time I grouped with either of them, for the first 90 days of my account, I was gaining triple experience on all enemies and quests. In addition, the Midsummer Festival occurred during that time, and the daily quests it provided were easily giving me more than 10,000-15,000 experience at level 30. I believe the high end got it up to almost 20,000. I was very quickly leveling at that time, when you account for 3 daily quests each day and several honor/extinquish the flames quests. For my alts, most levels were gained this way, though one used the recruit-a-friend free levels from my partner's primary in order to gain approximately 20 levels. The recruit-a-friend levels I gained through this translated 1:2 for me to give levels to my sister. I did as many as I could from that character to her primary on the same server, and then switched to my primary to level her up further with the levels he had earned. This resulted in us each having fairly high level characters with admittedly minimal work, but all through approved perks in the recruit-a-friend program administered by Blizzard. Ultimately, it seems most likely to me that this progression was monitored and inadvertently translated to power-leveling. The fact that I put a little time in each morning doing the short, repetetive, tasks before I play again when I get home from work could be a contributing factor to this theory.
The only other possibility would be an accidental association. When I first arrived in Northrend, a player immediately sent me a group invite. I accepted and was surprised to see a level 59 player. Not wanting to appear rude, I continued with the quests I was working on. I attempted several times to talk to the person, and ask them what quests they were on, etc, and didn't get any response. I became suspicious and asked my guild for advice. While they were responding, I noticed he'd go invisible during a battle, then claim the loot. At that point I booted him from group, angry that he was not assisting, and under the advice I received from my guild. It occurred to me at that time that the person may have been a farmer, and that I had assisted them in getting a very small amount of loot to sell. On retrospect, this could be the most likely case for the issue, though I don't think it would fall under an 'economy exploit'.
Anyway, that's all I've got. I'm hoping to get some people I talk to in game to read this blog and provide insight. Anyone else who has any, please post. I also could use the support on this. I've been going without sleep, and feeling highly stressed, trying to figure out exactly what happened.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
My First, and Hopefully Only, Account Action
Greetings Readers,
Today, I'm going to begin what may become a series regarding World of Warcraft account actions taken by Blizzard, and documenting the outcome of this. As I have no other experiences to relate at the moment, I will relate instead the account action taken against me right now.
As of Monday, 8/31/2009, at 10:33 AM MDT (Mountain Daylight Time), my account was suspended. The first email I received informed me that my battle.net account had been reset, and that a new password was required. A copy of that email is shown entirely below, with account and sensitive information removed.
From: Blizzard Entertainment (noreply@battle.net)
Sent: Mon 8/31/09 10:33 AM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Battle.net Account - Password Reset
Battle.net Account - Password Reset
We have reset the password for the Battle.net account associated with this email address. To choose a new password, please click the following link and follow the instructions:
[REDACTED]
If you did not request the reset, it is possible that this Battle.net account has been accessed by someone not authorized to do so. If you notice issues with the Battle.net account or associated games after logging in with your new password, please contact the appropriate support department for assistance immediately: http://us.blizzard.com/support/index.xml?gameId=11
Please remember that it is your responsibility to keep your login information confidential. You may not share access to the account with anyone who is not expressly permitted in the Battle.net Terms of Use and the Terms of Use for the games you play. You are also responsible for every use of your login information, whether you have authorized it or not.
Billing and Account Services can be reached directly at 1-800-592-5499. Players in Australia and Singapore should call 1-800-041-378 and 800-2549927 respectively if unable to connect via the first number. Our representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 8:00AM and 8:00PM Pacific Time.
We encourage you to keep the following security tips in mind when playing an online game on any computer:
- Use up-to-date firewall, antivirus, and anti-spyware software, and scan your system regularly for viruses, Trojans, and key loggers.
- Keep your operating system and other software up-to-date, and be careful when downloading new software.
- Be wary of “spoof” and scam websites and e-mails that pose as Blizzard Entertainment and request account or personal information. As a reminder, Blizzard Entertainment representatives will *never* ask you for your password.
- Use separate, unique passwords for your email, Battle.net account, and any other online accounts.
- Change your passwords regularly and keep Battle.net account information updated using the Account Management page at http://www.battle.net/account
For additional security tips and information, please visit the following site:
- Account Security: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=26328
If you are looking for an added layer of security, we currently offer the Authenticator, an optional second line of defense that can help prevent unauthorized account access. For more information about how the Authenticator works or how to add one to an account, please visit the Authenticator Information page at http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/24986.
Thank you,
Blizzard Entertainment
Less than one minute after receiving that email, I also received the following email:
From: WoWAccountAdmin@blizzard.com
Sent: Mon 8/31/09 10:39 AM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: World of Warcraft Account Notice - Final Warning
English speaking customers: Please refer to the start of this mail
Para los clientes españoles: Por favor vayan hasta el fin de este correo electrónico
* * * NOTICE OF FINAL WARNING * * *
Account Name: [REDACTED]
Account Action: 72 Hour Suspension
Reason for Action: Terms of Use Violation - Economy Exploitation
After a thorough investigation, we have found that a player of the account listed above participated in activities designed to gain an unfair advantage in the World of Warcraft economy.
These activities violate the World of Warcraft Terms of Use. We ask that you take a moment to review these terms at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html.
You may not perform any acts that we consider to be damaging to World of Warcraft. A stable economy is essential for any realm to be successful. Any attempts to manipulate the economy in exploitive ways can have a large negative impact on many players.
This action has been taken in accordance with the Terms of Use and our In-Game Policies (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/20309). Note that additional policy violations may result in more severe actions against this account, up to and including permanent closure.
A new, randomly generated password will be emailed to you shortly. After you have successfully logged in to World of Warcraft with this new password, please go to the Account Management page (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/account/) and create a new, secure password. For tips on selecting a secure password, visit http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/21130.
It can take up to one hour for our system to generate and send the new password. If you have not received a password within one hour of this message’s delivery, please check your Spam, Junk or Suspect Mail folders.
If you are still unable to locate the email containing your new password, please contact us using this form: http://us.blizzard.com/support/webform-us.xml.
Only the Account Administration department can address disputes or questions you may have about this account action. To learn more about how we are able to assist you, please visit us at http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/21505.
Regards,
Account Administration
Blizzard Entertainment
www.WorldOfWarcraft.com
----
***Advertencia Final***
Nombre de cuenta: [REDACTED]
Acción de cuenta: Cuenta suspendida 72 horas
Tipo de incidente: Violación de Condiciones de Uso - Explotación de la Economía
Después de una investigación encontramos que un jugador de la cuenta mencionada así arriba participó en actividades diseñadas para ganar una ventaja injusta sobre la economía de World of Warcraft.
Esas actividades violan las Condiciones de Uso para World of Warcraft. Quisiéramos que tome un momento para revisar esas condiciones en http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/na/legal/termsofuse.xml
Usted no puede tomar parte en actividades que consideramos ser perjudicial para World of Warcraft. Una economía estable es esencial para cualquier reino. Cualquier intento de manipular la economía en forma de explotación puede tener un gran impacto negativo entre muchos jugadores.
Esta acción ha sido tomada en acuerdo con las Condiciones de Uso (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/es/legal/termsofuse.html) y normas de nuestro juego (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=23596). La suscripción periódica en la cuenta ha sido incapacitada para prevenir los cargos adicionales.
Lamentamos tener que tomar este tipo de decisiones, pero hemos establecido que en este caso es la mejor solución para así preservar el bienestar de nuestra comunidad y la integridad del juego. Las violaciones contra las cuentas asociadas con la explotación han resultado en la clausura de la cuenta mencionada así arriba.
Una contraseña nueva, generada aleatoriamente será enviada a su correo electrónico en breve. Una vez que haya accedido satisfactoriamente a World of Warcraft con esta nueva contraseña, por favor vaya a la página de Gestión de Cuenta. (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/account/) y crear una nueva contraseña segura. Para obtener consejos sobre cómo seleccionar una contraseña segura, visite (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/22394).
Puede tomarse hasta una hora para que nuestro sistema genere y envíe la nueva contraseña. Si no ha recibido una contraseña dentro de una hora desde cuando recibió este mensaje, por favor revise su spam, junk mail o carpetas sospechosas.
Si sigue sin poder localizar la dirección de correo electrónico que contiene su nueva contraseña, póngase en contacto con nosotros utilizando el siguiente formulario: (http://us.blizzard.com/support/webform-us.xml).
Si quisiera disputar o si tiene una pregunta sobre esta acción de cuenta, solo puede ser dirigido al departamento de Administración de Cuentas. Para más información en cómo este departamento puede ayudarle, por favor visite el sitio (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=24688)
Saludos,
Departamento de Administración de Cuenta
Blizzard Entertainment
Immediately concerned and confused by the emails, I sent back a response to the account after reading the emails that afternoon. That email is included below, minus the in-line citation of the email just referenced.
From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Mon 8/31/09 4:02 PM
To: wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com
Subject: RE: World of Warcraft Account Notice - Final Warning
Hello,
I received this notice regarding a suspension, and I am admittedly surprised. I would like to be certain that any violation is addressed on my end as well, but in order to determine what caused the violation to occur, I will require more information on the nature of the violation. Would it be possible for me to get more information on exactly what this economy exploitation was? As I have never purchased nor sold gold or items for real-world gain, I am uncertain what this exploit would be.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
[SIGNATURE REDACTED]
I received back, almost immediately, an automated response included below.
From: donotreply@blizzard.com
Sent: Mon 8/31/09 4:06 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: World of Warcraft – Account Administration
Thank you for contacting the Account Administration team regarding this issue. This is an automated email to let you know that we have received your inquiry. Please do not reply to this email; a response to your message will be sent to you as soon as possible.
While we will attempt to address all concerns as promptly as possible, it may be several days before we are able to respond depending on the total inquiries we receive. We must ask that no additional emails be submitted regarding this issue, as additional emails will ultimately result in undue delays in response time.
In the meantime, we offer other forms of support that are immediately available to you while we process your email.
======================================================
Website Support:
A wide variety of Account Administration questions and answers are available on our web site at: http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowaa
======================================================
======================================================
Server Status Forum:
If you cannot log onto World of Warcraft, you may want to check the Server Status Forum for current maintenance downtime and information at: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/board.html?sid=1&forumId=11113
======================================================
======================================================
Game Masters:
Game Masters (GMs) are Blizzard Entertainment personnel that are available in-game to assist you with your gameplay related questions, problems, etc. Learn more about Game Masters, including how to contact them at http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowgm/
======================================================
======================================================
Best regards,
World of Warcraft Account Administration Team
http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowaa
Blizzard Entertainment
After looking into what "economy exploit" is, I initially believed it could be related to my use of the Auctioneer add-on for World of Warcraft. However, forum posts related to Auctioneer on the Customer Support forums all repeatedly indicate that action has not been taken related to this add-on in the past, and would not likely contribute. Since I have no other add-ons related to gameplay or the economy, it was not likely that I had done something inadvertent through an add-on.
I then figured someone may have accessed my account without my permission in order to perform such actions. Immediately concerned regarding my characters' equipment and status, I checked their equips through WoW Armory and found that they all seemed to be intact. A friend then graciously checked the guild roster for me in game to determine that my accounts had not been signed in after I left that morning. Since there had also never been characters I didn't recognize, and my characters all logged back in at the same place I logged out, it didn't seem likely that my account had been hijacked. A scan of my system using AdAware from LavaSoft did not find any vulnerabilities or malicious code. The system also is kept up to date constantly through automated patching. It does not seem likely that the account was hijacked.
The final possibility I've found relates to buying and selling gold or power-leveling services for the game. This is a practice which has been offered to me many times in game, and more than once I've told the purveyors that I do not condone their activities and would not like to be contacted again. I personally do not believe there is a purpose to having someone else play the game for me and my guild members can attest to the fact that I am against easy leveling or receiving gifts of gold even within the acceptable interpretation of the terms of service.
At this time, I am left waiting for a response, which could come after my reinstatement. However, without knowing what the reason was behind my ban, I am very concerned about signing back in. If I am inadvertently acting against the Terms of Service without knowing what the infringing action is, I am unable to correct the situation and would face more serious action.
So, I will update this blog as I receive more information, and I am willing to answer any questions that someone has regarding my actions, or for more information. I am also willing to host an open area for other account owners who have action taken against them which they claim to be incorrect, provided there is full disclosure in the manner I have demonstrated above. If you would like me to add your story email me.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
Today, I'm going to begin what may become a series regarding World of Warcraft account actions taken by Blizzard, and documenting the outcome of this. As I have no other experiences to relate at the moment, I will relate instead the account action taken against me right now.
As of Monday, 8/31/2009, at 10:33 AM MDT (Mountain Daylight Time), my account was suspended. The first email I received informed me that my battle.net account had been reset, and that a new password was required. A copy of that email is shown entirely below, with account and sensitive information removed.
From: Blizzard Entertainment (noreply@battle.net)
Sent: Mon 8/31/09 10:33 AM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: Battle.net Account - Password Reset
Battle.net Account - Password Reset
We have reset the password for the Battle.net account associated with this email address. To choose a new password, please click the following link and follow the instructions:
[REDACTED]
If you did not request the reset, it is possible that this Battle.net account has been accessed by someone not authorized to do so. If you notice issues with the Battle.net account or associated games after logging in with your new password, please contact the appropriate support department for assistance immediately: http://us.blizzard.com/support/index.xml?gameId=11
Please remember that it is your responsibility to keep your login information confidential. You may not share access to the account with anyone who is not expressly permitted in the Battle.net Terms of Use and the Terms of Use for the games you play. You are also responsible for every use of your login information, whether you have authorized it or not.
Billing and Account Services can be reached directly at 1-800-592-5499. Players in Australia and Singapore should call 1-800-041-378 and 800-2549927 respectively if unable to connect via the first number. Our representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 8:00AM and 8:00PM Pacific Time.
We encourage you to keep the following security tips in mind when playing an online game on any computer:
- Use up-to-date firewall, antivirus, and anti-spyware software, and scan your system regularly for viruses, Trojans, and key loggers.
- Keep your operating system and other software up-to-date, and be careful when downloading new software.
- Be wary of “spoof” and scam websites and e-mails that pose as Blizzard Entertainment and request account or personal information. As a reminder, Blizzard Entertainment representatives will *never* ask you for your password.
- Use separate, unique passwords for your email, Battle.net account, and any other online accounts.
- Change your passwords regularly and keep Battle.net account information updated using the Account Management page at http://www.battle.net/account
For additional security tips and information, please visit the following site:
- Account Security: http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=26328
If you are looking for an added layer of security, we currently offer the Authenticator, an optional second line of defense that can help prevent unauthorized account access. For more information about how the Authenticator works or how to add one to an account, please visit the Authenticator Information page at http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/24986.
Thank you,
Blizzard Entertainment
Less than one minute after receiving that email, I also received the following email:
From: WoWAccountAdmin@blizzard.com
Sent: Mon 8/31/09 10:39 AM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: World of Warcraft Account Notice - Final Warning
English speaking customers: Please refer to the start of this mail
Para los clientes españoles: Por favor vayan hasta el fin de este correo electrónico
* * * NOTICE OF FINAL WARNING * * *
Account Name: [REDACTED]
Account Action: 72 Hour Suspension
Reason for Action: Terms of Use Violation - Economy Exploitation
After a thorough investigation, we have found that a player of the account listed above participated in activities designed to gain an unfair advantage in the World of Warcraft economy.
These activities violate the World of Warcraft Terms of Use. We ask that you take a moment to review these terms at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html.
You may not perform any acts that we consider to be damaging to World of Warcraft. A stable economy is essential for any realm to be successful. Any attempts to manipulate the economy in exploitive ways can have a large negative impact on many players.
This action has been taken in accordance with the Terms of Use and our In-Game Policies (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/20309). Note that additional policy violations may result in more severe actions against this account, up to and including permanent closure.
A new, randomly generated password will be emailed to you shortly. After you have successfully logged in to World of Warcraft with this new password, please go to the Account Management page (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/account/) and create a new, secure password. For tips on selecting a secure password, visit http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/21130.
It can take up to one hour for our system to generate and send the new password. If you have not received a password within one hour of this message’s delivery, please check your Spam, Junk or Suspect Mail folders.
If you are still unable to locate the email containing your new password, please contact us using this form: http://us.blizzard.com/support/webform-us.xml.
Only the Account Administration department can address disputes or questions you may have about this account action. To learn more about how we are able to assist you, please visit us at http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/21505.
Regards,
Account Administration
Blizzard Entertainment
www.WorldOfWarcraft.com
----
***Advertencia Final***
Nombre de cuenta: [REDACTED]
Acción de cuenta: Cuenta suspendida 72 horas
Tipo de incidente: Violación de Condiciones de Uso - Explotación de la Economía
Después de una investigación encontramos que un jugador de la cuenta mencionada así arriba participó en actividades diseñadas para ganar una ventaja injusta sobre la economía de World of Warcraft.
Esas actividades violan las Condiciones de Uso para World of Warcraft. Quisiéramos que tome un momento para revisar esas condiciones en http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/na/legal/termsofuse.xml
Usted no puede tomar parte en actividades que consideramos ser perjudicial para World of Warcraft. Una economía estable es esencial para cualquier reino. Cualquier intento de manipular la economía en forma de explotación puede tener un gran impacto negativo entre muchos jugadores.
Esta acción ha sido tomada en acuerdo con las Condiciones de Uso (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/es/legal/termsofuse.html) y normas de nuestro juego (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=23596). La suscripción periódica en la cuenta ha sido incapacitada para prevenir los cargos adicionales.
Lamentamos tener que tomar este tipo de decisiones, pero hemos establecido que en este caso es la mejor solución para así preservar el bienestar de nuestra comunidad y la integridad del juego. Las violaciones contra las cuentas asociadas con la explotación han resultado en la clausura de la cuenta mencionada así arriba.
Una contraseña nueva, generada aleatoriamente será enviada a su correo electrónico en breve. Una vez que haya accedido satisfactoriamente a World of Warcraft con esta nueva contraseña, por favor vaya a la página de Gestión de Cuenta. (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/account/) y crear una nueva contraseña segura. Para obtener consejos sobre cómo seleccionar una contraseña segura, visite (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article/22394).
Puede tomarse hasta una hora para que nuestro sistema genere y envíe la nueva contraseña. Si no ha recibido una contraseña dentro de una hora desde cuando recibió este mensaje, por favor revise su spam, junk mail o carpetas sospechosas.
Si sigue sin poder localizar la dirección de correo electrónico que contiene su nueva contraseña, póngase en contacto con nosotros utilizando el siguiente formulario: (http://us.blizzard.com/support/webform-us.xml).
Si quisiera disputar o si tiene una pregunta sobre esta acción de cuenta, solo puede ser dirigido al departamento de Administración de Cuentas. Para más información en cómo este departamento puede ayudarle, por favor visite el sitio (http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=24688)
Saludos,
Departamento de Administración de Cuenta
Blizzard Entertainment
Immediately concerned and confused by the emails, I sent back a response to the account after reading the emails that afternoon. That email is included below, minus the in-line citation of the email just referenced.
From: [REDACTED]
Sent: Mon 8/31/09 4:02 PM
To: wowaccountadmin@blizzard.com
Subject: RE: World of Warcraft Account Notice - Final Warning
Hello,
I received this notice regarding a suspension, and I am admittedly surprised. I would like to be certain that any violation is addressed on my end as well, but in order to determine what caused the violation to occur, I will require more information on the nature of the violation. Would it be possible for me to get more information on exactly what this economy exploitation was? As I have never purchased nor sold gold or items for real-world gain, I am uncertain what this exploit would be.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
[SIGNATURE REDACTED]
I received back, almost immediately, an automated response included below.
From: donotreply@blizzard.com
Sent: Mon 8/31/09 4:06 PM
To: [REDACTED]
Subject: World of Warcraft – Account Administration
Thank you for contacting the Account Administration team regarding this issue. This is an automated email to let you know that we have received your inquiry. Please do not reply to this email; a response to your message will be sent to you as soon as possible.
While we will attempt to address all concerns as promptly as possible, it may be several days before we are able to respond depending on the total inquiries we receive. We must ask that no additional emails be submitted regarding this issue, as additional emails will ultimately result in undue delays in response time.
In the meantime, we offer other forms of support that are immediately available to you while we process your email.
======================================================
Website Support:
A wide variety of Account Administration questions and answers are available on our web site at: http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowaa
======================================================
======================================================
Server Status Forum:
If you cannot log onto World of Warcraft, you may want to check the Server Status Forum for current maintenance downtime and information at: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/board.html?sid=1&forumId=11113
======================================================
======================================================
Game Masters:
Game Masters (GMs) are Blizzard Entertainment personnel that are available in-game to assist you with your gameplay related questions, problems, etc. Learn more about Game Masters, including how to contact them at http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowgm/
======================================================
======================================================
Best regards,
World of Warcraft Account Administration Team
http://www.blizzard.com/support/wowaa
Blizzard Entertainment
After looking into what "economy exploit" is, I initially believed it could be related to my use of the Auctioneer add-on for World of Warcraft. However, forum posts related to Auctioneer on the Customer Support forums all repeatedly indicate that action has not been taken related to this add-on in the past, and would not likely contribute. Since I have no other add-ons related to gameplay or the economy, it was not likely that I had done something inadvertent through an add-on.
I then figured someone may have accessed my account without my permission in order to perform such actions. Immediately concerned regarding my characters' equipment and status, I checked their equips through WoW Armory and found that they all seemed to be intact. A friend then graciously checked the guild roster for me in game to determine that my accounts had not been signed in after I left that morning. Since there had also never been characters I didn't recognize, and my characters all logged back in at the same place I logged out, it didn't seem likely that my account had been hijacked. A scan of my system using AdAware from LavaSoft did not find any vulnerabilities or malicious code. The system also is kept up to date constantly through automated patching. It does not seem likely that the account was hijacked.
The final possibility I've found relates to buying and selling gold or power-leveling services for the game. This is a practice which has been offered to me many times in game, and more than once I've told the purveyors that I do not condone their activities and would not like to be contacted again. I personally do not believe there is a purpose to having someone else play the game for me and my guild members can attest to the fact that I am against easy leveling or receiving gifts of gold even within the acceptable interpretation of the terms of service.
At this time, I am left waiting for a response, which could come after my reinstatement. However, without knowing what the reason was behind my ban, I am very concerned about signing back in. If I am inadvertently acting against the Terms of Service without knowing what the infringing action is, I am unable to correct the situation and would face more serious action.
So, I will update this blog as I receive more information, and I am willing to answer any questions that someone has regarding my actions, or for more information. I am also willing to host an open area for other account owners who have action taken against them which they claim to be incorrect, provided there is full disclosure in the manner I have demonstrated above. If you would like me to add your story email me.
In time, this and all things will pass into eternity.
Zalmoran (US - Kirin Tor)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)