As if all of us didn’t have enough problems in our lives, 2011 was the year that we all kept dutiful watch on our bank accounts, and why not? One by one, companies appear to be falling to malicious hackers breaking in and making off with databases of passwords, user names, addresses, and encrypted credit cards. Hard to believe only six months ago we thought this was just an issue with Sony’s security, but as the year progressed the developers dropped like dominoes.
I think I might just switch to game time cards for any MMO that utilizes it, I can’t say I feel safe anymore allowing MMO developers to have my credit card details, regardless of if the data is encrypted or not. Call me paranoid, but considering the whole system of identity theft works on the idea of “it just takes one time,” I’m not willing to risk it.
But the dominoes have not finished falling, and I think 2012 will show us that where there is a will, there is a way. And where there is a way, there is a guy with a sledgehammer willing to tear it all down. And if this inspires developers to beef up their security, more power to them. Me? I’ll be over here with my tinfoil hat, money stuffed in the mattress, and shotgun loaded and pointed at the e-statement on my computer monitor.
MMO Fallout 