Account Security Guide

[Harrington]

My first guide... hope it's ok ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

 

 

 

Password & P.C. Security

 

 

 

Misc' Security Measures

 

 

 

Scams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview

 

 

 

There is little that I despise more than someone stealing another player's account. A Runescape account represents a LOT of time and energy and it's heartbreaking to lose your items or account in its entirety.

 

 

 

So here's a guide to help you secure your account.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a fair amount of relatively low level hacking experience and I honestly know what I'm talking about. I hope you take most of what you're about to read seriously. If this guide saves just one account, then it was worth the time I spent writing it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Password Security & Countermeasures

 

 

 

Probably the most common way to lose an account on Runescape is for your password to fall into the wrong hands. Now there's lots of way this can happen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Keylogger or other trojan somehow finding its way onto your computer. This can happen a number of ways.

 

 

 

* Accidentally downloaded as part of another program (usually a supposed RS utility such as an autominer or interface program)

 

 

 

+ Perform regular virus scans and keep the virus definitions up to date. Download an reputable and recommended Malware or Adware application ( I use Adaware). Avoid ALL runescape utility programs. The majority of them are malicious.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 An unsecure internet browser which simply isn't up to date or has the security settings turned down too low

 

 

 

+ Ensure that your Autoupdates are enabled and that you allow Microsoft to update you with the lastest patches. Depsite the press, MS really are the best and most secure browsers. Also ensure that your browser security settings are set to high.

 

 

 

Java Permissions - HIGH

 

 

 

Access Data Sources Across Domains - DISABLED

 

 

 

Active Controls - OFF (unless trusted site)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 Someone simply overseeing you enter your password, typically on a shared computer at school, college, work etc...

 

 

 

+ Obviously, have a look around and make sure no one is looking. Also, log out when you leave your computer! Simple common sense here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Your password is very easy to guess

 

 

 

+ Use a mix of numbers and letters.

 

 

 

BAD: MYPASSWORD

 

 

 

OK : MYPASSWORD12

 

 

 

GOOD : 12MYPASSWORD13

 

 

 

EXCELLENT : 12MYPAS14SWORD15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. You've used your password on a related website, typically another RS forum such as this one.

 

 

 

+ Never, never, NEVER use your Runescape password on any other website... EVER! No matter how much you trust them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Recovery Questions are Obvious or have been farmed from you.

 

 

 

+ You've answered questions on forums such as "What's your favourite cartoon, or fave colour, or fave book, your first dog's name" etc... These appear to be innocent questions on forums to keep bored RS players entertained, but they're also your RECOVERY QUESTIONS! Don't fall for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just to dispell a myth... Runescape is uber secure. It's virtually impossible for a hacker, however good to mount a direct attack on the main RS servers. The absolute majority of all lost accounts are generally down to user oversights as listed throughout this guide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Misc' Security Measures

 

 

 

Bank PINs

 

 

 

Now I know what you're thinking... "It's a pain in the back side having to enter your PIN every time".

 

 

 

Although it's a little annoying, you only have to do it ONCE, that is, the first time you attempt to access your bank after logging in. It only takes a few seconds to enter your code. So even if someone does somehow access your account despite all the measures taken above, they still can't get into the really good stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bank all

 

 

 

Now this is a bit of pain, but if you're really concerned you can do this. It's a simple of matter of removing all of your items from your character and sticking them in the bank before you log out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recovery Questions

 

 

 

It's essential that you set these up. They may save your account.

 

 

 

The important thing is that you should make your own customised questions rather than the "What's your favourite TV show", as anyone can guess this. Make it something only you will know i.e. "The first girl you really fancied".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCAMMING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I was a little reluctant to adding this section since I don't want to give anyone any ideas. But I'm sure you all know the consequences of being caught by Jagex, so hopefully, you're all mature enough to avoid trying these known scams out for yourself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duplicate An Item

 

 

 

Typical Tag Line

 

 

 

Scammer : "Hey, do you know the cheat that lets you double your items?"

 

 

 

You : "Really? I'm stupid, tell me how"

 

 

 

Scammer : "Drop your item and very quickly hit the Ctrl & F4 keys together. Now you can pick up two items".

 

 

 

In reality, you've just dropped a valuable item while Ctrl + F4 shuts down your browser. Now you have to quickly load up the browser, hope you remember which world you were on and hope that you log in on time, before it spawns in front of the scammer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free Trimming, Crafting, Smithing etc...

 

 

 

Very common. You'll typically see someone shouting, free armour trimming or free dragon hide crafting. In reality they're hoping you'll hand over your items for smithing/crafting etc, so that they can do a runner with them.

 

 

 

For the record, you CANNOT trim armour so don't fall for that obvious one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jagex Hides Your Password

 

 

 

Typical Tag Line

 

 

 

Scammer : "Jagex stars out your password. *****, see?"

 

 

 

Fracking liar. Think about it, what if your password was for example "quest". So you say "Can you help me complete this *****". People would quickly figure out that your password is likely to be "Quest". This is why Jagex don't blank it out incase you use it in common conversation and someone figures out the starred text by it's context.

 

 

 

So the short version is, that Jagex DO NOT hide your password in game conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling Rare Item

 

 

 

Another favourite with the scum is to claim that a relatively unknown item is a rare holiday drop or some such thing.

 

 

 

Typically these items are obsure quest items such as the golden bowl, or hollow reed. Many people who have not yet done the quest are naive enough to believe it and can splash out a lot of cash on a useless item.

 

 

 

To avoid this scam, simply take your time and check the Runescape forums for the REAL price of the supposed rare item.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Selling Jade - 20K"

 

 

 

You may be walking around and see someone selling or buying a relatively unknown item for a large amount of cash.

 

 

 

The way this scam works is that one person stands at one entrance to a town shouting "Buying Jade - 20k". Then when you reach the bank, you see someone shouting "Selling Jade - 10k".

 

 

 

Now you're thinking, "Ah, i I could make a quick 10k here". So you buy the Jade for 10k and head off to find the other guy just find he isn't buying any more. The culprits then split the profit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luring

 

 

 

Typical Tag Line

 

 

 

Scammer : "Hey noob, I found a great place where a ruby spawns every 30 seconds".... or something to that effect

 

 

 

Victim : "Cool, lead the way"

 

 

 

Scammer then typically leads the victim into wildy or Kalphite Queen lair or some other deadly place, where they either kill you or watch you die and then gather up your belongings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trading Item Switch

 

 

 

One of the most common scams in the game.

 

 

 

You buy say 1,000 coal from someone. You put up your money and the scammer puts up 1,000 coal. You hit Accept, and after you do, the scammer drops the amount to 100 hoping that you won't notice the missing zere before you hit Accept for the second time.

 

 

 

Also tends to happen with other expensive items such as people swapping out Guthan Warspear for the Bone Spear etc...

 

 

 

The moral of this, simply take your TIME and make sure you're getting. Ignore any attempts the other player is making to rush you.

[happy123]

Hey nice guide, very handy :mrgreen:

 

 

 

I myself have been a victim for item scamming quite a few times :oops: