Authenticators back in stock
by Krystalle Voecks 
Jan 7th 2009 at 7:00PM
For those of you who have been patiently waiting, trying to catch them in stock - good news! The Blizzard store is currently showing that there are authenticators back in stock for your ordering pleasure. As if that weren't awesome enough, it's not just the United States authenticators that are available and ready for purchase. It seems Blizzard has stocked up across the board as they're showing that the authenticator is available for That said, your guess is as good as ours as to how long the current stock might last. (Read: probably not long if history is any indication.) So if you forgot to pick up a present for that WoW player in your life and are looking for a way out of the post-holiday doghouse (or just need one for yourself) head on over to the Blizzard store and get your authenticator ordered - quickly.
Update: Looks like the Canadian ones are gone as of 7:26 PM.
[Via the WoW LJ]
Filed under: News items, Hardware, Account Security
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
sehlis Jan 7th 2009 7:09PM
I just received mine in the mail today. Just a heads up though, don't expect the speediest of delivery on these things. I ordered mine on Dec. 20, I got an email on Dec. 27th saying it was shipped, and it didn't show up until Jan. 7th. It was post marked Jan. 1st. Oh well, guess I should be happy it finally showed up. :-)
btom14 Jan 7th 2009 7:16PM
Just got mine ordered. Thanks for the heads up!
Sella Jan 7th 2009 7:16PM
I swear by the authenticator--especially since our guild leader's account was hacked not long ago. It's invaluable and absolutely necessary--and at a great price. However, I agree with sehlis--the authenticators do take a while to come in the mail.
Bragaulicious Jan 7th 2009 7:18PM
CANADA sold out already :(
Spicyness Jan 7th 2009 7:20PM
Perhaps this a question for the queue and perhaps this defeats the purpose but here is my problem.
My girlfriend and I both have WoW accounts. We also have a tendency to use the other's accounts. I use hers while shes at school and she uses mine while I'm at work.
This is ussually as simple as logging in to transfer mage water or during Halloween I was logging both characters in every hour to trick or treat.
Now ideally I'd setup two authenticators per account. One for each of us per account. Is this even a possibility?
S Jan 7th 2009 8:26PM
Unfortunateley not. The account can only be shackled with 1 authenticator at a single time. You can unshackle and shackle a different one by providing the code on the back of the currently tied authenticator, Typing the code from the current authenticator, or providing a LOT of personal information.
Personally I would suggest attaching the authenticator to a big stick so that neither takes the authenticator with them.
Boydboyd Jan 7th 2009 9:41PM
TL:DR version - This practice is not allowed.
More importantly, Spicyness, is this...
The activity you describe is completely, 100% illegal.
I know, everyone is going to want to flame me. You're looking at this now thinking, "Who is this Boydboyd? He doesn't know what he's talking about. /FLAME ON!" To tell you the truth though, every time you patch or install the game you have to do one thing, twice.
EULA - You are required to read the document in full and click "I Agree" at the bottom.
TOS - You are required to read the document in full and click "I Agree" at the bottom.
Not many people actually read those, do they? Shame on you if you don't!
I know it's not what you want to hear. But let my comment be a warning to you that Blizzard is onto this kind of activity.
There's no arguing about it though; Blizzard's stance is rock solid on this one. My wife and I have four accounts (two apiece).
She does NOT know my passwords, nor do I know hers. We could start a long discussion about privacy, privacy between married people, etc., but Blizzard, quite frankly, doesn't give a flippin' patooty what you may think about your rights you deserve by being married or otherwise.
Simply put: wives, brothers, boyfriends, girlfriends, aunts, husbands, best friends, etc. CANNOT share accounts... not under ANY circumstances.
The only thing that is actually allowed is for a minor and the minor's parent to know the password to an account that the adult is letting his/her child play on. That's it.
I'm sorry that I've sailed the Bad News Boat into this party, but those are the cold, hard facts.
It would actually behoove folks to reread the EULA and TOS every time we patch; Blizzard reserves the right to change those at any time, even without notice. I'd hate to have my account suspended indefinitely simply because I scrolled to the bottom and didn't bother to read. :-)
[Wall of Text] crits you for 18,773 damage.
/begin correcting me
tar Jan 7th 2009 10:12PM
What you say is true Boydboyd, however if my girlfriend was a minor...
uhh, nevermind
Muse Jan 7th 2009 10:43PM
Boydboyd speaks the truth. Trust the love of your life with your body and soul, but not with your world of warcraft account.
Talon Jan 7th 2009 10:58PM
I lost an account for sharing it, I never plan to tell anyone my password again. Blizzard won't actively hunt people who are sharing accounts, but if you ever get hacked and they look into your account you run a real risk of being banned. I was once, oh well I started over.
etherealG Jan 8th 2009 12:24PM
actually Boydboyd, you are completely wrong. Blizzard have a policy that you are completely allowed to share an account with a direct family member who you live with. If you're not sure I'm telling the truth go ask a GM. Me and my wife share accounts completely, and there's nothing wrong with it according to blizzard.
rich Jan 7th 2009 7:21PM
If there's a separate one for Canada/Latin America, shouldn't the "North American" one you speak of be "United States"?
Krystalle Voecks Jan 7th 2009 7:25PM
Touche. Shows what I get for being so "woo! Must go post before they disappear!" and not proofing myself.
Bad blogger. No cookie. :(
Elsinore Jan 7th 2009 7:23PM
While I have one of these, with all of the hacking that goes on in different MMOs, I can't believe that some company hasn't put an authenticator type item in their start up box. Jack the price $5 and save a lot of headaches down the line.
Boydboyd Jan 7th 2009 9:44PM
This wouldn't make sense, Elsinore.
If Blizzard put an authenticator in every box think of how many of those things you'd have lying around.
The authenticators, by design, can be attached to multiple accounts. Buy one and attach your account(s) to it. If one was in every box, including expansions, there would be a lot of money being wasted; by Blizzard and yourself.
grreymage Jan 7th 2009 7:26PM
No you cant use 2 authenticators on the same account, sorry. But you can use 1 authenticator on 2 accounts. At least thats what the FAQ at Blizzard says.
Ordered mine at 0630 this morning. Currently I have my account locked after 3 separate attacks on it the past 3 weeks. I'll reopen it after I get the authenticator. And yes I have 3 separate malware programs running so its not on my end. I have high hopes that the authenticator will end these attacks.
Gnosh Jan 8th 2009 2:45PM
"And yes I have 3 separate malware programs running so its not on my end."
Spoiler:
Yes it is
Don't use multiple system-scanning programs at the same time, ESPECIALLY when they're scanning for the same thing. Unless, that is, you ENJOY malware and viruses sneaking in while the programs bicker.
Wulf Jan 7th 2009 7:28PM
I swear by mine as well... I managed to buy two in June, and then got two more at BlizzCon (/facepalm). It's no major hassle at all to use them, just don't lose it.
...and for the tinfoil hat-wearing conspiracists and those who are incapable of parsing the term "personal responsibility"; Yes, Blizzard sells these for $6.50. You are not required to buy one. Having worked with VASCO previously, I'd be surprised if Blizz wasn't selling these at a loss.
Your account security is YOUR responsibility. If you tell your wife/brother/priest your account name, if you don't keep your antivirus/malware up to date, you have no one to blame but yourself.
It is not Blizzard's place to secure YOUR computer or account. The fact that they even make tokens available is a far cry above what anyone else is doing.
Matazuma Jan 7th 2009 7:27PM
Sold out for Canada.
And I bet in that US will be sold out before midnight.
Deadly. Off. Topic. Jan 9th 2009 2:56PM
Why can't they just package stuff like this so we can go buy it? I would love to have one, but I don't want to pay 50 bucks to have it mailed over when it only costs 6 bucks or so. (Give or take exchange rate)