Are IP addresses originating from a certain area a general threat?

#1 - Oct. 21, 2012, 9:28 p.m.

Let me rephrase something I said (and got infracted for) but I’m still worried about.

This post (and the one before) is not addressed to people of a specific colour, religion or nationaility. It’s about my worries that while the internet is global, law enforcement might be not.

I remember reading an ANet post on this forums that I should be more worried about a failed login attempt from China than I should be from one in my vincinity.

Now, without having the numbers (that ANet has), there is an IP based map of attacks (account thefts, bots, gold sellers, …) that do damage to the game.

Sure, ANet can permanently ban those accounts. And they do in batches as far as I know. But shouldn’t there be legal consequences for those that hacked the game or even worse stole accounts and credit card details?

I’m just not sure, if legislation is able to reach into the “red areas of the map” where most of tha attacks come from.

Please, ANet. Tell us where most of the attacks come from (the map) and what you are doing in cooperation with local authorities to not only ban but also punish attackers.

MikeLewis

#2 - Oct. 22, 2012, 10:31 a.m.

International legal matters are extraordinarily complicated to begin with; and that’s assuming you’re talking about something that both countries involved consider illegal.

Gaile Gray

#8 - Oct. 26, 2012, 12:36 p.m.

anonymouse.9053:
Anyway, it doesn’t matter where they come from since virtually they can come from almost anywhere. Blocking IP addresses is pointless since IP addresses can change, and sometimes legitimate players can be blocked. Also, considering I could play the game using an IP address in many different countries, despite living in the US, I could still play the game even if every IP address in the USA was blocked. So blocking the USA wouldn’t block me, but it would block millions of legitimate players. (NO, I am NOT a gold farmer… lol… I am just using myself as an example)

Blocking specific IP address isn’t the solution. User education about maintaining account security (and not supporting gold farmers!!!), and giving players the tools with which they can maintain that security, is much more effective in the long run.

This is true and helpful to those puzzled by the issue. Thanks for posting.