We Shouldn't Have to Pay for an Authenticator

#0 - Dec. 15, 2009, 10:39 p.m.

All an authenticator does is reduce the likelihood the account you use is hacked or inappropriately accessed. What people should keep in their minds is that the 'property' they access and use is owned exclusively by Blizzard entertainment, and you have no bundle of rights to anything contained in the account.

So, in short, you are paying money to protect someone else's property. Furthermore, in the case the account is compromised, Blizzard employees are the ones who have to investigate the issue and resolve it. So, by purchasing an authenticator you are saving Blizzard money, not yourself.

You could even argue that Blizzard could save so much money they would not need as many in-game GM's to help out and may let a few go. So, it's possible that, by purchasing an authenticator, you're actually putting some poor soul out on the street during this holiday season.

I'm not trolling - just making an observation. I know the authenticator makes people feel good and safe and ensures they can log in whenever they want and not worry about hacking.

Heck, it's kind of brilliant on Blizzard's part. They make you pay for the service then get you to spend more money to increase security and reduce their costs. That's pretty epic.

Personally, I think Blizzard should be handing these things out to us. Do you think it's too much to ask to have authenticators given to current customers for no cost? Or do you think we should have to buy them?

Bornakk

#63 - Dec. 16, 2009, 7:20 p.m.

Q u o t e:
All an authenticator does is reduce the likelihood the account you use is hacked or inappropriately accessed. What people should keep in their minds is that the 'property' they access and use is owned exclusively by Blizzard entertainment, and you have no bundle of rights to anything contained in the account.

So, in short, you are paying money to protect someone else's property. Furthermore, in the case the account is compromised, Blizzard employees are the ones who have to investigate the issue and resolve it. So, by purchasing an authenticator you are saving Blizzard money, not yourself.

You could even argue that Blizzard could save so much money they would not need as many in-game GM's to help out and may let a few go. So, it's possible that, by purchasing an authenticator, you're actually putting some poor soul out on the street during this holiday season.

I'm not trolling - just making an observation. I know the authenticator makes people feel good and safe and ensures they can log in whenever they want and not worry about hacking.

Heck, it's kind of brilliant on Blizzard's part. They make you pay for the service then get you to spend more money to increase security and reduce their costs. That's pretty epic.

Personally, I think Blizzard should be handing these things out to us. Do you think it's too much to ask to have authenticators given to current customers for no cost? Or do you think we should have to buy them?

The cost of the authenticator if you get it from the Blizzard Store (www.blizzard.com/store) is to handle the shipping of the item. We have tossed them in a goodie bag at BlizzCon, given some out to fan sites, and if you have a cell phone that can handle it, you can download it for free for those.