Hacked! - A Guide To World of Warcraft Account Security

Hacked!

This article was brought to you by The Warcraft Journal Magazine
Account Security

Mysterious things can occur in World of Warcraft, as many players can attest to. Trying to log into your game only to be kicked out moments later. You think to yourself, the servers must be having problems. You log in again, only to have the same thing happen to you. Eventually, you come to find out that you password has changed.
Then you start to panic.
There are even players that don't have the luck to catch them in the act. Some are forced to endure the aftermath and the realization that everything has been stolen.
Hackers. Everyone has heard of them. Most people have probably been told horror stories involving hacked accounts. Perhaps one of your family members, or even you have been subjected to the activities of a hacker.
Account security should be the utmost concern for players. Not only are your characters, items and gold at risk, but your personal information can be recorded and used in a number of ways not intended by you.
There are certain preemptive measures you can undergo to protect yourself from most hackers. Additionally, those who have already been hacked will find this information useful as well.

Never give your password away.

This is a given, and is advised everywhere even on non-gaming sites.
A lot can happen in a relationship where tempers can flare and vindictive things are done. Many players have been burned after giving their account information to a significant other or close friend, only to find out that they stole everything or deleted characters in a fit of rage.
Keep your account information to yourself.
Even if you are giving the password away to someone who is completely trustworthy, they can unknowingly pick up a keylogger virus on various sites around the internet. This virus records keypresses to determine both account name and password. Your friend or family member can transmit this date to hackers who can, in turn, steal your account.
Another good tip is to change your password relatively often such as once a month. This can further prevent hackers from invading your account.

Avoid questionable websites.

It has been said time and time again by Blizzard to avoid World of Warcraft service sites such as gold selling, power leveling or gearing your character. First of all, most of these sites require your account information in order to log in and perform the service. Additionally, a lot of these sites have keylogger viruses embedded into them and can easily steal your password or other information.

Virus scan often.

As mentioned before, viruses can make their way into your computer without you even knowing. Certain viruses can steal your information or transmit data to other parties.
Keep your virus scanner up to date and scan often (once a day or every other day). There are plenty of free virus scanners for those short on cash. Virus scanners are essential for computers, not just for World of Warcraft account securty.

Get an Authenticator.

As of now, there is really no excuse not to have an Blizzard Authenticator attached to your World of Warcraft account(s).
The Authenticator provides a nearly impenetrable defense of your account. Once an Authenticator has been attached to your account, a random string of numbers will be required to access your account (or account information). These numbers are provided to you on your Authenticator. They reset every few seconds and are unique to each login.
If you find you do not have an Authenticator, you have a few options:
- Order the Authenticator from the official Blizzard store (complete with Core Hound graphic!). It costs $6.50 and can take up to 15 business days to arrive.
- Download the Mobile Authenticator for use with iPhone, iPod Touch and Android phones. It is FREE!
Keep in mind the Authenticator is not perfect and while your account is very unlikely to be hacked, it is still possible.
As if total account security wasn't enough, you also get a Core Hound vanity pet when you associate an Authenticator with your account!

Being Hacked?

There are several tell-tale signs of being hacked, or that someone else is being hacked.

- Constant log-ins and outs.
- No or strange responses from the hackee (hacker).
- Constant disconnects.
- Password changed after constant disconnects.
- Missing currency, items or even characters.
- Stripped characters.
- Sudden guild bank dump.
- Emails from Blizzard stating anything from Character Transfer, password change, etc.

If you even think you are being hacked, immediately change your password through the Account Management page on the official World of Warcraft site. Do this while also logging into your account constantly to keep the hacker off for as long as possible.

What to do if it happens to you.

Even if you have followed every one of these tips, there is still a possibility that you can get hacked. Or if you have already been hacked, this information is exceptionally necessary for you.
If you do not have control of your account:

- Immediately reset your password by going to Account Management and then clicking Forgot Password. Click the Battle.net password recovery graphic. Put in your name, and email address that is associated with the Battle.net account. You will also need to know your Secret Answer which you chose when you created your account.

- Investigate your account. Follow the steps below.

If you have control of your account:
- On a different computer, change your password via the Account Management page. Your initial computer could still have a virus, so it is highly recommended that you use a different computer.
- Login to the game and go to the Help Request icon on the micro menu (contains icons for Character, Spellbook, Talents, etc). It is a red question mark. If you can't see it, more than likely one of your mods has overridden the menu. Disabling addons is recommended.
- At the bottom of the menu is "Talk to GM" and "Report a Problem" buttons. You can do either, but choosing "Talk to GM" most of the time gets you faster replies.
- A text box will open asking you to describe your issue.
- You can also email the GM Department at wowgm@blizzard.com.

Include the following information with as much detail as possible either in the GM box or the email.

- State that your Account has been compromised.
- Any information that you can provide such as the events leading up to the discovery of your compromised account, etc.
- The date (preferably time, too) of the hack.
- Whether or not items, characters, currency is missing (this doesn't have to be exact, but as much information as possible is recommended)
- If your guild bank was affected or not
- Anything else the hacker did such as Race Change, Character Re-customization, Server Transfer, Name Changes, or Faction Changes.

Alex
The Warcraft Journal Magazine
www.warcraftjournal.com

Cataclysm Leveling Sellers and New Raw Materials

This article was brought to you by The Warcraft Journal Magazine


Cataclysm Is Here


The third World of Warcraft expansion, Cataclysm brings about many new features including guild leveling, races, class/race combinations and much more. Players of all types are excited to experience these  and the rest of what Cataclysm has to offer. However, most people know that the main focus of the expansion is leveling. Goblins and Worgen will be leveling alongside the Tauren paladins and  Human hunters. In addition, level 80's will be advancing their characters to level 85 and professions will need to reach their max level again. Everyone wants to level as fast as possible and players will be seeking out ways to speed up the process as much as possible with things like food, heirlooms and other stat boosting items.

Even before the release of Cataclysm, players will be searching the Auction House for items that will help them to level faster. Those looking to make gold can supply these players with the items they need and make a profit doing so. These will continue to sell well due to the various waves of alts that will continue to be leveled. High level players normally have quite a bit of gold. They will be spending it on their low level alts as well as on their mains so that they can reach level 85 as soon as possible.

Cataclysm Preparation

This section is for sellable items that players will be purchasing for Cataclysm leveling. Things such as food, bags, potions and other similar items.

Food - You can find gold in both the food item or its materials.
Very Burnt Worg - Worg Haunch x1, Northern Spices x1 (Skill: 400)
Tender Shoveltusk Steak - Shoveltusk Flank x2, Northern Spices x1 (Skill: 400)
Spicy Fried Herring - Fangtooth Herring x1, Northern Spices x1 (Skill: 400)
Spicy Blue Nettlefish - Nettlefish x1, Northern Spices x1 (Skill: 400)
Spiced Worm Burger - Worm Meat x2, Northern Spices x1 (Skill: 400)
Snapper Extreme - Bonescale Snapper x3, Northern Spices x1 (Skill: 400)
Rhinolicious Wormsteak - Worm Meat x1, Rhino Meat x1, Northern Spices x1 (Skill: 400)
Poached Northern Sculpin - Musselback Sculpin x1, Northern Spices x1 (Skill: 400)

Bags - Materials are broken down.
Frostweave Bag (20 Slots) - Frostweave Cloth x60, Infinite Dust x12
Abyssal Bag  (22 Slots) - Frostweave Cloth x60, Infinite Dust x12, Eternal Fire x4, Eternal Shadow x8, Eternium Thread x1
Glacial Bag (22 Slots) - Frostweave Cloth x80, Infinite Dust x16, Eternal Shadow x8, Eternal Life x8, Eternium Thread x1

Potions
Elixir of Lightning Speed - Deadnettle x1, Crystallized Life x1, Crystal Vial x1
Elixir of Deadly Strikes - Goldclover x1, Adder's Tongue x2, Crystal Vial x1
Elixir of Armor Piercing - Tiger Lilly x2, Crystal Vial x1
Elixir of Mighty Mageblood - Goldclover x1, Lichbloom x2, Crystal Vial x1
Runic Healing Potion - Goldclover x1, Lichbloom x2, Crystal Vial x1
Runic Mana Potion - Goldclover x1, Lichbloom x2, Crystal Vial x1

Cataclysm Release
With the release of the expansion, you can gather materials for those looking to power level their profession. The gold potential early on is phenomenal so make sure to get out farming as soon as possible.

Cooking

Fish 
    Inland

Albino Cavefish - Deepholm (Recommended Skill: 550)
Mountain Trout - Mount Hyjal  (Recommended Skill: 575)
Lavascale Catfish - Deepholm and Uldum (Recommended  Skill: 550/650)
Striped Lurker - Mount Hyjal and Twilight Highlands (Recommended Skill: 575/650)
Highland Guppy - Twilight Highlands (Recommended Skill: 650)
Sharptooth - Deepholm, Mount Hyjal, Twilight Highlands, Uldum (Recommended Skill: 550-650)
Blackbelly Mudfish - Uldum (Recommended Skill: 650)

     Coast

Algaefin Rockfish - Twilight Highlands, Told Barad, Vashj'ir (Recommended Skill: 575-650)
Deepsea Sagefish - Twilight Highlands, Tol Barad, Vashj'ir, Uldum (Recommended Skill: 575-675)
Fathom Eel - Tol Barad, Vashj'ir, Uldum (Recommended Skill: 575-650)

Other

Snake Eye - Brinescale Serpent (Kelp'thar Forest) (~56, 36) (NE Kelp'thar)
Monstrous Claw - Crabs in Vashj'ir

Mining

The materials in this section will make you quite a bit of gold because its usefulness in  Blacksmithing, Engineering and Jewelcrafting.
Obsidium - Common mine found in Cataclysm. Will be in the level 80 zones such as Vashj'ir and/or Hyjal. Rich can be found in Deepholm. (~425/~450)
Elementium - Uncommon mine found in Cataclysm. Higher level zones such as Twilight Highlands and Deepholm. (~475/~500)
Pyrite - Rare mine found in Cataclysm. Found in the higher level zones. (~525)
Truegold - Created from Alchemist's Transmutation.
Volatiles
The new 'Eternals' or 'Primals' of Cataclysm. These will be required in many profession recipes.
Volatile Air - Dropped by air elementals in high level zones. Can possibly be extracted from mines (Engineer).
Volatile Earth - Dropped by earth elementals. (Twilight Highlands, Mount Hyjal, Stonecore) Dropped from mines (Elementium/Obsidium).
Volatile Water - Dropped by water elementals. (Twilight Highlands, Vashj'ir) Can be fished up in higher level zones.
Volatile Fire - Dropped by fire elementals. (Twilight Highlands, Stonecore) Dropped from mines (Rich Elementium/Elementium, Pyrite)
Herbs

                The materials here will be useful for both Inscription and Alchemy.

                Cinderbloom - Spawns in fiery areas such as portions of Hyjal and Deepholm. (~425)
                Stormvine - Seems to spawn at the base of other plants. Spawns in both Hyjal and Vashj'ir (~425)
                Heartblossom - Found in Deepholm. (~475)
                Whiptail - Found in Uldum and Tol Barad (~500)
                Azshara's Veil - Found in watery areas in Hyjal and all over Vashj'ir. (~425)
                Twilight Jasmine - Found in Twilight Highlands (~525)
                With all the fresh new content comes new things to sell and more money to be made. Keep supplying materials such as ore and herbs to those who are concentrating on their professions. The value of items will become more clear as time progresses so keep a watchful eye on the Auction House.

Alex
The Warcraft Journal Magazine
www.warcraftjournal.com

Garrosh Hellscream: Guest Post by Warcraft Journal Magazine

This article was brought to you by The Warcraft Journal Magazine

Garrosh Hellscream

The New Warchief 
Aliases: Warchief, Overlord of the Warsong Offensive, Son of Hellscream
Race: Orc
Position: Warchief
Location: Grommash Hold, Orgrimmar (Cataclysm)
Status: ALIVE
The name of Garrosh Hellscream is becoming more and more known to players these days. Information about Cataclysm has been released left and right, with the name of Garrosh coming up more than once. Additionally, Garrosh has existed within the game since at least the Burning Crusade.
Garrosh has quite a name to live up to with his father, Grom Hellscream, being such an important figure among the Horde already. Grom went through a great turmoil at his end, but ultimately redeemed himself. Garrosh has already begun to make a name for himself, but whether it be for the good or otherwise is still to be seen..


Much of Garrosh Hellscream's history is unknown. In the midst of Ner'zhul opening the Dark Portal many years ago, he and his people were sick with a disease known as the red pox. The Mag'har, brown orcs which escaped the Burning Legion's corruption, were wrought with sickness that left them weak and dying. They were belittled and looked down upon even by Kargath Bladefist, a warrior with theShadow Council at the time. He was at Garadar, the home of the sick Mag'har, seeking warriors. Garrosh urged the orc to allow him to fight alongside him and his father, but Kargath refused.

Later on, Garrosh would become an important figure amongst the Mag'har, but his demeanor was one of depression and fear. The orc carried a large weight on his shoulders and it had been bearing down on him for years. Greatmother Geyah, the matriarch of the Mag'har, had grown ill. That alone gave worry to the young Garrosh. Fearing that he would fail his people should he become leader made it that much worse.

Garrosh Hellscream knew of his father's unforgiveable actions, yet had not been made aware that Grom was the savior of the Horde and that he had redeemed himself. This led the son to believe he was fated to follow in his father's footsteps and doom himself and his race.

It isn't until later that he realizes, with the help of the great warchief, Thrall, what Grom had sacrificed in order to free the orcs from the Burning Legion. His redemption meant his death, which he gladly gave up for his people.
Now filled with honor and pride, Garrosh would be ready to lead his people if it came to that. However, Thrall had other plans for the young Mag'har. The warchief brought the son of Grom to Azeroth to be his personal advisor.
Garrosh proved to be quite the advocate for destroying the Alliance at every turn. Thrall and his other advisors, however, were always against such hasty actions. The son would always have a hatred for the other faction and see them as enemies. Thrall believed he could change the orc's mind by bringing him to a meeting with the Alliance king, Varian Wrynn. While the discussions went as well as could be expected with Garrosh in the room, the events immediately following it made the peace between the two factions extremely tense.

After the meeting was concluded, the Twilight's Hammer attacked Theramore, the site of the discussions. Varian Wrynn spotted the half-orc Garona, who had assassinated his father, Llane Wrynn, years ago. The king took this as an attempt on his life while Garrosh was sure that the Alliance themselves had planned this. Both Varian and the orc suspected each other of betrayal, but the group eventually separated peacefully. The son of Grom was frustrated at the outcome of the meeting especially since he felt their honor was wounded by Wrynn.

Garrosh Hellscream continued to be the advisor to the warchief with the hatred of the Alliance burning deep within himself. His rage exploded when a disagreement occured between himself and Thrall. The warchief felt that they needed to speak with Jaina and other members of the Alliance to discuss what they should do about the Scourge forces. Furious, the hotheaded orc challenged Thrall to a duel. Honor forbade the warchief to ignore his request, so the two fought in the Ring of Valor. Garrosh proved to be the more powerful in battle, but before their duel could be finished, Orgrimmar fell under siege. Endless minions of the Scourge, including frostwyrms and abominations, invaded the Horde city.

The warchief and the son of Grom lead the Horde army, including Saurfang and Sylvanas, to victory against the Scourge attack. Garrosh urges Thrall to allow him to lead their forces into Northrend to deal with the Lich King and his undead army. The head orc agrees and Garrosh Hellscream makes his way to the arctic north.
In Northrend, Garrosh is the leader of the Warsong Offensive, stationed in the Borean Tundra and other areas of Northrend. His hotheadedness remains as does his complete abhorrence of the Alliance which is evident in his actions. His primary advisor, High Overlord Varok Saurfang, warns against the young leader's brutal ways in fear that the mistakes of the past will rise up once again. The great warrior promises to end his reign should he continue to advance against the Alliance. Garrosh, obviously intimidated by the older orc, does not challenge his threat.

Garrosh continues to be at odds with the Alliance and their leaders and only slightly sates his lust for their blood with the Argent Tournament. His later activities include being present within the Icecrown Citadel to combat both the Lich King and the opposing faction.

The Warchief

In Cataclysm, Garrosh Hellscream has been appointed to Warchief by Thrall himself. Why the diplomatic shaman would choose such a bloodthirsty and vengeful warmonger is still unknown and it raises questions from all members of Azeroth. Citizens of the Horde can expect many battles with the Alliance with Garrosh as warchief. Even in his infant days as the leader of the Horde, the son of Grom has several situations which he must deal with. The destruction of the world is but one of these issues.
The rise of Garrosh is openly opposed by several of the Horde allies including both the Forsaken and the trolls. Vol'jin shows his hatred in a heated exchange between the warchief and the troll leader. Sylvanas Windrunner conveys her dislike of the orc not only because he put a strict watch on the woman and her people.


The future of the Horde is in Garrosh's hands. Some believe with his bloodthirsty actions he may follow in the path of his father and doom himself and the Horde. Others rally at his feet and believe he is what they have needed for a long time. Only time will tell which one may be right..

Alex
The Warcraft Journal Magazine
Check out Wacraft Journal's Free Trial

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Great article submitted by Alex.  This was a special post for my dedicated readers on this Thanksgiving holiday.  I truly appreciate each and every one of you and highly value your input, questions, and comments.  Thanks for helping to make this blog a success.  May be all grow together in the upcoming Cataclysm.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cold