Steam Tapping Into Intel's ID Protection Tech
Valve has revealed a new security measure for Steam called Stream Guard.
Thursday Valve Software revealed a new secondary authentication method for Steam and Steamworks called Steam Guard. This added security component will "greatly increase account security" by allowing users to link account management to a specific PC.
According to Valve, Steam Guard will be made possible by the use of Intel's upcoming Identity Protection Technology (Intel IPT), an encrypted, hardware-based feature available with the new 2nd Generation Intel Core and Intel Core vPro processors. Unfortunately, that bit of info seems to indicate that Steam Guard will be useless on current Intel and all AMD processors until an alternative to IPT is released.
"Account phishing and hijacking are our #1 support issues," said Gabe Newell, President of Valve. "With Intel's IPT and Steam Guard, we've taken a big step towards giving customers the account security they need as they purchase more and more digital goods."
IPT generates a new numerical password every 30 seconds, integrating into the processor functionality that previously required a separate card or key fob. Users will be notified by Steam Guard if any PCs other than those authorized by them attempt to log into or modify their account settings. The new feature is now available to third parties to incorporate into their own applications through Steamworks, Valve said.
"We expect to see widespread adoption of hardware-based security like Intel IPT by other service providers," said Doug Lombardi, Valve's Vice President of Marketing. "If as a customer you are buying movies, music, games, or digital goods, you want to know that they are more secure than your physical goods."
Currently it's unknown what will happen to accounts when Steam Guard is activated and the linked PC goes down in flames, or how the service will notify the account holder of suspicious tampering. Valve's Burton Johnsey has noted the outstanding questions, saying that Valve will "provide more information in the near future that should clear up some of these questions and the surrounding confusion."
UPDATE: Steam Guard is now available in beta form. To access the beta, simply launch the Steam client and head to the Accounts tab in Settings menu. Users must then change the beta participation status to "Steam" (if it's not already set) and then re-start the client. For those who don't have the required Intel processor to support IPT, Steam Guard will use email-based authentication instead.
Steam Guard will soon offer other forms of secondary authentication, Valve added Friday. In the meantime, the official Steam Guard FAQ can be accessed here.
The only hack I see is if someone creates a hijack service man-in-the-middle type hack. It would require the victims PC to be on live in order to work though.
I think it will still work the same and you'll be able to share your accounts they way you always have. You'll be able to opt in to locking "account management" to a specific computer if you wish. That means some jerk can't hijack your account and change your passwords, spend your money, etc.
That is if I understand this correctly.
Big Brother gets you when you least expect it. Through gaming!!! Muahahaha!!!
Really? becuase it's shitty games that don't make me want to buy games =p
Time to go download a game on my Stream account with Stream Guard. That I can play through Stream. They have this thing called spell check you know...
It seems that this will work one more than one PC (Im sure one at a time). You just get to control the short list.
I'm confused Stream is spelled correctly. Spell checkers don't replace proof reading.
+1
Crysis 2 seems that it might fit this description. $60 for what exactly. Oh thats right its NOT a console port and the graphics are SOOO much better than the 1st one...
i hope the communist's/nazi's at steam make it so the game can only be played from a specific processor ID linked to that game and kill off their user base!
Gotta love how nubs only read what they want from an article
I buy games that are used or older and cost less.