FCP Bob 1,312 Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 I was contacted by Poker Stars to be a beta tester of some new security features that Poker Stars has coming in the future and the e-mail below I received a few days ago and I think you might be interested.At least one other FCPer is also involved in the testing.Look at the P.S. as well for information on some of the features of the software update coming tomorrow.From: gamesecurity@pokerstars.com Subject: Account Security Enhancements - Beta Testing Starting MondayTo: MeReceived: Friday, December 5, 2008, 4:34 AMHello,I'm writing to follow up on the forthcoming PokerStars beta-testing of newaccount security enhancements. Let me provide some further information on this.1) Firstly, in regards to confidentiality, we respect you as an activeparticipant in the poker community, and you're welcome to tell anyone andeveryone about your participation in this project.We'll have a series of questions throughout this project seeking yourfeedback, and there's nothing secret about this. We're seeking yourhonest feedback, so if you do write anything publicly, we'd appreciate ifyou let us know so we can read it and address any concerns you might have.Of course, this is just an initial beta-test, so we expect that noteverything will be perfect. Please keep that in mind, and let us know what wecan improve. 2) There will be two parts of these Account Security Enhancements that will bevisible to you as a player. They are the RSA Security Token and a newPokerStars PIN.3) You can read more about RSA Security Tokens generally athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_tokenThe RSA Security Token will help to combat key loggers by requiring someonelogging into the account to have the RSA Security Token physically with them,upgrading account security to a 'two factor authentication' - somethingyou know (your password) and something you have (your token). This will be abig step forward. 4) In addition, we're going to be enhancing what we currently call our'Secure ID' and reforming it to be a new 'PokerStars PIN'(renamed to avoid confusion with the RSA Security Token codes) - this will besimilar to some of the banks that use a keypad that you need to click on thescreen. This won't provide security as strong as the RSA Security Token,but will be an alternative option for those people that desire something alittle simpler.5) To get the RSA Security Token to you, we will need to mail it to you. Please ensure that your mailing address is up to date. To change your mailingaddress, select "Account" from the lobby menu bar, then click on "Change Account", "Change MailingAddress...".However players are not permitted to change their country of residence via thePokerStars software. If you need to change your country of residence, pleaseemail us back with the correct country and we will update your account manually.6) At any time, please feel free to email gamesecurity@pokerstars.com with anyfeedback, comments or queries on this project. That will help our colleagues inSupport pass the email to the right person.7) We expect that the Windows real money (PokerStars.COM) client will bedeployed at around 8am on Monday December 8, PokerStars Server Time. If you donot receive an update to your PokerStars client after that time, please run thefile 'PokerStarsUpdate.exe' in your PokerStars program folder (probably'C:\Program Files\PokerStars\'). Depending on our otherdeployments (to the .NET client and the Macintonsh software) it is possible thatthe software may be delayed a few hours.8) The changes will not be immediately apparent in the PokerStars client -later in the day, once the updated client has been successfully deployed,I'll set your account privileges to reveal a new option in the'Account' menu in the PokerStars lobby. It will be titled 'LoginSettings'. It may take several days for the RSA Security Tokens to get toyou, so initially you'll only be able to play around with the new PokerStarsPIN service.Sincerely,Michael JPokerStars Game Security TeamP.S. Other upgrades that will be included in this update of the clientinclude a beta of a new "Slick" black table theme in two variants;more time zones support, including PST, GMT and others; Satellite listings intournament lobby; Extended options to block tournament announcements; Stage 1 ofnew enhancements to reduce Datamining Link to post Share on other sites
AcesUp46 0 Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 RSA tokens are a great step forward for Stars. Definitely worth the trouble if you have anything more than like 10K in your account. Link to post Share on other sites
gibler321 1 Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 seems a little confusing. i think the mailing thing will be a bad idea. Link to post Share on other sites
AcesUp46 0 Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 seems a little confusing. i think the mailing thing will be a bad idea.That's how a lot of banks are currently doing their Internet banking service. I've been using it for the past couple of years. Also use it to access my company network & email from outside of my office.Even if the token gets sent to someone else, the person who receives it will not be able to do anything. He needs to know your Stars user ID and password in order to log on.The RSA tokens are basically an additional layer of security. To log in, you first key in your Stars ID + password. Then you are prompted to key in the number sequence that is currently being displayed on your token. Only then can you access your account. The number sequence changes randomly every minute or so. Link to post Share on other sites
bdc30 0 Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 That's a great step forward in the online poker realm. I disagree with whoever said it would be worth it for people with ~10k in their accounts though. This should be the standard for anyone who plays regularly. No matter if your roll is $500, $5000 or $50,000...I'm sure having your computer hacked and your entire roll stolen from you would be a huge pain in the ass. If/when this is rolled out to the masses, I will be very seriously considering moving my play back to stars, rakeback or no rakeback from ftp. Link to post Share on other sites
AcesUp46 0 Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 I disagree with whoever said it would be worth it for people with ~10k in their accounts though. This should be the standard for anyone who plays regularly. No matter if your roll is $500, $5000 or $50,000...I'm sure having your computer hacked and your entire roll stolen from you would be a huge pain in the ass.Someone who has only like $100 in their account would find it a real pain to have to log in using the token, or having to deal with getting a replacement token if they lose it. So for these ppl, I suppose they would prefer to stick to the current method of ID + password. But I do see your point about it being the standard for anyoen who plays regularly.For Stars, this is actually quite a big decision to take, on whether or not to roll it out to the masses. The benefit is that the player's money is kept safe and he feels secure about it (and about online poker). The downside is that it may turn off new signups as it may be too troublesome to start playing.Of course, it seems that Stars is taking the route of making it optional, at least for now. So the downside is a non-issue.Whatever the case is, I'm in full agreement with you that this is a very good thing! It'll only be a matter of a few months before FullTilt and the other major sites start doing the same thing. Link to post Share on other sites
RDog 0 Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 I got the same email and will be Beta testing for this as well. I think it is a great step forward and am excited Stars is being very pro-active on security features. Link to post Share on other sites
Moneyball16 0 Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 I like this idea very much. I am irrationally paranoid about someone hacking my account.I wonder if it will cost anything to get this. I hope Stars gives them away free if you have over x amount in your account but even if they don't I cant imagine not getting one. Link to post Share on other sites
RDog 0 Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 I like this idea very much. I am irrationally paranoid about someone hacking my account.I wonder if it will cost anything to get this. I hope Stars gives them away free if you have over x amount in your account but even if they don't I cant imagine not getting one.I'm not 100% sure but I don't think it will cost anything. Stars probably spends a lot of manpower trying to "fix" hacking incidents after the fact so I'm guessing they are thinking long term it will save them money. Link to post Share on other sites
bdc30 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 It'll only be a matter of a few months before FullTilt and the other major sites start doing the same thing.You haven't sent ftp support an email lately have you? Have a look in the FTP updates thread on 2p2 - shit they've been trying to implement for like a year plus is still getting backed up (ring game filter, hand history window, etc). The odds of ftp having anything close to this in place by year end 2009 are NOT good. Link to post Share on other sites
NoSup4U 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Why can't Stars just update their GUI to a reasonable level? I want to switch back so much but I just can't take playing on their interface.Mark Link to post Share on other sites
TB17 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 wait so if you want someone to log on your acct, like in an emergency, you'd have to tell them whats on your token? I'm sorta confused. Link to post Share on other sites
Flushgarden 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 As long as it's not too much trouble to log in/create a new account it's a good thing. Link to post Share on other sites
king1305 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 wait so if you want someone to log on your acct, like in an emergency, you'd have to tell them whats on your token? I'm sorta confused.This and..What if you aren't at home and don't have your token with you or you forgot it before a trip, etc? No play for you?and +1 to Mark saying if they changed their interface would be moving my play there. Plus let me see the damn cards when the money gets all-in during a cash game. PLEASE. Link to post Share on other sites
Lrgetrout 1 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 wait so if you want someone to log on your acct, like in an emergency, you'd have to tell them whats on your token? I'm sorta confused. This and..What if you aren't at home and don't have your token with you or you forgot it before a trip, etc? No play for you?It sounds like if you choose to use a RSA token, the answer to both of these would be yes. However, it sounds like the RSA token is optional.EDIT: I could also conceivably see the RSA token setting as toggleable (likely requiring you to enter it again to remove it), so maybe not. In any case, you would at least need the token to turn it off.Plus let me see the damn cards when the money gets all-in during a cash game. PLEASE.+1 Link to post Share on other sites
mln_falcon 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Why can't Stars just update their GUI to a reasonable level? I want to switch back so much but I just can't take playing on their interface.MarkAs someone who prefers Stars layout, I always wonder what people want when they say this. About the only thing that FTP does that Stars doesn't that I can remember off the top of my head is have a button that resets the table back to the default size. Link to post Share on other sites
SCYUKON 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I have used the RSA tokens for the last 8 years or so at work. They can be a pain if you don't use them for a while, as they tend to fall out of sync - so then you have to get ahold of someone at stars to "resync" you, so to speak.At any rate, a good security feature for the higher rollers, no doubt. Link to post Share on other sites
jeff_536 3 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I find stars relatively customizable as far as the look goes. It's certainly better than the cartoony FTP. I keep mine simple with the black lobby.The one thing I wish they'd add is F-keys for fold/call/bet or raise (limit games). Poker room had that and I found it very convenient. Link to post Share on other sites
AcesUp46 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I find stars relatively customizable as far as the look goes. It's certainly better than the cartoony FTP. I keep mine simple with the black lobby.The one thing I wish they'd add is F-keys for fold/call/bet or raise (limit games). Poker room had that and I found it very convenient.You can download AHK scripts for that. Link to post Share on other sites
Whatever 1 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 I want to switch back so much but I just can't take playing on their interface.If the speed of hands dealt is relatively the same then you're saying you can't play there because of the LOOK? What??? Link to post Share on other sites
RDog 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 As someone who prefers Stars layout, I always wonder what people want when they say this. About the only thing that FTP does that Stars doesn't that I can remember off the top of my head is have a button that resets the table back to the default size.Yeah, I don't have any clue how someone could find FT's interface better. I do agree about showing the cards after everyone is all in though. My guess is that is a datamining issue.The Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the NFL. Link to post Share on other sites
suicideking 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 The Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the NFL.Die. Link to post Share on other sites
suicideking 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 You can download AHK scripts for that.What dis? Link to post Share on other sites
RDog 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Die.Uh......you should probably look around.The Pittsburgh Steelers are the best team in the NFL. Link to post Share on other sites
hot4patrik 0 Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 good to see sites trying to make poker safer to play. that 60 minutes thing really scared me. Link to post Share on other sites
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