Account hacked, chars deleted. Way to get chars back?

[Splup]

Heya,

Friend of mine had his account hacked, lost stuff and all characters were deleted.

I know getting the stuff back won't happen.

But is there any chance EA could bring the characters back? Anyone has any experience about this?

And which of EA:s e-mails is the best to contact about this, or is the best way just to go through that "Account Administration: For questions about banned, suspended or hacked accounts, please go here." and fill that form? Also I quess calling isnt bad idea either, but it's weekend now so can't call.

Thanks

 

[Zyron]

From what ive heard, and experienced with friends... No..

how did he get hacked?
I would like to know for others security purposes

 

[Taylor]

That really sucks.

 

[Pawain]

Why would a true hacker delete the characters? Since he now knows the account name wouldnt it best serve him to return yearly and grab stuff.

Sounds more like your friend gave his info away to a "close friend". Now they are enimies and the person struck for meanness.

I doubt any hacking happened.

 

[Experimental]

Why would a true hacker delete the characters? Since he now knows the account name wouldnt it best serve him to return yearly and grab stuff.

Sounds more like your friend gave his info away to a "close friend". Now they are enimies and the person struck for meanness.

I doubt any hacking happened.

Nearly everyone I know in this game in the last 11 years who has been hacked has had their chars deleted.
I think it's kind of an SOP for the hacker, just to add insult to injury.
Besides, how could the theif come back yearly?? Don't you think the pw would have gotten changed????

 

[Lord Drakelord]

if a hack did take place then I suggest getting in touch with the Law.

 

[Splup]

Why would a true hacker delete the characters? Since he now knows the account name wouldnt it best serve him to return yearly and grab stuff.

Sounds more like your friend gave his info away to a "close friend". Now they are enimies and the person struck for meanness.

I doubt any hacking happened.

Yeah was thinking that too. And actually seems like the hacker was not after the items.

He just can't figure out who could have his info and done this, but seems like personal revenge for sure.

edit: But the main thing still is if there's a chance to get chars back.

 

[Xenobia]

EA Customer Support: 1-866-543-5435 I called this number the other day and got an english speaking guy and everything! He was very helpful! It was a different issue but can't hurt to try.

 

[Nine Dark Moons]

That really sucks
Is his house still there? When I got hacked they thankfully didn't delete my chars but they dropped my house just to add insult to injury. Getting hacked is bad enough but losing your house and/or chars can be devastating.

 

[Tina Small]

Any chance he let children play on his account, unsupervised?

 

[Spree]

if a hack did take place then I suggest getting in touch with the Law.

Calling the police will do nothing. They didn't even go look at the surveillance video to find who did a hit and run to my truck. Do you really thing they going to find out what ip accessed his account and locate the person that did it?

 

[MariamATL]

Preface: I am NOT saying that I have been hacked.

I got on an old old account that I had pre-Malas for the Return to Brit promo and found all my cchars deleted. I simply assumed I had done something wrong or something had happened. However, I never contacted EA because it wasn't worth it to me since I would not be paying for that account to stay active and was actually only logging on to get more free junk that i had on them.

I'm very sorry to hear about what happened to your friend.

 

[mandosa-nice]

EA can re back all the characters, only for one week timer. After is too late...

 

[Pawain]

Yeah was thinking that too. And actually seems like the hacker was not after the items.

He just can't figure out who could have his info and done this, but seems like personal revenge for sure.

edit: But the main thing still is if there's a chance to get chars back.

I have no idea if EA saves a character database. Would be nice if your friend could get the characters back. I would not be against a character undeletion service.

As for unauthorized logins:

Wouldn't there be info on the IP address that accessed the account? Ea could then see the location of the person at least.

 

[Restroom Cowboy]

I wonder what keeps people from hacking me. *sighs*

 

[MalagAste]

I'm very sorry to hear of your friends loss.

Sometimes the best precautions can be undone in an instant.

As for the hacking... Is it not a federal offence to hack? I think it goes beyond local police however most local police don't have the capability to do anything about hackers. Sad but true.

I would certainly start with calling EA ASAP and then file a report with the police. Since your computer was violated.

My feeling is the more people treat hacking as a serious crime the more likely police and governments will be to really take it as such.

In my opinion Hacking is every bit as bad as someone breaking into your home and stealing your jewelery, tv, and silver.

Hackers can not only take everything you have but they can rob you of your identity.

Makes you wonder if those identity safeguarding companies would track down hackers for you... even if they just stole your identity in a game.

If it were up to me to write the laws hacking would carry a minimum sentence of 5 years and up to 30 years per charge. As well as cost restitution and a fine up to 100,000 dollars... again per charge.

 

[Chrissay_]

If you haven't all ready please check out the hacked account article. This outlines all the steps and procedures in reporting a hacked account.

http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=146

 

[Splup]

Any chance he let children play on his account, unsupervised?

Nope, he was playing, went away for like 20 mins and came back, could not log in. After a while he was able to log in with old pass, chars deleted and house dropped. But yeah seems that it really wasnt to get his stuff but just to insult him.

Seems rly weird since he is very respected player in Europa PvP community... Well, everyone has enemies I quess.

 

[Smokin]

No offense but if your a respected member in the PVP community, there is for sure a great chance your a hated member too.

 

[Pawain]

I wonder what keeps people from hacking me. *sighs*

*starts guessing account names and passwords*

All your items r belong to us MUUHAAHAAHAA soon

 

[ingsmsico]

not sure what reason EA would have for not restoring deleted characters. other games do it.

http://support.us.darkfallonline.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=17

 

[Alezi]

not sure what reason EA would have for not restoring deleted characters. other games do it.

http://support.us.darkfallonline.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=17

It's probably the cost.. must be hard to pay salaries, buy new hardware and office supplies etc. with their annual $1000 budget.

 

[ingsmsico]

It's probably the cost.. must be hard to pay salaries, buy new hardware and office supplies etc. with their annual $1000 budget.

I was gonna say that since it makes sense, EA probably wouldn't do it. that seems to be their policy on a lot of things.

 

[Xenobia]

EA can re back all the characters, only for one week timer. After is too late...

True. I doubt they catologue backups that date that far back. I have always wondered how one gets "hacked" in UO...hmmmm The only way I can think of is if someone gave the information out to someone else and they either turned on the person or then gave the info to someone else and that person "hacked" the account. Not truly hacking, just using information gained from the owner. I used to let my kids play my accounts but I told them I would strip the hide from their bodies and tape them to the garage door if they EVER gave my account information out. It seemed to work as they never did. Now they are all grown and gone so you can't turn me in for child abuse lol

 

[MalagAste]

True. I doubt they catologue backups that date that far back. I have always wondered how one gets "hacked" in UO...hmmmm The only way I can think of is if someone gave the information out to someone else and they either turned on the person or then gave the info to someone else and that person "hacked" the account. Not truly hacking, just using information gained from the owner. I used to let my kids play my accounts but I told them I would strip the hide from their bodies and tape them to the garage door if they EVER gave my account information out. It seemed to work as they never did. Now they are all grown and gone so you can't turn me in for child abuse lol

actually all they need to do is guess at your account name... figure your email.... and they hack that...

 

[Xenobia]

actually all they need to do is guess at your account name... figure your email.... and they hack that...

Yeah but I doubt anyone out there could possibly guess my account names unless I hinted around at it, or God forbid, named one of my chars the same thing. Hopefully no one out there is foolish enough to do this. There are ways to avoid these things and it comes mostly from not telling anyone. My own mother couldn't even come close to guessing my account names and I made them like that for that specific reason (so no one could guess them)

 

[Restroom Cowboy]

I wonder what keeps people from hacking me. *sighs*

*starts guessing account names and passwords*

All your items r belong to us MUUHAAHAAHAA soon

The name is Jeffey...and I like apples.

Hope that helps...

 

[Mattitracks]

I do know of a few cases where certain players have had chars restored. Although all of these cases were from 2003 or before as that's when I left the game. I only just returned recently so I cannot speak for the last 7 years or so.

Don't get your hopes up though as the cases I remember were very specific. As in well known players and whatnot. I won't say it was favoritism, but I also won't say it wasn't. In most cases, the people I've known that went through this, had to start over.

I do wish your friend the best and hope it works out in his/her favor.

 

[Splup]

True. I doubt they catologue backups that date that far back. I have always wondered how one gets "hacked" in UO...hmmmm The only way I can think of is if someone gave the information out to someone else and they either turned on the person or then gave the info to someone else and that person "hacked" the account. Not truly hacking, just using information gained from the owner. I used to let my kids play my accounts but I told them I would strip the hide from their bodies and tape them to the garage door if they EVER gave my account information out. It seemed to work as they never did. Now they are all grown and gone so you can't turn me in for child abuse lol

My account got hacked 2001, hacker used keylogger. Thou me being 14y old back then and knowing nothing about firewalls etc. had a lot to do with what happened.

 

[ingsmsico]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

 

[asamdan]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I had my accounts hacked back in 2002. Lost almost all of my chars(they didnt delete all of them just the home owners)all bank accounts were drained, houses and everything in them. I logged on as someone was moving into my main home. I called EA and the police. They were very helpful in helping locate which IP address got into my accounts and gave them to the police. Nothing ever came of it and I just rebuilt what I could. I also had the help of some very nice people in Chessy and got back on my feet. Its devastaing but it can be done. Now..I change my PW every month without fail. Sometimes its a pain but it has saved my accounts so far. If your on the chessy shard let me know...I can help you get restarted. Never give your PW to anyone...not even close close friends...they can make their own accounts. I found out just this year it was my ex-husband who had a vendetta against me..he actually sold all 3 account home to someone else. The day he walked out I shouldve changed those PWs...who knew he was that devious? I shouldve known. Good Luck

 

[Goldberg-Chessy]

Any chance he let children play on his account, unsupervised?

Nope, he was playing, went away for like 20 mins and came back, could not log in. After a while he was able to log in with old pass, chars deleted and house dropped. But yeah seems that it really wasnt to get his stuff but just to insult him.

Seems rly weird since he is very respected player in Europa PvP community... Well, everyone has enemies I quess.

Huhza?

The 'hacker' stole & deleted everything then restored the old password?

Sounds very odd to me but if true it then appears to be a personal revenge type issue.

 

[Goldberg-Chessy]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I had my accounts hacked back in 2002. Lost almost all of my chars(they didnt delete all of them just the home owners)all bank accounts were drained, houses and everything in them. I logged on as someone was moving into my main home. I called EA and the police. They were very helpful in helping locate which IP address got into my accounts and gave them to the police. Nothing ever came of it and I just rebuilt what I could. I also had the help of some very nice people in Chessy and got back on my feet. Its devastaing but it can be done. Now..I change my PW every month without fail. Sometimes its a pain but it has saved my accounts so far. If your on the chessy shard let me know...I can help you get restarted. Never give your PW to anyone...not even close close friends...they can make their own accounts. I found out just this year it was my ex-husband who had a vendetta against me..he actually sold all 3 account home to someone else. The day he walked out I shouldve changed those PWs...who knew he was that devious? I shouldve known. Good Luck

Hrmmm, I was on Chessy back then and seem to recall that there was also a rl Mailman involved?? ...

 

[Black Majick]

No offense but if your a respected member in the PVP community, there is for sure a great chance your a hated member too.

QFT. Good thing I am not a respected member!

 

[Mook Chessy]

How many posts like this need to happen before people stop sharing account information and or buying accounts without making it secure (through EA).

I find it hard to believe that some mastermind kid with a key logger Trojan gets some peoples account information.

In over 12 years of UO I have never actually ran into anyone who was "hacked" To me this is just an excuse because you don't want to think that a "friend" would do such a thing.

Read the boards, there is a lot of hate out there; with people changing not only guild but shards I do not find it hard to believe that a person would do these type acts to spite someone.

I remember back in 2000 or so I was playing on Chessy and was in a guild where a guy openly offered to pay RL$$ if anyone in the guild could get this certain persons account information.

As I say in most of these posts, do not share your account information!

 

[Zyron]

Some people dont understand. Almost 90% of hacking of accounts isnt thru actually giving someone the info.

It is mostly thru ICQ. Or some other file. where a trusted person says HEY DUDE CHECK OUT THIS FILE/SCRIPT/ECT..


and it has a key logger in it. bada bing bada boom account stolen.
or they just send it to your ip if theyre an expierenced hacker.
theres really nothing that can be done about it

 

[Xenobia]

Some people dont understand. Almost 90% of hacking of accounts isnt thru actually giving someone the info.

It is mostly thru ICQ. Or some other file. where a trusted person says HEY DUDE CHECK OUT THIS FILE/SCRIPT/ECT..


and it has a key logger in it. bada bing bada boom account stolen.
or they just send it to your ip if theyre an expierenced hacker.
theres really nothing that can be done about it

Ok but here is the deal...someone has to accept that file right? If they aren't related to me by blood (and even then I rarely accept anything other then a picture of my niece) I don't take files from them. PERIOD! So some of the fault still lies with the account owner.

 

[Xenobia]

How many posts like this need to happen before people stop sharing account information and or buying accounts without making it secure (through EA).

I find it hard to believe that some mastermind kid with a key logger Trojan gets some peoples account information.

In over 12 years of UO I have never actually ran into anyone who was "hacked" To me this is just an excuse because you don't want to think that a "friend" would do such a thing.

Read the boards, there is a lot of hate out there; with people changing not only guild but shards I do not find it hard to believe that a person would do these type acts to spite someone.

I remember back in 2000 or so I was playing on Chessy and was in a guild where a guy openly offered to pay RL$$ if anyone in the guild could get this certain persons account information.

As I say in most of these posts, do not share your account information!

Exactly. My husband doesn't even know my account information because he does not understand the ramifications of him opening his mouth about it to someone. I really don't think he would, but that is how tight you have to be with your account information and most kids don't get that. That is why I threatened my boys about my account stuff. Then I changed my mind eventually and changed the passwords, then I would log them in so they could play. You need updated anti virus and anti spyware. And don't EVER take a file from someone in ICQ. That is just insanity! There are many ways to prevent this from happening and after 12 years, I have not had one issue. Ever

 

[wanderer1origin]

normal, hack is to use a Borg to drop books pushing a site
or sell gold anything less is either to sell account if warranted or just to be maliciousness

Exactly. My husband doesn't even know my account information because he does not understand the ramifications of him opening his mouth about it to someone. I really don't think he would, but that is how tight you have to be with your account information and most kids don't get that. That is why I threatened my boys about my account stuff. Then I changed my mind eventually and changed the passwords, then I would log them in so they could play. You need updated anti virus and anti spyware. And don't EVER take a file from someone in ICQ. That is just insanity! There are many ways to prevent this from happening and after 12 years, I have not had one issue. Ever

 

[Demonous]

Nearly everyone I know in this game in the last 11 years who has been hacked has had their chars deleted.
I think it's kind of an SOP for the hacker, just to add insult to injury.
Besides, how could the theif come back yearly?? Don't you think the pw would have gotten changed????

i was hacked last year but didn't have my characters deleted, i found out my accounts were being hacked about 4 minutes after they attempted to hack them, however i didn't get the accounts closed down till 3 hours later because EA wouldn't answer the phone at 7 am so i lost a lot of items. People that hack and especially people that hack and delete characters are the lowest of low lives out there, these are the type of people that need to be handcuffed and beaten with brass knuckles, they should be caught and treated the same as *apists or worse

 

[Demonous]

If you haven't all ready please check out the hacked account article. This outlines all the steps and procedures in reporting a hacked account.

http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=146

Chrissay, no offense but that link is extremely useless, the police did nothing for me after i filed a report and told me that it was up to EA to do something about it and i bugged them for 2 months, also when people get hacked in WOW, Blizzard can easily retrieve characters deleted so it makes no sense why EA can't, also the policy that lost items won't be replaced is by far the most useless thing a company can tell its customer, thats like buying insurance on an item in real life, having that item stollen by someone and then the insurance company refusing to reimburse you

 

[Demonous]

How many posts like this need to happen before people stop sharing account information and or buying accounts without making it secure (through EA).

I find it hard to believe that some mastermind kid with a key logger Trojan gets some peoples account information.

In over 12 years of UO I have never actually ran into anyone who was "hacked" To me this is just an excuse because you don't want to think that a "friend" would do such a thing.

Read the boards, there is a lot of hate out there; with people changing not only guild but shards I do not find it hard to believe that a person would do these type acts to spite someone.

I remember back in 2000 or so I was playing on Chessy and was in a guild where a guy openly offered to pay RL$$ if anyone in the guild could get this certain persons account information.

As I say in most of these posts, do not share your account information!

people do get hacked, it does happens, don't be ignorant about it just because it hasn't happen to you, there are plenty of low lives that get no attention in rl so they are reduced to messing with peoples lives and pissing them off, seriously if someone wiped my accounts of items and characters i would spend years hunting that person down wether i had to go to the FBI or what not

 

[Olahorand]

I also wonder, why there is no chance to undelete a char from within the client for maybe the same 7 days (and from here maybe + 3 weeks) a new created character cannot be deleted. The Delete Character button is still in such a prominent position, that it could be hit by a stressed person by mistake or by the little kid, who gets on the unwatched PC of the just disturbed parent and wants to access the cool game. Or the player with two identical named characters, who deleted the wrong one.
Not only hacks, but accidents happen - and it should not be overly complicated in a database to set a deleted flag first and delay the purge for a few weeks.

Regarding the hacking - I know of a Castle on my home shard, which still shows the name of the hacker account more than one year after the hack happened.

*Salute*
Olahorand

 

[Fluffi]

Huhza?

The 'hacker' stole & deleted everything then restored the old password?

Sounds very odd to me but if true it then appears to be a personal revenge type issue.

In over 12 years of UO I have never actually ran into anyone who was "hacked" To me this is just an excuse because you don't want to think that a "friend" would do such a thing.

... where a trusted person says HEY DUDE CHECK OUT THIS FILE/SCRIPT/ECT..

and it has a key logger in it. bada bing bada boom account stolen.
or they just send it to your ip if theyre an expierenced hacker.
theres really nothing that can be done about it

Sorry mate, but this is almost certainly the answer.

The player concerned got involved with some of Europas most notorious cheats.

Either he gave his account details to one of his new "friends", or the guild-that-I-can't-name sent him a script with a logger in it.


Sorry for his loss, but, if you are entirely honest, you know where the fingers should point.

 

[Mook Chessy]

people do get hacked, it does happens, don't be ignorant about it just because it hasn't happen to you, there are plenty of low lives that get no attention in rl so they are reduced to messing with peoples lives and pissing them off, seriously if someone wiped my accounts of items and characters i would spend years hunting that person down wether i had to go to the FBI or what not

I'm sure these people you speak of would spend their time hunting bigger fish, by that I mean outside of UO.

The most valuable account in all of UO is worth what, 2500?

I doubt that someone as skilled as you describe woudl bother for such pennies..

 

[Mook Chessy]

Sorry mate, but this is almost certainly the answer.

The player concerned got involved with some of Europas most notorious cheats.

Either he gave his account details to one of his new "friends", or the guild-that-I-can't-name sent him a script with a logger in it.


Sorry for his loss, but, if you are entirely honest, you know where the fingers should point.

Thank you, if you go to bed with a dog, you wake up with flees....