World Of WarCraft To Get Optional Hardware Security

Blizzard Entertainment today introduced an optional extra layer of security for World of Warcraft, its award-winning massively multiplayer online role-playing game.

Designed to attach to a keychain, the lightweight and waterproof Blizzard Authenticator is an electronic device that generates a six-digit security code at the press of a button. This code is unique, valid only once, and active for a limited time; it must be provided along with the account name and password when signing in to the World of Warcraft account linked to it.

This optional security measure will be available for a cost of €6.00 at the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational, which takes place June 28-29 in Paris, France. In addition, the Blizzard Authenticator will be made available for purchase via Blizzard Entertainment's European websites in the near future for a cost of €6.00 plus shipping.

"It's important to us that World of Warcraft offers a safe and enjoyable game environment," ha declarado Mike Morhaime, Consejero Delegado y cofundador de Blizzard Entertainment. "One aspect of that is helping players avoid account compromise, so we're pleased to make this additional layer of security available to them."