My Steam account got hijacked

God, it's so embarrassing. I was searching for some program and downloaded it from a random forum post... I should have known better. Seriously, I feel like I was just asking for it. A bit dirty, raped, etc.

Zone Alarm gave a warning, but by that time it was too late. First I thought nothing happened, but then I realized my Steam pw had been changed (not by me - uh oh). My account name was now "klauspeter" or something and apparently someone played ~2 hours of CS and TFC on my account. Steam support was quite quick. 1 day and I had it back.

But all my Steam friends have been erased, all my groups, settings, etc. Man!

I'm sure you all know the lesson (I should have), but boy it felt bad. Like the gaming equivalent of finding out some hobo slept in your bed while you were on vacation.

I hope who ever did it didn't cheat at all. Suck more if you got VAC banned.

---

Reality has become a commodity.

RedWood said:
I hope who ever did it didn't cheat at all. Suck more if you got VAC banned.

No, thank god.
Didn't even consider this before.

What happens if you get VAC banned? Is that a life ban?

If you get VAC banned you can't play on any VAC protected servers for any game on that account ever again.

---

Reality has become a commodity.

Wow, yea, you really can never let your guard down about those kind of things. I'm glad you got your account back. I didn't know there was a support line for getting stolen accounts back. I can imagine that was quite a frantic stir to get that number!

-What kind of info did Valve need in order to 'prove' it was your account in the first place in order for them to give it back to you? -your original e-mail I suppose?

-I'll re-add you later!

---

Blog: www.playingarchitecture.net
LinkedIn: Eric Lancon
Twitter:@Riven202

Riven said:
Wow, yea, you really can never let your guard down about those kind of things. I'm glad you got your account back. I didn't know there was a support line for getting stolen accounts back. I can imagine that was quite a frantic stir to get that number!

-What kind of info did Valve need in order to 'prove' it was your account in the first place in order for them to give it back to you? -your original e-mail I suppose?

-I'll re-add you later!

I have to say, it was one of the most pleasant product-support experiences I ever had. I got an email notification (sadly not a confirmation request as this could have simplified things considerably) after the password had been changed. It said in case of any problems I should go to a specific Steam support website.

There I read that all I needed was a photograph of the serial number on a retail box I registered on my account + my account name scribbled beneath it (there were other options for credit card purchases, etc). After I sent this, it only took a day for the new password to arrive.

No expensive hotlines, no waiting in line.

Top service, I have to say. Kudos, Valve.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2347-QDFN-4366

My account got hijacked as well. Search your computers guys for keyloggers. I'm having withdraws from not being able to play L4D.