The XStreet saga continues…

A new e-mail from XStreet SL!

Important Information About Your Xstreet SL Account

Dear Riko Kamachi,

As of May 11th, 2009, in order to log in to your Xstreet SL account you must use your Second Life username and password. This means that you only have to remember one set of login credentials from this point forward. For more information, read the Xstreet SL Login Change FAQs.

Convenience? Great! However…

Advice from XStreet SL before the takeover instructed new users of the service not to use their Second Life password on XStreet, for security purposes. Sound advice. However…

Since this advice is now gone, does this mean that XStreet users are now more protected against hackers? There is no mention of more effective security measures in place on the XStreet SL website.

The e-mail mentioned FAQs for this change in policy:-

There will not be a capability to have an XStreet SL password that’s different from your Second Life password.

So in other words, those who wish to maintain their own security will now be unable to do so. Potentially, if an individual’s XStreet SL account is hacked, this means that a hacker would now not only have access to a user’s linden balance (and in turn their RL bank account and/or credit card), but also to their Second Life inventory, friends list, groups and land. Money transfers can always be traced, whether they are in Second Life or in the real world, and so easily rectified. Not so with the amount of damage a hacker could do to a resident’s actual account. It’s the difference between someone mugging you for your wallet and someone ransacking your house.

Given the choice between convenience and security – I would choose security.

~ by Riko on 9 May, 2009.