To keep your Guild Wars 2 account secure, you also have to keep your computer secure from malicious programs (or "malware"). Malware can compromise the security of your computer and your account, which is why we recommend taking steps to strengthen your defenses and protect against online threats.
Fortunately, there are security programs out there to help keep your computer clean and your account details safe. Below are several different types of programs that can help you stay protected, and—in the event your computer becomes compromised—help you get rid of malicious software.
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A few important notes to keep in mind about these security recommendations:
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General Security Steps
Regardless of what security software you use, we recommend that you run through these basic security steps from time to time (or setup your computer to run through them automatically) to check and maintain the health of your computer:
- Ensure Windows is up to date with all the latest updates.
- Make sure your anti-virus program is up to date. Most will give you the option to “update definitions,” and some have a separate option to update the program itself.
- Perform a full scan of your entire computer. Quarantine or remove any malicious files found.
Viruses and Anti-Virus Programs
A computer virus is malware designed to install and replicate itself without the user’s consent. Viruses can damage your files, your registry, and even your hardware, and are hard to detect, easy to propagate, and difficult to remove.
Viruses are most commonly spread through infected email attachments or links to malicious websites, where the code can automatically embed itself in your computer. The good news is that there are anti-virus programs (such as those listed below) that are designed to prevent infection and remove any viruses that have already established themselves on your computer. Even if you believe your computer is free of infection, we recommend using an anti-virus program.
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Product |
Free Version or Trial Available? |
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Trial |
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Trial |
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Free |
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Free |
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Free |
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Free |
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Free |
Spyware, Keyloggers, and Anti-Spyware Programs
Spyware monitors the actions of a computer user. This kind of malware is often used by hackers targeting game accounts or financial transactions, such as online banking. Because it is designed to run in the background, steal information, and then send that stolen information to another computer, spyware can have a noticeable impact on your computer’s performance or your connectivity to the internet.
“Spyware” falls into three general categories:
- Legitimate software designed to provide security or monitoring for parents or employers.
- Relatively benign software designed to collect data for marketing purposes.
- Malicious software designed to collect information to allow further attacks (e.g. "keylogging" or Trojans that collect account credentials, such as user names and passwords).
The programs listed below specifically target spyware for containment and removal. Many anti-virus programs will also combat spyware, and many security software companies provide “bundled” software that targets both viruses and spyware.
To assist your anti-spyware program in finding spyware that targets our games, bring up the login screen and type gibberish into the login fields while the anti-spyware program is running. (Ignore these instructions if you are using ComboFix or HijackThis, as you do not want to run any other programs while these are running.)
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Product |
Free Version or Trial Available? |
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ComboFix ** |
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HijackThis ** |
** Use with care and at your own risk. This program is intended as a last resort when other security programs fail, and may require consulting outside resources to use properly. Do not run any other programs while it is running.
Rootkits and Rootkit Removal Programs
Rootkits are specifically designed to hide other pieces of malware, such as viruses, Trojans, and keyloggers. Because these programs exploit “root” (or administrator) access to the infected computer, finding and removing them can be very difficult. The programs listed below are specifically designed to combat this type of malware.
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Product |
Free Version or Trial Available? |
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Free (bundled with free anti-virus) |
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Free (same as above but without bundled anti-virus) |
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ComboFix ** |
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HijackThis ** |
** Use with care and at your own risk. This program is intended as a last resort when other security programs fail, and may require consulting outside resources to use properly. Do not run any other programs while it is running.