Valve Unveils Steam Guard For Account Security

Valve announced Steam Guard, a new feature designed to enhance security on its Steam and Steamworks platforms by preventing unauthorized modifications or changes to user account settings. Steam Guard allows users to link their account to a specific PC -- any attempts to log into that account or make any changes to its settings from other PCs will notify the user and request their approval. Third party developers will be able to incorporate Steam Guard into their applications through Steamworks. The new feature takes advantage of Intel's upcoming Identity Protection Technology (IPT), an encrypted, hardware-based feature available with 2nd Generation Intel CoreT and Intel CoreT vProT processors. IPT generates a new numerical password every 30 seconds, similar to security cards or key fobs. Since the digital distribution platfom launched in 2003, Valve's Steam has attracted over 30 milion active accounts around the world, and more than six million of those users access Steam every day. The company's Steamworks publishing suite has shipped over 200 titles since launching three years ago. "Account phishing and hijacking are our #1 support issues," says Valve president Gabe Newell. "With Intel's IPT and Steam Guard, we've taken a big step towards giving customers the account security they need as they purchase more and more digital goods."