Really Direct 2 Drive, Really?

[TGT]

Went to try and purchase the Battlefield Bad Company 2: Vietnam expansion that was on sale today from Direct 2 Drive. For whatever reason, they weren't able to process my order, so my friend decided to gift it to me instead. When I got the e-mail, imagine my surprise when I saw this:

They E-Mailed me my account password in paintext! What does this mean? My username, password and any related information to that account are all stored in a database - unencrypted. :angry:

Shocking, especially given the amount of news compromised databases this year.

[The_Observer]

hahahah thats the funnest one i have seen!

[Alladaskill17]

That, my friend is ridiculous. I never really checked out D2D as I was never a huge PC gamer, but is there a reason you do not use Steam? I doubt Valve would allow this type of behavior.

[TGT]

That, my friend is ridiculous. I never really checked out D2D as I was never a huge PC gamer, but is there a reason you do not use Steam? I doubt Valve would allow this type of behavior.

I use and adore Steam. The expansion was on sale though, and I'm cheap (I bought BFBC2 when it was on sale through the EA store).

D2D being a store that deals with financial transactions, I had assumed that they'd be a little more responsible with my data though.

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

I would still say that the data will be encrypted, but it will be 2-way encryption, instead of doing what everyone else does and use a hash. Still, that's pretty apalling to email you your password. I have had websites do that to me as a "forgot your password" reminder, and it still makes me uneasy.

[TGT]

I would still say that the data will be encrypted, but it will be 2-way encryption, instead of doing what everyone else does and use a hash. Still, that's pretty apalling to email you your password. I have had websites do that to me as a "forgot your password" reminder, and it still makes me uneasy.

Well then, maybe I've over-reacted.

However, given that the e-mail was automated, wouldn't that suggest that the pass-phrase / function used to encrypt the password would be found somewhere in the source code? If an attacker were to gain access to the database, then they could also gain access to the back-end code as well.

[+Majesticmerc MVC]

Well then, maybe I've over-reacted.

However, given that the e-mail was automated, wouldn't that suggest that the pass-phrase / function used to encrypt the password would be found somewhere in the source code? If an attacker were to gain access to the database, then they could also gain access to the back-end code as well.

Actually I don't think you did. When the email was sent, it was still sent (most likely) over an insecure path, free for anyone to intercept along the way.

[Tharp Daddy]

You should email / call about this. It may not make a difference, but still bring it to their attention.

[Anibal P]

How do you know the email was sent in plain text?

[Pupik]

Man, that's some short password you got there.

[TGT]

You should email / call about this. It may not make a difference, but still bring it to their attention.

Yup, opened a support ticket with them to let them know. Hopefully they'll be able to change this behavior.

Man, that's some short password you got there.

It's actually larger than that, I just botched up while doing the redaction. (Note the white space to the right of "You") ;)

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

It's odd that they'd send you your actual password like that. I wouldn't be too worried though. A lot of services send you a randomly generated password after requesting a new password. I don't think it's any different in terms of security.

[Samn9]

It's odd that they'd send you your actual password like that. I wouldn't be too worried though. A lot of services send you a randomly generated password after requesting a new password. I don't think it's any different in terms of security.

They generate the random password, send it to you in an email, then hash it before it is put in the database. It's not retrievable in plain text after this point.

[Chosen One]

I Think that is suppose to be a temp password, it auto created an account for you so u can login. Whom ever sent you a gift, sent it to a email address that did not have an account.

[TGT]

I Think that is suppose to be a temp password, it auto created an account for you so u can login. Whom ever sent you a gift, sent it to a email address that did not have an account.

Sadly, this isn't the case - it was actually my password that I had personally set for that account.

[Chosen One]

Sadly, this isn't the case - it was actually my password that I had personally set for that account.

Well then, that is some serious f'd up shiz

[+LogicalApex MVC]

I would bet that more sites that not still haven't learned the benefits of hashing passwords sadly. I wonder too how many of those that have take the time to also salt the password hash.

[+Warwagon MVC]

I hate companies like that, when they send you emails with your ****ing password clear as day in the email.

They say **** like ... Login now with your password and the proceed to tell you in plain text what your ****ing password is. Idiots

Plenty of fish does the same thing

https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/944688-online-security-at-its-best/

[Argi]

We store some passwords in cleartext for our clients at work too. When I brought my concern up with the lead dev, he said that it's actually one of the requirements of the client's because the they'd like to be able to retrieve them if they forget. :pinch:

[LiquidSolstice]

:p I think you meant "plaintext", not "plantext" or "paintext"

But yeah, I agree, that's a tad bit worrying. I feel like they shouldn't be emailing that unless its a password reset, and even then, most sites NEVER ever send you your password in plain text.