- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Again great post Foman. I thought I would give my security steps on how to protect your Windows Live ID, Your Xbox Live Gamertag and Your Password. I know it pretty much repeats what Foman has said but these are the steps I take to protecting my account. I admit is is preaty much long but has useful information which is useful. Again all credit goes to Foman for creating this thread.
How to protect your Windows Live ID
Create two Windows Live ID's. Link one to your XBL Gamertag and one to your billing, email etc. Make sure they are completely different from each other. Never reveal the Windows Live ID associated with the XBL Gamertag, Even to friends or family. Only give them the Windows Live ID for emailing etc.
Never write down the Windows Live ID's or which ID is associated with the XBL Gamertag. If you need to write them down make sure the passwords are not with the emails and the paper can't be found by anyone. Don't hide the paper under your Keyboard, In a book, Behind your Xbox 360 Faceplate, In a game box etc.
The Windows Live ID linked to your Gamertag should only be used for XBL Billing, Microsoft Billing, Recovering Your Gamertag, Xbox.com and Bungie.net. If you need to link anything else like MyGamerCard or Clan sites link it to your other Windows Live ID just to make sure it is secure and safe.
Don't create a Windows Live Spaces with the Windows Live ID linked to your Gamertag. People do this to get the Gamercard feature. I recommend that you make a Windows Live Space with your other Windows Live ID and use http://www.mygamercard.net/ to put your Gamercard on there. That way you know that the Windows Live ID linked to your Gamertag is secured.
Many people want to use Messenger on there Xbox 360. I only recommend using it if you know 100% your friends won't tell anyone else the Windows Live ID associated with the Gamercard. I recommend just leaving the messenger feature alone and use the other Windows Live ID as your messenger on the computer.
When it asks you to sign in on a site that uses the Gamercard Feature. E.g. Bungie.net. Make sure it is Digitaly Signed by Microsoft Corporation. If you browser can't do this I recommend downloading a better browser like Internet Explorer 7 or Mozilla Firefox 3.
How to protect your Windows Live ID Password
Make sure the passwords of the two Windows Live ID's are different. Make sure they have nothing out of the Dictionary and use the full potential of the Keyboard, Remember a password can have spaces and keyboard signs like this @. A good random password that uses the full potential of the keyboard would be something like this. 225EliteSoLDIER :D (Yes I literaly put a :D as it can't be guessable and no my Password isn't as near as that)
Make sure the Security Password Reset answer is nothing to do with the Question Make sure you don't put anything that might give away your password either. A example would be Where was I born? The answer would be: You should really eat Turkey for Christmas.
How to protect your Xbox Live Gamertag
Make sure that the Windows Live ID associated with your Gamertag is only used for XBL Billing, Microsoft Billing, Recovering Your Gamertag, Xbox.com and Bungie.net. Make sure it is signed in every 90 days. I recommend just signing in once a week on Hotmail or Xbox.com just to keep the email from disabling itself. Although it don't affect the Xbox Live Gamertag in anyway it can stop you from recovering it or accessing special features of the games.
Never Reveal the Windows Live ID connected to the Xbox Live Gamertag. Even to your friends. If a random person who you meet over Xbox live on your friends list asks you for your email so they can email you when your offline. Give them your Other Windows Live ID if you want. That way if they hack it your Gamertag is safe. If they demand the one linked to your Gamertag I would advise you to delete them or look into them further as they might be a hacker.
How to protect your Xbox Live Gamertag: Contiuned - Bungie.net
If you use your XBL Windows Live ID on Bungie.net. Make sure the Bungie.net username is different from your Gamertag in anyway. Example if your Gamertag is ExamplePower1. I would call my Bungie.net name x Example 24 x
When you create a profile on Bungie.net it puts the Gamertag which is associated with the Windows Live ID on the profile. To hide this for protection. go to Bungie.net and sign in. Then in your address bar put in http://www.bungie.net/Account/Profile.aspx On your profile click on Edit Profile, and click on profile info. When in there look for your Gamercard and hit on Hide next to it and at the top hit on Save Changes. The Bungie profile will say that you haven't played Halo 3 or 2 to protect your Gamercard. Although you can still use the "Download to Halo 3 while signed in" If you are signed in and are looking at your Profile it will show your Gamercard.
To check if it is hidden. Sign out of Bungie.net and goto this link. http://www.bungie.net/Community/PeopleFinder.aspx and Put your Bungie Profile name in the Search by Bungie.net Login. Hit execute search and click your Profile name in the results.
Your profile shouldn't show your Gamercard or your Halo 2/3 history. Bungie Cards which show the Gamertag and rank will still work. Another thing on Bungie.net is the "Homepage Feature" which lets you link to your homepage. Again I don't recommend putting in your homepage if it has your Gamercard on it. If they see you Gamercard they can hack your Windows Live ID and change it.
How to protect your Xbox Live Gamertag: Contiuned - Dashboard Bio's
The first thing Hackers do is to look at your Name, Location and Bio fields to grab information about you and use it against you. If they have the simplest infomation against you they can phone Microsoft Support/Xbox Support to change the information and get your Gamertag. I have nothing against Microsoft Support/Xbox Support although there has been alot of stories on the internet about Hackers using Microsoft Support to get hold of Gamertags.
Don't use your Full name in your Name field. Use a shortened name or a NickName to stop the hackers from using that information. The same goes for the location field, use a location nearest to you but not in the spot you are. A example would be if you lived in London. You could put Birmingham as your Location or leave it blank.
Most peoples Bio's are like a diary they leak information about there lives. I recommend making your Bio as simple as possible. Don't include your Full name, Location, The Windows Live ID email associated with your Gamertag, Your Age or anything about your lives. For me I would put something about what games I play. What I think of the N.X.E etc.