Free Realms : Computer Virus !!

This latest post has nothing to do directly with Free Realms, but instead has to do with all PC game players and computer users in general.

There is a new nasty computer virus going around that is infecting Windows rootKit and installing itself in system restore data via Zer-Day flaws. It is particularly hard to remove and is targeting PC Gamers to gain access to their account so they can steal the passwords and seel them on auction sites.

Gamers of EverQuest, World of Warcraft, and other MMORPG should be aware of this virus. Here is the official post on it...

Windows system restore targeted by virtual identity thieves
Thursday, September 24, 2009

The dogrobot virus that plagues Chinese internet cafes is being used to hijack online gaming account credentials, which can then be re-sold online.

The technique used to infect computers with the virus offers a unique advantage to cyber criminals: it infiltrates Windows' system restore functionality, so that computers remain infected even after complete reversion to a previously defined system restore point. This is accomplished via a combination of rootkits and zero-day flaws, which makes dogrobot difficult to clean from infected systems.

Experts say that the malware is a sophisticated delivery system for the dogrobot virus, which has been heavily modified to skirt security software and remain invisible on affected systems. This, in addition to its resistance to removal, makes the malware exceptionally suited to the theft of virtual identities for games like EverQuest and World of Warcraft.

Some online avatars can fetch hundreds of dollars at auction and sales websites, and an extensive market for virtual items and in-game money exists as well. Microsoft anti-virus researcher Chun Feng told ZDnet that the dogrobot group of viruses has cost Chinese internet cafes over $1.2 billion in losses.

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GENEVA -- Cyber crime gangs in China are penetrating the hard disk recovery cards on computers in Internet cafes and using a combination of zero-day flaws, rootkits and ARP spoofing techniques to steal billions of dollars worth of online gaming credentials.

According to Microsoft anti-virus researcher Chun Feng, five generations of the Win32/Dogrobot malware family have perfected the novel rootkit technique to hijack System Restore on Windows — effectively allowing the malicious file to survive even after the compromised machine is reverted to its previous clean state.

At the Virus Bulletin 2009 conference here, Feng (left) provided a fascinating look at the techniques used by Dogrobot, which is directly linked to the lucrative underground trading of online gaming assets like passwords and virtual property.

According to data presented by Feng, the Dogrobot family has caused more than USD$1.2 billion in losses to Chinese Internet cafes.

He explained that earlier Dogrobot used disk-level I/O file manipulation to penetrate System Restore but, as the malware evolved, it started using a “backdoor” that already exists in the System Restore functionality. A third generation introduced extensive unhooking code to thwart the protection offered by security programs and avoid removal.

Along the way, Feng discovered that newer variants were tweaked to get around security software and strengthen the code’s ability to maintain persistent stealth on compromised Windows computers.

In China, Internet cafes are very popular among the online gaming crowd where the use of USB sticks with account credentials is the norm. Dogrobot takes advantage of this, abusing the USB AutoRun functionality on older machines to propagate.

He explained that the malware author has found success exploiting zero-day ActiveX vulnerabilities and other flaws in Windows OS and third-party software — especially RealPlayer and WebThunder.

The attackers also use ARP cache poisoning to send malicious ARP packets to instruct other machines within the same LAN to download Dogrobot samples.




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Free Realms ~ Goal Time Update !!

Free Realms is finally announcing the Soccer Job update called "Goal Time". Throughout the world you will notice that there are many empty soccer fields. Well, soon these will become a bustling bee hive of activity once this job is implemented. I for one cannot wait!!

Here is the official announcement from the Free Realms website.

Great news! Goal Time will be the latest game update to come to Free Realms! Goal Time will feature fast-paced, fun soccer action! With the addition of the Soccer Star job, you and your friends will be able to match up on the fields and explore a whole new job together!













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There's a new card duelist in town. His name's Dominic, and he's in Briarwood helping Sir Wellington keep an eye on his archeological dig site. There have been thefts and attacks at the site, and Wellington needs help protecting it.

Dominic is the first link in a new card duelist quest chain. (You can get the new quest from Poe Tatters in Sanctuary.) While playing through the new quest, you'll meet new card duelists – and see a number of cards you've never seen before. No, the duelists aren't cheating by making up their own cards. These cards are previews from the brand new second set!

That's right, there's a whole new set of cards on the way! There is a bunch of new game mechanics in the second set, some of which are previewed in the new duelist quests. You could wait patiently to see the cards when they're played against you – or you could read on for an overview some of the new hotness from the second set!

Crush
One of the major new mechanics of the second set is the concept of "crushing" your foe in a battle. In order to "crush," your creature must not only win the battle, but must win by 4 or more. If you do, you gain an extra bonus effect – scoring an extra card, for example, or readying your creatures. With crush effects in play, you might find yourself playing tricks even when you're already winning. Winning isn't everything – not if you can win and crush at the same time.

Trickster
The second set also introduces "Trickster" creatures, which changes the way you think about defense. While a creature with the Trickster keyword is attacking, its foe uses its attack instead of its defense. For example, if a Trickster attacks Changeling Rock Warrior (which has 1 attack and 4 defense), the Warrior uses its attack (just 1) in place of its defense (its now-unused 4).

By swapping its foe's defense for its attack, a Trickster turns your opponent's low attack/high defense "wall" creatures into easy targets. But watch out for those high attack creatures for which Chaos is so famous. Attacking Shadow Talon Archer with a Trickster would be a mistake; not only does it have 3 attack, but its power-up gives an additional 3 attack for one blue gem. You'd be much better off attacking the archer's 1 defense with a non-Trickster creature.

Artifact Shards
There are four artifact shards in the second set – one for each sphere – and they feature prominently in the new quest line! What do these powerful artifacts have to do with Dominic and Sir Wellington? You'll have to play through the quest and find out for yourself.

What we can tell you is that the artifact shards are represented in the trading card game by new resource cards. These resources actually come into play zapped, and only take effect when you ready them. We'll be talking more about these ticking time bombs of arcane fury in the future, so watch this space for updates.

And Much More!
Like the new card duelist challenges themselves, this has been just a small preview of the cool new cards coming in the second set. There will be plenty more information on the new set in time, but for now, track down Poe Tatters and see if he has a new quest for you!


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Free Realms ~ Explore the Rob Goblin Camp !

North of Sanctuary, on the road between Highroad Junction and Shrouded Glade, you will come across a makeshift Robgoblin campsite. You will be greeted by vendors selling food and potions as well as a traveling show stage where you can laugh at the antics of the juggler. It looks like a place to spend some time and have fun, but don’t be fooled!

The ragtag group of Robgoblins that occupy the camp pretend to be entertainers, but their true purpose is to rob travelers of anything they can get their grubby, little hands on.

Boss Bigguns runs the camp. He is constantly yelling and is usually in a foul mood. He’s probably the shortest Robgoblin in the Realms, but he makes up for it by being the biggest pain. Something has happened recently to make his mood even worse, but he isn’t talking to just anyone about what has him so upset.

Members with at least one combat skill can talk to Fizzlesticks. He’s been with the traveling camp a lot longer than Boss Bigguns, but he’s getting forgetful in his old age. If you can help him get back his spellbook, he will teach you the secrets of being a wizard!

In a cave to the south of the camp is the Robgoblin Trove. This is where the Robgoblins store all of their stolen loot. The Trove is watched over by the wizard Hildegarde and her guards. You’ll have to defeat them all to get any of their loot!

If you want to be a wizard or if you’re looking for some fun, potions, food or chef supplies...or to have your wallet stolen...the Robgoblin camp is a great place to go.





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Free Realms - How To Level Kart Racer Fast !!

There is a nifty little video going around here on how to level up your Kart Racing Profession to level 20 quickly.

Basically, what you do is go to a Race Track and enter the Kart Race Lobby, Create a 5 player Race, turn off Enable AI, set laps to 5, and then start the Race before anyone else joins it. You will always come in 1st place and it will level up the Race Kart job for you.

I admit, this sounds boring as you'd probably have to 50 of these races to max it, but hey, it beats some of the impossibly hard quest lines for Racing that they have.

Now we just need a shorty level for Demo Derby :)

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Free Realms Thunder Speedway !!

Well, Well, Well...
Seems my prediction of the Free Realms Demo Derby and Race Kart update going in next week were a little off the mark. I figured since they had delayed it twice so far, that they would delay it again and it would go early next week. But they have suprised me and did the update last night. So, they big delay was to smash some bugs in the update before release, but I still think they have a ways to go yet...

For starters, the quests to beat the NPC in a race a pretty tough. I mean you have to be johnny-on-the-spot with the brakes and gas and know the race track inside and out to actually win this quest. Unless you buy some S.C. with some real life $$ to get the faster cart. Hehe, leave it to SoE to make a quest super hard to beat, but then offer an easy win with the purchase of a new cart from the S.C. store.
Maybe this job is really an update for Paying Customers only. Membership no longer has its privileges...

I think if they want to make these quests that hard, they need to overhall the controls of the whole rqace car games. Make the controls mroe responsive then they currently are. I've played racing games alot, but this FR Race Kart is really too non responsive in its controlling. Not to mention the lag on the tracks that can drop you a few places back.


Final thoughts:

The update is nice to finally have something new to do in the game, but once again in typical fashion, they frustrate their players with something. In this case it happens to be the shear difficulty of the quests and seemingly being forced to purchase for real life $$ the upgrade in race kart to win and progress the job.

Anyways, here are the patch notes:

FEATURES:
Over 40 New Quests each for the Kart Driver and Derby Driver Jobs!

Two New Race Tracks:
Thunder Falls Speedway
Sandstone Speedway

Two Never Before Seen Car Models:
Slicer
Trio

18 New Karts available in the Station Cash Marketplace
CLASSIC custom karts starting at 400 SC
PRIME high performance karts starting at 550 SC
SUPREME upgraded karts starting at 700 SC

New Car Upgrades
Steering, engine, turbo, and tires are just some of the newest modifications available for your racing machine.
Mix and match until your car is revved up and ready to roll!

Your very own garage Store and tune up your rides as much as you'd like.
View multiple angles of your car with a new garage camera controller.
Access your garage by talking to certain mechanics near the speedways.

Hot New Racing Apparel

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Free Realms Thunder Speedway

Free Realms Thunder Speedway delay...again. Pex just confirmed that the update for the race cart and demo derby did not go in as scheduled for this Mon. or Tues.
When can we expect it?
Well, today is Wednesday, so if not tonight then I suspect it will go in tomorrow or next week. Pex confirmed that they will not do a big patch like this over the weekend due to minimal support int he office on the weekends, so I'm guessing at this point it will go in next week on Mon. or Tuesday. But, fingers crossed, it may go in tonight.
I'm guessing as soon as it goes in we will see a lv. 20 demo derby and lv. 20 race cart by the weekend. Two days tops for someone to max out these jobs. Since I work, I know it will not be me :)

In other FR news, we received confirmation that in August/Sept we will see another huge update, like the Summer Sizzler update, centered around the soccer/football profession. This should be fun, and I hope they have some type of team tournament ala FIFA Cup (World Cup)for guilds and clubs to compete for.

And, the Free Realms Comic was released today in stores. In the comic on page 28 is a unique code to use for the Spider Bite lv. 20 Ninja Sword.

Now a few things here...

One: Sony obviously made this sword a ninja sword to entice folks to sign up for the membership so they can use this sword. I wish it were just a regular sword so ALL could use it, but hey that's marketing for ya.

Two: I was under the impression that the comics would have a code to redeem for a Live Collection quest. In other words, 1 code per comic all added up if redeemed to claim an uber in game item. Anyways, that's how I perceived it to be.

Three: These comics should come in a plastic bag because anyone can go in, open the comic, turn to page 28 and write down the code and redeem it with out having to buy the comic. Thus your comic code will be already used. The comic with code is an excellent idea, but poor design. I suspect future comics will be released in a bag to protect the codes.

I have not got my copy of the comic yet, but plan to go get a few tomorrow at my comic shop That's Entertainment.

I'll pick up extra copies and if anyone wants one I'll send one to them for cost + S/H. Just click on the PayPal Donate button. It will ask for $6.00 (3.99 for comic + S&H 2.01).
Comic will come bagged and boarded and be in Mint condition.
If I get enough orders I'll do this every month for the new comic releases in the series...

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Free Realms Guilds Update !!

Posted by Pex over at the Free Realms Message Board is the Patch Notes for the latest update...

We've got a lot of great stuff today! In addition to the normal bug fixes and behind the scenes updates we have Guilds and more. Here are the update notes for today:



Mysterious incidents are happening across the land. Help out any of these people, and jump in the middle of the adventure:

*A Royal Courier is in trouble in Greenwood Forest.
*Impress Sal Monella at Blackspore, and see where the next adventure takes you.
*Henry Farnum has trouble with the local hooligans
*If you rescue Starshine's child, she will have another task for a hero like you.
*Help Sorin out near the Bat Caves, and see where he'll send you to, or
*Complete Ceard Bauchlog's task for further instructions.
(If you have already helped them out, return to them for another task!)

Quests & Collections & New Content
Guilds! Gather your friends and be one of the first to start a guild! Talk to players in your guild using /gu

Pets
Watch how your Pets react to wandering encounters differently based on their disposition

Marketplace
When viewing Pets in the Marketplace you'll be able to read about their personality before you purchase them

Check out the new tool tips in the Claim Window of the Marketplace.


Also, Pex was kind enough to post a help page FAQ about how to set up a guild and various other guild commands and funtions complete with screenshots.

To set up a guild, you need to be at least 15 in 1 of your jobs, guild names will need approval, you need only yourself to set up a guild (most games require 10+ people to sign a petition to create a guild), and guilds are free to create. So, I can guarantee we are going to see TONS of guild created. Hopefully the guild creation server will not blow up int he first 24-48 hours :)

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