Online game companies are tightening security on personal information and eliminating use of resident registration numbers.
NCsoft took heat after tens of thousands of stolen numbers were used to play its online game Lineage. Though NCsoft was not involved in the crime, police said that the company was negligent and partly responsible.
In response, the game maker plans to replace resident identification numbers with a system called I-PIN, currently used by several Web sites, such as shopping malls.
NCsoft said that it would adopt the I-PIN system for all of its games.
NHN, which publishes the online roleplaying game R2-Reign of Revolution, said yesterday it will introduce security codes to protect its users.
Users will be sent an online “security card” via e-mail with a list of 50 code numbers. When logging on to the game, the user will be asked to input a combination of the codes ― for instance, the first two digits of code 13 and the last two digits in code 50.
“This security card system is the same as that used in online banking and is easy to use. Because the cards are issued through personal e-mail, there is little danger of losing the card or exposing any personal information,” an NHN spokeswoman said.
The company also plans to introduce even stricter one-time password programs through cell phone text messages.

by Wohn Dong-hee