You're right that IP blocking is largely ineffective. However, Disney DOES collect and log your MAC address every time you login. Your MAC address is permanent (sort of). Disney also does log IP addresses. The problem is not that Disney has no reliable means of cracking down on hackers, it's simply that they're not willing to put forth such effort.
Also, I recommend everyone see
https://piratesforums.co/posts/122769/. You may not discuss or name 3rd-party tools used to manipulate the game on these forums, period. I will be going through this thread and removing references. If this continues the thread will be locked.
Agreed!! IP blocking is, for most intents and purposes, useless. It harms the innocent while the guilty work around it in mere minutes.
Logging MAC addresses can absolutely help but with a simple NIC swap that is overcome as well -- and I'm sure any hacker worth his/her salt knows this as well.
Paid accounts (trackable through the plastic one uses to pay) is the best way to go, and even that is no where near full proof. Nothing is really.
As Disney sits right now, the best way to deal with ANY potential danger is to avoid known hackers as best as possible and keep ALL personal information private and OUT of the public eye. As Davy said, Disney is not willing to put forth the funds or manpower to overcome this growing problem.
And to be clear to everyone, I made no such reference to any third party program used for hacking or any other means. And I don't believe Davy meant to say I did. I think it was just included in the post as a deterrent regarding future posts.Sidenote here but good information.
Many community collges, universities, and online educational programs offer specific courses regarding internet security.
It's something I'd advise anyone to look into and learn more about.
It's an absolute eye-opener to learn about today's internet and its potential pitfalls regarding personal information and identity theft. To have it presented in a clinical manner, instead of all willy-nilly via friends, news articles, and website blurbs, gives one a much clearer picture concerning the challenges we all face in keeping our personal information safe, secure, and oh so PRIVATE.