The Future of Jagex Accounts
Jagex Accounts have been an important project for us to improve security and quality of our account systems.
Our Beta period has involved a large volume of participants over an extensive period of time, enabling us to fully test our systems with real accounts and ensure everything is operating as expected. Based on the success of the Beta, we're now confident we can exit our Beta period and take our next steps on the Jagex Account journey.
The benefits of Jagex accounts are inherently linked with the Jagex Launcher - both are interconnected projects in our mission to improve security and the player experience for our games. As part of our continued rollout of these new systems, from November 7th, players will require a Jagex Account to access the Jagex Launcher.
Once this goes live, if you have an existing RuneScape account logged in to the launcher, you will not be impacted by this until you next log out of the Launcher. If you do log out, you will need to upgrade to a Jagex Account to continue using the Jagex Launcher.
In the near future after this update goes live, we will also be updating our account creation process to require all new characters to be created via Jagex Accounts to ensure all new players are accessing the game through our modernised account systems.
General Safety Tips
While Jagex Accounts are at the cutting edge of security for RuneScape, it's up to all of us as individuals to stay vigilant online. So, alongside using a Jagex Account, here are a few more ways you can keep your stuff safe.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
This extra layer of security asks you to confirm your login with a code (sent to either your linked device or email) before you can access your account. Most email providers will encourage you to apply 2FAs to your email accounts, but you should use them wherever you can.
Email Vigilance
While Jagex Accounts-related emails will give you a link to access the part of the site you require, it’s important to exercise caution, because emails can be replicated and seem legitimate. Always:
- Check the address an email is sent from.
- Keep an eye out for any obvious or repetitive grammatical errors.
- If you're ever unsure, avoid any links, and log in directly to the website.
Password Safety
We're sure you've seen this point come up time and time again, but it’s important enough that it bears repeating! Make sure you're using passwords that aren't easy to guess, with numbers, letters, special characters and capitalisation. Use different passwords across every website you use.
If you're worried about forgetting all your brilliantly random passwords, there are some fantastic Password Managers out there that can remember them all for you... just make sure to protect that account as much as possible too! Remember that it’s even easier to set up and use a Password Manager with Jagex Accounts too.
Bad Actors
While our players can passionately disagree with each other about the latest updates, or which stairs you should take up Lumbridge Castle, the majority won't be hoping to snaffle your private information. With that being said, always be careful when talking with other players in and out of the game. Whether they are asking you seemingly ‘innocent’ questions about your grandmother's last name or persuading you to download a plugin in order to make your next raid completion a bit smoother, do your due diligence and always ask yourself whether this seems okay.
Sharing Details
Don’t share any of your account details with anybody else, or with any unofficial site, no matter how much you trust them. It's one of the most common reasons we see accounts being hijacked. Malicious individuals will try to lull you into a sense of security before nabbing your details. Keep it secret and keep it safe! We will never ask for your login information, and certainly not for a password, so you've no reason to ever give your password out to anybody.
Bank Pin
Now for something more RuneScape-specific. Your Bank contains all the goodies you've earned during your time in Gielinor, so it needs to be watertight. It's always best to apply a four-digit Bank PIN, so if any malicious individuals do manage to get onto your account, there’s one more thing they need before they can get their hands on your hoard.
Jagex Accounts
One of the most straightforward steps towards protecting your big-time gains and 1KC drops is by using a Jagex Account. This is the newest frontline defence available, and has other benefits too - you can have multiple characters saved to your account, and it remembers all your details while offering top-tier protection. Click here to upgrade today!
Released in Open Beta earlier this year, all players are now able to upgrade their accounts to this new and improved system. For some extra context, and for those who are still wary of our new system, the majority of reported hijackings of Jagex Accounts result from an account holder giving away all their login info directly to phishing or a third party, and granting them access with an authentication token in the same instance.
So, let's break down how you would benefit from converting to a Jagex Account.
Two-Factor Authentication
You’ll need to set-up some form of 2FA in order to create, access and upgrade to a Jagex Account. This means you'll have an extra level of protection from the get-go! Use a clean device with 2FA for the safest experience.
Super-Complex Passwords
What's better than using all 26 letters of the alphabet and numbers 0 - 9? Being able to use all types of special characters such as ?, #, @, * & more! What’s more, Jagex Account passwords accept capitalisation which means you can r4Nd0m!Se your passwords to your heart's content.
Email Verification & Notifications
You’ll need to validate your account from your inbox, so there's no chance of signing up to Jagex Accounts with an email you can't access. You’ll also receive emails notifying you whenever your account logs in, or when any details are changed, meaning you can stay alert to any suspicious activity!
Enhanced Recovery
With better protection comes better recovery. Not only will you have to validate any details via email and/or 2FA, you can also enable backup codes which offer a last resort option if you've forgotten your details and can't access your Authenticator. Make sure to keep these backup codes safe and never share them with anyone!
Upgraded Defence
Jagex Accounts offer enhanced protection against bots and brute-force attacks, as you'll always need to validate a login. With a Jagex Account, you're only able to play through the official mobile client or through the Jagex Launcher.
Ongoing Improvements
Since going into Open Beta in March, the team has strived to make Jagex Accounts the safest way to protect your account and play your favourite point-and-click MMO. Here are some of the additional features we’ve added:
- Increased the amount of characters from 10 to 20.
- Allowed re-ordering of characters.
- Introduced a system to identify and easily import relevant accounts.
- Added the option to hide characters from you character list.
Stay safe out there…
That should be everything you need to know about account security right now! The key takeaway is that Jagex Accounts is the best way to protect yourself and your accomplishments, but also that it’s important to remain vigilant. If you've got any more queries and questions about Jagex Accounts and how they can help you, make sure to check out the website or take a look at the previous Jagex Accounts newspost with a handy FAQ and guide on how to upgrade!
Before we close out, we just want to say a big thank you to so many of you for upgrading to Jagex Accounts during our Beta. Over 500,000 of you took part and your participation has helped us tremendously, and we thank you for your trust in upgrading early.