Valve To Implement Trading Escrows For Users, Unless They Utilize Mobile Authenticators.

Cause some people get scammed out of a hat/knife and complain to steam support. Personally the escrow system is not needed. If you are stupid enough to get scammed out of a hat than u don't deserve to own it. It's a harsh reality kids

I would imagine that if steam was to make this mobile auth ONLY (and that email steamguard doesn't work) I would think they would offer key fob tokens... but who knows.... I am still waiting for actual info on the whole thing rather than reddit speculation and rumors, tho I already use steam guard, idk why anyone wouldn't....

I don't think escrow should happen, but valve has to do things like this if they want to prevent idiots from being scammed. Valve themselves could get drawn into legal troubles or get negative publicity if fucktards keep getting scammed. I know they basically already have fucking gave these retards helmets and covered their bodies in fucking pillows, but people keep getting scammed, so they have to put them into isolation too. (i know its a fucking weird analogy)

Valve themselves could get drawn into legal troubles or get negative publicity if fricktards keep getting scammed.

Not likely.

welp its happening.

A few things:

- It seems like scrap.tf bots will not be affected by this and will only need the user to have the mobile app which is a +1 . But there is still the 3 day wait

- ALL BETTING SITES RIP. CSGOlounge betting on games will stop (unless admins schedule games 5 days in advanced) Jackpot sites (3 days to enter a pot No more sniping)

- No low teir traders: IMO people will not be trading low teir items (weapons/stranges/craft hats) people will be turned away from the 3 day waiting period

- Trolls: Waiting 3 days is already long AF what happens when the other person cancels the trade on the 3rd day. WELP you got to wait another 3 days to get your own item back

- spycrabbing/boxing/tf minigame betting: middle mans will become extinct, you would have to schedule a minigame bet atleast 3 day prior.

If you are thinking of getting any hats/strange, now is the time to get them, or else suffer the 3-6 day waiting period.

Well, allow me to provide my experience thus far with the Mobile Authenticator, as well as answer any questions I can from what I've seen.

1. I do not have a Smartphone, but I do have an Android Tablet. This initially presented an issue, because lots of people were under the assumption that you NEEDED a Smartphone with a working number to sync the Mobile Authenticator. What I found was actually different. You do still need a number where you can receive an SMS message, so I just used my regular dumb-phone number, Valve sent the text, I inputted the code into the Mobile app on my tablet, and everything synced up. So it seems you only need to receive the SMS message ONCE, and then you never need the number again. So that basically clarifies that you don't need an active phone but once to get it working.

2. After activating my Mobile Authenticator, I logged out of Steam and logged back in, and was prompted for the code upon logging in. I found the code I inputted from the Mobile Authenticator worked and allowed me access, which verified that this can be done on any non-contracted tablet or smart device.

3. After I got in, I decided to try accessing third party sites using Steam. So, I went to backpack.tf, logged out, and logged back in. Once again, upon logging in, it requested the code. Extra security for accessing third party sites verified.

4. Once I verified I was protected on those fronts, I then decided to to a test trade. Found someone to buy one of my random items, and when the trade was initiated, it asked me to input my Authenticator code before it would accept the trade, and more importantly, DID NOT REQUIRE ME TO VERIFY IT THROUGH EMAIL. This was SOOOOO much more convenient to me, as email verification could sometimes take FOREVER to send the email. This popped up instantly on my tablet and notified me. This is a HUGE plus.

I think this is livable and a better solution, convenience-wise, than having to do it through the email. It's faster and pops up instantly when needed. Sure, that means I have to have my tablet, but I've been wanting a feature like this from Steam for ages now. I just was unhappy that they implemented it the way they did.

To answer a few questions:

Yes, betting sites will be going the way of the dinosaur. No way to regulate all this and the trading period will kill most of this off. I expect a lot of bot sites to be the same, but scrap.tf has already found a workaround involving android emulators that should prove to be useful.

No, this won't kill off low-end trading. I read somewhere that Valve plans on notifying traders in the trade window if a player does not have the Mobile Authenticator enabled as to prevent them from running into unwanted escrows. So it will slow trading down, but all the serious traders will enable the Mobile Authenticator and keep doing their thing. They'll just refuse to deal with players that don't have the authenticator. Same with middlemen. They aren't going anywhere. High profile trading servers will simply require you to have the Mobile Authenticator enabled or they will not middleman for you.

As for the trolls who cancel their deal on the final day, I ALSO read somewhere that Valve will be putting a trade hold on any accounts that cancel their deals while they have items in escrow for a full week. No troll is gonna want to have a trade hold placed on their account and leave them unable to trade for seven days. Good solution to that potential problem.

I'm still sour in the mouth about HOW this was implemented, but the app is solid, it works, it's seamless, and it will solve the scamming issue. Sure, it presents a hurdle for people without a smart device, but there are android emulators that you can get for free to alleviate this issue. It's a sudden and major change, but it could have been done worse.

Well, allow me to provide my experience thus far with the Mobile Authenticator, as well as answer any questions I can from what I've seen.

 

1. I do not have a Smartphone, but I do have an Android Tablet. This initially presented an issue, because lots of people were under the assumption that you NEEDED a Smartphone with a working number to sync the Mobile Authenticator. What I found was actually different. You do still need a number where you can receive an SMS message, so I just used my regular dumb-phone number, Valve sent the text, I inputted the code into the Mobile app on my tablet, and everything synced up. So it seems you only need to receive the SMS message ONCE, and then you never need the number again. So that basically clarifies that you don't need an active phone but once to get it working.

 

2. After activating my Mobile Authenticator, I logged out of Steam and logged back in, and was prompted for the code upon logging in. I found the code I inputted from the Mobile Authenticator worked and allowed me access, which verified that this can be done on any non-contracted tablet or smart device.

 

3. After I got in, I decided to try accessing third party sites using Steam. So, I went to backpack.tf, logged out, and logged back in. Once again, upon logging in, it requested the code. Extra security for accessing third party sites verified.

 

4. Once I verified I was protected on those fronts, I then decided to to a test trade. Found someone to buy one of my random items, and when the trade was initiated, it asked me to input my Authenticator code before it would accept the trade, and more importantly, DID NOT REQUIRE ME TO VERIFY IT THROUGH EMAIL. This was SOOOOO much more convenient to me, as email verification could sometimes take FOREVER to send the email. This popped up instantly on my tablet and notified me. This is a HUGE plus.

 

I think this is livable and a better solution, convenience-wise, than having to do it through the email. It's faster and pops up instantly when needed. Sure, that means I have to have my tablet, but I've been wanting a feature like this from Steam for ages now. I just was unhappy that they implemented it the way they did.

 

To answer a few questions:

 

Yes, betting sites will be going the way of the dinosaur. No way to regulate all this and the trading period will kill most of this off. I expect a lot of bot sites to be the same, but scrap.tf has already found a workaround involving android emulators that should prove to be useful.

 

No, this won't kill off low-end trading. I read somewhere that Valve plans on notifying traders in the trade window if a player does not have the Mobile Authenticator enabled as to prevent them from running into unwanted escrows. So it will slow trading down, but all the serious traders will enable the Mobile Authenticator and keep doing their thing. They'll just refuse to deal with players that don't have the authenticator. Same with middlemen. They aren't going anywhere. High profile trading servers will simply require you to have the Mobile Authenticator enabled or they will not middleman for you.

 

As for the trolls who cancel their deal on the final day, I ALSO read somewhere that Valve will be putting a trade hold on any accounts that cancel their deals while they have items in escrow for a full week. No troll is gonna want to have a trade hold placed on their account and leave them unable to trade for seven days. Good solution to that potential problem.

 

I'm still sour in the mouth about HOW this was implemented, but the app is solid, it works, it's seamless, and it will solve the scamming issue. Sure, it presents a hurdle for people without a smart device, but there are android emulators that you can get for free to alleviate this issue. It's a sudden and major change, but it could have been done worse.

Thank you for basically a review. I actually just got a phone but it won't be active till next week, so I'll be looking forward to using this rather than email verifying. I just have one question: So basically trades won't change if you use the mobile thing, but if you don't then the 3 day wait period activates? Just curious

Thank you for basically a review. I actually just got a phone but it won't be active till next week, so I'll be looking forward to using this rather than email verifying. I just have one question: So basically trades won't change if you use the mobile thing, but if you don't then the 3 day wait period activates? Just curious

Yes, if either you or the person you are trading with does not have the authenticator active, it will hold your items for 3 days before completing the trade. If either person cancels the trade before then, they receive a 7 day trade lock-out.

Geel9, the developer for scrap.tf has created a workaround for those of you without smartphones. I'd consider checking out the reddit post which you can find here: Introducing the Steam Desktop Authenticator beta version 0.1.0. No phone needed to avoid escrow. Entirely open-source. • /r/tf2