Steam Guard is a coercive, impenetrable barrier to my limited game time

[Bif]

I was locked out of Steam yesterday, because I didn't remember my password to an old email account. Why? Because Steam Guard required a code from this old email account before it would let me access my games.

Fine, I disabled Steam Guard. Then I had a comment about the game, and guess what? Disabling Steam Guard disables your ability to post! If you want to use the forum, you have to enable Steam Guard. I can live without trading cards, the listed consequence to disabling Steam Guard. But without the forum, Steam is just another layer of hassle to log into before I can access my games.

I do not want Steam Guard. I don't want an extra layer of BS between me and my couple of hours of relaxation. I didn't ask for it, I don't need it, I don't want it. Disabling the forum? WHY?? What does Steam Guard have to do with the forum? It's coercion, pure and simple.

I know I'm a target, now, for fan bois and trolls. They will tell me that Steam Guard is Truth, Beauty, and Justice. That's okay, if you want to say that then I'll try to be nice. But if you were being honest, you would admit it's more hassle and more timesuck that is there to make life easier for Steam and to force you to spend your time on Epic.

I used to really like Steam. I cannot believe that they hung the forum on Steam Guard. But they did, test it and you'll see.

[Bif]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Xenophobe:

you didn't update your e-mail address in steam when you changed it? this would be a non-issue if you'd done that.

I didn't change my email address, I simply got another email address. I have hundreds of accounts tied to my old email address, it would be impractical to close it or to update all of the email addresses.

Also, it wouldn't be a non-issue. I don't want the extra hassle at all. I don't need it and I don't want it. Make it go away, please and thank you.

[rawWwRrr]

I mean, that's your choice not to make use of Steam Guard as long as you understand that Valve has a made choice about what you can and cannot do on Steam without it.

[Bif]

Oprindeligt skrevet af rawWwRrr:

I mean, that's your choice not to make use of Steam Guard as long as you understand that Valve has a made choice about what you can and cannot do on Steam without it.

Clearly this is an accurate summary of the situation. The entire point of my original post is that I am displeased with this scenario and would like it to be changed.

Look, both of us pretending your comment is innocuous is a win for me but does not do justice to your rather subtle point. Let's cut to it, shall we?

In effect, you are saying that Valve has made rules and that I am free to conduct myself as I wish within those rules. Meaning: "You want the forum then put up with Steam Guard."

This thread is the exact antithesis to your position. I do not want Steam Guard, it's a hassle. I do want the forum as it is the main use that I have for Steam as a separate entity to the games I have housed within Steam.

I didn't sign up for logging in twice in order to use a forum and in order to play the games I already paid for. The deal in place when I bought those games was: One login, x amount of hassle, and now you can play. They changed that deal without my permission to now 2x hassle or even x^2 hassle. This bothers me, and I am registering my displeasure here and now.

[A Trusted Friend In Science™]

You can always use 2fa via the steam mobile if you don't want to use email. Otherwise your stuck in your predicament, very unlikely they will change it as it was done to reduce spammers.

[Bif]

Oprindeligt skrevet af A Trusted Friend In Science™:

You can always use 2fa via the steam mobile if you don't want to use email. Otherwise your stuck in your predicament.

Another accurate statement. Actually, this post borders on "helpful" because 2fa could be less hassle than logging into an old email account. If that was the intent, thank you.

I'm not sure I can handle another factual statement that does not actually say Steam Guard is not a hassle, that forcing you to use Steam Guard in order to post on the forum makes sense other than simple coercion, or that there is some utility or benefit to the Steam member of having to log in twice to play your games.

On the other hand, the posters so far have all been honest so I will cherish that and go to bed.

[rawWwRrr]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Bif:

Oprindeligt skrevet af A Trusted Friend In Science™:

You can always use 2fa via the steam mobile if you don't want to use email. Otherwise your stuck in your predicament.

Another accurate statement. Actually, this post borders on "helpful" because 2fa could be less hassle than logging into an old email account. If that was the intent, thank you.

I'm not sure I can handle another factual statement that does not actually say Steam Guard is not a hassle, that forcing you to use Steam Guard in order to post on the forum makes sense other than simple coercion, or that there is some utility or benefit to the Steam member of having to log in twice to play your games.

On the other hand, the posters so far have all been honest so I will cherish that and go to bed.

It's obvious that you are either wanting a solution that gives you everything you want without the requirements, or you are wanting a sympathetic ear to your troubles. I'm sure that given enough time, someone will fulfill the later but if history can teach us anything it's that Valve has no intention of reducing the security through which Steam Guard provides.

You don't want Steam Guard. I can sympathize with that. I wish the services on the Internet weren't being flooded with asshats every day who think it's their life's work to offend, disrupt, and scam every one else who just want to go about their day and play games, or tweet a funny cat picture, or whatever. Now we have to have 2FA tools to provide more security.

I can attest that Steam Guard is never in my way. And from what you've described, it shouldn't be for you, either. You've just made the mistake of tying it back to an email address that you don't appear to monitor as much as your new one. That's on you, not Steam. You call it impracticable to make the change but how is that Steam's fault for the choices you've made regarding your email? Take the extra moment to update Steam with your new one. Done. Now move on.

[пахую]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Xenophobe:

you didn't update your e-mail address in steam when you changed it? this would be a non-issue if you'd done that.

[Brian9824]

I mean just update your email, don't see steam guard being changed because you forgot your email, and Steam guard does more good then harm. You might not care about the features, but unsecured accounts are used to scam others, so if it wasn't required it would be hurting everyone.

[davidb11]

Steam Guard is requried to post here? Huh?

[Tito Shivan]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Bif:

Fine, I disabled Steam Guard. Then I had a comment about the game, and guess what? Disabling Steam Guard disables your ability to post! If you want to use the forum, you have to enable Steam Guard.

Unfortunately Steam had to add that requirement to curb the spam from bot accounts. It's unlikely they revert that restriction.

Oprindeligt skrevet af Bif:

I was locked out of Steam yesterday, because I didn't remember my password to an old email account.

Keep your account details up-to-date. Not just because of Steam, but because It'll happen to you the same on another more important service and recovering some accounts is a royal pain in the rear.

[davidb11]

I always thought Steam Guard was on the mobile app on the phone.
THat's why that confused me.

[Tito Shivan]

Oprindeligt skrevet af davidb11:

I always thought Steam Guard was on the mobile app on the phone.
THat's why that confused me.

It started as an email 2FA. The authenticator came later.

And it now seems people who have Steamguard on their email are being forced to refresh their login more frequently on the client. Which some are annoyed about.

[Ogami]

Oprindeligt skrevet af davidb11:

Steam Guard is requried to post here? Huh?

Yup. If you disable Steam Guard completely ( no app , no email) then most forums on Steam wont let you post with a warning that you dont have Steam Guard.

[rawWwRrr]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Snakub Plissken:

I'm not sure why some users feel like refusing to do anything on their end to address the hassle they experience will somehow force a company (Valve) to change the system to accommodate them.

What kills me is that it took more effort to write out this post and more time to wait for responses to reply to than it would've taken to just change the email address and been done with it.

[davidb11]

Oprindeligt skrevet af Tito Shivan:

Oprindeligt skrevet af davidb11:

I always thought Steam Guard was on the mobile app on the phone.
THat's why that confused me.

It started as an email 2FA. The authenticator came later.

And it now seems people who have Steamguard on their email are being forced to refresh their login more frequently on the client. Which some are annoyed about.

Ah. Okay. That's what confused me.
I did do the e-mail way way back in the day.