In Pokémon GO, the hacker attack on a well-known content creator caused quite a stir. Although he has since regained his account, the Reddit community is demanding consequences for increased security. We at MeinMMO will show you what new feature they wish to see from Niantic.
What hacker attack are we referring to? On March 13, the content creator FleeceKing shared one of the worst moments a Pokémon trainer can imagine: a hacker attack. As he explained in his post, his account was taken over by a hacker, and all his Pokémon were deleted. And as if that weren’t enough, the perpetrator documented and published the whole thing in a video.
After the major upset, FleeceKing, who was the first trainer to reach Level 50 in Pokémon GO, can now breathe a little easier. As he explains in his latest X post, Niantic has managed to recover his account: After 24 hours, I can now confirm that Niantic helped me get my account back. I cannot go into all the details of my situation, but I am happy with this outcome.
However, the uneasy feeling that this could happen again lingers, which is why the Reddit community is now demanding a new feature for increased security. We will show you what that should be.
Trainers demand a locking feature for Pokémon
What should Niantic change? The shock from the hacker attack still lingers with many trainers. Even though it is not entirely clear how this could happen, some are concerned that it could happen to them as well. For this reason, they desire a little more security for their content and are asking for a new feature.
The Reddit user PrestyRS shares an idea in his Reddit post regarding a possible locking feature that would make it more difficult to send or trade selected monsters. He explains on Reddit:
Give us an option to ‘lock’ Pokémon
Once a Pokémon is fully leveled up, there should be an option to ‘lock’ it so that it cannot be traded or sent. If it is not fully leveled yet, it could be locked with an item in the shop, for a payment of PokéCoins. If you try to transfer it, it simply won’t allow you to, similar to mysterious Pokémon. This way, it will no longer occur that a Pokémon gets sent in the future. I’ve been thinking about this idea for a long time, but after seeing what happened to FleeceKing today, I wanted to make a concrete proposal for it.
PrestyRS on Reddit
What does the function bring? At the moment, one can easily mark a large number of monsters in Pokémon GO and send them. Only special variants, such as legendary and mysterious Pokémon, shinies, and lucky Pokémon, are excluded. But even these can mostly be sent – just individually. So it’s a bit more cumbersome, but not a hurdle.
And the favorites status, which is supposed to save monsters from accidental trading and sending, can be removed with just a few clicks. The function described by PrestyRS is supposed to make this no longer possible.
What do other players think about the proposal?
Trainers demand more security: Other players also feel that it is time for Niantic to establish such a feature in the game to create more security. From their perspective, the feature could also include an additional pin that can be assigned within the game to lock and unlock certain Pokémon. In the comments on Reddit, one can therefore read the following:
- speedcreature:
I wouldn’t mind having a season without events if it means the security measures are increased.
- PirateHasan:
I am more afraid of losing my account than of other features. I’ve invested a lot of money and 7 years into this game… I definitely wish for more security.
- aznknight613:
There should really be an option to set either a PIN or a password to transfer certain marked things.
Other benefits of the function: The function could not only bring advantages related to hacker attacks, but also be useful in everyday life. For this reason, some trainers wish to extend the function to certain existing features as well. The Reddit user Jervylim06 also suggests the following in the comments:
Can we ask Niantic to lock individual Pokémon? Lock to freeze the Pokémon!
Jervylim06 on Reddit
1. You cannot level them up
2. You cannot evolve them
3. You cannot send them
4. You cannot buy new moves for them
5. You cannot change their moves
6. You cannot delete them
7. You cannot mega-evolve them
8. You cannot trade them
9. You can send them to Pokémon Home, etc!
Total freeze! Below with a lock button with SECRET PIN! This way everything is protected! Precious shinies, cryptos, hundos, etc.!
Your child, your friend, others can do nothing when they check your account because you have a SECRET PIN!
Some trainers express concerns: A PIN won’t solve this
However, there are also players who do not hold anything for the idea of this function. They do not believe that a set PIN can protect against such a hacker attack and instead demand better overall security measures. FreezeShock explains in the comments:
I think one should consider whether another game has something like this. That’s a real question. I don’t play other games like PoGO. The next thing that comes to my mind is locking artifacts in Genshin Impact. But even that only prevents you from destroying them. I think the idea of a secret PIN goes too far for a game. What happens if you forget the PIN? My theory about how the hacker got into FleeceKing’s account is that he somehow convinced support that it was his account. A PIN won’t solve that. Niantic urgently needs to address the fundamental security of accounts.
Whether Niantic will ensure increased security in Pokémon GO after this incident and whether you can soon look forward to a new feature as a result remains to be seen. If there are any news about this, you will find out on MeinMMO.
What do you think of PrestyRS’s proposal? Would you also wish for such a feature? Or do you see it as critical and hope for another solution? Feel free to let us know here on MeinMMO in the comments and exchange views with other trainers.
Pokémon GO is becoming even more practical and brings a new button you should know about.
