Final Fantasy 14 is an enormous game with an even larger fanbase, making it easy to sink thousands of hours into the game. However, all of the time and effort spent honing your skills, leveling your character, and gathering accessories to make your character look exactly how you want them to could all be gone if your account gets breached.
While security measures are already in place for that sort of thing, you may want to add extra methods of protecting your account to avoid a hazardous situation, which is where Square Enix's One-Time Password system comes into play. Protecting any account is essential, but MMOs specifically have been known to have bad actors out there anxiously waiting to steal high-end accounts. So it's best to take all the precautions you can.
The Basics
Square Enix's One-Time Password is essentially their method of two-form verification, and if you are familiar with that, this acts the same way. However, if you aren't familiar with this type of security protocol, you essentially receive a time-sensitive six-digit code that you must enter before logging into your account.
While you have to enter in a new code every time you want to log into your account, the security benefits of a One-Time Password more than make up for it. This method only allows you to unlock your account as the six-digit code will only be available on your devices, such as your phone or a Square Enix Security Token (more details on these below).
Security Tokens
There are three different ways to use a One-Time Password on your Square Enix Account, and the first one we're going to focus on is Square Enix's own Security Token Dongle. The Security Token is a dongle with an LED screen, a singular red button, and a serial number on the back.
The Security Token is its own, independent One-Time Password that you link to your Square Enix Account via its serial number and press the button to generate a unique six-digit code whenever you're logging into your account. The Security Token runs at $14.99 and also has a key ring on it, allowing you to hook it on a lanyard or anything else that supports it.
While the other methods of setting up a One-Time Password are free, the benefit of having a Token dongle is it's a physical object that you can safely store somewhere. However, you can very quickly lose the Security Token and have to remember to bring it with you if you plan to use your Square Enix Account elsewhere. The other options are app-based and require a phone, which can run into issues if you suddenly need to get a new one or are forced to wipe it. Both have their pros and cons, so make the decision based on what's best for you.
Software Tokens
A Software Token is an official Square Enix smartphone app designed specifically to display your six-digit codes. A new One-Time use code will get displayed every time you open the application, which makes for incredible security.
The Square Enix Software Token can only be downloaded on iOS version 7.1 or higher and Android version 3.0 or higher. You will also need to have a Square Enix account that has purchased either Final Fantasy 11 or Final Fantasy 14 and registered them to your account to set up the Software Token.
Linking Your Square Enix Account To Your Software Token
Setting up a One-Time Password has a few steps and can be a bit confusing to those who have never set up any two-form verification in the past. Below is a detailed list of each step in the order you should do them!
- Make sure you have a Square Enix Account that has either Final Fantasy 11 or Final Fantasy 14 registered to the account.
- Ensure you have an iPhone that supports iOS version 7.1 or higher or an Android device that supports Android version 3.0 or higher.
- Head to the Square Enix Account Management System site and log into your Square Enix Account.
- Drop down the "Services and Options" menu and select "One-Time Password."
- At the bottom of the page, find and select Software Token (smartphone app).
- On the next page, select the OS that applies to you (iOS or Android).
- If you are doing this on your PC, you can search for the app on your device with SQUARE ENIX Software Token.
- After the application is on your device, head to the next page.
- Answer the Security Question on the next page.
- If successfully answered, you will receive an email with a Registration Password.
- Open the Software Token App on your device and fill in the required information.
- Account ID (Square Enix Account Username)
- Birthday (YYYYMMDD)
- Registration Password (From the previous step)
Congratulations, you are now protected with a One-Time Password and the SQUARE ENIX Software Token application! When logging into your Square Enix Account, open the Software Token app, and type in the One-Time Password at the top of the screen.
Software Authenticators
The third way to tie a One-Time Password to your Square Enix Account is by using third-party authenticator apps such as Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, etc. Those who have used two-form authentication in the past may be more inclined to use this method. You can keep all your authentication codes under one app via this route, eliminating the problem of having lots of different authentication apps downloaded.
However, suppose you prefer having a standalone application or never used authenticators before. In that case, we recommend using Square Enix's application as it is made specifically for their account, and the process is a tad easier. Ultimately, any of these three methods will do their job just fine, so it doesn't matter which one you choose at the end of the day.
Linking Your Square Enix Account To Your Software Authenticator
While the process of setting up a Software Authenticator with your Square Enix Account is more or less the same as the previous method, there are noteworthy differences. Below is a complete step-by-step guide on how to link your account and authenticator.
- Make sure you have a Square Enix Account that has either Final Fantasy 11 or Final Fantasy 14 registered to the account.
- Ensure you have an iPhone that supports iOS version 7.1 or higher or an Android device that supports Android version 3.0 or higher.
- Head to the Square Enix Account Management System site and log into your Square Enix Account.
- Drop down the "Services and Options" menu and select "One-Time Password."
- At the bottom of the page, find and select Software Authenticator (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, etc.)
- Open your authenticator of choice on your device and scan the QR code that has appeared on the screen.
- Follow the steps on your device to finish setting up the authenticator
- All Authentication apps are different, but this step confirms the setup and doesn't require anything else.
While this method is much faster than the Software Token one, your account is still much more secure than it ever has been. As mentioned above, each of these methods is an excellent way of keeping your account safe from malicious attacks and should be taken seriously.
Important Information
After successfully setting up your One-Time Password with your Square Enix Account, there are still a few essential things that should get noted. When you finally have your account linked with your authentication method of choice, head back to the Square Enix Account Management System website and log into your account.
After logging in and using your new One-Time Password, you should see a "Token Usage Status" in the middle of the screen with sensitive information on it. This page now contains your User ID, Serial Number, and an Emergency Removal Password. — WRITE ALL OF THIS INFORMATION DOWN AND STORE IT SOMEWHERE SAFE AND SECURE! —
If you were ever to lose or break your phone or dongle, you would not be able to log into your Square Enix Account, essentially being locked out. Writing down your ID, Serial Number, and Emergency Password will allow you to terminate your One-Time Password and access your account.
Additionally, suppose you ever want to stop using your One-Time Password for whatever reason. In that case, you can head to the Square Enix Account Management System, drop down the "Services and Options" menu, select "One-Time Password," pick the method you used on the next page and then select the "Removal" button at the bottom. You will have to enter information to confirm the removal of the One-Time Password, but that will be unique to you.
