Identification Codes

What

There are two parts to identification codes: The password-like value you enter when connecting, and the resulting 11 character verification code. The former is a secret that you should not share with anybody, and the latter is viewable to everybody as proof that you know the former.

Why

Using an identification code makes it more difficult for somebody else to impersonate you.

How

The log in page has a new field for an identification code. You are not required to provide one. This is an 8 to 100 character value that allows any special characters. It should be easy to remember, but difficult to guess, and should not be the same as the password you use anywhere else. The value you enter is never stored anywhere, and is only used to generate the 11 character verification code.

This identification code is combined with your username and a server secret to generate an 11-character verification code. Other users can see this verification code by hovering their mouse cursor over your messages in chat, or issuing the /whois command against your username.

Users that have an identification code have their username prefixed with a plus sign (+) in chat. Administrators have their username prefixed with an at sign (@) in chat.

Note that if you change your username, your verification code will change even if you use the same identification code. The username and identification code are both case-sensitive to changes in the verification code.