[peepsrct]

Hello all,
I'm currently brainstorming for a research paper for a computer security class. I need to come up with a thesis, and I decided to go with something with MMORPGs. However I'm not certain what angle to take or even exactly what to target. Here are a few ideas

• Selling of In-Game Currency/Characters
  
• Social issues with cross-gendering of characters and the interaction between and thereafter
  
• Literal Security Issues - Security of information stored(credit card details as well as other personal info)

Any ideas on which would be best way to go. Paper itself will be 8-12 pgs, with 10-15min presentation.

[Martyr2]

I think you will have issues finding enough resources to put together strong papers on the first two items. The third one on literal security issues (you could also expand the idea of general security to cover things like taking advantage of problems in a server-client environment, exploiting in game bugs, hiding in system blind spots etc) might yield more informational papers for resources.

For instance I once took advantage of an online game by playing negative quantities because they had improper range checking. I bought a negative amount of units which then didn't take any of my cash only to sell it back to them for in game cash. I used it to take over the game and become a war lord. Admins finally caught on and booted me, but you get the idea.

In another game users would hide in glitches so that someone would be within a wall and could shoot other players without themselves being hit.

You will find more info about network/mmorpg hacks and bugs than papers on the other. Plus those who don't game may find it more informative to know how to avoid online scams when it comes to gaming. Some of the major problems people have with paying for things online is not understanding what to look for in the way of security and their financial info.

Hope the advice helps!

This post has been edited by Martyr2: 21 November 2010 - 10:02 PM

[peepsrct]

Thanks for the input, very helpful. Have a few hours to draw up a outline to turn in so going to let it soak and do a little research into it all.