The security issues of Steam friend codes

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Windsky 22 hours ago

Hello customer service, I have a suggestion. Could we cancel the friend code and switch to a single form of adding friends through a friend link? Due to the conversion rules between the friend code and Steam ID, the friend code can be traced back to a 17-digit Steam ID, and can even be traced back to the account name, which poses a significant risk to account security.

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Showing 1-12 of 12 comments

PurpleCreativeValiant 22 hours ago

I don't need your friend code to get your 17-digit Steam ID. But saying it can be traced back to the account name is nonsense
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/profiles/76561199157716740

Nx Machina 22 hours ago

The only way for someone to get your account name is if you give it to them and having being on Steam for 20+ years i can state that as fact as i have never lost access to my account.

Windsky 21 hours ago

But it is true that your 17-bit Steam ID can be found

Aluvard 21 hours ago

Originally posted by Windsky:
But it is true that your 17-bit Steam ID can be found

And it's perfectly useless.

PurpleCreativeValiant 21 hours ago

Originally posted by Windsky:
But it is true that your 17-bit Steam ID can be found

Yup. And it's used if you don't use a custom profile URL

Last edited by PurpleCreativeValiant; 21 hours ago

BJWyler 21 hours ago

Originally posted by Windsky:
Hello customer service, I have a suggestion. Could we cancel the friend code and switch to a single form of adding friends through a friend link? Due to the conversion rules between the friend code and Steam ID, the friend code can be traced back to a 17-digit Steam ID, and can even be traced back to the account name, which poses a significant risk to account security.

Incorrect.

Truth 19 hours ago

Originally posted by Windsky:
But it is true that your 17-bit Steam ID can be found

Your steam id is public, it's not remotely secret or hidden and it's shown all over the place when you join games

It's not used for anything secure

Tito Shivan 19 hours ago

Originally posted by Truth:
Your steam id is public, it's not remotely secret or hidden and it's shown all over the place when you join games

Fun trick: It's on every user's profile page.
You can see it in anyone's profile by adding ?xml=1 to any profile URL.
here's mine:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/id/titoshivan?xml=1

Truth 19 hours ago

Originally posted by Tito Shivan:
Originally posted by Truth:
Your steam id is public, it's not remotely secret or hidden and it's shown all over the place when you join games
Fun trick: It's on every user's profile page.
You can see it in anyone's profile by adding ?xml=1 to any profile URL.
here's mine:
https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/id/titoshivan?xml=1

Yep or you can view source of page and snag it from there

Originally posted by Windsky:
But it is true that your 17-bit Steam ID can be found

Your ID is 76561199157716740

Last edited by Truth; 19 hours ago

Piston Smashed™ 18 hours ago

Steam ID's have been visible since day one, nearly 22 years, they have nothing to do with your account name.

Here are the three Steam ID's linked to my account, knock yourself out if you think you can get my account name from them.

steamID32: STEAM_0:0:3192
steam3ID: [U:1:6384]
steamID64: https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/profiles/76561197960272112

#10

rawWwRrr 14 hours ago

Originally posted by Windsky:
But it is true that your 17-bit Steam ID can be found

And?

#11

76561198407601200 13 hours ago

Originally posted by Windsky:
Hello customer service, I have a suggestion. Could we cancel the friend code and switch to a single form of adding friends through a friend link? Due to the conversion rules between the friend code and Steam ID, the friend code can be traced back to a 17-digit Steam ID, and can even be traced back to the account name, which poses a significant risk to account security.

Do you have proof of this?

#12

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All Discussions > Steam Forums > Suggestions / Ideas > Topic Details

Date Posted: 31 Jul @ 1:52am

Posts: 12

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