Editing Blizzard Entertainment (section)

== Technology ==
=== Battle.net 2.0 ===
{{main|Battle.net}}
Blizzard Entertainment released its revamped Battle.net service in 2009. The platform provides [[Online game|online gaming]], [[digital distribution]], [[digital rights management]], and [[social networking service]]. Battle.net allows people who have purchased Blizzard products to download digital copies of games they have purchased, without needing any physical media.

On November 11, 2009, Blizzard required all ''World of Warcraft'' accounts to switch over to Battle.net accounts. This transition means that all current Blizzard titles can be accessed, downloaded, and played with a singular Battle.net login.<ref>[https://worldofwarcraft.blizzard.com/en-us/index.xml World of Warcraft] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309102730/http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/index.xml |date=March 9, 2009 }}. World of Warcraft. Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>

Battle.net 2.0 is the platform for matchmaking service for Blizzard games, which offers players a host of additional features. Players are able to track their friend's achievements, view match history, avatars, etc. Players are able to unlock a wide range of [[Achievement (video games)|achievements]] for Blizzard games.

The service provides the user with community features such as friends lists and groups, and allows players to chat simultaneously with players from other Blizzard games using [[Voice over IP|VoIP]] and [[instant messaging]]. For example, players no longer need to create multiple user names or accounts for most Blizzard products.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Upcoming Blizzard Battle.Net Feature Draw From Warcraft, Xbox Live, Life|url=https://kotaku.com/upcoming-blizzard-battle-net-feature-draw-from-warcraft-5342994| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://kotaku.com/upcoming-blizzard-battle-net-feature-draw-from-warcraft-5342994| archive-date=2021-09-28|access-date=January 31, 2021|website=Kotaku|date=August 22, 2009 |language=en-us}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kim|first=Matt|date=October 6, 2017|title=Battle.net Gets Some New Social Features Like Voice Chat and Social Channels|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/battlenet-gets-some-new-social-features-like-voice-chat-and-social-channels| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/battlenet-gets-some-new-social-features-like-voice-chat-and-social-channels| archive-date=2021-09-28|access-date=January 31, 2021|website=USgamer|language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> To enable cross-game communication, players need to become either Battletag or Real ID friends.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Blizzard announces new Battle.net BattleTags|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011-12-15-blizzard-announces-new-battle-net-communication-feature-battleta.html|access-date=January 12, 2021|website=Engadget|date=July 15, 2016 |language=en|archive-date=January 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113122810/https://www.engadget.com/2011-12-15-blizzard-announces-new-battle-net-communication-feature-battleta.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Warden client ===
Blizzard Entertainment has made use of a special form of software known as the 'Warden Client'. The Warden client is known to be used with Blizzard's online games such as ''Diablo'' and ''World of Warcraft'', and the Terms of Service contain a clause consenting to the Warden software's RAM scans while a Blizzard game is running.<ref>[http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html WoW -> Legal -> Terms of Use] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511183010/http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/legal/termsofuse.html |date=May 11, 2008 }}. Worldofwarcraft.com (December 9, 2010). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>

The Warden client scans a small portion of the [[code segment]] of running processes in order to determine whether any third-party programs are running. The goal of this is to detect and address players who may be attempting to run unsigned code or third party programs in the game. This determination of third party programs is made by [[Hash function|hashing]] the scanned [[String (computer science)|strings]] and comparing the hashed value to a list of hashes assumed to correspond to banned third party programs.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/*hh_/www.rootkit.com/blog.php?newsid=358 rootkit.com]</ref> The Warden's reliability in correctly discerning legitimate versus illegitimate actions was called into question when a large-scale incident happened. This incident banned many Linux users after an update to Warden caused it to incorrectly detect [[Cedega (software)|Cedega]] as a cheat program.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080216041937/http://www.linuxlookup.com/2006/nov/15/linux_users_banned_from_world_of_warcraft Linux Users Banned From World of Warcraft? | Linuxlookup]. Web.archive.org (February 16, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref> Blizzard issued a statement claiming they had correctly identified and restored all accounts and credited them with 20 days' play.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080803095822/http://www.linuxlookup.com/2006/nov/22/blizzard_unbans_linux_world_of_warcraft_players Blizzard Unbans Linux World of Warcraft Players | Linuxlookup]. Web.archive.org (August 3, 2008). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref> Warden scans all processes running on a computer, not just the game, and could possibly run across what would be considered private information and other [[personally identifiable information]]. It is because of these peripheral scans that Warden has been accused of being [[spyware]] and has run afoul of controversy among [[privacy]] advocates.<ref>Guttridge, Luke. (November 8, 2005) [https://play.h.ki/news/6837/wow-s-warden-stirs-controversy/ WoW's Warden stirs controversy – news – play] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324053604/http://play.tm/news/6837/wow-s-warden-stirs-controversy/ |date=March 24, 2009 }}. Play.tm. Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.antispywarecoalition.org/documents/definitions.htm Definitions and Supporting Documents] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807045637/http://www.antispywarecoalition.org/documents/definitions.htm |date=August 7, 2007 }}. Antispywarecoalition.org. Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref><ref>[http://news.mmosite.com/content/2006-11-26/20061126193343858.shtml Look! what is Blizzard doing on your pc? – MMOsite News Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831115521/http://news.mmosite.com/content/2006-11-26/20061126193343858.shtml |date=August 31, 2007 }}. News.mmosite.com (November 27, 2006). Retrieved July 8, 2011.</ref>