EA Forums Online Security Newsletter - Volume 1/ 2026
Welcome to the first edition of EA Forums Online Security Newsletter in 2026! We’ve refreshed the visuals of our newsletter. What do you think? We’re excited to introduce a new way to interact with the newsletter. But first, let’s talk about what hasn’t changed. Over the next 12 months, you can expect the same high-value educational content, covering the most important security topics for us gamers. Each month, you’ll have a chance to test yourself with a quiz, and just like in previous years (yes, we’re officially kicking off year 3 of the newsletter series!), we’re looking forward to hearing your tips and experiences related to online security. What’s new? A new home for the newsletter The newsletter will now live in a different part of the forum: EA Community Discussion. This space better highlights the newsletter's community-driven nature and invites everyone to jump into the conversation. New badges! We’re introducing a more engaging and achievement-focused participation system. The 12 newsletter editions are now grouped into 4 Seasons. Throughout each season, you’ll work your way toward earning the coolest badge while tracking your progress on a leaderboard. Season 1 starts now! To learn more about how to participate, check out this article. Not into leaderboards? No problem! If ranked challenges aren’t your thing, that’s totally fine. You can continue engaging with the newsletter as usual and earn the Level 1 badge at the end of the season. Each season, the same badge will be awarded to all participants who choose the non-ranked path. Just complete at least one quiz during the season to receive your participation token. Whew, that was a lot of information! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment in the newsletter thread or in the EA Forums Online Security Newsletter Badge Handbook. Now, without further ado, let’s get to the heart of our newsletter - Security Focus. We’re kicking off the year with a crucial topic: password hygiene. Stay safe! Use strong and unique passwords for every account This is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your online security. Creating a strong password is the first step, but if that password is ever leaked (for example, through a breach) and you reuse it across multiple accounts, all of those accounts could be at risk. What makes a password strong? A strong password should be: At least 16 characters long A mix of uppercase and lowercase letters Include numbers and special characters This combination makes your password significantly harder to crack using automated password-cracking tools. You can test your password strength using tools like passwordmonster.com but please never post your password publicly on forums to ask if it’s strong enough. An alternative: passphrases Passphrases can be a great alternative to traditional passwords as long as the words you choose are truly random. Avoid using personal information or anything that could be publicly available. Don’t combine words that are naturally related (such as colors, cities, or animals). The more random the words, the stronger the passphrase. For extra strength, mix uppercase and lowercase letters and add numbers or symbols. Your digital keychain Managing many strong passwords can feel overwhelming. To make this easier, consider using a password manager (password vault). These tools securely store your passwords and help you generate strong, unique ones for every account so you don’t have to remember them all yourself. How to keep your EA Account secure How secure is your password? What is this place? Community Spotlight is a special space in the newsletter dedicated to highlighting the contributions of our forum community. At the end of each edition, we’ll select one standout tip, comment, or other contribution related to community security and feature it right here. Your contributions help decide what gets spotlighted through comments, likes, or simply by being an active and helpful member of the forum community (yes, we have eyes everywhere 😉). EA Forums Online Security Newsletter Quiz - Volume 1/ 2026
Broken and Updated Sims 4 Mods and CC: patch 1.121, Feb. 3, 2026
About This Thread This thread tracks Sims 4 mods and CC that have been "broken" or made obsolete by game update 1.121 patch, February 3, 2026, or declared unsupported by their creators. It also tracks updated game mods and important updates to custom content. patch number: PC: 1.121.342.1030 / Mac: 1.121.342.1230 --------------------------------------------------- This is a high-impact patch and will break MANY mods! KEEP your pre-patch Saves backup, especially if you use any mods that touch genealogical relationships. --------------------------------------------------- Sort the thread for what you need: For the compiled lists, sort by Oldest For the most recent new info, sort by Newest … or follow the topic to receive notifications of new posts. See the bell symbol, top right. Notifications can even be sent right to your email! Check your Notification settings. Some things are NOT covered here: Early-access content and anything else behind a paywall Content outside the T (for Teen) game rating (no adult mods! including alcohol, violence) Creators/mods outside the EA and EA Answers HQ rules, and the Maxis guidelines for Sims 4 content creators Separate translation files Loading screens, CAS backdrops, main menu backgrounds, and poses unless the creator says an error is fixed Sims 4 Multiplayer Mod updates that don’t change the version number CAS and Build/Buy CC unless the creator says they're fixing an error or catching up pack content Mods and CC hosted on sites that are mostly adult content or that require joining an 18+ site Creators who update active creators' CC/mods without permission or who upload folders of other people's mods and CC. In addition, news for mods/CC hosted only on Mod the Sims may be selective and/or delayed. In the end, YOU are responsible for your mod use. Because not all content and creators are covered on this official forum, many of you should be following creators directly for news. The pinned topic How to Use Mods and CC includes advice about game updates, mod management, finding broken mods, and how to avoid downloading broken and malicious content. And remember… Back up your Saves folder! Index for This Topic Newly Broken/Obsolete Game Mods and Tools Updated Game Mods and Tools, sorted by creator Broken CAS and Build/Buy Updated CAS and Build/Buy Creators Clearing Mods for This Patch - gameplay mods reported by the creator or their testers to be compatible with the game update Core, Injector, Testing and Protection Mods Status: what you should be on for mods like ModGuard, Better Exceptions, venue lists, Lot51 Core, XML Injector, and MC Command Center Creator News New Bugfix Mods Ongoing Reports - scroll down or sort replies by NEWEST Other Resources Previously Broken/Obsolete Mods and CC: up to patch 1.120 (January 2026) [MASTER POST] Common Symptoms of Mod/CC Issues, with Known Causes, including links to earlier Broken/Updated Mods threads. The previous Broken/Updated Mods threads, for patch 1.120 (December 2025) and the mini-patch (January 2026). NOTE: Patch 1.121 is high-impact; mods updated or cleared for 1.120 might now be broken. Patch Notes for this game update How to use Mods and CC: including how to test for broken mods/CC ("vanilla" testing and the "50-50" method) Malicious Scripts and Malware
How do I fix a Sims Delivery Error?
I haven’t been able to play online because I keep getting a Sims Delivery Error. Does anyone know how to fix this? This is what I’ve tried so far: I have onedrive turned off. I use Norton for an antivirus and have the game added to exceptions. I moved my mods folder out and deleted the localthumbcache.package, but it didn’t change anything. I repaired the game and cleared the cache too. I also ran the EA app as an administrator. I’m not sure what to try next. I’d appreciate any advice!
Problem with app
Hi, I need help with ea desktop Origin. I have tried downloading and reinstalling it multiple times (at least seven times), but it still does not open.The Sims game is installed on my computer, but when I try to open it, it says that ea Desktop Origin is required to run the game, even though I have already installed it.I have also tried restarting my computer and running as administrator, but nothing works. I think there might be a technical issue preventing the launcher from opening.Can you please help me fix this so I can open EA Desktop Origin and my games?
[PC] Mass Effect Online Access Error in Multiplayer Mode
Commander, you’ve received a new message at your private terminal! When downloading Mass Effect 3 or Mass Effect Andromeda, players may run into one of the following errors: Mass Effect 3 - "An online pass is required to access the online features of the game." Mass Effect Andromeda - "Missing Online Access" Changes to the EA account cause these specific errors. These can include but are not limited to the following: EA Play subscription expired Account Mergers A separate account downloaded the DLC If you encounter this error when launching the game, first try the following steps to see if this resolves the error(s). Delete EA License Files: Make sure the EA app is closed. Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time. Type or copy and paste "ProgramData%\Electronic Arts\EA Services" (without the quotes) into the new Window > ENTER Delete all files within this folder. Clear Windows temp files: Press the Windows key and "R" at the same time Into the new window, type or copy & paste: "%temp%" (Without the quotes.) > hit "ENTER" Now your Windows Explorer should have brought you to the "C:\Users\>your user name<\AppData\Local\Temp" folder. > Delete all files and folders in it. (If some files or folders can't be deleted, reboot and try again.) If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you will need to contact our Support Team who will review your EA account and make any necessary changes with you. You can contact our live support at help.ea.com. Chose the following options Create a new case Scroll down to "Help by game" Choose Mass Effect PC Manage my account Can’t log in In the Subject line Mass Effect 3 Online Access Error Mass Effect Andromeda Missing Online Access Please describe your issue - Short, sweet, and to the point! For Example, "I downloaded Mass Effect 3 or Mass Effect Andromeda, and when I logged into multiplayer, I was met with an error that said I was missing the "Online Access." This is preventing me from connecting to multiplayer mode." At this point, you can send an email or scroll under Other Support Options and connect with a Chat Advisor. Thanks![CURRENT ISSUE] Sims 4 Unable to Start, Game Data Missing or Damaged
Overview jump to: Workarounds Unable to start: Cannot start because game data is missing or damaged. If you have Mods installed please remove them and try again. If not, please repair or reinstall the game via Origin. [de4ee14f:29f00e76:00000000:4b0d852b] [Ignore the mention of Origin; this error message has not been updated.] This error can be caused by outdated or incompatible mods or custom content, as indicated in the text. So the first and simplest step is to remove your Mods folder and try again. If this works, great, you can now sort through your mods and cc to find the source of the error. You may want to use the 50/50 method if you have a lot of content to test. You can also check out @luthienrising's current "Broken/Obsolete and Updated Sims 4 Mods" thread, pinned to the top of the Game and Mod/CC Issues forum. This error can also be caused by a corrupt install of Sims 4, or the game being blocked from accessing the user folder. If the problem is not mods or cc, some testing may be required to identify the cause. Workarounds The idea here is to first narrow down the source of the problem, then identify and fix it. Please try these workarounds in order—they're listed from least to most time-consuming. jump to: Repair the game jump to: Pause OneDrive syncing jump to: Clean user folder jump to: New admin Windows account jump to: Reinstalling the game Some of these may be not be a convenient fix given your current setup. Where applicable, these sections also list alternate approaches, for example how to try to resolve a problem in your current Windows account when Sims 4 will only work in the new account. However, it's important to test each workaround as written in order to confirm or eliminate each potential source of error. Repair the game If the game's program files become corrupted, a repair may fix the problem. First, clear the EA App's cache: https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/faq/clear-cache-to-fix-problems-with-your-games/ If you've installed through the EA App, open its game library, click Sims 4, and select Manage > Repair. For a Steam install, open your Steam library, right-click the Sims 4 tile, and select Properties > Local files > Verify the integrity of the game files. ↑ Pause OneDrive syncing OneDrive can lock up the Sims 4 user folder, or any folder it's automatically syncing, for various reasons. The easiest way to diagnose this is to temporarily pause syncing. Right-click the cloud icon in the lower-right corner of the screen to see the option: If this helps, the underlying issue is OneDrive, and you may want or need to adjust your settings accordingly. You can choose which folders to sync, stop OneDrive from syncing your Sims 4 folder or all of Documents automatically, or get rid of OneDrive entirely. Please see this guide, specifically the "I don't want OneDrive to sync my files" and "I want to get rid of OneDrive" sections, for further help: https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/CURRENT-ISSUE-Sims-4-saves-user-content-disappearing-PC/m-p/12475370 ↑ Clean user folder Testing with a clean user folder, otherwise known as a factory reset, means temporarily removing all user data. This ensures that nothing from your existing folder is preventing Sims 4 from loading. Move the entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop. If it copies instead of moving, or you get an error when trying to move it, please see the OneDrive section above. Otherwise, when you launch the game, if it launches, a clean folder will spawn with no content. Your saves and other content will be intact in the folder you moved but temporarily not read by the game. Don't add anything to the new folder yet; just see whether you can get far enough to start a new save. If this works, you can start moving your content from the old Sims 4 folder to the new one, testing each time to make sure the game still loads. In each case, please move the files only, not the folder they're in, for example move the individual Tray files, not the entire Tray folder. Where the game has created a new file or folder, it's best to use that rather than your old copy. For further reading about the contents of the user folder and what you might want to preserve, please see this: https://sims4.crinrict.com/eng/2014/09/user-files-explained/ While moving over your data, if and when you see the "already running" error again, you'll know that one of the files you just moved is the problem, and you can split and retest that batch until you find out which one. For mods and custom content, the 50/50 method can make the process much more efficient. A single file or folder that prevents the game from launching is not recoverable; you'll need to delete it, or in the case of mods or cc, find an updated, compatible version. ↑ New admin Windows account It's possible that the problem is caused by a setting or broken permissions in your main Windows account, and the fastest way to test this theory is to create a new account. It must have admin rights (not a standard user account), and it must be local, as in, not connected to your Microsoft account. To create a new account, open Windows Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, click "Add someone else to this PC" (under Other users, not Your family), click "I don't have this person's sign-in information," then "Add a user without a Microsoft account." Choose the username and password, answer some security questions, and you'll see the new account. Click it and select "Change account type" to make it an Administrator account if it's not already. It should say "Administrator - Local account" when you're done: Click ctrl-alt-delete, select Switch user, and sign into the new account. Then open the EA App (and Steam or the Epic launcher if applicable) and try to launch Sims 4. You shouldn't need to reinstall anything. Your saves and other user data won't be available, but that's fine for the purpose of this test. If Sims 4 works in the new account, it means the problem is contained to your old account. You can simply continue playing in the new account if you want. For any saves or other user data you'd like to transfer to the new account, sign into the old account again and copy the relevant files to C:\Users\Public. This folder is accessible from all user accounts; you can grab the files from there once you're in the new account. If you would like to continue playing in the old account, here are additional steps you can take: Confirm that the Documents directory is in the correct location Reset permissons on Documents Run a malware scan ↑ Reinstalling the game If the above workarounds don't help, a simple uninstall/reinstall may not fix the problem either. Instead, please clean-uninstall Sims 4 and the EA App. (It should not be necessary to uninstall Steam or the Epic launcher if you happen to use either one, but the EA App should be removed in any case.) You will not lose access to any DLC you own. For Sims 4: Put aside your Sims 4 folder in Documents\Electronic Arts and rename it to something that doesn't include the words "Sims 4." Download Revo Uninstaller (the free version is fine) from here. Launch Revo, select Sims 4 from the list, and click Uninstall. Cancel the system restore point; you don't need it and it occupies extra space. Once the game is uninstalled, select "Moderate" under "scanning modes," and click Scan. Review the list, in case there's something you want to save; otherwise, click Select All, and then Delete. Close Revo, and restart your computer. For the EA App: Launch Revo, select the App, and click Uninstall. Cancel the system restore point. The EA App may open a window. Click Uninstall, then in the Revo window, click Moderate under Scanning modes, and click Scan. Revo will present a list of registry entries. Click Select All, then Delete: you don't need or want to preserve these entries. For the leftover files and folders, click Select All, review the list and deselect anything you'd like to keep (this is unlikely, but it's worth checking), click Delete, and you're done. Close Revo, and restart your computer. Install the EA App, then create a new folder into which you'll install Sims 4. The folder should be on the root level of the drive of your choice, for example C:\Games is fine, but not C:\Program Files\Games. If you use a third-party antivirus, disable it before reinstalling the EA App, and don't reenable it until you've tried to launch Sims 4 at least once. As long as you don't do anything else while reinstalling, your computer should be safe. If the game works, set exceptions for TS4_DX9_x64.exe (if you've set Sims 4 to use DirectX 9) and/or TS4_x64.exe (for DX11) as well as EADesktop.exe. Test the game once before restoring any user data as well. If it works, you can slowly add back your saves and other data from the old Sims 4 folder, the one you renamed prior to uninstalling the game. If and when Sims 4 stops loading again, remove the last group of files you added, and split and test progressively smaller batches until you find the culprit. Where the game has created a new file or folder, it's best to use that rather than your old copy. For further reading about the content of the user folder and what you might want to preserve, please see this: https://sims4.crinrict.com/eng/2014/09/user-files-explained/ ↑ If none of these workarounds fixes the problem, try the suggestions in this thread for a distinct but related error: [CURRENT ISSUE] Sims 4 already running | EA Forums - 11818313 If nothing there helps either, please post in this thread asking for further help. Let me know whether Sims 4 ever ran in the new Windows account, even temporarily. Please also run a dxdiag and attach it to your post. Click Windows key-R, enter dxdiag in the run box, wait for the scan to finish, click "Save all information," and save the file to your desktop. From there, you can attach it using the paper clip (Attachment) icon included with the other formatting buttons.[CURRENT ISSUE] Sims 4 Unable to Start, Already Running
Overview jump to: Workarounds This is a common error that is usually caused when Sims 4 cannot access the user folder in Documents > Electronic Arts. It can also be triggered by outdated or otherwise broken mods or custom content. This guide is only for this specific error in Windows. If you're seeing the error on a Mac, please use this dedicated Mac thread. If you have a different problem, please create your own thread in the appropriate tech (PC, Mac, Console) forum, or the Gameplay or Mods & CC forum, depending on the nature of your issue. Workarounds These workarounds are listed in order from simplest to most complicated, to avoid anyone doing more work than is necessary. If you've already tried one, or it doesn't apply to you, move on to the next step. jump to: Pause Onedrive syncing jump to: Remove mods jump to: Clean user folder jump to: Reset date and time jump to: Temporarily disable antivirus jump to: New Windows account jump to: Move/restore location of Documents jump to: Reset permissions for Documents jump to: Virus scan Pause OneDrive syncing OneDrive can lock up the Sims 4 user folder, or any folder it's automatically syncing, for various reasons. The easiest way to diagnose this is to temporarily pause syncing. Right-click the cloud icon in the lower-right corner of the screen to see the option: If this helps, the underlying issue is OneDrive, and you may want or need to adjust your settings accordingly. You can choose which folders to sync, stop OneDrive from syncing your Sims 4 folder or all of Documents automatically, or get rid of OneDrive entirely. Please see this guide, specifically the "I don't want OneDrive to sync my files" and "I want to get rid of OneDrive" sections, for further help: [CURRENT ISSUE] Sims 4 saves/user content disappearing (PC) | EA Forums - 11838402 ↑ Remove mods It's as simple as that: Move the Mods folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto the desktop, and delete localthumbcache.package. If this works, something in the Mods folder is the problem. Look for updates to your mods, especially after a patch; or use the 50/50 method to sort through the files in the Mods folder. https://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Finding_Problem_Custom_Content#The_50.25_Method Keep in mind you may have more than one broken mod or cc item, so be sure to test every file at least once. ↑ Clean user folder Testing with a clean user folder, otherwise known as a factory reset, means temporarily removing all user data. This ensures that nothing from your existing folder is preventing Sims 4 from loading. Move the entire Sims 4 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop. If it copies instead of moving, or you get an error when trying to move it, please see the OneDrive section above. Otherwise, when you launch the game, if it launches, a clean folder will spawn with no content. Your saves and other content will be intact in the folder you moved but temporarily not read by the game. Don't add anything to the new folder yet; just see whether you can get far enough to start a new save. If this works, you can start moving your content from the old Sims 4 folder to the new one, testing each time to make sure the game still loads. In each case, please move the files only, not the folder they're in, for example move the individual Tray files, not the entire Tray folder. Where the game has created a new file or folder, it's best to use that rather than your old copy. For further reading about the contents of the user folder and what you might want to preserve, please see this: https://sims4.crinrict.com/eng/2014/09/user-files-explained/ While moving over your data, if and when you see the "already running" error again, you'll know that one of the files you just moved is the problem, and you can split and retest that batch until you find out which one. For mods and custom content, the 50/50 method can make the process much more efficient. A single file or folder that prevents the game from launching is not recoverable; you'll need to delete it, or in the case of mods or cc, find an updated, compatible version. ↑ Reset your computer's date and time An occasional cause of this error is your computer having the wrong time and date. So try changing it to something else, then telling the system to use internet time again. ↑ Disable antivirus (TEMPORARILY) An overzealous third-party antivirus or even Windows Defender can block Sims 4's access to its user folder. To test this theory, temporarily disable any third-party antivirus, just long enough to try to open Sims 4. As long as you're not doing anything else at the same time, your computer should be safe. If this helps, set exceptions for TS4_DX9_x64.exe (if using DirectX 9) and/or TS4_x64.exe (if using DX11) as well as EADesktop.exe. You can find a more detailed guide for your specific antivirus in the online documentation provided by the publisher of the software. For Windows Defender, the only potential problem is with Controlled Folder Access. Please see this post for instructions on changing its settings or disabling the feature entirely: https://crinrict.com/blog/2019/03/windows-10-defender-controlled-folder-access.html ↑ New admin Windows account It's possible that the problem is caused by a setting or broken permissions in your main Windows account, and the fastest way to test this theory is to create a new account. It must have admin rights (not a standard user account), and it must be local, as in, not connected to your Microsoft account. To create a new account, open Windows Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, click "Add someone else to this PC" (under Other users, not Your family), click "I don't have this person's sign-in information," then "Add a user without a Microsoft account." Choose the username and password, answer some security questions, and you'll see the new account. Click it and select "Change account type" to make it an Administrator account if it's not already. It should say "Administrator - Local account" when you're done: Click ctrl-alt-delete, select Switch user, and sign into the new account. Then open the EA App (and Steam or the Epic launcher if applicable) and try to launch Sims 4. You shouldn't need to reinstall anything. Your saves and other user data won't be available, but that's fine for the purpose of this test. If Sims 4 works in the new account, it means the problem is contained to your old account. You can simply continue playing in the new account if you want. For any saves or other user data you'd like to transfer to the new account, sign into the old account again and copy the relevant files to C:\Users\Public. This folder is accessible from all user accounts; you can grab the files from there once you're in the new account. If you'd like to try to fix your old account, please see the next two sections. ↑ Move or restore location of Documents If Windows has placed the location of Documents somewhere Sims 4 can't access properly, you may need to move the folder. To find the current location, search in Windows for Command Prompt, open it, and enter this command: reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders" /v "Personal" This will return the full file path to Documents. Unless you've chosen a custom location, it should be one of these, depending on whether OneDrive is involved: C:\Users\[username]\Documents C:\Users\[username]\OneDrive\Documents If you see a different location, one you didn't intend to use, changing it may help. If Documents is in OneDrive and you don't want it there, the best course of action is to tell OneDrive to stop syncing your files, as described here: [CURRENT ISSUE] Sims 4 saves/user content disappearing (PC) | EA Forums - 11838402 If this doesn't successfully change the location, or your Documents directory is in a different unintended location, you can change it by editing your computer's registry. Be very careful when editing the registry—an error can cause problems up to and including preventing your computer from working at all. So please follow these instructions exactly, and don't touch anything other than the Personal value: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/operation-to-change-a-personal-folder-location-fails-in-windows-ffb95139-6dbb-821d-27ec-62c9aaccd720 Important: This process is only for moving Documents to another location on an internal drive. DO NOT move Documents to an external drive. If you would like to store your Sims 4 user folder externally, please use this guide instead. Important: Please also keep in mind that when you change the location of Documents, you also change the location where Sims 4 looks for its user folder. You will therefore need to move your saves and other user files to the new location. ↑ Reset permissions on Documents folder When Sims 4 works in a new Windows account but not your existing one, the problem may be broken permissions in the old account. You can use the takeown command to reset the permissions on the Documents folder if necessary. First, move the Electronic Arts folder out of Documents, or delete it if it's empty. Search in Windows for "Command Prompt," open it, and enter this command: reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders" /v "Personal" The location you see is what you'll use for the command. The command itself is this: takeown /F "[file path to Documents folder]" So it will probably be one of these, but double-check anyway: takeown /F "C:\Users\username\Documents" or takeown /F "C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Documents" Write your actual username for this Windows account (your main one) instead of username. Since the syntax needs to be exactly right, please copy this command to a Notepad file, substitute in your username, and then copy that string when you're ready to use it. Hit Windows key-X and choose either "PowerShell (Administrator)" or "Windows Terminal (Administrator)," whichever option is offered, paste the command into the window, and enter. Then restart your computer and try again to play. If that doesn't help, please see the accepted solution of this thread for further troubleshooting: "A problem occured while saving the game. No game session data was preserved." | EA Forums - 9150501 You'll of course apply these steps to the Documents folder your account is using, wherever Command Prompt told you that was. ↑ Virus scan If none of the other troubleshooting steps help, or one of them helps temporarily but Sims 4 stops working again, before you've added back any content or made any other changes that would account for this, your computer may have a virus or other malware. So it's worth running a virus scan. Download Malwarebytes (the free trial is fine) from here: https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download Open it, click Scan > Custom Scan > Configure Scan, check all the boxes both for all scan types and for all your drives, and let it do its job. This could take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of data and whether the scan finds anything, so you may want to set it to run while you're doing something else. The Malwarebytes report is simple to understand if it doesn't find anything, but if you'd like me to take a look, feel free to reply to this post and attach the report. ↑ If none of this makes a difference, please post in this thread asking for further help. Let me know whether you can play in the new admin Windows account or not: this is important diagnostic information.EA Forums Online Security Newsletter Badge Handbook
Welcome to the EA Forums Online Security Newsletter Badge Handbook. This handbook explains how to take part in the ranked version of the newsletter and earn Level 2 or Level 3 badges. How to enter To participate in the ranked experience during a Season, you’ll need to sign up using this form and choose one of four classes: Sentinel Cipher Scout Archivist (head over to Class Description to learn more about each class) Once you’ve chosen your class, you’ll need to stick with it for the entire Season. You can’t change classes once they’re claimed. After selecting your class, you’ll receive a direct message from me (EA_Kuba) on the forums containing your unique key. ⚠️ Do not share this key with anyone. It must be used when submitting the points-claiming form to ensure no one else can claim points on your behalf. Multiple participants can choose the same class, but you cannot select the same class more than once across all four Seasons. Monthly tasks Each month, every class will receive a special task connected to the newsletter. This guide will be updated monthly to reflect the new tasks for each class. Earning points Throughout the Season, you’ll collect points to earn higher-level badges. Points can be earned in the following ways: Completing the monthly quiz and submitting the quiz code shown at the end 1 point Leaving a comment: In the newsletter thread, 1 point In a different forum thread that references the newsletter (optional), 2 points Referencing the newsletter in a different forum thread is optional, not required. When you do mention it, please make sure the reference is meaningful and shared only in threads where it genuinely adds value to the discussion. This option is meant to encourage thoughtful knowledge sharing, not as a shortcut to earning points. The core of participation remains completing the monthly quiz, sharing your own experiences, and finishing the additional class-specific tasks. Completing an additional task related to your chosen class 1 point Badge levels 1 - 3 points → Level 1 badge for your chosen class 4 - 7 points → Level 2 badge for your chosen class 8+ points → Level 3 badge for your chosen class Points must be claimed each month using this form, where you’ll submit: Your quiz code A link to your comment (If applicable) a code related to the additional task There is no limit to how many times a points claim form can be submitted; it can be submitted every time you score a point, or once with a set of points required for the badge. Leaderboard & submissions The leaderboard is updated every 6 hours. Quiz code-based submissions are processed automatically Comment-based points are reviewed and approved by EA Staff Late submissions are accepted up to 7 days after the publication of a new newsletter edition. Badges for the Season will be granted at the beginning of the consecutive one. Season 1 badges from 30 Apr onwards Season 2 badges from 31 Jul onwards Season 3 badges from 31 Oct onwards Season 4 and Final badges 30 Jan ‘27 Final reward At the end of Season 4, if you’ve earned the highest badge for all four classes, you’ll receive the Security Champion Badge. You can check the current leaderboard here. Good luck and see you on the leaderboard! Edition number Season Starting on Ending on Security Focus link 1 Season 1 31 Jan 27 Feb Password hygiene https://forums.ea.com/discussions/ea-forums-general-discussion-en/ea-forums-online-security-newsletter---volume-1-2026/13148852 2 28 Feb 30 Mar 3 31 Mar 29 Apr 4 Season 2 30 Apr 30 May 5 31 May 29 Jun 6 31 Jun 30 Jul 7 Season 3 31 Jul 30 Aug 8 31 Aug 29 Sep 9 30 Sep 30 Oct 10 Season 4 31 Oct 29 Nov 11 30 Nov 30 Dec 12 31 Dec 30 Jan ‘27 Season Registration Form Monthly Points Claim Form Leaderboard Sentinel Emblem: The Helm Story When the first networks learned to remember, the Sentinels were already awake. They do not chase glory or secrets; they stand where failure would ripple outward. To be a Sentinel is to accept stillness as a duty to watch the gates long after others have logged off. Their creed is simple: nothing breaks on their watch without warning. Function Sentinels are defenders of accounts, systems, and digital identity. They focus on prevention, secure practices, threat mitigation, and resilience, teaching others how to stay protected before anything goes wrong. Emblem Meaning The helmet is not a weapon, but a promise. It symbolizes vigilance, preparedness, and the quiet strength of someone who stands between chaos and everyone else. It hides the face because the role matters more than the individual. Scout Emblem: The Hawk Story Scouts see what others dismiss as noise. From high above the systemscape, they trace weak signals, subtle delays, patterns that don’t quite fit. Many crises are stopped not by force, but by a single Scout asking the right question at the right time. Function Scouts specialize in early detection and diagnosis. They identify emerging threats, suspicious behavior, and hidden causes behind visible problems. Where others see errors, Scouts see intent. Emblem Meaning The hawk represents elevated perspective and precision. Its sharp gaze reflects the Scout’s mindset: fast, alert, and intolerant of blind spots. It is always in motion, always scanning. Archivist Emblem: The Fox Story The Archivists learned early that knowledge without structure decays into noise. They gather fragments of articles, incidents, lessons learned, and weave them into an understanding. In times of confusion, they are sought not only for answers, but also for context. Function Archivists interpret and organize knowledge. They summarize, document, explain, and preserve information through guides, FAQs, and structured resources that others can rely on long after the moment has passed. Emblem Meaning The fox symbolizes intelligent adaptability and careful organization. Clever but not reckless, it reflects the Archivist’s ability to navigate complexity and emerge with clarity intact. Cipher Emblem: The Owl Story Ciphers walk the boundary between sense and paradox. They delight in locked doors, twisted logic, and problems that refuse direct solutions. Where rules feel rigid, Ciphers bend perspective until a new path appears. Function Ciphers engage with puzzles, obfuscation, lateral problem-solving, and experimental thinking. They challenge assumptions, explore unconventional solutions, and thrive in intellectual uncertainty. Emblem Meaning The owl is the keeper of hidden wisdom, alert in the dark, silent until insight strikes. It reflects the Cipher’s relationship with mystery: not to dispel it immediately, but to learn from it. Shared Universe Together, these four classes form a balanced system: Sentinels protect Scouts detect Archivists preserve Ciphers challenge None outrank the others; each answers a different kind of threat. In a universe built on information, survival depends not on strength alone, but on awareness, memory, and imagination. Sentinel Cipher Scout Archivist Post 1 concrete tip to prevent account takeovers Weak vs a strong password example (quiz) Identify a risky account-signup habit common in the gaming community Summarize in a comment 3 key setup rules in bullet form or post a short “starter checklist.”
