EA Forums Online Security Newsletter - Volume 2/ 2026
Welcome to the second edition of EA Forums Online Security Newsletter Hey everyone, and welcome to the second edition of the EA Forums Online Security Newsletter! We’re kicking off this edition with a quick reminder: there’s still time to join the leaderboard and earn a Level 2 or Level 3 badge by the end of the season. If you’re not familiar with the updates we’ve introduced in this year’s newsletter series, be sure to check out the previous edition or explore the Newsletter Badge Handbook. And of course, if anything is unclear, just ask in the thread! Last month, we discussed the foundation of your online presence passwords. The community shared some fantastic insights and practical advice. If you missed it, head back to the previous edition or take a look at this month’s Community Highlights section for a recap. This month, we’re shifting our focus toward the awareness side of online security as we dive into phishing. It’s a topic that has evolved significantly with the rise of AI. Today, we’re constantly exposed to videos, voice recordings, and images created or altered by artificial intelligence, making scams more convincing than ever. Whenever you encounter a potential phishing attempt, pause and reflect on what made the interaction seem believable. Even more importantly, share those observations with others. Raising awareness is one of the most effective tools we have to combat evolving threats. Stay safe and stay alert. Skepticism Is Key Be skeptical of any “free” items you’re asked to claim outside official channels or outside the game itself. In 99% of cases, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Make it a habit to verify promotions and rewards through official websites, verified social media accounts, or in-game announcements before taking any action. Triple-Check the Links Phishing links often imitate legitimate URLs by swapping letters, adding hyphens, or using characters that look nearly identical to the real ones. If you have even the slightest doubt about a link you’re about to click, don’t. Trust your instincts. Your “spider-sense” might be right 😉 Head over to this month's quiz, you can test yourself on the fake or legitimate links there. Social Media Messages Be cautious when interacting with people you’ve met online via Discord, console messaging systems, or other social platforms. The same rule applies to customer support. Legitimate support agents will never contact you directly outside official support channels (for example, through random Discord messages or console DMs). If someone does that’s a major red flag. Invitations to Events You Didn’t Sign Up For Phishing scams often rely on urgency and scarcity. For example, after watching a stream from your favorite competitive player, you receive a message inviting you to attend an exclusive in-person event but you must act fast because there are only a few spots left. If you didn’t sign up, it’s almost certainly a scam. And even if you did sign up for something, always verify the source before clicking any links or sharing personal information. Creator Impersonation Even if you’re part of a creator’s community, be extremely careful if someone contacts you claiming to be that creator. Verify their identity through official, verified accounts. Double-check their intentions before engaging, clicking links, or sharing any details. Phishing in Mobile Games Many mobile games allow direct communication between players. While this platform is often overlooked, phishing still happens there. Treat links and messages in mobile games with the same level of caution you would anywhere else. Now Add AI to the Mix With rapid advancements in AI, scammers can now create highly convincing video calls, voice messages, and realistic-looking content. This adds another layer of sophistication to phishing attempts. Always stay cautious. Always verify. Always question anything that feels off. If something sounds or looks suspicious, pause before you act. How to avoid phishing Community Spotlight Volume 1: Password Hygiene In this month’s Community Spotlight, we’re highlighting outstanding replies from Volume 1 – Password Hygiene. The featured comments were selected based on the following criteria: Relevance to password hygiene Depth of insight Educational value Originality Potential impact on the community High-Value Educational Contribution As a particularly strong educational contribution, I’d like to highlight ElliotLH post: I've been having a little think about some risky habits people might commonly do when signing up to gaming platforms or communities like this one. While I'm certain that there are a great many pitfalls, I keep coming back to the most basic: wherever possible, don't use the same details for multiple signups. Of course, using a different email address for each platform or site may not be feasible, since not everyone has multiple email addresses, but at the very least, one should ensure that a different password is being used. If the same password is used on multiple platforms, the chances of all accounts being compromised increase, especially if the same email address has been used as well. In a similar vein, I would also recommend avoiding using a social media profile, such as Facebook, for signing up to things, as if the social media profile is compromised, then people can quickly gain access to any site that has been linked (E.G. Facebook lists Apps and websites that have been linked in the past); not to mention being able to access a treasure trove of personal information and possibly even financial information which can be used neferiously in the future. This post stood out because it: Directly addressing password reuse is a core password hygiene issue Clearly explained risk amplification (using the same email and password combination across platforms) Added nuance by mentioning social login risks Maintained a reflective, educational tone Encouraged meaningful behavioral change It’s a great example of how to turn security awareness into practical improvement. Behavioral Insight Spotlight The second highlighted contribution this month comes from Bafanc : The reason I didn't claim the rewards is part of my previous comment/advice: read carefully before clicking. It's an easy thing to recommend, but difficult to do... for people like me! In fact, that's what I DIDN'T do: 1) I took the test first and then read the instructions; 2) I took the test without carefully reading the questions. The result was making mistakes (one) for not having read that the answer could be multiple and not having memorized the final code (but, knowing how lazy I am, I blocked its copy in the keyboard memory, hehe). In my defense, I can say that not working on texts in my native language helps my proverbial laziness win over security. MORAL: security is never enough if you're lazy enough to ignore every alert! This reply was selected because it demonstrated: Honest self-reflection (“not reading carefully”) A clear link between complacency and security failure Reinforcement of the human factor in password hygiene A memorable closing line: “Security is never enough if you're lazy enough to ignore every alert!” Security is often less about technical limitations and more about habits, and this comment captured that perfectly. Technical Depth Recognition Lastly, Asmodeus566 delivered multiple strong technical contributions, including: A clear warning about password reuse Reinforcement of 2FA as a critical security layer Advice on using a dedicated email for sensitive accounts Highlighting the risks of “free content” baiting tactics These insights combine technical understanding with practical application, exactly the type of knowledge-sharing that strengthens the entire community. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Thoughtful discussions like these elevate the newsletter from information-sharing to real security awareness. Let’s keep raising the bar. EA Forums Online Security Newsletter Quiz - Volume 2/ 2026
Sims 4 Maker Application stuck in 'closed' status. Cannot Re apply
I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask this but I cannot find anywhere else to ask for help. I applied for the Sims 4 Maker program and I received an email saying the review team was unable to open two of my files and therefore to re-save them and reapply. I checked everything, re-saved and have all my files ready to re-apply. But when I log into the portal my application status is stuck in 'closed' status and I cannot find a button to re-apply. I thought maybe it needs some time and I've waited for hours now. I tried clearing browser cache but I still don't see an option to re-apply. Please help.
Unable to use EA ID pls help me
Hello, I am experiencing an issue with my username on EA services. I use the nickname “Brazkhor” consistently across all platforms, and it is an important part of my identity. However, EA does not allow me to use “Brazkhor” in this exact form. Interestingly, it accepts “BrAzkhor” when the letter “A” is capitalized, which makes no logical sense. My username does not contain any profanity, slang, insults, or inappropriate language. This creates inconsistency and negatively affects my user identity across platforms. I would like to understand: Why is “Brazkhor” not allowed? Why is the same name accepted with a minor capitalization change? Is there any way to make “Brazkhor” available for use? I would really appreciate your help in resolving this issue, as this name is very important to me. There must be a solution. 🙏 Thank you for your time. [CM - Edited title for CAPS]
EA NextStep, a step back
I am starting to think that they know what they are doing, seeing that the forum was the only resource that popped up when I was researching a problem I was pleasantly surprised to see a "contact us" button at the bottom of the support page. Now I was fully expecting an AI assistant, at least before speaking with support staff or having a ticket created, but what EA has created is well beyond any other assistant I have ever had the displeasure of navigating. Every single prompt from EA NextStep comes with little to no regard of the information you entered into the window previously. Beyond stating your name multiple times be prepared to state your problem, game, and system multiple times in repeat. And for those of you as gullible as me, hoping, praying to at least have an actual ticket created and maybe get a chance to have another person review your problem, let me save you the effort. At the end of each session with EA NextStep it will prompt you to the EA "Self Help" guide where the AI chose an article for you to read and hopefully fix the problem yourself, the only problem, it doesn't actually listen to your problem. I was trying to solve the random EA app failure on PC and beyond having to give it all of the important information multiple times, I was offered a generic "game help" article, a "login help" article, and a "connectivity troubleshooting" article, none of which actually addressed the problem or the fact that I had attempted many of the steps those articles were suggesting before trying to find more help. If anyone has a solution to the EA app bug, I would be very appreciative, but I will not hold my breath on EA finding the solution, as the multitude of threads on and off of this site complaining about the exact issue I was having, and the EA proposed solution, if all else fails, factory reset, and the EA app and EA games are just not worth that effort.
nohongseoung188 account deletion please
Even after completing the account deletion inquiry, it says that a representative will contact me, but when I go to the case page, the case cannot be created due to an error. There are no penalties on the account. Therefore, account deletion is difficult, and even if I make an inquiry, a case cannot be created, and no inquiry comes through. I request the account deletion.
New to the EA Forums? Start here!
Hey Gamers Welcome to the EA Community Forums. There's a lot to dive into here, so we've prepped this nifty thread directory to help you find answers and info faster. Let's get started!! Click on the links below to jump to those guides. Quick picks I’m new and want to understand how the forums work I need help and want the support team I need EA Account help and guidance I’m missing content and need the right path Thread Directory for FAQs EA Forums What are the EA Forums? What can the staff help with here? What is the best board to post in? Where have my posts gone? What do the forum roles stand for? What are Superusers? EA Support and Support Cases How can I contact EA Support? Where can I find my past Support Cases? EA Account Info and Guidance How to link/unlink them? How to appeal a ban or suspension? How to recover a hacked EA account? How can I reactivate a disabled EA account? EA App and Content What do I do for missing content?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/ 2026EA 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 Phishing https://forums.ea.com/discussions/ea-forums-general-discussion-en/ea-forums-online-security-newsletter---volume-2-2026/13225675 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.” List red flags of scam messages Analyze a fake message and explain why it fails Find a common scam format used in gaming Create a short “scam checklist” summary
