World of Warcraft screenshots taken in-game reportedly include user account names, server IP

By Stephany Nunneley

World of Warcraft screenshots taken while pushing your print screen button while in-game are adding watermarks to user shots, according to a Slashdot report.

Over on the OwnedCore forum, users claim the watermark reveals user IDs, a timestamp, and IP address of the server used.

The artifacts were noticed when the images were sharpened, and a pattern embedded in the shot appeared, and it seems this has been going on since “at least 2008.”

PCGamer offered a possible explanation: “the watermark could be used to track down players who are running private servers, or otherwise breaking the terms of service, and have been silly enough to take a picture of their infringing activity.”

The site also said to avoid such watermarking, use a third-party program to chronicle your deeds in-game, or set the in-game shot option to the “highest possible quality” at it will remove the watermark.

Blizzard has yet to confirm or comment on the matter as of press time. confirmation and comment.

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