How Steam’s new security feature may save your CS2 inventory

PM and Editor

Publish Date: November 5, 2024

Cs2 skins can be worth a fortune, and while Steam has robust security features, skin scams are still too common. But a new security feature from Steam might finally change that for good.

Counter-Strike 2 players spend hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars to buy a virtual cosmetic item in hopes of reselling it down the line or simply to flex on their enemies. Unfortunately, events of players getting scammed by random login attempts are not rare. Steam has implemented robust features—for example, 2FA, trade bans on new devices, and more to combat this. But persistent scammers find a way.

Now, Steam is adding another layer of security to its mobile app, giving skin traders and collectors much-needed peace of mind.

New Steam security feature prevents CS2 skin scams, here’s how

Steam’s new security feature is a 2FA security layer for new devices designed to halt CS2 skin scammers and other bad actors.

While two-factor authentication is a valuable tool for keeping your belongings secure, scammers still find ways to bypass it and steal skins worth thousands. To combat this, Valve has introduced an additional 2FA security layer for new device logins. It not only notifies the account owner via their contact number of any new login attempt but also requires verification to ensure the login is legitimate.

This feature is activated when a new sign-in occurs from a town, city, or country different from the original owner’s location. When a new login is detected, Steam sends a questionnaire to verify the login’s legitimacy. This includes questions about the device used, the user’s location, the purpose of the login, and more.

Steam instantly blocks the sign-in attempt if one or more answers are incorrect. Moreover, the application also provides the exact location of the sign-in attempt.

New Steam security 2FA feature CS2

Player reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, given the high value of CS2 skins and the ease with which stacked accounts can fall victim to scams. In September, CS2 analyst Mohan “launders” Govindasamy had his account worth $100,000 scammed, sparking concern among other traders for their own accounts’ safety. Hopefully, this added security layer will provide skin collectors with the peace of mind they need to keep trading confidently.