EVE General Discussion

I'm sure this is the type of question that has come up before, however I'm looking for fresh opinions though.

How important is it to check the API of a pilot when recruiting?

Critically. Even more critical is knowing what to look for.

Hi, well to begin with, would you want to hire someone NOT knowing their background?? This is the same methods used in the real world when you apply or someone applies for work, school, financing a home, and so forth. An API check is a valuable tool that is used to weed out potential employees, or in our case pilots.

Security checks are a common reason why it's done to make sure we don't invite some who may have a record and believe me, looking at the job history and some change corps so much I would be hesitant to invite to my corp.

I say this is a possibility of finding something amiss and even during a TS interview to verify some facts some things can be brought out. I know of cases where my corp had to turn down pilots for one reason or another, sometimes even the good ones turn out to be bad apples once they are accepted.

It is important to know as far as skills are concerned as to whether or not a potential pilot makes the grade or not and I know for a fact this is a major step we undertake to ensure we only get good qualified pilots to fly with us. I hope this gives you an idea of how the API checks are used much like as I said a job interview type of thing and hope that you understand the reasoning behind it.

FLY RECKLESS

There is many reasons for checking a recruits API key, even tho someone who knows what they are doing can work around this quite easily.

Say you are recruiting a new player. So this means a younger character.
In most cases these will have little ISK (unless they bought a plex). However you look at their wallet and they dont just have a few billion ISK in there, but also some pretty nice implants. This is where your first question should be where those ISK came from.
In some cases it will indeed be because they bought a plex, in others you will see that another character transfered large amounts of ISK to that person.
If its the last one chances are high its an alt, and if someone is trying to join with a brand new character hiding the fact that they have an older character lurking around chances are they are thinking about doing something "bad".

Now lets pretend your trying to recruit someone who claims to be a miner, but you look at his skills and he has no mining skills but skills that are very suitable for ganking miners instead.
Doubt i have to say why this is suspicious

Then you have other things like eve mail and standings, both that can give you information about the person that can help giving you a clue on who they are and what they are up to.

Honestly, if a corp does not ask for an API key i get concerned, even if its not a guarantee it will prevent any spies or similar from entering the corp.

So, if you are looking into recruitment you might find this guide handy, which will also cover some of the API key checks as well as programs to use.

Really it probably depends on how much your corp has to lose and what roles you're planning to give them. If all you're worried about is that they might shoot your corpmates, checking their killboard is about as much security as you probably need. If you're planning to live in a wormhole with them or give them access to hangars for industry or whatever then you want to know exactly who they are before letting them in.

this is a good post. i just wanted to note that although careful spies/awoxers will get past an api check, a spy that wouldn't pass the check can still do a lot of damage. which is why the check is done.

and you must actually check the api, because a lot of awoxers will happily hand the key over knowing many bad corp leaders don't even look at the information

And that's fine for me, it's your choice. Since i'm not forced to give my API, i can keep my freedom and individualism intact, and that is my choice too.

Fair play but you are going to find your char very isolated if your not willing for admins/ leaders to complete api checks. It's no different than CCP or your bank being able to monitor your account or Microsoft / governments being able to monitor your emails.
Api checks and monitoring tend to be carried out with player confidentiality in mind. You wont even realise your being monitored once you've submitted it.

Worlds with in a world.

An API check will, at best keep the blatantly obvious out.

Thing is, too many people use the API as a "mechanical" thing to replace something that should be done "organically"....a good interview and testing phase for new recruits. The API should supplement what you are already doing during an interview process, not serve as a full-on replacement.

A person dedicated to causing your corp havoc won't be stopped by something as simple as an API check. Plan accordingly.

But it's not entirely about stopping awoxers and thieves. Not even close. The real reason for the rectal examinations is the feeling of power it gives to the examiners.