This morning Blizzard announced a nifty little feature that will rear its head at the 2008 Blizzard Entertainment Worldwide Invitational this weekend. No, it's not Diablo 3 in a box, but rather a unique security measure for World of Warcraft via a keychain. Called the Blizzard Authenticator, this device will only be available for purchase through Blizzard's online store for $6.50.

Initially users must log into the World of Warcraft Account Management and click the "Add Blizzard Authenticator" before use. Once a link is establish, users then generate a unique six-digit security code by pressing a button on the keychain device. The code will be valid only once and active for a limited time; the account name and password linked to the code must also be provided when logging onto the MMORPG. This will prevent other users from signing on and tampering with the account, and can be used on multiple accounts.

"It's important to us that World of Warcraft offers a safe and enjoyable game environment," said Mike Morhaime, CEO and co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment, in a press statement. "One aspect of that is helping players avoid account compromise, so we're pleased to make this additional layer of security available to them."

To learn more about the Blizzard authenticator, read the official FAQ here.

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