: Never use the same password for a private server that you use for your official DSO account or your email.

The legal status of private game servers has always been a grey area. The consensus in online discussions is that hosting a private server by emulating the game's software is generally considered a legal grey area (primarily due to copyright infringement), while merely playing on one is unlikely to get an individual user into legal trouble.

If you find a site claiming to be a "verified" private server, proceed with extreme caution: Security Risks: Many unofficial clients are used for account stealing or distributing malware. No Longevity: