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Ask HN: Gmail account security

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Ask HN: Gmail account security

#1

Post by caseyf7 »

I have a gmail account that I rarely use, but I know the password. I enter it correctly and get the following message:

You’re trying to sign in on a device Google doesn’t recognize, and we don’t have enough information to verify that it’s you. For your protection, you can’t sign in here right now. Try again from a device or location where you’ve signed in before.

Even if I get the code from the recovery email account, it won't work. Is this the AI hell Google throws you into if you get a new phone and computer in the same year? Has anyone else on HN run into this and found a solution?

Re: Ask HN: Gmail account security

#2

Post by pettycashstash2 »

I once forgot my gmail password. There was no way for me to recover it. Eventually I found it after 6 months, but it was a very difficult 6 months. bank emails, work emails, etc were in the google 7th circle of hell, and there was nothing I could do. I don't have any good advice for you really except is there a way you could vpn to a location closer to where you typically access gmail?

Re: Ask HN: Gmail account security

#4

Post by ncann »

Same here, I got an email to my main mail account saying Google has blocked a login attempt to another old Gmail account of mine that I haven't used for a long time (the old account has the new account listed as the recovery email). So I tried to log in to that old account, and got the same message to "try again later". I tried a few more times over the next few weeks but always the same message. So even with the correct password and access to the recovery email I still can't log in to the old account, and there's no way to get around it. I just gave up.

Re: Ask HN: Gmail account security

#6

Post by NoPie »

I stopped using gmail. I pay for my own domain (approx $10 per year and subscribe a hosting service that costs about $4/month). The total cost is not much different from a paid google email which is about $50/year.

If I happened to forget/lose all passwords (lost laptop, burned house etc.), I would probably need to deal with the hosting company who would try to identify me with my credit card or some other way (phone number, mailing a letter to my physical address on file). Nothing is absolutely secure but I think it is secure enough for me while I also have fair good chances to recover my lost access. I am not a big target to scammers anyway.

Re: Ask HN: Gmail account security

#7

Post by exolymph »

Wasn't aware of this, but can't say I'm surprised.

Personally, I'm still happy with Fastmail, which uses customer subscriptions fees to fund a professional support department, as well as contributing to email-related FOSS. (Among other things, obviously.)

Re: Ask HN: Gmail account security

#8

Post by Andrew_nenakhov »

Had this. It was telling me to try again 'later'. Ok, i did 'try later' every day for three weeks, and they didn't let me in. Using the very same IP address as I used to always access it, no less.

Then, I gave up, moved all my services to another email account, and after 2 or 3 months tried logging in, and it suddenly allowed me to log in.

Needless to say, I will never again use gmail for critically important things.

Re: Ask HN: Gmail account security

#10

Post by emerongi »

exolymph wrote: post #7

Wasn't aware of this, but can't say I'm surprised. Personally, I'm still happy with Fastmail, which uses customer subscriptions fees to fund a professional support department, as well as contributing to email-related FOSS. (Among other things, obviously.)

Fastmail's UI is just faster too.
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