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Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

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Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#31

Post by Titan2189 »

kevincox wrote: post #18
Titan2189 wrote: post #13

>> "I had to replace my fried router twice within the span of 2 days" That should not cause your IP address to change. Either you have a static IP and always get that static IP assigned to your account (which you'd know as you'd likely pay for that). Or 'replacing the router' is just seen as 'connecting to the internet' from your ISP's point of view. So from Google's POV you're connecting from the regular region that…

It absolutely could. I usually get a new IP when I reboot my router.

But that new IP is from the same pool of IP addresses your ISP owns, which are all geolocated to the same region. So for Google's fraud detection there'd be no difference.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#32

Post by orblivion »

sigmoid10 wrote: post #24

>Unfortunately I did not have a phone number associated with this account. My understanding is I would have been able to recover my account, If I had one. It boggles my mind how people can have their entire life tied to this service and not connect a phone number, especially since google regularly warns you during login that this can happen if you don't add your number. They even ask to confirm every now and then in…

Because I've been warned by security conscious people never to use phone number as a 2FA because it's so insecure, and using it as a recovery option seems to create an even weaker link. If that's somehow not true, I haven't gotten around to figuring out why that is because I only have so much time for this shit.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#34

Post by davidmitchell2 »

> presumed that the security message was because of new IP addresses that must have been assigned. While I was initially able to log in to my accounts after replacing both the routers, o

1. Verify if your router or router software that you installed in your PC is doing something fishy.

2. As long as you have a browser window with cookies - even new IP address should NOT matter. It should allow you. I am almost always working in cafes with different IPs it - just works.

3. Please please verify your recovery email ID. Some times I have made the mistake of typing first.last@ instead of without dots. Send an email to your recovery ID to test.

Please get a 2FA U2F token.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#35

Post by can16358p »

RealStickman_ wrote: post #33

Sometimes waiting a few days and trying again works. Seriously.

Top this. Not happened with Google, but for Meta services it works. I was locked out of my Facebook and Instagram on different occasions. They just worked the next day.

Google might have something similar too.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#37

Post by MrPatan »

I can't help the OP, but I can help you, gmail user reading this:

This WILL happen to you. Get your own domain and set up email through it ASAP. Use some free one, use a paid one (I like fastmail), but get it done now. Then migrate all your accounts to it.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#38

Post by j4tech »

sigmoid10 wrote: post #24

>Unfortunately I did not have a phone number associated with this account. My understanding is I would have been able to recover my account, If I had one. It boggles my mind how people can have their entire life tied to this service and not connect a phone number, especially since google regularly warns you during login that this can happen if you don't add your number. They even ask to confirm every now and then in…

I totally agree with you. That was a mistake on my part . I had my number on the account a few months back.But my thinking was similar to what @orblivion posted below

"Because I've been warned by security conscious people never to use phone number as a 2FA because it's so insecure, and using it as a recovery option seems to create an even weaker link.". I happened to read so many articles in the recent past of SIM Swapping, that I was afraid to use my cellphone number as 2FA and removed it from my gmail account. What with Google being evil and all

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#39

Post by Daedren »

orblivion wrote: post #32
sigmoid10 wrote: post #24

>Unfortunately I did not have a phone number associated with this account. My understanding is I would have been able to recover my account, If I had one. It boggles my mind how people can have their entire life tied to this service and not connect a phone number, especially since google regularly warns you during login that this can happen if you don't add your number. They even ask to confirm every now and then in…

Because I've been warned by security conscious people never to use phone number as a 2FA because it's so insecure, and using it as a recovery option seems to create an even weaker link. If that's somehow not true, I haven't gotten around to figuring out why that is because I only have so much time for this shit.

Google allows for various kinds of 2FA, not just SMS. You can use a hardware key or even Google apps installed on other trusted devices.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get my Google account back?

#40

Post by zorked »

sigmoid10 wrote: post #24

>Unfortunately I did not have a phone number associated with this account. My understanding is I would have been able to recover my account, If I had one. It boggles my mind how people can have their entire life tied to this service and not connect a phone number, especially since google regularly warns you during login that this can happen if you don't add your number. They even ask to confirm every now and then in…

That's a mistake I will never make again. Your phone number is insecure - but even if wasn't, you are setting yourself up for losing your account forever if you ever forget to transfer all your 2FA numbers, or if the phone company decides they want to cancel your contract, or potentially if you lose your SIM card, or even if whatever SMS gateway doesn't like your number for whatever reason.

Literally, you are giving your account to the phone company.

I'm more convinced by the printed security codes. I have encrypted copies in several storage providers, and that includes publicly-accessible copies. I have a copy in my safe, I have some in my family's safe in a different country. No phone company involved.

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