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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?

#61

Post by davidmitchell2 »

j4tech wrote: post #42
davidmitchell2 wrote: post #34

> 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…

1. My new Asus RT AX86U had Merlin installed on it. I disconnected this router after I started getting security alerts and switched to using the router provided by my Service provider. 2. I use firefox with cookie cleaner add-on that clears cookies the second I close the tab. 3. I have a paper copy of the account details and I am 100% sure of my recovery email. I got a Yubi key recently and plan to use that and authe…

2. Instead of that use separate firefox profiles - one exclusively of Gmail. Another for casual browsing. If you clear cookies all the time then it seems like you are logging in so many times per day. This could be a warning sign of hacked account - for google. (i.e) do not do unusual things.

3. At the end U2F is the proper solution, albeit late!

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

#62

Post by entropie »

zorked wrote: post #40
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…

> 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

Its the same with your address, what if your landlord randomly decides to kick you or your house burns down? Where I live my mobile number is very secure and will not change until I fuck up very hard. And in this case I have multiple other backups (printed codes, rescue number).

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

#65

Post by syshum »

timattrn wrote: post #48
zorked wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

Use a 2fa app with backups, or one that syncs to different devices (e.g. authy). It's distributed TFA. The phone number is not very secure, so I don't think it should be a part of TFA. I therefore agree that it is unwise to allow Google to use it for this. I also have a fake dob on my phone account to make Sim porting harder, but you can't trust that you have control over your phone number.

Bitwarden Family / Pro / Enterprise also has the ability to Setup TOTP based MFA which is then synced to other devices

I use both Authy and Bitwarden

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

#66

Post by davidmitchell2 »

mnvrth wrote: post #50

(Disclaimer: I'm part of the crew building https://ente.io ) I hope someone at Google takes a look at this and uses their internal tool to help OP. That said, this oft repeated story is one of the most compelling reasons why I think Google alternatives (like the one we're building) will catch on in the mainstream population. Not privacy. But the fact that we offer human support, whilst Google doesn't.

From: https://ente.io/privacy#account-data

> Data security is very important to ente, whether that is your personal information or any other data. That is why we publish our client-side browser and mobile app software and why we have provided information in this Policy on collection and storage of all data whether or not it is personal information.

How does this prove Data security?

> And what is this: our architecture has been reviewed by cryptographers and engineers from IBM Research, ETH Zurich, IIT Delhi, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, ...

Any white-paper?

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

#67

Post by 4ggr0 »

mnvrth wrote: post #50

(Disclaimer: I'm part of the crew building https://ente.io ) I hope someone at Google takes a look at this and uses their internal tool to help OP. That said, this oft repeated story is one of the most compelling reasons why I think Google alternatives (like the one we're building) will catch on in the mainstream population. Not privacy. But the fact that we offer human support, whilst Google doesn't.

As much as I appreciate people like you doing new things, the same will happen to your project if it grows.

There will be a point that your service will simply have too many users to handle all of their requests in a satisfactory way.

If you disagree I'm interested why you think y'all can make it differently.

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

#68

Post by pindakaas »

This question pops up a lot on HN. From what I've read in similar posts, you'd have a hard time getting your account back even if you'd work at Google. Sadly, having your phone number not associated with the account will make recovery extra hard. To their credit, Google does provide multiple ways to set up account recovery (e.g., recovery codes).

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

#69

Post by syshum »

davidmitchell2 wrote: post #60
zelphirkalt wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Installing any software for using a router on your PC already sounds fishy for me. Routers should not require any software being put on a PC.

Many providers do it... sadly

I have never had one actually require it, often the installers will claim that but back in the day I would just say "sure here is my linux machine have fun installing your windows software on it" and magically they did not need to install anything any more....

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

#70

Post by domdomfanfare »

Nexxxeh wrote: post #59
domdomfanfare wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why did your reply started with an advert?

Because disclosure is part of the culture here. If you're working for the competition or have some other relevant source of bias, it's polite and ethical to disclose that.

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