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Tell HN: Need help, locked out of Google account with 10 years of personal data

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Re: Tell HN: Need help, locked out of Google account with 10 years of personal data

#71

Post by IYasha »

Kuinox wrote: post #33
eminent101 wrote: post #30

I'm sorry this happened. This is my digital nightmare scenario! It is disturbing how much of our digital and physical life (utility accounts, medical insurance, etc. etc.) are tied to email addresses and these email addresses are something we can never ever truly own. If you are locked out of email, you are also locked out of at least half a dozen critical portals that send password resets, OTPs and all kinds of auth…

While you dont own a domain name, you have legals means to get it back. Thats not the cast with a GAFAM email account.

Provided you're in the same coutry as the registrar and using your passport for registration. And you don't miss your pay date (they usually don't allow to pre-pay for many years in advance). And payment remains available (I once had to resort to paying with cash(!) because of banking troubles). And registrar doesn't get bought, go bankrupt, etc. After losing an important domain I can't say it's THE way to go. Also, self-hosting e-mail is a nightmare. Not only because of ridiculously complex software, but also need to be trusted, which, in e-mail world, is hard as...

Re: Tell HN: Need help, locked out of Google account with 10 years of personal data

#72

Post by taosx »

IYasha wrote: post #70

Hey there, mate! Can't really do a thing, but I'm here for emotional support. You won't believe how many of us are here. :( In my case Google refused working secondary e-mail link, secret word, current password - all of those. Probably just because my IP address changed. And my gmail and YouTube channel are now lost forever with no explanation. (I had no mobile number attached to it)

Appreciate the emotional support, I feel for you. You reminded me of my youtube music subscription with my massive playlist, I like to think of it as just currently unavailable, I lose hope slowly.

https://i.ibb.co/QdsKthf/markup-1000014882.png

Re: Tell HN: Need help, locked out of Google account with 10 years of personal data

#73

Post by IYasha »

ravenstine wrote: post #29
CityOfThrowaway wrote: post #18

YMMV but I've had similar loops during login that were resolved by trying to login in incognito mode. And if it works, then clear all your cookies / reboot / try again in the main browser. There's something broken in google's auth security system.

Same. I don't remember how I got out of it the last time, but I came to the conclusion that their login security is dysfunctional. I even had the right phone, authenticator codes, etc., and it kept asking me for something else that woulf lead to an authenticator code being asked for again, restarting the whole loop. Maybe it's more "secure", but the situation is strikingly similar to a hacker changing your passwords.…

> restarting the whole loop.

I once recorded and made a GIF out of it :D :_D :_(

Re: Tell HN: Need help, locked out of Google account with 10 years of personal data

#74

Post by Kuinox »

IYasha wrote: post #71
Kuinox wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While you dont own a domain name, you have legals means to get it back. Thats not the cast with a GAFAM email account.

Provided you're in the same coutry as the registrar and using your passport for registration. And you don't miss your pay date (they usually don't allow to pre-pay for many years in advance). And payment remains available (I once had to resort to paying with cash(!) because of banking troubles). And registrar doesn't get bought, go bankrupt, etc. After losing an important domain I can't say it's THE way to go. Also,…

You don't have to self host your email, you only need to redirect to your preferred email service.

I prepaid my domain name for 15 years.

You can transfert your domain out of a registrar.

Re: Tell HN: Need help, locked out of Google account with 10 years of personal data

#75

Post by stogot »

chistev wrote: post #12
voisin wrote: post #9

Not intending to shame OP, but in 2024 with stories like this occurring regularly, I am totally baffled why anyone still trusts Google with anything important. Make the switch! Run, don’t walk. Do it today. Google is the Scorpion in the parable of the frog and the scorpion - it cannot help its nature. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scorpion_and_the_Frog

Switch to what?

Anyone try Proton?

Re: Tell HN: Need help, locked out of Google account with 10 years of personal data

#77

Post by aphantastic »

Kuinox wrote: post #63
aphantastic wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you actually get it back? Friend of mine has a portfolio website in their name they’ve been maintaining for well over a decade, they missed one payment and some scoundrel bought it up and is demanding thousands of bucks for it.

There is a grace period of 1-2 month before the domain is put back to sale.

What is the legal means to get it back?

Re: Tell HN: Need help, locked out of Google account with 10 years of personal data

#78

Post by catlikesshrimp »

A_D_E_P_T wrote: post #21
catlikesshrimp wrote: post #4

First things first: (Parenthesis) From now on, if it is important, pay for it. At least a smaller email provider with real human support, but best is "buying" your own domain and hosting your email. Same goes for backups. And pass the info to your loved ones. Less importantly: Since you know exactly what phone# is requested, try to contact it. Approach it in a way that doesn't alarm the renter and blocks you. Meanwhi…

> but best is "buying" your own domain and hosting your email I wish this were still the case. Sadly, if you buy a domain and host your own email, you're going to get stuck in spam filters all the damn time. Your email address will feel broken, sending messages into the void. The only email infrastructure services that are reasonably reliable belong to the likes of Google (Workspace), Microsoft (365), etc. Protonmail…

I really wanted not to comment this because there are many better authorities in the topic here. OTOH, I am sure I will learn something:

There will be friction. We are trading convenience for security. Paid smaller provider with human support is more convenient and probably enough for most people.

Also, the own-domain-approach is for an important inbox. Read as: it is business related, it pays for itself. It also allows you to set up as many addresses as needed. The receiving inbox is the critical part of email here, because it is often part of your logins.

Regarding your outbox:

>you're going to get stuck in spam filters all the damn time. Your email address will feel broken, sending messages into the void. I try to remember this: Initially using forwarding. Send the message directly from your address to the recipient, and a ccc to a (more popular) forwarding address that sends the duplicate to the recipient, and starts with a clear: DO NOT REPLY TO THIS ADDRESS, and a "reply to" your own domain address. Your domain will eventually gain traction. This is a time investment to prevent a [another] catastrophe. Other mention this point as an "SMTP relay service", which is a much better.

Others also mention that domains can be seized, which sounds less likely than Google or Apple randomly blocking your account.

Failed Payments and other Domain management tasks, that's something I only know as much as any other passerby.

Edit: inbox vs outbox

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