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Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

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Re: Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

#151
post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's even worse is with a certain iOS update that may or may not be launching in the next few weeks will make this advice impossible. 3 words for you - Auto updating apps

Which can be turned off

It's actually opt-in. When you open the App Store for the first time in iOS 7, it asks if you want to enable automatic updates.

Re: Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

#152

Chris Messina has a solution: https://twitter.com/chrismessina/status/375118991280205824

That's only good for Google accounts. Dropbox and others aren't reset as easily.

Dropbox gave you a code when you turned on 2FA and told you to keep it safe.

You can also recover your Dropbox account from any connected computer. It'll log you in on the web console without a password or 2FA.

Re: Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

#153
post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure, in the same way that MD5 is (although you'd want to use PBKDF2 instead of MD5). But you can't actually encrypt with PBKDF2 itself, much like you can't with MD5

From the linked discussion ([3] above): > 1. We use a 256 bit key derived using a salt and PBKDF2. > 2. AES is used in CBC mode with a different IV for each account. > 3. The key is store on the cellphone only and is never transmitted

> 2. AES is used in CBC mode with a different IV for each account.

Depending on the actual implementation (if everything is just one encrypted blob or if individual records are encrypted separately) using the same IV for all data in one account can be pretty bad.

Re: Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

#154
post #95
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Authy wants to 'make data available to nearby bluetooth devices' and – even if you don't allow for it – asks for Bluetooth to be turned on. What's the reason for this requests? I'd appreciate an application directly in the app. In doubt, I simply deny such requests. Screenshots: http://i.imgur.com/jTC5msY.png http://i.imgur.com/seytfhy.png

It gets even more confusing: Authy asks me for my mobile phone number – once to 'securely identify' me and once to create an account, apparently with Authy. Why is an account necessary for such an app? Can't I use Authy without an account?

Authy is first and foremost its own 2FA system based around ownership of a phone number. Where most phone based 2FA systems just send you a SMS message with a code you need to enter, Authy installs an app on the phone in question that fingerprints the phone. The fact that you can also use Authy to store other 2FA codes as well is just viewed as a bonus feature by Authy.

Re: Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

#155

Not an iPhone user, but I wonder if you could access the key data manually and restore it afterwards? On Android that's possible (if you have root....) by accessing the key database (sqlite in that case). I did that to duplicate the keys from my handset to my tablet.

Yes, if you have synced with iTunes before the update. If that's the case you have to delete the updated app from the phone, connect phone to iTunes (do not sync or transfer purchases) and copy over the old app from iTunes to phone and it will restore the old version + app data.

didn't work for me - app was restored but not data

Re: Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

#156
post #147
post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And no word yet from Google... Their lack of customer service is going to end up killing them in a number of markets. I would never use Google for any critical business function (email, payments, cloud computing).

They'll join this thread in a while and call us all novices for not understanding that this is deliberate, well tested, and our fault. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6166886

Because all companies always act like one of its employees did one time.

Not defending Google, but pointing out the sweeping generalization.

Re: Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

#157
Shit. I am running the iOS 7 beta with automatic app updates, and I already have the new app.

I am considering wiping my phone and restoring it from a previous backup with the old copy of the app.

Edit: I was still logged in from my browser, and was able to activate the new version without entering a code from the deceased version of the app.

From this, it seems theft of your cookies could let an attacker completely take over your account and two-factor device if they know your account password and you have chosen to trust the victim computer.

Re: Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

#158
post #73
post #7

For those looking for Google Authenticator alternatives, I recommend either Duo Mobile from Duo Security or Authy. I ditched Google Authenticator a while ago and haven't missed it one bit -- having a single app manage my two-factor tokens / keys is much more convenient.

I switched to HDE-OTP[0] a while ago and never looked back. I've not encountered any bugs with it and it's also better looking. [0] https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/hde-otp-generator/id57124032...

Yep, HDE OTP works great and looks nice. Thanks.

Re: Warning: Google Authenticator upgrade loses all accounts

#159
post #100

Too late for me, but a pleasingly fast and pro-active response from AWS (which rather shows Google up) just received by email: "If you are an AWS customer who uses Google Authenticator for iOS as a multi-factor authentication device to secure your AWS account via AWS MFA ( http://aws.amazon.com/mfa/ ), please read on. We are writing to inform you that Google has recently released an update to the Google Authenticator…

If you do happen to update and lose your 2FA keys, the AWS people are turning around these lost login requests in <15 minutes. You fill the form out, they call you and verify, and life carries on.
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