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Tell HN: Access to my personal Gmail blocked

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Re: Tell HN: Access to my personal Gmail blocked

#11

Whats worse, is something like this happened to me on Yahoo, except instead of not being able to login, they simply deleted my account. they said my account no longer existed. I never used any yahoo product for anything serious, after that.

After entering the correct password, I am locked out having 3 options:

-Use another phone or computer to finish signing in

    I always use the browser in incognito mode. This option does not apply to me (it will not work).
-Answer your security question

    I don't remember (I think I put something random) to make the account more secure.
-Get help

    It asks for the last password, but it doesn't work. Broken?

Re: Tell HN: Access to my personal Gmail blocked

#12

Can you use an IP address that you might have used before? Maybe they are seeing a new IP address and that tipped the scale in their fraud prevention algorithm.

My ip is dynamic, so it sometimes changes. The ISP is the same as always (and the approximate location too). I access the Internet using the browser's incognito mode. So Google considers each login as from a new device.

You might try keeping a brower session and trying to login with that once a day or so. It may let you in with a seasoned browser profile where the incognito profile seems fishy.

That or petition at their offices.

Re: Tell HN: Access to my personal Gmail blocked

#13
post #2

That's a bummer, I think we've all learned this lesson the hard way at least once before wising up. Hindsight is 20/20, obviously would've been an excellent idea to enter that recovery phone or email address field. Why wouldn't you do it? In my experience, Google doesn't care how many email accounts you associate to the same phone number (within some degree of reasonability). You know this is how it goes when you're…

> Hindsight is 20/20, obviously would've been an excellent idea to enter that recovery phone or email address field. Why wouldn't you do it?

Because OP has his password! The recovery email is supposed to be for people who forget their password! OP didn't forget it.

What are you supposed to do if Google randomly decides to lock you out of the recovery email too? How many emails is a person expected to have?

Google is basically just punishing people who take steps to avoid tracking on the web.

Re: Tell HN: Access to my personal Gmail blocked

#14
there has been a slow transition of all big mail providers to require a phone number more and more and it scares me; they do not need it, there are other options like OTP as mentioned by others - but as far as I am aware the big corps want to ensure they have a firm grasp on who you are. not really uncle sam watching your movements but more like uncle corp. if you do manage to get in, might be wise to tie in another email address to it or face the loaded barrel and put your phone number in.

Re: Tell HN: Access to my personal Gmail blocked

#15
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn’t having a recovery phone make you vulnerable to a port out scam, basically invalidating any 2FA?

If you have Verizon, they have a number lock feature ( https://www.verizon.com/support/port-out-faqs/# ) that is designed to protect against this very thing. I have it enabled and feel much better about using SMS 2FA/recovery.

This has been bypassed by employees when money is involved. https://www.technadu.com/verizon-number-lock-protection-agai...

Re: Tell HN: Access to my personal Gmail blocked

#17

Whats worse, is something like this happened to me on Yahoo, except instead of not being able to login, they simply deleted my account. they said my account no longer existed. I never used any yahoo product for anything serious, after that.

After entering the correct password, I am locked out having 3 options: -Use another phone or computer to finish signing in I always use the browser in incognito mode. This option does not apply to me (it will not work). -Answer your security question I don't remember (I think I put something random) to make the account more secure. -Get help It asks for the last password, but it doesn't work. Broken?

Try without being incognito. It doesn't hide very much from google anyhow and it seems like recovering is more important than the privacy you are getting.

Re: Tell HN: Access to my personal Gmail blocked

#18
Maybe try to find someone at Google. Make hue and cry on Social Media?

You didn’t tell how did you use it. Was it only for personal/non critical usage? Or was it “the email” for you?

Anyway, in the meantime by a paid email (I hope you can afford it) and if possible have it on your own domain. Make sure domain and email providers are not the same.

Change email at as many places you could — ASAP. Especially at banks and critical online services.

I mean do the two things in parallel.

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