Not receiving 2-step authentication texts

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Not receiving 2-step authentication texts

awalker

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#205741 25-Nov-2016 06:57

I have a Google Apps account of which I'm the Super Admin for.

I have 2-step authentication enabled against my account which sends a text message to give me the authorisation code.

Historically, this has always worked without issues. As of last week, I stopped receiving these texts. I'm now 7 days without getting access to the desktop version of my email and Google support say there is another Super Admin on my account and they have to disable it (of which I have no idea who they are or what the credentials would be).

Does anyone know anything about Spark not sending out these codes? Reading notes on the internet and talking to Google they say in 95% of cases it's the phone carrier causing the problems.

I really need access to my work emails, any assistance would be appreciated.

awalker

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1677144 25-Nov-2016 07:13

Still not receiving texts, but fixed my issue. Turns out my Edge browser allowed me to login without 2-step. Got myself into the admin console and disabled 2-step.

Didn't fix the underlying issue but at least I'm back in now. I really find this a good security feature but must say it's scared me off using it. Took me 7 days to get this far and painfully working through the problem with Google which they had no solution.

For reference, I had no access to the phone call with the number either, no idea why as it was one of the solutions provided to me but Google confirmed for me they couldn't see the feature either.

freitasm

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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#1677147 25-Nov-2016 07:15

I donot use SMS where possible. Instead use Authy which sync codes over mobile and desktop.

lurker

831 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1677148 25-Nov-2016 07:15

Had the same issue with Amazon recently, I will never use SMS again. Totally unreliable

awalker

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1677152 25-Nov-2016 07:23

I've used Google Authenticator in for other services. Keen to find a different solution than text.

A note for people to be wary with this, using nothing but your phone for business emails is not a great look, let alone the time I've wasted trying to solve this problem with people in different timezones their "weekend" being our work days.

freitasm

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#1677165 25-Nov-2016 08:52

Problem with Google/Microsoft Authenticator is that these apps only work on one device. Authy (and a couple of others) work on multiple devices, including Mac/Windows and sync between these so you are never locked out.

awalker

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1677279 25-Nov-2016 11:12

freitasm:

Problem with Google/Microsoft Authenticator is that these apps only work on one device. Authy (and a couple of others) work on multiple devices, including Mac/Windows and sync between these so you are never locked out.

Good to know, cheers

ajobbins

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#1677392 25-Nov-2016 12:49

Why you should avoid 2FA via SMS:

https://www.wired.com/2016/06/hey-stop-using-texts-two-factor-authentication/

While unless you are someone important it's not likley to be too much of a risk, and it's certainly better than no 2FA at all, use someone like Authy wherever possible.

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awalker

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1677396 25-Nov-2016 12:52

ajobbins:

Why you should avoid 2FA via SMS:

https://www.wired.com/2016/06/hey-stop-using-texts-two-factor-authentication/

While unless you are someone important it's not likley to be too much of a risk, and it's certainly better than no 2FA at all, use someone like Authy wherever possible.

Thanks for sharing. This has burnt a bridge for me, worse is I still don't even know the cause or have a real solution, just a work around.

Happy that this happened to me as the administrator and not one of our users who would likely be less forgiving to be kicked out of their email for so long.