How do I "find my phone" - with 2FA set? - challenge requires phone!!!

Forums › Android › How do I "find my phone" - with 2FA set? - challenge requires phone!!!

DuncanMcC

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#247896 1-Mar-2019 11:56

Dumb question for 1st of March :)

Needed to find my phone this morn - I've rung it and found it, LOL, but...

If I go to Google.com and I'm logged in on my PC via Chrome - with 2FA set, it challenges me - and all methods appear to require my phone!!!

Where's the "send me an e-mail" option gone???

Yes, I have a hangover - please go easy on me - what am I missing??? :)

Cheers, Duncan

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#2189348 1-Mar-2019 12:21

Just checked that myself. That's the dumbest thing ever. 😡

Coil

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#2189350 1-Mar-2019 12:24

Same goes for Apple.

They will force you to use another Apple device at your same home address as the locked or lost device if you need to get into Icloud or however..
Forces you to have two POS's from their range or get locked out if you need access.

Don't lose your phone people!

DuncanMcC

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#2189359 1-Mar-2019 12:31

I've just tried it on an "incognito" session - same thing!

Batman

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#2189362 1-Mar-2019 12:34

sounds like you may need to have registered another device that you hopefully haven't lost

DuncanMcC

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#2189365 1-Mar-2019 12:39

I've got a couple of spare phones - but only one can be the default???

xpd

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#2189376 1-Mar-2019 12:54

Must be that new 2FA system... think its called "Don't lose your phone because you're stuffed if you lose your phone"

XPD / Gavin

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Batman

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#2189379 1-Mar-2019 12:56

Hmm .. need a backdoor into the phone ... I used to have a Samsung Galaxy and Samsung Apps had a backdoor into it ...

lxsw20

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#2189381 1-Mar-2019 13:01

You can have more than one number for 2FA, or a YubiKey.

Would recommend using Authy for 2FA also, so 2FA is backed up if phone is ever lost/stolen.

DuncanMcC

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#2189384 1-Mar-2019 13:10

lxsw20:

You can have more than one number for 2FA, or a YubiKey.

Would recommend using Authy for 2FA also, so 2FA is backed up if phone is ever lost/stolen.

Cheers bud. YubiKey seems to require a wee USB device.

Looking at Authy now.

But hey, still don't get it that Google have dropped (?) the "send me an e-mail" option. (I'm sure it used to be there!) :)

Cheers, Duncan.

PS: I can still find my Windows Phone! :)

stinger

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#2189387 1-Mar-2019 13:11

lxsw20:

You can have more than one number for 2FA, or a YubiKey.

+1 for a Yubikey or other U2F device. That's attached to my key ring, and linked to my Google account. Now if I lost both my phone and key ring I'm stuffed.

Method of last resort if you didn't have a U2F device but do have a spare phone is to grab a SIM from the dairy and do a SIM swap, then you'll get the SMS code to the other phone.

coffeebaron

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#2189396 1-Mar-2019 13:30

Hey person who stole my phone, can you please text me my 2FA key so I can find my phone?

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Item

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#2189397 1-Mar-2019 13:32

Coil:

Same goes for Apple.

They will force you to use another Apple device at your same home address as the locked or lost device if you need to get into Icloud or however..
Forces you to have two POS's from their range or get locked out if you need access.

Don't lose your phone people!

For Apple (and I presume Google?) You can set a primary and secondary phone number - one could be your friend/partners or even a home phone line (do we still have those?) as it can send an automated phone call code, not just a text.

If you lose your phone, all is not lost!

As an owner of 4 Apple devices, I am probably reasonably well covered for "trusted devices" as well

bagheera

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#2189401 1-Mar-2019 13:34

when I setup 2fa, I made 10 one time codes that I have just in case I lose my phone, then I can remove or put onto another - also got authy too as an option.

jonathan18

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#2189460 1-Mar-2019 15:01

coffeebaron: Hey person who stole my phone, can you please text me my 2FA key so I can find my phone?

Am I missing something here? What's stopping one having a 2FA app on more than one device, accessing the same 2FA generator? I've got Authy on my phone and my iPad and use it on either device, including when accessing an account on the other (or a third) device.

michaelmurfy

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#2189475 1-Mar-2019 15:13

This is where your backup codes you're asked to save in a safe place come in handy. Purely user error if you get in this situation.

With me - Authy + hardware token + backup codes stored encrypted somewhere.

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