TE
TechEcho
Home24h TopNewestBestAskShowJobs
GitHubTwitter
Home

TechEcho

A tech news platform built with Next.js, providing global tech news and discussions.

GitHubTwitter

Home

HomeNewestBestAskShowJobs

Resources

HackerNews APIOriginal HackerNewsNext.js

© 2025 TechEcho. All rights reserved.

Tell HN: Save your two-factor authentication backup codes

12 pointsby hansyover 10 years ago
If you use two-factor authentication, make sure you don&#x27;t ignore those backup codes they tell you to save or print out. I recently was mugged (so my both my phone and laptop were taken in addition to my wallet), and I really wish I had saved my Google backup codes into Dropbox (or actually printed them out). As our identities and lives become more entrenched in the online realm, it becomes increasingly important to take the extra (even if seemingly inconvenient) precautionary steps. Life can throw all kinds of random events you&#x27;d never expect to happen to you, so as the old adage goes, it&#x27;s better to be safe than sorry.<p>P.S. If anyone knows anyone at Google who can help me recover my account quicker, that would be sweet.

2 comments

oftenwrongover 10 years ago
That&#x27;s a nightmare if your business is connected with that account. I wish more services employing two-factor authentication had the backup codes feature. My bank, domain registrar, and server host do not have it (but at least have 2FA). For my google apps email, I have them printed out on small cards. One in my wallet, one in my bag, one at home, and one with a trusted third party.
smileysteveover 10 years ago
A) If you can get a new phone (or you have a backup phone you can activate quickly) you can get a 2 factor from text.<p>B) You can have multiple devices with the 2 factor app. (i.e. Nexus 7 and phone)