To tell you to put 2 factor authentication on your email account

[sleepwouldbenice]

Hi all
I know it’s boring but just do the above please
I didn’t and my email account was hacked. It’s been horrible from theft to fraud to so much hassle

Protect yourselves!

Ok, I'm going to show my ignorance here.
Doesnt that mean I need my other device with me everytime I log in?
So when I log onto my online banking, they text me a code. That's fine, I dont log on very often, so it's easy to deal with at home.
How do I do 2 factor authentication on my email when I check it at lunch from work? I'd need my tablet with me. I'd never take my tablet to work, so how would I ever log into anything?

I get its safer, but it's an absolute pain, and copying numbers across when you are dyslexic is also prone to errors and getting locked out of accounts.

Convince me it's not going to be an absolute nightmare (I also really struggle with the "what are these dodgy written letters" and "find all the squares with a boat in" type proof of humanity)

You need your device the first time you use it, then you can trust your pad/ phone/ computer/ laptop the first time you log in. Not a nightmare honestly.

I think of far more importance is to a) not have exactly the same password everywhere. Mine isn't this formula but a similar idea. I use the same basic password but each website/thing I log into I pick a colour associated eg HSBC (I don't have an account there hackers) I'd use black not the obvious red , I then would have eg
'samepassword!blacK' as my password, so it's easy to remember and every colour I use the colour has a ! first and the last letter is a capital

and b) don't save your password anywhere. So many folk save their email password on the phone - yet their phone is the 2 factor authenticator

The only problem I’ve had with two factor authentication is that if you lose your phone or have it stolen, you’re locked out of your email.

@YouMeandtheSpew

The only problem I’ve had with two factor authentication is that if you lose your phone or have it stolen, you’re locked out of your email.

You should all be using a device like the Yubico keys. www.amazon.co.uk/s?ref=bl_dp_s_web_17657222031&k=Yubico&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

For instance if you have a Gmail account you go into settings and select 2 factor authentication and select hardware key. If you have a Yubioco key, you just plug it into the USB socket or hold it upto your phone and register it to the account.

The first time you log in it will request your key, after that it will remember the device or computer and you will not have to use it again on that device. The benefit is if any one gets your user name and password they will need the physical key to get access from their device. Encase you loose the key, google and other places will allow you to print off emergency codes that you print off and keep in your safe, that can be used as a backup encase you loose the key.

Video here.

All great ideas. To me it’s become like house security. Nothing is fail safe and yes it’s a hassle but the more security you have the less likely you are to be hacked
Think if everything that goes through your email. From concert tickets to eBay to Amazon to medical details to vouchers to Netflix to subscriptions, utilities, insurance, pensions….. everything
Even those things they couldn’t steal they deliberately disrupted
Its been hell