How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone? by circularitylabs

View this thread on: hive.blog | peakd.com | ecency.com

security · @circularitylabs · Jul 30 '17 (edited)

$4.80

How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?

<center> ![How to reset or recover google authenticator on a new phone?](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUUbCV84tkBupsnh2xLmwroWkvbeZJVMDAE6T4u5tzu93/google%20authenticator.png) <center/>
Now that our whole life is on google authenticator, we all remember that first moment when we asked ourselves:

"Eumh... but what happens when I lose my phone?"

Unfortunately for me I never asked this to myself until I lost my phone in a bus right in the middle of nowhere on my way to a beautiful island, Ilha das couves in Brazil.

![Ilha das couves.JPG](https://steemitimages.com/DQmahmwp7bKiTfHrSP5sdjwMSCWhkpXRo5AHH6YTxQyrWqg/Ilha%20das%20couves.JPG)

As I was laying in this paradise all I could think about was hackers taking all my crypto and I can fairly say that i didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.

Of course nobody hacked me (the people around this island don't even know what bitcoin is) and i stressed for nothing. As soon As i got home I contacted all the exchanges asking them to reset my google 2fa. I had to proof to every exchange in different ways that it was me by sending in pictures with notes, looking up ip addresses etc etc.

If I just had done it the right way I could even recover my google auth right there on the beach with my girlfriends phone.

**So how to reset your google auth the right way?**

There are three ways to reset your google auth:
- Contact the exchange / company to manually reset it
- Make a backup of your private key for every platform/ exchange
- Make a backup of you google auth itself

The first one is simple but a lot of work, contact support and answer lots of complicated questions.

The second one works well if you only use your google authenticator on one exchange. With a backup of the QR code you can reset the google authenticator on a new phone. If you have a lot of different exchanges however this is not so easy.

The third and easiest way is to make a backup on google authenticator itself.

-> Go to [Google authenticator](https://myaccount.google.com/security/signinoptions/two-step-verification) & logg in.
-> Set up google authenticator if you haven't done this yet. Also activate it for logging into your google account.

Why? Because from [This page](https://myaccount.google.com/security/signinoptions/two-step-verification) you can reset your google authenticator device. So if you can log into your google account and reset your google authenticator, without having to use google authenticator, all hackers need is your google password and your exchange password (which might even be the same? if this is the case, make sure they are different) and bye bye crypto's.

-> Click on "backup nodes" and generate 10 new codes.
-> Safe them on a place where you believe hackers can't reach them.
-> Now when you lost your phone, use the backup codes to log into your google authenticator and change your device.

Now all your exchanges are available with the google authenticator on your new device.

If you thought this was useful please give it a vote up or even share it with other people so nobody has to go through the same hassle and stress as i did. If you have anything to add to this or have any feedback, please let me know in the comments ;)

Follow me for more crypto tips and comparisons! And check out circularitylabs.com/about!

👍 donkeypong, blubeast, tfx96, wreckognize, snowy1nl, circularitylabs, bestaltcointobuy, beercoin, camera-pierre, vmopbz, thephilosophus, kiritsugu, mcollins, robocoin, saraca, viking747, kirby1, exnor, babkjl, fooblic

`author`	circularitylabs
`permlink`	how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security","cryptocurrency","exchanges","authenticator","bitcoin"],"image":["https://steemitimages.com/DQmUUbCV84tkBupsnh2xLmwroWkvbeZJVMDAE6T4u5tzu93/google%20authenticator.png","https://steemitimages.com/DQmahmwp7bKiTfHrSP5sdjwMSCWhkpXRo5AHH6YTxQyrWqg/Ilha%20das%20couves.JPG"],"links":["https://myaccount.google.com/security/signinoptions/two-step-verification"],"app":"steemit/0.1","format":"markdown"}
`created`	2017-07-27 13:24:18
`last_update`	2017-07-30 18:07:00
`depth`	0
`children`	11
`last_payout`	2017-08-03 13:24:18
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	3.679 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	1.120 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	3,316
`author_reputation`	33,905,841,463
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	9,910,853
`net_rshares`	1,316,040,450,200
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (20)

voter	rshares	pct
donkeypong	1,240,571,867,076	10%
fooblic	0	10%
blubeast	36,564,449,980	100%
exnor	218,406,660	100%
babkjl	0	100%
kirby1	242,832,783	100%
wreckognize	4,724,222,067	100%
viking747	675,825,926	100%
circularitylabs	3,030,511,889	100%
beercoin	1,160,708,675	100%
tfx96	14,864,864,211	100%
bestaltcointobuy	1,451,465,875	100%
saraca	1,137,482,399	100%
camera-pierre	1,160,684,294	100%
snowy1nl	4,433,812,093	100%
vmopbz	1,160,665,895	100%
thephilosophus	1,160,665,824	100%
kiritsugu	1,160,663,543	100%
mcollins	1,160,661,002	100%
robocoin	1,160,660,008	100%

@exnor · Jul 27 '17

Great piece of knowledge. Cheers.

👍 circularitylabs

`author`	exnor
`permlink`	re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170727t153250325z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-07-27 15:32:51
`last_update`	2017-07-27 15:32:51
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`last_payout`	2017-08-03 15:32:51
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	33
`author_reputation`	1,340,361,596
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	9,923,734
`net_rshares`	2,924,443,973
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (1)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
circularitylabs	0 B		2,924,443,973	100%

@fatboyjames · Jul 27 '17

$0.05

Security is very essential in cryptocurrency

👍 fatboyjames

`author`	fatboyjames
`permlink`	re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170727t133638691z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-07-27 13:36:39
`last_update`	2017-07-27 13:36:39
`depth`	1
`children`	1
`last_payout`	2017-08-03 13:36:39
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.046 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.002 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	44
`author_reputation`	1,990,819,001,274
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	9,912,112
`net_rshares`	13,844,362,534
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (1)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
fatboyjames	0 B		13,844,362,534	100%

@circularitylabs · Jul 27 '17

your comment which you liked yourself is now worth more than my post which you didn't like :( Haha

👍 kirby1, exnor

`author`	circularitylabs
`permlink`	re-fatboyjames-re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170727t141609751z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-07-27 14:16:09
`last_update`	2017-07-27 14:16:09
`depth`	2
`children`	0
`last_payout`	2017-08-03 14:16:09
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	98
`author_reputation`	33,905,841,463
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	9,916,231
`net_rshares`	451,784,752
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (2)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
exnor	0 B		213,808,625	100%
kirby1	0 B		237,976,127	100%

@fooblic · Aug 26 '17

BTW, I use FreeOTP as 2fa for some sites. It is possible to install it on Android phone without Google account at all from [F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/packages/org.fedorahosted.freeotp/)

properties (22)

`author`	fooblic
`permlink`	re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170826t193321811z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"links":["https://f-droid.org/packages/org.fedorahosted.freeotp/"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-08-26 19:33:21
`last_update`	2017-08-26 19:33:21
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`last_payout`	2017-09-02 19:33:21
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	188
`author_reputation`	3,437,490,587,774
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	12,962,281
`net_rshares`	0

@kiritsugu · Jul 28 '17

This guy.... ;) keep up the good work

👍 circularitylabs

`author`	kiritsugu
`permlink`	re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170728t003014579z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-07-28 00:30:21
`last_update`	2017-07-28 00:30:21
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`last_payout`	2017-08-04 00:30:21
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	37
`author_reputation`	4,307,294,294
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	9,966,253
`net_rshares`	3,041,668,988
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (1)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
circularitylabs	0 B		3,041,668,988	100%

@matt-st · Jul 28 '17

So, I understand that this will help you recover google access, but it will do nothing to help you with access to third part applications using authenticator.  Those rely on unique keys that exist only on your phone and on their servers. Google does not store online backup of your third part 2fa keys. The only way to recover these is to backup the original keys/qr or backup your authenticator data. I understand that rquires root privileges and so is not recommended. Easiest is to use a qr scanner to scan and save all 2fa keys when you are setting up. Save these offline in a secure place. I think authy has easier backup options but Ive never tried it.

👍 circularitylabs

`author`	matt-st
`permlink`	re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170728t001700263z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-07-28 00:17:00
`last_update`	2017-07-28 00:17:00
`depth`	1
`children`	1
`last_payout`	2017-08-04 00:17:00
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	658
`author_reputation`	46,813,186
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	9,965,393
`net_rshares`	2,996,043,953
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (1)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
circularitylabs	0 B		2,996,043,953	100%

@circularitylabs · Jul 29 '17

So, if you recover you google authenticator on a new device you can't access the same accounts as your old phone? You can only recover those with the backup of the qr code? Have you tried this out? If this is true you should indeed back up a QR code for every exchange and also have a backup for your google access.

properties (22)

`author`	circularitylabs
`permlink`	re-matt-st-re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170729t180121629z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-07-29 18:01:24
`last_update`	2017-07-29 18:01:24
`depth`	2
`children`	0
`last_payout`	2017-08-05 18:01:24
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	315
`author_reputation`	33,905,841,463
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	10,140,276
`net_rshares`	0

@saraca · Jul 27 '17

Very helpful post. We all need to learn about staying secure in the crypto space.

👍 circularitylabs, saraca

`author`	saraca
`permlink`	re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170727t201908787z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-07-27 20:19:12
`last_update`	2017-07-27 20:19:12
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`last_payout`	2017-08-03 20:19:12
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	81
`author_reputation`	3,821,885,128
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	9,949,154
`net_rshares`	3,041,668,988
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (2)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
circularitylabs	0 B		3,041,668,988	100%
saraca	0 B		0	0%

@snowy1nl · Jul 27 '17

Dank je wel!

👍 circularitylabs

`author`	snowy1nl
`permlink`	re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170727t134921116z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-07-27 13:49:21
`last_update`	2017-07-27 13:49:21
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`last_payout`	2017-08-03 13:49:21
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	12
`author_reputation`	64,493,522,241
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	9,913,416
`net_rshares`	3,000,206,770
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (1)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
circularitylabs	0 B		3,000,206,770	100%

@steemitboard · Aug 2 '17

Congratulations @circularitylabs! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

[![](https://steemitimages.com/70x80/http://steemitboard.com/notifications/votes.png)](http://steemitboard.com/@circularitylabs) Award for the number of upvotes

Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click [here](https://steemit.com/@steemitboard)

If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word `STOP`

> By upvoting this notification, you can help all Steemit users. Learn how [here](https://steemit.com/steemitboard/@steemitboard/http-i-cubeupload-com-7ciqeo-png)!

properties (22)

`author`	steemitboard
`permlink`	steemitboard-notify-circularitylabs-20170802t145217000z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"image":["https://steemitboard.com/img/notifications.png"]}
`created`	2017-08-02 14:52:15
`last_update`	2017-08-02 14:52:15
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`last_payout`	2017-08-09 14:52:15
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	700
`author_reputation`	38,975,615,169,260
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	10,545,293
`net_rshares`	0

@tfx96 · Jul 27 '17

$0.05

Thanks for this, I suddenly had this same realisation, I use Authy and it's a similar process - link here: https://authy.com/features/backup/
Cheers

👍 tfx96

`author`	tfx96
`permlink`	re-circularitylabs-how-to-secure-yourself-with-2fa-authentication-and-how-to-reset-google-auth-on-a-new-phone-20170727t141619611z
`category`	security
`json_metadata`	{"tags":["security"],"links":["https://authy.com/features/backup/"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
`created`	2017-07-27 14:16:21
`last_update`	2017-07-27 14:16:21
`depth`	1
`children`	0
`last_payout`	2017-08-03 14:16:21
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.052 HBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 HBD
`promoted`	0.000 HBD
`body_length`	148
`author_reputation`	28,797,636,491
`root_title`	"How to secure yourself with 2FA authentication and how to reset google authenticator on a new phone?"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 HBD
`percent_hbd`	10,000
`post_id`	9,916,248
`net_rshares`	14,567,566,926
`author_curate_reward`	""

properties (23)vote details (1)

voter	weight	wgt%	rshares	pct	time
tfx96	0 B		14,567,566,926	100%