Broke my phone screen, can't access 2fa for some accounts like bittrex

in #asksteemit7 years ago

Anyone have any advice?

I managed to move google authenticator onto new phone, but no 2fa accounts appear.

Cant find secret key. Tried turning 2fa off on google side, but nothing.

What do? Anyone been through similar?

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Had you saved secret codes/backup codes? If no there is no chance. But as you said you have broke phone screen, my advise would be to repair it, login to your accounts disable 2fa, generate new 2fa — this time make backup of secret codes and backup codes.

You can use some secure online cloud service for that. I use password safe and tresor it.

Let me know if you need further help.

This is something new to me - err, what secret codes and backup codes, please?
As with many others, Google Authenticator is an extremely critical app for us. This is something that I worry about - of not being able to get to the codes (and left high and dry from logging in to exchanges and transferring coins). Losing the phone, for instance.

If there is some sort of backup to Google Authenticator, I hope someone can help explain how to go about it.

I suck at explaining things so please bear with me xD

Secret code/key: when you set up 2fa on some website, they give you qr code which consists of secret key. This is shared secret between you and website. As long as you have backup of this secret you can gain access to your account. Suppose if your phone dies, then install authenticator on other phone scan qr code, done.

Backup codes are one time usable codes, suppose if your phone dies and you don't have secret key and have backup code then you can open website through it, then generate new secret key.

Unfortunately, Google authenticator doesn't allow backups but worry not I just found out new app which allows to do that. It's available on both IoS and android. It's paid app but you should not be caring about few bucks when it relieves future stress :)

It's authenticator plus:

https://www.authenticatorplus.com

Thank you very much! When it comes to the hassle and stress in losing access to our Google Authenticator - and especially in not being able to access our crypto assets at the exchanges - spending a few bucks on protection is well worth it. Many times over. I will definitely check out this app.

In the meantime, and thanks to this post and especially your comments here, I took the trouble to do some research. Trying to find ways to back up our GA. This link provides the simplest way - use Authy in place of Google Authenticator https://www.icontrolwp.com/blog/google-authenticator-backups/

I've gone out to one exchange which I have registered but not yet used. Not at my regular exchanges (Bittrex and Binance), in case I bungle something and locking myself out. Followed the instructions at this website and... it works!

I have also taken a screenshot of the QR Code and key you mentioned above when registering 2FA again. Then saved it in an encrypted VeraCrypt folder. It's on my laptop, USB and cloud (no worries - it's encrypted with AES with SHA512 hash). I will repeat the process with the other exchanges and important sites. In addition to looking up the app you mentioned here.

Thanks again, everyone. This is the most important thing I've learned this week.

I thought it would all transfer over onto new phone. Even made a back up of the app, but alas... all gone.

This is bad news. All this while I too had thought that's how we do it: log in to our Google account on a new phone, download Google Authenticator, and we'd be up and running again. Apparently it doesn't work like that!

I'll bet many others aren't aware of the hassle they'd go through should they have any sort of issue with Google Authenticator. This post should have more visibility so as to ensure they'd know about this.

Now, once you sort all this out, use authenticator +. It allows encrypted backups to Google drive and drop box so you can easily restore if something goes wrong. You can import Google authenticator accounts too if you have rooted device.

I saved nothing like a fool :D

Thanks! I am working on it now, and should have it all sorted within a week.

Count me in as another fool :) I had not saved the codes either when I enabled 2FA. Was so eager to use the sites and simply went to the next step in the process the last time.

I've remedied the situation over the past several hours. (1) Disabled Google Authenticator (2) Enabled again. This time using Authy, not GA, since the former had cloud backup and across different devices. (3) Took a screenshot [PrntScrn key] of the QR code and key this time.

At one exchange, just to be sure I don't lose access to my coins should I bungle something, I transferred all to my wallet first. Tedious process plus transaction costs. Overkill too actually. But better to be safe than sorry.

if your mobile is SIM based then easily can make it just put into another mobile of you SIM, until you have to wait, because 2fa is biggest security and safe for users.

I tried, but 2fa didn't move onto new phone.

Phone screens are easily replaced. Rory and I have done a few! What phone is it?

QMobile from Pakistan.

Qmobile screens appear impossible to obtain in Europe....😢

https://m.aliexpress.com/w/wholesale-touch+screen+for+qmobile.html#/ if bittrex cause any issues you can use that route atleast

Losing my 2FA is a bit of a nightmare for me. I hope you get it sorted.

Thanks. Getting it removed from bittrex is my main goal. I am quitting my part time job to go full time blockchain projects next week. So the 2FA nightmare couldn't have happened at a better time. I like to think of it as forced HODLING.

"Forced hodling" :) Something like this had happened to me early last month. I couldn't move my Navcoin units from the Coinomi android. That's because Coinomi didn't upgrade to a mandatory Navcoin Core update and thereby running on the old chain.

There was the option to extract the private keys, which I did. Unfortunately I couldn't find the addresses which stored the bulk of my coins. So I was forced to wait for Coinomi to get on the right blockchain again.

It sure took its own sweet time to update. It finally did so late last week, and I signed on for the beta version to free up my Navcoin. The sweet thing is that Navcoin had gone up from $1-something to $4. I might have sold those units at lower prices had I managed to access them earlier :)

oh my god dear
u can send to the support team and may help you back your pass or wil help you to get new pass

i hope to slove it

Bittrex support team? It might take many days or even weeks! This is based on the complaints I've been reading at its Twitter. Many people have gotten their accounts suspended for no reason. And some are still waiting for these to be enabled again. Tickets go unanswered. Send in one for 2FA issues? This will likely take even longer.

ohhh its some bad you can try with extention on your chrome browser with google authenticator on your laptop @riskdebonair

You mean Google Authenticator on Chrome?

You should have had backed it up man, try to access your account and turn off 2fa and then ask for new and this way you will be able to restore your account.

Thank you and have a great day.

forced HODLing ;)
you lost your ripple gains!!! :P