Articles tagged: account recovery
Why Do Services Like Google and Microsoft Ask for a Phone Number?
Many online services request your phone number. I'll look at how that's typically used and why it's a good thing.
What If I Lose Everything When Traveling?
I hear from people who are concerned that they've put so much security in place they'll keep themselves out in case of emergency.
How Do I Recover My Outlook Account?
Outlook.com, Hotmail, and Microsoft account compromise and loss happens. Here's how to get your account back depending on what happened to it.
I Lost My Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Device. How Do I Sign In?
Fear of second-factor loss prevents some people from using two-factor authentication. There's no need to fear that scenario.
Yes, You Should Give Google Your Mobile Number
Google uses your mobile number for verification if you lose access to your account. Some people don't want to provide it. They should.
How to Recover an Outlook.com Account Without the Recovery Phone or Email
If you don't have access to your account recovery phone number or alternate email address, there is a process you can go through to regain access to your account -- maybe.
Will I Lose My Account If I Don’t Set a Recovery Email Address for My Google Account?
Recovery email addresses are an important safety net. Here's what you need to do.
How Should I Keep Recovery Codes Secure?
Recovery codes protect you against account loss. The issue? Where to store them safely.
How Do I Reactivate an Old Email Account?
A closed email account is either waiting for you to reactivate it or is closed for good. The only way to tell is to try.
Recover Your Account Later by Setting Up a Microsoft Recovery Code Now
A recovery code created in advance can help you regain access to your Microsoft account if you get locked out.
Why Can’t I Get My Account Back?
Way too often, I hear from people who have lost their accounts permanently. Here's how to avoid being one of them.
A One-Step Way to Lose Your Account Forever
I see people lose access to their most important accounts all the time. It's often their own fault that they can't regain access.
Please Set Up and Maintain Account Recovery Information
Account recovery information is an important yet often overlooked part of account security. Managed poorly, it can lead to permanent account loss.
Facebook Trusted Contacts is Going Away. Prepare Now.
Facebook is removing an account recovery feature, making this an important time to take stock of your own account security.
How Can I Delete an Old Account If I Can’t Log In?
If you've lost your password, there may be recovery steps. If you've also lost your email address, recovery becomes significantly more difficult.
Lost Gmail Account Recovery With No Phone or Alternate Email
The Google Account Recovery process may be able to help you get your account back. Maybe.
Why Your “Unimportant” Accounts Matter
Regardless of your initial thoughts, every account is important, and we are all targets.
How Do I Change My Microsoft Account Phone Number?
Mobile numbers are an important component of Hotmail and Outlook.com security. I'll review how to change the mobile number and keep it up to date.
The Easy-to-Avoid Two-Factor Loss Risk
Two-factor authentication is an important tool to keep accounts secure, but prepare for losing the second factor so you don't lose your account.
Who’s Trying to Change My Password?
If your account has not actually been hacked, there's little anyone can do to find out who's trying to log in as you. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself from would-be hackers and phishing scams.
How Do I Keep Outlook.com from Locking Me Out When I Travel?
When your email is suddenly accessed from a new location, it could mean someone other than you is trying to log in. Email providers like Outlook.com watch for this.
What Can We Learn from Mat Honan?
Mat Honan is a reporter for Wired magazine whose digital life was effectively destroyed due to account hacks and lax security policies. There are important lessons here.
