Articles tagged: account recovery

A lone traveler standing in an empty urban environment with no belongings except the clothes on their back, looking at a locked phone screen with a confused expression.

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.

An individual sitting in front of a PC computer screen displaying the message 'Recovery Failed.' In the background, a hacker is peeking around a door, creating a sense of tension and vulnerability.

How to Avoid an Account Recovery Scam

Don’t let your panic open the door to scammers.

Password Frustration

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.

A "Missing" poster. The poster is detailed and looks like it's pinned on a wooden board or wall. The top of the poster has bold, black text saying "Missing". Below the text, there's a high-quality, realistic photo of a mobile phone, depicting it as the missing item. The phone should look distinct and easily recognizable. The poster has a slightly weathered look, as if it has been up for a while, adding to the realism. The overall image captures the essence of a traditional missing item poster, with the unique twist of featuring a mobile phone as the missing object.

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.

A photorealistic image of a modern smartphone on a light background. The smartphone should be centrally positioned and turned on, displaying the Google logo prominently on its screen. The phone design should be sleek and contemporary, with a high-resolution display showcasing the Google logo clearly and vividly. The background should be light and neutral, complementing the smartphone and making the Google logo stand out as the focal point of the image.

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.

An office setting with a person sitting at a desk, visibly frustrated. The desk has a computer displaying a 'forgot password' error on the screen. The person is a middle-aged East Asian man in business casual attire. He's holding his head in one hand, and there's a notepad, a cup of coffee, and a smartphone on the desk. The room has a window with a view of a city skyline, suggesting an urban office environment. The atmosphere is that of stress related to forgotten credentials, with natural light coming from the window.

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.

Google Account Recovery Email Configuration

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.

Safety Net

How Should I Keep Recovery Codes Secure?

Recovery codes protect you against account loss. The issue? Where to store them safely.

Closed!

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.

Microsoft Recovery Code

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.

Individual yelling at their computer.

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.

Login and password

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.

Some Gmail Account Recovery Options

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 Sign In Page

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.

Login

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.

Padlocked Gmail.

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.

Secure Your Account -- Please

Why Your “Unimportant” Accounts Matter

Regardless of your initial thoughts, every account is important, and we are all targets.

Enter the code

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.

A two-factor key fob.

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.

Password Field Entry

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.

Locke Out

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.

Two-step authentication alternatives in Google

Tip of the Day: Prepare for Losing Your Second Factor

You've Been Hacked!

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.

Facebook Login, including the "Forgot account?" link

Tip of the Day: Use Available Recovery Options

Answering the Phone

Tip of the Day: Be Careful When Changing Phone Numbers

Why Do Services like Google and Microsoft Ask for a Phone Number?

Many online services request that you provide additional information such as your phone number. I’ll look at how that’s typically used and why it’s a good thing.