If a hacker learns your password and is able to access your account because 2 step verification is not enabled, they may decide to not only login to your account but also to change your password. The password you know will then no longer work. With account recovery options setup, you can regain access to your account and change your password again so that the hacker no longer knows it.
You say that you don't recall saying that you don't need account recovery options. I must have misunderstood what you meant when you said "It was also my plan to opt only for the step that requires me to input my password. Therefore, that makes moot my concern about having an alternate e-mail account for recovery purposes. Or does it?" As for your phone, you should certainly keep it if it does precisely what you want/need at this time. But 2 step verification is best utilized by receiving text messages to a cell phone, I'm not sure that it really works any other way despite what Google says. Your own tests with a landline phone don't seem to be getting you anywhere. If you really want 2 step verification, I'm not sure that your current phone still does precisely what you want or need anymore. On Sun, Jul 19, 2015 at 12:06 AM, DEP/Dodo <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank you for the time you spent providing me so much information, > Kenneth. I think, however, you have misunderstood some of what I've > written. I am going to address these in bold next to your actual comments > below, starting with a question in your first paragraph. > > *~Diane* > > > On Sat, Jul 18, 2015 at 11:41 PM, Kenneth Ayers <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Diane, >> >> Account recovery options are there to help you regain access to your >> account in case you either forget your password or lose access to your >> account. >> *What might cause an inability to access one's own account?* >> As the security page says, >> >> *Account recovery options* >> *If you forget your password or cannot access your account, we will use >> this information to help you get back in.* >> So saying you don't need account recovery options setup because you don't >> plan to lose access to your account is a bit naive. Sometimes things >> happen. What will you do if you try logging into your account one day and >> it doesn't accept your password? Having account recovery options setup is >> like having insurance. You don't plan on using it but you'll be glad to >> have it when you need it. >> *I do not recall saying I don't need account recovery options or that >> I don't plan to lose access to my account. Well, actually, I don't "plan" >> to lose access to my account; however, I **don't think I made such >> statements. ??? I am curious as to the how/why of why my password >> wouldn't be accepted.* >> >> As for 2 step verification, it's not about making it more difficult for >> you to login to your own computer. You'll need to use it at least once on >> your own computer to login but there should be an option that appears >> saying something like "don't ask for codes anymore on this computer." >> You'll still have 2 step verification enabled but you won't need to use it >> again until you go to some other computer or device to login, >> *Yes, I understand the foregoing. Again, I didn't suggest 2-step >> verification was to make it more difficult for me.* >> >> But the point I think you're missing about 2 step verification is this. >> Suppose some unknown hacker is able to determine your password somehow. Now >> from their own computer on the other side of the world perhaps, they're >> about to login to your account using your password. But if you have 2 step >> verification setup, they'll enter the password but it won't be enough. >> They'll see a message saying that they need to also enter the code that was >> sent to the phone number registered to the account. So unless they also >> managed to steal your phone, they won't be able to login. And I believe >> you'll get some notification that someone tried to login to your account >> from some device and that will give you the clue to change your password. >> *I also understand the foregoing. Not just a hacker, but even I will >> be required to provide more than my password if **I try to get into my >> account from a different computer.* >> >> >> As for using a landline phone for verification, I don't know if that >> works as advertised. But did you try entering your cell phone? Are you sure >> you won't receive a text message if one is sent to you? And why not upgrade >> to a phone that does get text messages? Seems like it would be more >> difficult to maintain a non-texting cell phone than to get one that does >> accept text messages. >> *Yes, my dumbphone does not text.** I have no problems with it; it >> does precisely what I want/need at this time.* >> >> >> Kenneth >> >> On Sat, Jul 18, 2015 at 10:29 PM, DEP/Dodo <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Something just occurred to me. As I mentioned, there is one computer in >>> particular I was thinking of for 2-step verif. It was also my plan to opt >>> only for the step that requires me to input my password. Therefore, that >>> makes moot my concern about having an alternate e-mail account for recovery >>> purposes. Or does it? >>> >>> *~Diane* >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2015 at 8:47 PM, Kenneth Ayers <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I would think so but why not just go and check? Go to your account >>>> security options and click on recovery email and see if it's something you >>>> can edit. >>>> >>>> Also, since you confirmed that you can login to your sbcglobal email, >>>> you might want to consider disabling the auto-forwarding for your sbcglobal >>>> email account. Then it really will be an alternate email account that you >>>> can use for account recovery. >>>> >>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2015 at 8:24 PM DEP/Dodo <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi, Kenneth: >>>>> >>>>> I just checked and found I *can* log into sbcglobal and view e-mails >>>>> there. It appears, however, the only way I can check to see if >>>>> auto-forwarding deletes the original copies is to test it out. If it >>>>> turns >>>>> out the originals are deleted, can I then go back into 2-step verification >>>>> and change the email address to use? I would think so but would like a >>>>> more definitive answer. >>>>> >>>>> As always, thank you. >>>>> >>>>> *~Diane* >>>>> >>>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Gmail-Users" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/gmail-users. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- Regards, Kenneth -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Gmail-Users" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/gmail-users. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
