Ask HN: Anyway to get Google to call for 2FA?

4 pointsohiovr4 comments

I'm trying to log in to an account and I have a working phone number which google said it sent texts to but in the past as now I never receive these texts. I used to be able to get google to call to send the number but that option is no longer there. Is there anything I can try?

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You need to enable TOTP or U2F (Yubikeys) from the outset, otherwise Google will play catch me if you can with your phone number. I learned this the hard way after Google said 'Tap to confirm' on your device, and I had a non-smartphone / feature phone / dumbphone and I was locked out of my account. I setup a new one and enabled proper 2FA with a Yubikey.

Thinking of getting some Yubikeys myself. Are you saying Google won't let you put the genie back in the bottle once you've added your phone# as a verification method? That stinks if true.

I can no longer trust 2FA. 2FA was the beginning of my problem as my 2FA app on my phone stopped working. I have a yubikey but I reckon if that were lost I'd be in the same situation. I segment all my accounts anyway. I've never allowed google or Apple to store my payment credentials.

it is good idea to setup language you know but rare used in your region to win some time either.

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