#GOOGLE AUTHENTICATOR SEDD CODE BACKUPS PASSWORD#

Be aware that L can be easily mistaken for a lowercase I or the number 1. General advice says to avoid writing down codes in pencil, which is prone to fading compared to using a pen or sharpie marker.įor best legibility, users should take their time in actually writing down the codes. If you choose to write down backup codes, then you’ll want to ensure they’re legible and resistant to fading.

#GOOGLE AUTHENTICATOR SEDD CODE BACKUPS PASSWORD#

Possibly not having your password or another method of MFA configured on the account.Not having any other form of the backup code/seed phrase other than the written-down version.To be sure the code or seed phrase is transcribed correctly, it is good practice to test them as if you were using your written transcription to recover an account – a “table-top” exercise, if you will. If you write the code down wrong, then it will do you absolutely zero good in the case where you might need it. In this case, transcription of the code is writing it down on paper. At the bare bones, users will want to make sure the codes are transcribed correctly, legible, and stored in a safe-ish location. While usually good enough for both security and contingencies where the backup codes are actually needed, users should use care when writing down codes. This is usually a quick method that requires little effort besides coughing up pen and paper - which most people have on hand at their desks/workspaces at just about any moment. More conventional advice urges users to write down backup codes. Seed phrases can function as backup codes in practice they are frequently used for transferring data between devices, without starting a 'fresh' wallet or account. Seed phrases are commonly associated with cryptocurrency wallets and blockchain-based applications, such as private messenger Session. With seed phrases and keys, failure to safeguard these could result in a permanent loss of data or assets. Awry authenticator app changes/lost codes/lost secrets/etc.Loss/theft of MFA device (such as a smartphone).While loss of access to MFA apps may seem wildly unlikely, some common scenarios could indeed make these more likely - and highlight the importance of keeping backup codes and seed phrases - such as: The time between this and when a backup code might be needed could be long - as such, it is important to safely and immutably store these codes. These backup codes are typically given after the user established a strong(er) MFA method for an account, such as TOTP. This is not as scary as it sounds and should not be an excuse to use weaker MFA methods like email or text message (SMS).Īlways be sure to use strong MFA methods, like TOTP or FIDO2 (hardware keys). Strong(er) MFA methods, such as Time-based One Time Codes (TOTP) place the onus of account recovery almost squarely on the users shoulders usually recovery is performed using backup codes or seed phrases only the user should have access to. Importance of backup codes, keys, seed phrases Upload codes to encrypted cloud providers Importance of backup codes, keys, seed phrases.

Google authenticator sedd code backups