by support@southbaysolutions.net | Apr 25, 2022 | Cyber Security, Tips & Tricks
If you or someone you know has a Google GMAIL account you may want to give this a quick read. “How do I get my Google gmail 8 Digit Backup Code?”
Recently, I’ve had a few people contact me who have had their mobile device/phone lost or stolen.
The finder or perpetrator accesses the device due to a weak or no password. This now bad actor has access to the device and begins changing the rightful owner’s Gmail account password, so the rightful account holder no longer has Gmail access. They then begin fraudulently charging on credit cards or withdrawing funds from the owner’s bank accounts.From this point, the rightful owner is not able to gain access to their device or sensitive accounts from even another device or PC.
Even with “Two Factor” authentication, which should always be enabled when possible, the perpetrator was able to access sensitive important accounts, as the “Two Factor” authenticator app is on the phone itself, thus sending the “keys” to unlock the door to the “Multi-Factor” authentication accounts.
To make things even more troublesome, some users had screenshots of photos and/or lists of passwords, bank accounts, credit cards, driver’s license and other important information on the phone itself unprotected by further security methods.This is not uncommon, as most of the people I’ve surveyed do not have these codes or even know they exist.
So, What is a Gmail 8-digit backup code? Why should I retrieve this Google eight-digit code immediately?
A Gmail 8-digit backup code is a unique string of numbers to recover a g-mail account.
You should retrieve the Google eight-digit code immediately before your account is compromised, you lose your mobile device or password.
*These steps are subject to change as cloud providers often change the User Interface Portal frequently.
Android – Create & find a set of backup codes
Create & find a set of backup codes
To store your backup codes somewhere safe, you can print a copy of your backup codes.
On your Android phone or tablet, open the Settings app.
- Tap Google and then Manage your Google Account.
- At the top, tap Security.
- Under “Signing in to Google,” tap 2-Step Verification. You may need to sign in.
- Under “Backup codes,” tap Continue .
From here, you can:
- Get backup codes: To add backup codes, tap Get backup codes.
- Create a new set of backup codes and inactivate old ones: To create new codes, tap Refresh .
- Delete your backup codes: To delete and automatically inactivate your backup codes, tap Delete Delete.
- Download your backup codes: Tap Download Codes .
- Print your backup codes: Tap Print .
Tips: If you think your backup codes were stolen or you run out of codes, create a new set. To create a new set of codes, tap Refresh .
When you create new codes, your old set automatically becomes inactive.
Obviously DO NOT STORE THEM ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE as an image or other file.
If you use the cloud to store files be sure it has two-factor authentication and a Vault / Private key
From <https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+get+gmail+8+digit+backup+code&oq=get+gmail+8+digit+code&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i22i30j0i390l3j69i64.16506j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8>
Computer – Create & find a set of backup codes
Create & find a set of backup codes
To store your backup codes somewhere safe, you can print a copy of your backup codes.
- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left, click Security.
- Under “Signing in to Google,” click 2-Step Verification. You may need to sign in.
- Under “Backup codes,” click Continue,
From here you can:
- Get backup codes: To add backup codes, click Get backup codes.
- Create a new set of backup codes and inactivate old ones: To create new codes, click Refresh.
- Delete your backup codes: To delete and automatically inactivate your backup codes, click Delete .
- Download your backup codes: Click Download Codes.
- Print your backup codes: Click Print.
Tips:
If you think your backup codes were stolen or you run out of codes, create a new set. To create a new set of codes, click Refresh.
When you create new codes, your old set automatically becomes inactive.
Find your lost backup code.
Search your computer for: “backup-codes-username.txt with your username. For example, if your username is google123, search for: Backup-codes-google123.txt. You’ll need the codes downloaded to your computer for this to work.
Sign in with a backup code
-
- Find your backup codes.
- Sign in to your Google Account.
- Click Try another way.
- Click Enter one of your 8-digit backup codes.
- Enter one of your unused backup codes.
Tip: As each code can be used only once, you might want to mark the code as used.
From <https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1187538?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&oco=0>
iPhone & iPad – Create & find a set of backup codes
Create & find a set of backup codes
To store your backup codes somewhere safe, you can print a copy of your backup codes.
On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app -> Tap Menu
Settings -> your account name
Manage your Google Account. If you don’t use Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com.
-
- At the top, tap Security.
- Under “Signing in to Google,” tap 2-Step Verification. You may need to sign in.
- Under “Backup codes,” tap Continue.
From here you can:
-
- Get backup codes: To add backup codes, tap Get backup codes.
Create a new set of backup codes and inactivate old ones: To create new codes, tap Refresh.
- Delete your backup codes: To delete and automatically inactivate your backup codes, tap Delete
- Download your backup codes: Tap Download Codes.
- Print your backup codes: Tap Print
Tips:
If you think your backup codes were stolen or you run out of codes, create a new set. To create a new set of codes, tap Refresh.
When you create new codes, your old set automatically becomes inactive.
Find your lost backup code
Search your iOS device for: Backup-codes-username.txt with your username. For example, if your username is google123, search for: Backup-codes-google123.txt. You’ll need the codes downloaded to the device for this to work.
Sign in with a backup code
-
Find your backup codes.
- Sign in to your Google Account.
- Tap Try another way.
- Tap Enter one of your 8-digit backup codes.
- Enter one of your unused backup codes.
Tip: As each code can be used only once, you might want to mark the code as used.
From <https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1187538?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS&oco=0>
I hope you find this What is a Gmail 8-digit backup code article helpful? Why should I retrieve this Google eight digit code immediately?
If you need computer, website or technology support contact us at 424-532-1633 to get support.
by John Costa | Dec 20, 2018 | mac, Tech News, Tips & Tricks, Windows
Dark Mode is a feature which inverses your device display so the bright white background becomes dark and the text light. Changing the contrast to be easier on the eyes by reducing the amount of harmful blue light. Studies have shown blue light is attributed to keeping one awake contributing to higher rates of insomnia among computer and mobile users.
There are a few ways to achieve this : In the OS like MacOS, Windows10 or Chrome, an App like YouTube, Microsoft Office, etc or as an Add-On like in the Chrome or Firefox browsers.
In the App eg. Microsoft Office has a “Dark Mode” in the “Options” section, under “Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office” ; Office Theme: “DARK GRAY”. There is also Black and whit, etc.
Windows 10 has this capability under the “Display Options” setting, and just release MacOS.
The Chrome browser achieves this with an ADD-ON.
DarkMode is a great way to relax your eyes and is particularly useful in bright sunlight or night time. Check it Out you might prefer these mode vs the brigh white background,
.
by John Costa | Feb 21, 2019 | Privacy, Safety, Security, Protection, Tech News, Tips & Tricks
Phishing attacks are on the rise for businesses, as threat actors focus their efforts on more profitable targets. What can your business do to stop them? Implement an anti-phishing plan that increases awareness of phishing techniques for you and employees.
10 TIPS TO HELP SPOT PHISHING ATTEMPTS
In 2018, businesses saw a 132% increase in information-stealers, such as TrickBots which use phishing emails to infiltrate organizations and drop their payloads.
1) Look for poor spelling
Errors in formatting, and email addresses in the “From” field that look suspicious. Perhaps the formatting and design are different from what you usually receive from the organization. Maybe the content sounds strangely formal. The possibilities are endless.
2) Attachments are always a sign of malware
Attachments should be treated with kid gloves. When in doubt, do not open the attachment. Instead, try to contact someone you know from the organization listed in the email to confirm or delete the email without opening (RGHT-CLK – Delete) in Outlook.
Hover over the link displayed in the email to see the actual URL. If they are different from one another, do not click.
4) Phishing emails often impersonate
Attachments should be treated with kid gloves. When in doubt, do not open the attachment. Instead, try to contact someone you know from the organization listed in the email to confirm or delete the email without opening (RGHT-CLK – Delete) in Outlook.
5) Just because a URL has a green padlock
Doesn’t mean it’s safe. With a public push for websites to adopt HTTPS protocols, cybercriminals have jumped on the bandwagon, easily purchasing SSL certificates for their phishing pages.
6) Mobile device users are at risk
Of being scammed by lengthy faux URLs that cannot be fully viewed on screen. The visible portion may be tailored to appear legitimate, but the rest of it—which would give the game away—is hidden off-screen. Employees checking email on their phones or browsing the Internet should always review the entire URL before clicking.
7) Dubious apps are a potential problem
As carefully-worded pop-ups asking for permission to access sensitive data have duped many. When installing desktop or mobile apps, it’s best to review the app’s online reviews, and make sure you’ve selected the legitimate version. Are the logos the same? Does the user experience match what you’d expect?
8) Promoted social media content can lead to phishing
Especially as ads tend to be targeted to individual interests. We recommend users not engage on social media from their work devices, or if they must, limit their engagements
to work-specific tasks. Also, never go to social sites on critical systems like CAD/CAM workstations,Servers or mission critalce systems.
6) That Green Padlock in the URL bar ?
So, where does the green padlock come into play? The green padlock simply means that traffic to and from the website is encrypted. A certificate, provided by a certificate provider (Certificate Authority or CA), is used to set up this encryption. Sounds good, right? But the only thing you can actually be sure of when you see such a padlock is that your computer is connected to the site that you see in the address bar.
10) Desperation is a surefire sign
Kinda like dating, desperation is a sure sign something of trouble. It’s panic buying, but not as we know it. E-mails claiming a tight time limit to log in and perform an action, alongside the threat of losing X or Y forever, should be deleted or forwarded to he company’s security and/or fraud departments.
“Phishing is a method of tricking you into sharing passwords, credit card numbers, and othersensitive information by posing as a trusted institution in an email or phone call.
All about phishing
What is phishing?
Phishing is the crime of intending to deceive people into sharing sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers. As with real fishing, there’s more than one way to reel in a victim, but one phishing tactic is the most common. Victims receive an email or a text message that imitates (or “spoofs”) a person or organization they trust, like a coworker, a bank, or a Government office. When the victim opens the email or text, they find a scary message meant to overcome their better judgement by filling them with fear. The message demands that the victim go to a website and take immediate action or risk some sort of consequence.
If users take the bait and click the link, they’re sent to an imitation of a legitimate website. From here, they’re asked to log in with their username and password credentials. If they are gullible enough to comply, the sign-on information goes to the attacker, who uses it to steal identities, pilfer bank accounts, and sell personal information on the black market.
by support@southbaysolutions.net | Oct 18, 2017 | Apps – Software, Tech News, Tips & Tricks
Microsoft’s next major Windows 10 release for 2017, the Fall Creators Update, doesn’t make any great noticable change. But you might have gathered that from its name alone. In many ways, it’s a continuation of what the company started with this spring’s Creators Update, which added Paint 3D, game mode and a slew of improvements focused on making things, be it art or a simple spreadsheet. (I’ve heard the word “creation” so many times this year from Microsoft reps, it’s beginning to sound like a cultish chant.)
With its latest OS, available today, Microsoft is preparing for the arrival of virtual-reality headsets. At the same time, it’s delivering some genuinely useful quality-of-life improvements for Windows 10 users.
Here are some of the new features:
- The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update includes new features for developers and security upgrades.
- Support for Microsoft-certified virtual-reality headsets.
- Windows 10 can now relay Android phone notifications to your PC.
- The Fall Creators Update utilizes Microsoft’s first use of its new design theme.
- Windows 10 works better — and has new features for — stylus users.
- Windows 10 is following in Snapchat’s and Facebook’s footsteps, adding augmented-reality stickers.
- You can now pin contact information for your favorite people to the task bar.
- A new feature frees up space by allowing you to store seldom-used files in Microsoft’s cloud.
- Remix the new Photos app can now automatically create video slideshows from photo albums.
- The update adds some handy browser updates, including the ability to pin websites to the task bar.
- OneDrive on-demand
Setting up OneDrive syncing on Windows has always been a hassle and somewhat confusing. With the new Files On-demand feature, though, those worries are may be a thing of the past. OneDrive now lets you see all of the files and folders in your OneDrive without having to manually synchronize them. They simply show up in Windows Explorer. When you need a file, you just have to double-click to download it. Sure, it could lead to some confusion if you work offline a lot, but for many always-connected users, it could end up saving some valuable hard-drive space. Just be sure to still perform regular backups. OneDrive is not a substitute for data backups.
by support@southbaysolutions.net | Oct 18, 2017 | Apps – Software, Tech News, Tips & Tricks
Microsoft’s next major Windows 10 release for 2017, the Fall Creators Update, doesn’t make any great noticable change. But you might have gathered that from its name alone. In many ways, it’s a continuation of what the company started with this spring’s Creators Update, which added Paint 3D, game mode and a slew of improvements focused on making things, be it art or a simple spreadsheet. (I’ve heard the word “creation” so many times this year from Microsoft reps, it’s beginning to sound like a cultish chant.)
With its latest OS, available today, Microsoft is preparing for the arrival of virtual-reality headsets. At the same time, it’s delivering some genuinely useful quality-of-life improvements for Windows 10 users.
Here are some of the new features:
- The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update includes new features for developers and security upgrades.
- Support for Microsoft-certified virtual-reality headsets.
- Windows 10 can now relay Android phone notifications to your PC.
- The Fall Creators Update utilizes Microsoft’s first use of its new design theme.
- Windows 10 works better — and has new features for — stylus users.
- Windows 10 is following in Snapchat’s and Facebook’s footsteps, adding augmented-reality stickers.
- You can now pin contact information for your favorite people to the task bar.
- A new feature frees up space by allowing you to store seldom-used files in Microsoft’s cloud.
- Remix the new Photos app can now automatically create video slideshows from photo albums.
- The update adds some handy browser updates, including the ability to pin websites to the task bar.
- OneDrive on-demand
Setting up OneDrive syncing on Windows has always been a hassle and somewhat confusing. With the new Files On-demand feature, though, those worries are may be a thing of the past. OneDrive now lets you see all of the files and folders in your OneDrive without having to manually synchronize them. They simply show up in Windows Explorer. When you need a file, you just have to double-click to download it. Sure, it could lead to some confusion if you work offline a lot, but for many always-connected users, it could end up saving some valuable hard-drive space. Just be sure to still perform regular backups. OneDrive is not a substitute for data backups.
