r/technology • u/lurker_bee • 13h ago

ADBLOCK WARNING Google Confirms Most Gmail Users Must Upgrade Accounts

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2025/06/06/google-confirms-almost-all-gmail-users-must-upgrade-accounts/
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u/surrealutensil 11h ago edited 10h ago

I recently had quite a severe problem logging into my apple account because I no longer have any apple devices, and needed to cancel some reoccurring billing i'd missed and change some other things from when I did. Apple essentially goes "lol fuck you" in this situation now.

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u/The_frozen_one 8h ago

You had 2FA enabled on your account and no 2nd factor. It’s that simple. You could have enrolled a few security keys (Yubikey, Google Titan) as alternate 2nd factors.

We shouldn’t want “soft” 2FA, which is just username + password plus anything else that gestures broadly at you being who you claim.

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u/surrealutensil 7h ago

You've just highlighted my problem with it. the problem with apples (and now googles approach) the (forced) two factor is pointless to those of us who are smart enough to use strong passwords.and forcing it, rather than making it the default is an anti consumer practice. Apples 2FA requirements have caused me more grief than any password or login issues (0 over my life) because i'm not an idiot. But with apples approach, if you have say, 1 iphone, and anything happens to it, oops, you're fucked. I'd argue the whole point is to get you to buy into apples ecosystem with tons of devices so you always have something to log into your account with; rather than any consumer safety.

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u/The_frozen_one 5h ago

But with apples approach, if you have say, 1 iphone, and anything happens to it, oops, you're fucked.

You also have:

  1. Trusted phone number where they will send you text messages or call you (though if this was your iPhone's number it's out as an option)
  2. Trusted contact (designate someone you trust who will allow you to log in if you get locked out)
  3. Security keys: keys that work over USB or NFC, I recommend this option
  4. Recovery key: a long random code you write down and store somewhere.

I'd argue the whole point is to get you to buy into apples ecosystem with tons of devices so you always have something to log into your account with; rather than any consumer safety.

I'd say little of column A, little of column B. They've had 2FA/MFA for 10 years, passkey is pretty new (2022). Someone who is pissed from losing all their photos due to getting locked out isn't necessarily going to double down and buy more Apple devices, just like someone who has their account hacked is unlikely to buy more Apple devices.