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Topic: [SOLVED] Do not upgrade Google Authenticator (iPhone), you will lose keys! (Read 18545 times)

hero member
Activity: 547
Merit: 500
Decor in numeris
Sorry for reopening this thread! If i make a normal backup with itunes, it will save my google authenticator codes?

Yes, I think so. You might want to select something about backing up app data.  I haven't done it myself, but I have had many apps, with data backed up. 

BE CAREFUL:  It will save your GA codes encrypted in a way so they can be restored ON THE SAME PHONE ONLY.  If you lose your phone, you cannot restore as far as I know (although admittedly I have not tried).  Write down the secret keys as you install them in GA, you cannot do it later.
legendary
Activity: 1159
Merit: 1001
I meaning if i loose my iphone, i can restore from backup with all data?

Yes, make a screen shots of the QRC codes and back up the images offline every time you setup 2FA. 

That way, it's easy to add to a new devices when you replace or lose the previous one. 
legendary
Activity: 1232
Merit: 1001
mining is so 2012-2013
Sorry for reopening this thread! If i make a normal backup with itunes, it will save my google authenticator codes?

Yes, I think so. You might want to select something about backing up app data.  I haven't done it myself, but I have had many apps, with data backed up. 
legendary
Activity: 1232
Merit: 1001
mining is so 2012-2013
I am a fan of Authy.  I have an old phone with Authy on it too, so if one is lost or stolen, I can still use the other. 
newbie
Activity: 55
Merit: 0
I meaning if i loose my iphone, i can restore from backup with all data?
newbie
Activity: 14
Merit: 0
I'm a android user,does update will create problem because the app is made by google
newbie
Activity: 55
Merit: 0
Sorry for reopening this thread! If i make a normal backup with itunes, it will save my google authenticator codes?
full member
Activity: 163
Merit: 100
any way to use yubikeys as well as GA for 2FA to avoid these kinds of things?
member
Activity: 112
Merit: 10
Cryptocurrency is my new obsession
I have been using Authy after finding out the hard way the issues that Google Authenticator has.  Especially being an android user, I flash my rom semi-regularly just to test new things out.

However, I've seen a few people mention having backups of the QR code.  That seems like a great idea, but it honestly would not have occurred to me before reading this thread. I think maybe the major players that use two-factor authentication *should* have some sort of message telling users that they should keep a backup somehow by printing the QR code or other means.
legendary
Activity: 1148
Merit: 1018
Tin foil hats, man... Tin foil hats.

Though I'm not a huge fan, I own an iPhone and don't care if the NSA can spy. On an ethical standpoint, it sucks. But in the end, I don't do anything that would warrant them sneaking into my affairs.

Do you really think so disgruntled NSA worker would go get your Google Authenticator codes? If you think so, you might as well play the lottery I think.

I don't have nothing to hide, but definitely I do care. I had iPhone in the past (very first versions) but I will never again, I prefer to have an android phone fully rooted and modified so the spooks have a hard time gathering info about me.
hero member
Activity: 547
Merit: 500
Decor in numeris
Though I'm not a huge fan, I own an iPhone and don't care if the NSA can spy.

I do care, there is just so little I can do about it (outside the voting box every fourth year).  And is has no practical issues for me, I really doubt the NSA will steal my bitcoins, and I don't use them for anything they would be interested in.  But it does make me angry.  Very angry!.   And my own government seems to think it is OK the NSA (and who knows what other oh-so-friendly foreign agencies) spy on us.  Angry  Angry  Angry

The main practical problem is if NSA introduces security holes that other evil hackers abuse. 

The main real issue is that by embracing the methods of the totalitarian state, we are dismantling our democracy.  Replacing my iPhone with an Android will not help  Wink
full member
Activity: 168
Merit: 100
For example, if you were on the toilet and someone opened the ceiling up would you welcome them and ask them to come and shit sit and talk?

Depends who it was...  Wink

But in all seriousness, I do understand that it's wrong and that we shouldn't "put up" with it, but some people just make too big a deal out of it. Just because they can spy on you doesn't mean they do.
staff
Activity: 3290
Merit: 4114
Though I'm not a huge fan, I own an iPhone and don't care if the NSA can spy. On an ethical standpoint, it sucks. But in the end, I don't do anything that would warrant them sneaking into my affairs.

So many people have this attitude it's unreal. Why would you want someone to actually spy on you? It's a form of stalking which is actually illegal. For example, if you were on the toilet and someone opened the ceiling up would you welcome them and ask them to come and shit sit and talk? It doesn't matter if you got nothing to hide it's the breach of you're privacy which is the real concern.
full member
Activity: 168
Merit: 100
Tin foil hats, man... Tin foil hats.

Though I'm not a huge fan, I own an iPhone and don't care if the NSA can spy. On an ethical standpoint, it sucks. But in the end, I don't do anything that would warrant them sneaking into my affairs.

Do you really think so disgruntled NSA worker would go get your Google Authenticator codes? If you think so, you might as well play the lottery I think.
legendary
Activity: 1176
Merit: 1005
And this doesn't apply to Android why exactly?
hero member
Activity: 630
Merit: 501
Google just released a new version of Google Authenticator for the iPhone.  DO NOT UPGRADE, all your keys will be lost, and you will be locked out of all your exchanges etc.


Moderators: Please cross-post this to Important Announcements, it will hit a lot of Bitcoin users!


EDIT: See also http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1lp17r/i_just_updated_the_iphone_google_authenticator/


EDIT 2:  A newer version has been released by Google, solving the problem.  It turns out the keys were not lost, just hidden, so the new version actually restores them!

Why do you know an iPhone? The latest news from the NSA is that they control the data on all iPhones. So no matter how secure you feel the NSA has their hand in your back pocket at all times. Smiley

newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
Keep a backup of the QR codes!
newbie
Activity: 42
Merit: 0
I have already upgraded my google authenticator on my iPhone hence I am trapped up in a big trouble. Can anyone tell me how to find my lost keys? I wish I would have seen this post before upgrading mine. Well I must recommend you all not to update as you could also be in trouble guys.
sr. member
Activity: 241
Merit: 250
legendary
Activity: 1176
Merit: 1005
I can confirm that the new update fixes the problem, even if you've already restored from backup.  I would guess from this that whatever error Google made, it resulted in in inability to read stored keys rather than their destruction.
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