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a) 2FA

or

b) use the "forgot my password" option every time



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1) Make up a unique password on the spot. 2) Log in and forget it. 3) Reset password.

Works every time.


What if you forget the password?

What if you forget the password?

What if you "forgot" the password?

>>How would a 'forgot password' function work in this case?

You are screwed. Simple as that.


Or just say you forgot the password.

Basics: put a "forgot password" link please. User gets annoyed if he doesn't have a password reset option.

How do you deal with the user forgetting their password in this case?

Presumably something along these lines:

1. attempt to log in to target's email system

2. "I forgot my password"

3. get 2FA key via SMS

4. enter 2FA key and new password, gain access to email

<rummage through email looking for anything interesting>

5. attempt to log in to target's backup system

6. "I forgot my password"

7. get password reset key via email...


This fails if the user forgets their password.

I've always gone with the option to 'show password' and like you say, the 'forgot password' button sorts you out if there's an issue :)

In my previous job, which was security-related, we had to deal with people forgetting their 2FA credentials (and many, many people forgot their credentials, even staff members). The way we did it was thus:

If you had enabled 2FA, it could be disabled/reset by calling support and adequately proving you were the owner of the account. This had to be this way, because, as I said, everyone forgot their 2FA credentials ("my phone fell in the sea and the backup codes were on it").

We also had another checkbox that said "Never, under any circumstances, reset my account. I have stored my backup codes somewhere secure that is not my phone. I understand that, if I lose access, I lose the account."

If the user checked that, then the password/2FA reset system for the admins got disabled for their account. If they lost their 2FA, nobody short of DBAs could reset their account (and DBAs knew not to).

Additionally, we had a screen where you could print a long, random, one-use key that would reset your account. It would come with a nice QR code so you could physically print it on a piece of paper and store it somewhere, and scan it if you ever forgot your 2FA/password, and it would let you access your account.

I should probably write an article about this...


Two buttons: 1.- Forgot password? 2.- Send

Also, if you forget your password to the password manager... :)

"I forgot the password"

Problem solved.


The forgotten password is my concern here, God help you if you're an innocent person in this situation!

Edit: whether or not it's true in this instance.


I've always wondered, what do you do in the case of a user forgets their password and has to reset it? Reset it and lose all their data?

Seems like the only way.


Not really solved - forgetting a password is where you started. Does it help to say "Just remember the password!"?

But then you can't use it. And you forget the password.
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