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What have we learned?
9 years ago
Somehow I'm the only one who managed to get their FA account easily. Even if I used the email address that I didn't change before everyone had to change their passwords (twice I might add. Nice oversight.), I'd still have no problem accessing it.
Because even if I use a dummy email account to sign up for something, I make sure that it works! I have a total of four emails accounts.
One is for talking to family members / work.
One is for personal things like art commissions and gaming
One is a Gmail alt (Which is tied to one anyway...)
One is an "Oh shit - I forgot my password(s) so I set this up as a backup email address to email verification code(s) too" account.
I technically have a fifth, but that was abandoned long ago because ReikaDragon somehow got ahold of it. (Long story there) and I might have another for work.
Really, it seems like common sense - even on places like deviantART or steam, check your account settings every now and then and if you see an email that you know you don't use anymore, then change it! You should always take into consideration that you might have to reset the password for some reason.
And before those of you go all "oh yeah if FA gets hacked again," take into consideration other just as plausible things:
1) You get a new computer / phone and have to relog in everything again. (And you say, don't data transfer all the things like saved passwords.)
2) Your computer / phone is stolen - so you have to change your info because if everything is auto-logged in, that person can then access your shit.
3) Your computer / phone is lost for a different reason. (E.g, a housefire, a flood, tornado, or a hurricane.)
4) Your computer breaks and you need to use another one temporarily. (Such as say, a laptop)
So consider using multiple emails that might be backups for things. I like that Hotmail gives me the option to either text a security code to my phone or email one of my backups for security purposes. Because what if I say, lose my phone or THAT breaks too?
So clearly, tl:dr?
Check your accounts regularly. If you see an email that you don't use anymore, update it. Check your accounts at least once ever couple of months - year or so.
Always, Always Always assume you might have to reset your password on this account for some reason - so you should be ready for it.
I mean heck, you don't even need four email addresses - you can get away with just two!
Because even if I use a dummy email account to sign up for something, I make sure that it works! I have a total of four emails accounts.
One is for talking to family members / work.
One is for personal things like art commissions and gaming
One is a Gmail alt (Which is tied to one anyway...)
One is an "Oh shit - I forgot my password(s) so I set this up as a backup email address to email verification code(s) too" account.
I technically have a fifth, but that was abandoned long ago because ReikaDragon somehow got ahold of it. (Long story there) and I might have another for work.
Really, it seems like common sense - even on places like deviantART or steam, check your account settings every now and then and if you see an email that you know you don't use anymore, then change it! You should always take into consideration that you might have to reset the password for some reason.
And before those of you go all "oh yeah if FA gets hacked again," take into consideration other just as plausible things:
1) You get a new computer / phone and have to relog in everything again. (And you say, don't data transfer all the things like saved passwords.)
2) Your computer / phone is stolen - so you have to change your info because if everything is auto-logged in, that person can then access your shit.
3) Your computer / phone is lost for a different reason. (E.g, a housefire, a flood, tornado, or a hurricane.)
4) Your computer breaks and you need to use another one temporarily. (Such as say, a laptop)
So consider using multiple emails that might be backups for things. I like that Hotmail gives me the option to either text a security code to my phone or email one of my backups for security purposes. Because what if I say, lose my phone or THAT breaks too?
So clearly, tl:dr?
Check your accounts regularly. If you see an email that you don't use anymore, update it. Check your accounts at least once ever couple of months - year or so.
Always, Always Always assume you might have to reset your password on this account for some reason - so you should be ready for it.
I mean heck, you don't even need four email addresses - you can get away with just two!
I think a lot of people just learned the hard way "Yeah, maybe I should check a few things". I actually was very impressed with a few people who, last night and today, didn't blame FA because they had this account for like, over 6 years (This account is 9 years old.) and not once thought to check it or thought "Hm, what if I have to reset the password for some reason?". One dude I spoke to made one of those journals and said "Yeah, I messed up" and admitted that they had poor hindsight and that it wans't FA's fault that they didn't have access to an email account they lost access to in 2012 due to reasons outside their control. (I know for a fact I cannot use my school email at all - during our final semester, they told everyone "Please redirect all things that use this account to another email".)
Additionally, for your emergency access codes, one thing you should do is the ol "Kept in a safe place where I know where it is". Heck, I taped my temporary password to my desk in Fall 2013 because I didnt' bother changing it to something like "Password" or "Boobies" so it remained something like, 86753092eXentq2350
Similarly I was also amazed at how many people I tweeted to today were like "What's Dropbox?" when I suggested using that to store refs (Rather than link to a particular website) or "Huh, I never thought of that" when I said to people using multiple sites that they should consider using an email to handle details and commissions so they don't inadvertently neglect some site they inevitably update less frequently.
It is kinda funny to see people well into their 20s, some even older than me complaining. xD Even then they got to learn now what I did in 2010 when my World of Warcraft account got hacked and I changed my battle.net. That was the origin of my backup / personal email account. xD Meanwhile I still get phishing attempts on my old email for things like "World of warcarft: Clouds of Grandalia" or "Get into the Legions beta".