Current Events > I just lost access to a 10 year old yahoo account and I'm freaking the fuck out.

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm still using Windows 7. Until a couple hours ago, I was using an old even for W7 version of Firefox. But an hour ago, all the extensions broke at the same time. So I had to upgrade to the Extended Support Release. That sucks, but whatever.

So, I'm adding back in all my old logins. Login to my first, older account. Zero problems, except they forced the new layout. Click to add in the second account. After giving the correct password (just like with account 1), they want me to confirm I am who I say I am. Three options, all to a ten year old phone number that isn't mine anymore.

edit: I even go back into the old broken firefox and it's asking for it there, too.

None of the help options are helpful. The phone contact fucking costs money. I am literally on the edge of a panic attack.

I also have a super old yahoo mail account. I should really change my password and stuff to make sure I'm never locked out, but I'm afraid fucking with it will lock me out...

minor good news. Instead of a clean new install, I let the old one update. and I'm back in, for now. Now I need to figure out how to give them my new number (or an email recovery option), without having to confirm with the dead phone number.

edit: I don't think I can. I'm logged in to the old account, but have it set so that I can see both accounts without switching. But any settings are going to be for the wrong account, and to get to the right ones I'm going to have to login (and almost certainly confirm). Fuck Fuck Fuckity Fuck.

viewmaster_pi posted...

I also have a super old yahoo mail account. I should really change my password and stuff to make sure I'm never locked out, but I'm afraid fucking with it will lock me out...

I had the same fear. Now I'm not sure there's any way to win. This "security" is insane.

if it's yahoo, then you're fucked and not ever getting it back.

surprised yahoo themselves didn't just delete your account, they do that, with no rhyme or reason.

exact same thing, it's all because I switched providers and need to update my number

This is one of the reasons I don't attach a number to my really old accounts.

Evening_Dragon posted...

This is one of the reasons I don't attach a number to my really old accounts.

I had to have done so when I first made the account. The security back then was not like this.

Cartoon_Quoter posted...

I had to have done so when I first made the account. The security back then was not like this.

I was like "what, no", but then I realized 10 years ago is still 2015. God dammit.

My account is from 2004, before smartphone dominance. They still ask for a number every time I log in, but fuck that.

I've been saying 10, but yeah, it's probably closer to 15. Time, uh, doesn't stop.

Yeah I had a problem recently with my old yahoo account. I put in username and correct password and it just says "Login on another device you've previously logged in on". But I've never logged in on another device so I'm stuck. I've been logging in on this email monthly for years and never had this problem until now.

If I were you I'd work on getting out of that yahoo account while you still have access. If there's a way to auto-forward emails to a different email I'd start with that. I know it's a big pain in the ass to switch, though.

i've been using my phone app that links to yahoo to check my email without ever having to sign in or anything, so obviously i knew the password at one point to link it in the first place, lol.

but i have an ace in the hole. it said it can send a code to a different acount that i'll also need to do something about later, but currently have access to. checkmate yahoo, i am hackerman

Bass posted...

If I were you I'd work on getting out of that yahoo account while you still have access. If there's a way to auto-forward emails to a different email I'd start with that. I know it's a big pain in the ass to switch, though.

100%

Edit: Actually, 200%. I think I'm going to move everything from both this account and the older one. I doubt I have a way to recover it either.

I have a similar issue. Not exactly a problem though.

The Yahoo email I used to make my YouTube channel says it no longer exists. I can still login and stuff, and it's attached to my Google account and everything. But in Yahoo it says it doesn't exist.

It'll only ever be an issue I guess if I ever get enough viewers/subscribers to monetize it, which I doubt would ever happen. But I suppose that email is just gone somehow and idk if it being attached to my Google account makes a difference at all.

This happened to my wife with an old SBCGlobal account. The only backup registered to the account was the old landline which had long been disconnected. She called to try to get them to manually reopen it and they basically just told her she's out of luck.

Whew. Got all the accounts with financial ramifications moved over to a safer email, and a list of other accounts that might need to be remade in the future.

Thanks for all the words. And thanks to everyone who shared their horror stories, I sympathize, and hope you also get things fixed.

To everyone else who might read this: Get the fuck away from Yahoo!

i <3 happy endings.

Cartoon_Quoter posted...

To everyone else who might read this: Get the fuck away from Yahoo!

Their fantasy sports are still very good.

Joking aside, glad you got that resolved. Sorry that you had to nearly undergo a panic attack, I can only imagine.

Theres an option to add a backup email account in yahoo.

I don't see it. And even if it is somewhere in their mess of a settings menu, I think I'd have to be logged in to add one, and they won't let me, even though I have my password.

You have no business using Windows 7 or Yahoo for mail. You're being insecure and unprofessional.

Starks posted...

You have no business using Windows 7 or Yahoo for mail. You're being insecure and unprofessional.

No choice on the computer. It's too old to upgrade and I'm too broke to replace it. Yahoo will be fired out of a cannon into the sun as soon as possible.

Cant you login on the main yahoo page and edit your profile so you can change your account recovery options??

you can simply call yahoo customer service to try to get the account back

BlackHorse6969 posted...

you can simply call yahoo customer service to try to get the account back

You mean talk to a shitty worthless AI?

wackyteen posted...

You mean talk to a shitty worthless AI?

no you idiot. you literally talk to a live person

BlackHorse6969 posted...

no you idiot. you literally talk to a live person

Sorry I'm used to expecting any and everything being robotic nowadays

kage_53 posted...

Cant you login on the main yahoo page and edit your profile so you can change your account recovery options??

No. After giving the password it went to a captcha, and then verify your account (using the phone number that was apparently on file). I never actually got access to any of the account settings.

BlackHorse6969 posted...

you can simply call yahoo customer service to try to get the account back

The first thing the recording said was that phone help is a paid feature of yahoo plus. I hung up immediately.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/b/b1172c03.jpg

but what if i don't want any AI help?

if the AI help was showing me the existing fucking features of any goddamned mailbox that any chuckle fuck could have programmed...

Does your Yahoo account have a backup email that it can send password reset emails?

My dad nearly lost his Outlook account to this. He forgot his password and after a few times, he got locked out and the only way to get in was to receive a text to some old ass number he didn't have anymore >_> Somehow we got back in, but it was rough

Cartoon_Quoter posted...

Whew. Got all the accounts with financial ramifications moved over to a safer email, and a list of other accounts that might need to be remade in the future.

Thanks for all the words. And thanks to everyone who shared their horror stories, I sympathize, and hope you also get things fixed.

To everyone else who might read this: Get the fuck away from Yahoo!

Phew! Glad it worked out

NeonPhoenix posted...

My dad nearly lost his Outlook account to this. He forgot his password and after a few times, he got locked out and the only way to get in was to receive a text to some old ass number he didn't have anymore >_> Somehow we got back in, but it was rough

Outlook, at least, the old Outlook webmail by Microsoft... used to store usernames and passwords as an unencrypted cookie. So if you found the cookie, the username and password of the account was in plaintext, ie:

USERNAME:DOOKIEHEAD6969
PASSWORD:Password12345

Install Linux on that old af computer

I feel you, I lost an old aol account a few years ago that had my Rolodex of ladies I could contact. Oh well.

I just realized my main email is Yahoo and its 20+ years old

10-15 years ago I used to use a Nokia email address. Nokia shut down their email service and transferred the hosting to Yahoo. It was a terrible email service.
I remember I had it set up on my phone at the time and it would often give connection or password errors even though it was set up correctly.

Eventually I had enough and changed to Outlook.com and never had another issue.

This does point out the issue with accounts though, it is possible to just lose access. A while back I almost lost access to my Lastpass account

ive never really used yahoo but this doesnt seem like a yahoo issue? You shouldnt have incorrect phone numbers linked to accounts etc

Tom_Joad posted...

Outlook, at least, the old Outlook webmail by Microsoft... used to store usernames and passwords as an unencrypted cookie. So if you found the cookie, the username and password of the account was in plaintext, ie:

USERNAME:DOOKIEHEAD6969
PASSWORD:Password12345

Gamefaqs used to do that too lol

My yahoo recovery email is still an old AOL email I haven't logged into in 20 years. >_>

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/3a1ce0de.jpg

This topic and the new Yahoo AI summary have gotten me to migrate important stuff to a different email and

It also made me realize that you can't update the email associated with your Taco Bell account.

Id have to make a new account to not get log in emails for the account sent to this yahoo email lol

I lost a couple of yahoo accounts not long ago. They demanded verification, and the confirmation emails point to each other. Womp womp.