dddave Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 As an air courier, I travel...A LOT!! My destinations are often smaller airports without public Wi-Fi but I can usually find a public computer to log into my Gmail account. Recently, Gmail has been aggressively locking me out of my account whenever I try to log in from a unknown foreign location using a public computer. I later get an automatic Email from them saying "Someone" was trying to log onto my account from such & such a place and that access was denied because they didn't know who it was. What is really annoying is that I am never given the chance to enter my password or given the pre-selected identity questions. There seems to be no way to bypass it and log on. I've searched Gmail help files but can find nothing about it. Has anybody found a workaround for this heavy handed security block? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MKAsok Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 (edited) Use a VPN. That way your country stays static. Good practice to use a VPN on a public network anyway. Edit: Just noticed you're using public computers, not your own device on a public network. Edited November 15, 2013 by MKAsok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MJCM Posted November 15, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted November 15, 2013 Enable 2 step authentication. http://www.google.com/landing/2step/ https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185839?hl=en https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/180744?hl=en 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chicog Posted November 15, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted November 15, 2013 Do what MJCM says. I applaud Google for protecting the rest of us from careless users who let their accounts get hijacked and used to send out spam. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJCM Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Do what MJCM says. I applaud Google for protecting the rest of us from careless users who let their accounts get hijacked and used to send out spam. Agree. Hotmail 2 step is also oke, but Yahoo 2 step sucks. - Not possible to use an App for authentication, but only code send to your phone or answer Security Question - Seems always to ask for the same security question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeniau96 Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 The Gmail 2-step authentication is great but will be a problem for the OP unless his phone is functional roaming at whatever locale he may be ... Ulan Bator, maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWW Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 The Gmail 2-step authentication is great but will be a problem for the OP unless his phone is functional roaming at whatever locale he may be ... Ulan Bator, maybe? Then use the Google Authenticator app, and there is no network connection needed for the phone - it just needs to be charged. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Netizen Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Outlook/Hotmail has the same problem. It detects that the server you are using when away from home is not your usual server. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilesofSmiles Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Someone answered the original question, but have you considered using your own phone/laptop. Public PC's on free net in an airport would be a prime target for identity theft. You can get global roaming data sims, or global wireless broadband thesedays. International data roaming sim http://www.maxroam.com/Info/Offers/Bundles.aspx http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/wifimobileconnectivity/tp/global-wifi-service-plans.htm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJCM Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 The Gmail 2-step authentication is great but will be a problem for the OP unless his phone is functional roaming at whatever locale he may be ... Ulan Bator, maybe? Then use the Google Authenticator app, and there is no network connection needed for the phone - it just needs to be charged. +1 and also you get 10 (one time only) Backup codes in case your phone isn't charged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJCM Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Outlook/Hotmail has the same problem. It detects that the server you are using when away from home is not your usual server. Hotmail also has 2 step authentication and you can use the Authenticator App http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/two-step-verification-faq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FangFerang Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 I do NOT like giving them my cell phone number. I would prefer a 2 step that uses 2 different passwords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJCM Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 (edited) I do NOT like giving them my cell phone number. I would prefer a 2 step that uses 2 different passwords. Have you ever activated 2 Step ?? Google 2 Step (can) work with your Password and a Code (2nd password) generated on your Phone (by the Authenticator App), and thus no need for a Phone Number The Phone Number is just in case, but I have the Authenticator App installed on my Wife's phone and on my Phone (just scan the bar code once on each phone), plus I have the 10 Backup Codes printed out. Ps: And if (during the initial setup) they still ask for a Phone Number, buy a SIM in 7/11 (39 THB) and after setup remove the Phone Number and throw away the SIM Edit: // SpElLiNg Edited November 16, 2013 by MJCM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinhead Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Authenticator is awesome. I use it for Facebook and a few other sites as well. I keep it on both my iPhone as well as iPad which is better than facebook's code generator which can only be installed on one instance. Also, Google will allow you to print a sheet with some codes to keep in your pocket in case you lose your phone or don't have it handy. Essentially authenticator is like an RSA token/device, generating a new code every 60 seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitcoinbob Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 gmail 2 step with a skype account with telenumber or skype out number. wireless sign on skype smart phone , log on computer skype rings with 6 number log on should be no problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickFarang Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Gmail lets you forward any email going into your account to another email account, and it will keep a copy or not as you wish. I have nearly all of my email routed through email then forwarded to other accounts (gmx.com is a great alternative as is Yahoo.com) that way I can use a throw-away email account whenever I have to use a "rented" computer, I don't worry very much about the throwaway account being compromised, and a similar method might be the solution to Google locking you out of your account. The forwarding feature can be set up using the "Forwarding and POP/IMAP" tab on the "settings" page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemac Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Gmail can be a pain sometimes but is still the best when you consider the alternatives. Hotmail - Yahoo - Outlook all suck, if they were all I could use I would go back to writing paper letters and posting them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickGC Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Been using ZOHO for a couple of years now. Leaves the others for dead. http://www.zoho.com/mail/help/webmail-interface.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted November 16, 2013 Author Share Posted November 16, 2013 Thanks all for the helpful suggestions. Google Authenticator looks like the best option at this point but I will give everything a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulic Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 I have had the same issue using my personal computer in airports and some hotels. Glad to see there is a work around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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