December 10. 2013: Oh, WordPress!

So, I sat down to write today’s blog entry when I noticed a message to me from WordPress informing me that, in order to make my blog more secure, I needed to subscribe to “two step authentication”.  It made sense.  If my password was ever compromised, I could retain control of my blog via the unique authentication code on my iPhone.

Yes, it made perfect sense BUT, in the back of my mind, I had a bad feeling about it.  Ultimately, however, I decided to go ahead because the process seemed easy enough.

1. I entered my country and cell phone number.

2. I downloaded the Google Authenticator app.

3. I used the Google Authenticator app to scan the special barcode wordpress provided.

4. WordPress prompted me for the authentication code that the app provided.  I entered it.  So far so good…

5. The app provided me with a list of ten unique back-up codes that I was instructed to print.

6. I hit print.

7. I went to the printer – and was horrified to discover that nothing had actually printed.

8. I rushed back to my account where I was presented with the following:

Right.

9. I consulted the Google Authenticator app on my cell phone and input the code provided.  Wordpress informed me it was invalid.

10. I tried another one of the codes provided by the app.  Again, wordpress informed me it was invalid.

11. I hit the “Generate Back-up Codes” button to generate a new set of back-up codes.  Nothing.

12. Panicked, I tried to disable the two-step authentication and was prompted for a back-up code.  I didn’t have.

13. I’m screwed.

So, that’s that.  Apparently, the next time my computer resets, I will no longer be able to log in with my password alone.  An authentication code will be required.  An authentication code, I feel the need to point out, that I don’t have and I have no way of recovering.

All this to say that if I mysteriously stop blogging, don’t fear the worst.  It’s more than likely that wordpress’s new and improved security system has locked me out of my own account.

Tagged: authentication code, google authenticator, two step authentication, wordpress, wordpress.com