[SOLVED] Do not upgrade Google Authenticator (iPhone), you will lose keys!

[bassclef]

Well it doesn't show up for me in the App Store as an available update, so that's good. Still using the old version.

[sangaman]

Blegh, I upgraded before I saw this thread. Everything is gone. I had a lot of codes in there. What a jerkoff from google, someone ought to be fired for this.

[Amitabh S]

I don't update authenticator anymore.

[Rampion]

Blegh, I upgraded before I saw this thread. Everything is gone. I had a lot of codes in there. What a jerkoff from google, someone ought to be fired for this.

Sorry to insist, but those who use Google Auth without a backup (paper or otherwise) shouldn't be allowed to use anything regarding digital finance. Did you know that phones get lost, stolen, become bricks, fall and break, their memory can fail... Or maybe there's a buggy update that screws them over... Really, didn't you know that?

Seriously guys, I use google auth too, and first thing I do from the very first day I use it is to make backups of EVERY key, and BTW I scan the QR from the backup to be sure everything is OK. Do you even think and understand what you are doing before using something like that?

[darkmule]

Sorry to insist, but those who use Google Auth without a backup (paper or otherwise) shouldn't be allowed to use anything regarding digital finance.

WTF does digital finance have to do with something I only use for a single poker account, where the removal of Authenticator basically takes a week?  I only use it with Seals With Clubs because I never terribly trusted it, because I don't keep substantial amounts of money there, and because it is easy enough to remove.

Anything substantial stays in an offline wallet with both an electronic and paper backup in a secure location.

Anyone at Google who released an "upgraded" that universally trashes all keys is the one who should be barred from ever rolling out another product again.  Even a single test of this "upgrade" done before releasing it on a single device that previously had it would have made it blindingly obvious that it should not be released in its current form.

There are far better alternatives in any event, like Authy.

In my only previous experience with multi-factor stuff like this, it was to enter a workplace, where it was a physical dongle combined with a keypad entry.  And any other place I have had to use shit like this in the workplace (briefly), it was a firing offense to back it up in any way, on paper or in any other form.

[joesmoe2012]

    I can't believe they wouldn't have better tested this before releasing it. It's google we are talking about here FFS!     

[champsak]

They've released a new update. Its restore all my missing keys

[Chief Satangkai]

I can confirm that the recent update (2.01) works fine and the keys are safe... 

[BitAddict]

I can confirm that the recent update (2.01) works fine and the keys are safe...  

I will try again... but I'm a little scary

Edit: I confirm now it is working

[cryptostart]

+1

Update 2.01 restored keys.

[TheButterZone]

LOSE

Please edit title OP!

[Cudahuda]

LOSE

Please edit title OP!

If OP updates he should also point out that they've fixed the issue now.

[picobit]

If OP updates he should also point out that they've fixed the issue now.

Done.

[darkmule]

I can confirm that the new update fixes the problem, even if you've already restored from backup.  I would guess from this that whatever error Google made, it resulted in in inability to read stored keys rather than their destruction.

[BTCjust]

Google Authenticator (Android), my problem:  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=394188.0   

[luqash3]

I have already upgraded my google authenticator on my iPhone hence I am trapped up in a big trouble. Can anyone tell me how to find my lost keys? I wish I would have seen this post before upgrading mine. Well I must recommend you all not to update as you could also be in trouble guys.

[technocoma]

Keep a backup of the QR codes!

[smoothrunnings]

Google just released a new version of Google Authenticator for the iPhone.  DO NOT UPGRADE, all your keys will be lost, and you will be locked out of all your exchanges etc.


Moderators: Please cross-post this to Important Announcements, it will hit a lot of Bitcoin users!


EDIT: See also http://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1lp17r/i_just_updated_the_iphone_google_authenticator/


EDIT 2:  A newer version has been released by Google, solving the problem.  It turns out the keys were not lost, just hidden, so the new version actually restores them!

Why do you know an iPhone? The latest news from the NSA is that they control the data on all iPhones. So no matter how secure you feel the NSA has their hand in your back pocket at all times.

[darkmule]

And this doesn't apply to Android why exactly?

[Frost000]

Tin foil hats, man... Tin foil hats.

Though I'm not a huge fan, I own an iPhone and don't care if the NSA can spy. On an ethical standpoint, it sucks. But in the end, I don't do anything that would warrant them sneaking into my affairs.

Do you really think so disgruntled NSA worker would go get your Google Authenticator codes? If you think so, you might as well play the lottery I think.