Major Cell Service Outage

[GregD]

I have only made one phone call today and it went turn fine.

I was wondering if they are still having the trouble ?

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I have only made one phone call today and it went turn fine.

I was wondering if they are still having the trouble ?

The news just said it has been restored, but AT&T isn't saying what the issue was.

 

[GregD]

The news just said it has been restored, but AT&T isn't saying what the issue was.

That would be very interesting to know.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Sunspots?

Only ATT compatible sunspots.

 

[Cameramonkey]

AT&T cell service here in Fishers - I've been down all morning and still down. While I can get some texts over Wifi, the software programs I use for my work all have 2 factor authentication enabled and those texts are NOT coming through. So, I'm dead in the water for a bit.

Switch to OTP app based authenticators if you can. SMS factors can be intercepted with a sim swap. I just turned off my wifi and cell data and sure enough, the 6 digit codes continued to roll over.

 

[Kdf101]

I have read it twice, and I still have no idea what @Cameramonkey just said!

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I have read it twice, and I still have no idea what @Cameramonkey just said!

I use this a lot for people like him and @Kirk Freeman that think we all speak "acronym".

 

[WebSnyper]

Switch to OTP app based authenticators if you can. SMS factors can be intercepted with a sim swap. I just turned off my wifi and cell data and sure enough, the 6 digit codes continued to roll over.

And more secure than SMS anyway.

 

[NHT3]

Switch to OTP app based authenticators if you can. SMS factors can be intercepted with a sim swap. I just turned off my wifi and cell data and sure enough, the 6 digit codes continued to roll over.

You mind translating that from Techspeak to English

 

[Cameramonkey]

OTP = one time passcode.

Google Authenticator for instance. It’s an app you install and then register with each site by scanning a barcode.

Every 30 seconds a one time passcode rolls over. And it’s far safer than a texted code. Even without internet or cell it still works.

And the server is rolling to the same predictable passcode in sync.

And no, that code won’t work on my account. That was the code like 10 mins ago. Lol

 

[BigRed]

What's the level past wide open?
Yes, the border...

No ****!!!!!!!

 

[DoggyDaddy]

OTP = one time passcode.

Google Authenticator for instance. It’s an app you install and then register with each site by scanning a barcode.

Every 30 seconds a one time passcode rolls over. And it’s far safer than a texted code. Even without internet or cell it still works.

And no, that code won’t work on my account. That was the code like 10 mins ago. Lol



View attachment 334967

I remember having a card (looked like a credit card) that had a rotating random number on it that was somehow synced with our computers. And that was back when computers were sloooooooow. Sometimes your code would roll over while trying to submit it and then it wouldn't match. I've also seen little key fob-like things that do the same.

 

[Cameramonkey]

I remember having a card (looked like a credit card) that had a rotating random number on it that was somehow synced with our computers. And that was back when computers were sloooooooow. Sometimes your code would roll over while trying to submit it and then it wouldn't match. I've also seen little key fob-like things that do the same.

Same exact tech. Now you have a smartphone app that can take its place.

And you can buy cards for your employees without a smartphone. Or that refuse to install the app on their personal device.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Same exact tech. Now you have a smartphone app that can take its place.

And you can buy cards for your employees without a smartphone. Or that refuse to install the app on their personal device.

And when the cell network goes down? Seems like a gamble to me.

 

[Cameramonkey]

And when the cell network goes down? Seems like a gamble to me.

Sigh. See post 85.

EDIT: And post 90.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Sigh. See post 85.

EDIT: And post 90.

Are you saying you'd get those codes if the internet and all cell networks were down? Do they have satellite capability or something?

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

I had met a guy on the Appalachian trail in Virginia. He had ATT and I had Verizon, mine worked and his didn't.

He said ATT stands for Ain't Talkin Today.

 

[Cameramonkey]

Are you saying you'd get those notifications if the internet and all cell networks were down? Do they have satellite capability or something?

Its a math equation. The app (and the server) calculates what number to roll to next. Its not getting the number from the server.

The only weakness is time sync. If your device time isnt synced perfectly (within a few seconds) your password may expire sooner/later than you expect. (the passcode may only be accurate during the middle of the countdown)

 

[Tryin']

The only weakness is time sync. If your device time isnt synced perfectly (within a few seconds) your password may expire sooner/later than you expect. (the passcode may only be accurate during the middle of the countdown)

This is why we went to an app-based version. The RSA tokens got so bad after a year or so that you only had about a 10-second window to use, and no idea where it was.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I use this a lot for people like him and @Kirk Freeman that think we all speak "acronym".

View attachment 334964

What did I do?