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Hey, hey, 2FA

In which I talk about the problems with suddenly not being able to do 2FA in the modern world.

I woke up this morning and as usual, checked the time on my phone by the bedside. Blank - ah - didn't take a charge overnight, perhaps. Unfortunately not so, the phone is dead. Either it won't take a charge through a cable and the wireless charger, or the on/off button is broken, or the battery is kaput, or ... let's face it, it's dead.

I need to buy something online this morning.

"Please verify the purchase in your banking app".

Huh. Can't do that.

I quite like(d) my phone but it seems I do need one, so off I go to the shops. I deliberate for a while - they're expensive and _so_ _much_ _bigger_ than mine. No matter, after I've spent all that money I'll have metaphorically emptier pockets to put it in.

And if I'm spending so much, it had better be the colour that I like, right? Well that one isn't in stock. The nice salesman says I can buy it online and have it delivered tomorrow. That sounds OK and I go home.

You may have spotted a flaw in this plan. I can't buy online without a phone to do the 2FA.

I have a sneaky plan.

I'll install the bank's app on my work-provided phone, and tell the bank I have a new phone number. I do the second bit first.

But wait - I am not allowed register with the banking app because my phone number has changed in the last 3 days.

So here I am, largely uncontactable by family and friends, not browsing the Internet randomly, and not buying anything.

Ho hum