Voicemail from my dad this morning about his gmail account. We created a gmail account for him to use with software that allows me to access his computer remotely. He got an email that someone tried to get into the account yesterday while I was at their home working on his computer in near Ocean City, MD. The attempt was from DC, so I knew it wasn’t me. I told him I would work on the issue today.
So today, I went in and changed his password for the gmail account to a very difficult one.
I also wanted to turn on 2-Step Authentication to make his account even more secure. Which involves sending a text message to his cell phone. For this he needs to be on the phone to read me the code.
Dad calls, “I keep getting emails from Google saying someone is attempting to access my account”. (mind you, he has already told me this via voicemail and we already discussed these emails while I was there yesterday. And I left him a voicemail saying I was handling it).
I say, “When was the last time you got one?”.
Dad, “Yesterday at 1pm”. (I was sitting in their home, on their computer discussing this with him in person at that time)
I say, “Good, you haven’t gotten any since then. I went in this morning and changed your password.”
He says, “Oh, oh! An email just came in! Do you want me to read it to you?” (he just fired up his computer so it grabbed new emails. He always wants to “help” me by driving me nuts with suggestions that have nothing to do with the issue or reading emails.)
Me, “Does it say something about your password being changed?”
Dad, “Yes”
Me, “Good, that is about what I did this morning. It’s just telling you your password has changed”.
Dad, “Do you want me to read it to you?”
Me, “No, dad.”
Dad, “Are you sure?”
Me, “Yes dad”
Dad, “It’s about Google.”
(Meanwhile I am trying to get him to focus on the task at hand. Getting 2-Step Authentication setup with a text message to his cell phone.)
Me, “Dad, I know you are trying to help, but please, I DO NOT need you to read me the email. Just please do what I ask.”
Every tech support call with my folks is like trying to explain email to passengers on the Mayflower.