Lost and revived

Few days back I suddenly realized that my hotmail account is not accessible. When I tried to access it, the system told me that the account is blocked or is being used by someone else.

The sheer thought of someone else using my account was scary. Not that I was using hotmail very frequently, but few people still have my hotmail id and the same id is registered with some entities. Not to mention, it is my first ever email account, I didn't want to loose it just like that.

I tried all the options mentioned on the help page displayed by the Windows Live ID service, like resetting the password. However, initially it didn't even allow me to reset the password. The link kept on suggesting that should try sending mail to my "alternate" email address registered with hotmail, but couldn't figure out a way to do that. Not that I remembered if I ever took effort to register "alternate" mail ID with hotmail. Later, I tried their last option - to report it to service agents and they would look into the matter i.e. human intervention. I thought this would be faster than the claimed 48-72 hours, but I didn't get a response even after a week. Moreover, the link that Windows Live ID had shared with me for posting follow up on my request didn't work. So I tried all the options again.

This time I could reset my password, but still couldn't login with new password. So again, the only option was to register request with WLI. This time it worked :) I got response in 3 days and now my account is active with all the older messages intact :)

I am kind of surprised to see my own reactions to all this episode. When I realized I can't sign in to the service, my first reaction was how can I forget my password!!! Then it started making me worried. I tried to recall who all have this mail id and if there's someone important enough. When it dawned on me that the account has some sensitive information, I was fiercely looking for ways to unlock the account. I tweeted about it, wrote it on FB in the hope that someone may have faced it in the past and would be able to help me out. No luck!! After certain point, I started preparing myself on giving up the account. But the last attempt worked and now I have all access to my account. Went through many of the old mails, mails when I was in Bangalore, the s-six group we had formed there, then the mail related to my relocation back to Pune and what not..

It was a good journey down the memory lane...

Just wondering, what would happen if my gmail account gets locked/lost/stolen??? !!!!! Scared...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Subscription Services

Image
As the internet penetration increased over the last 2 decades, it also gave rise to digital subscriptions. The internet users slowly started developing trust in internet-based payments and that too on recurring payments. It probably started with the tech community using the recurring payment systems and slowly spreading that faith to non-tech-savvy users. There was also a phase when I started using the credit card for online transactions but wasn't comfortable storing the card details with the merchant. I used to enter the details every single time. (That is how I still remember the CC number that was in use at that time) In the late 2000's I was introduced to Ecom website development and since then it has been part of my professional as well as personal life. Over the years, I learned about the  PCI-DSS standard , and the extent to which the Ecom companies make an effort to protect consumer data. There have been instances of a data breach across the globe, but alon...
Read more

Movie Review: Chhota Bheem and The Throne of Bali

Image
Set in the beautiful islands of Bali, this movie is meant to entertain the kids. But unfortunately adults may not find it that interesting.  As usual, when Bheem along with his gang and King of Dholakpur reaches Bali, they find that Bali is in danger. Apparently, Bali's Queen is King of Dholakpur's sister and were invited for crowning ceremony of the prince Arjun. Upon arrival, Bheem and the team found that everything is devastated in Bali and there's no trace of Royal family including Arjun. After much of a search, Bheem finds the Rajguru (Royal Priest) who had helped the prince escape the wrath of the invader - Rangda.  The story line is pretty much predictable and there are no surprises till the end. Bheem needs to be the ONLY savior and it turns out to be that way. (This actually is a problem for children mentality, but I'll save the thoughts for some other time.) Overall animation is similar to the serial and there didn't seem to be any attempt...
Read more

Telemarketing

Last week Mobile rings .... Me: Hello --: Hello, this is XXX calling from XXX bank. Sir, you hold XXX bank credit card, right? Me: Yes. --: Sir, XXX bank is offerring you a ready cash of Rs.4,65,000/- Me: Actually this amount is too small for me. --: How much amount you are looking for, Sir? Me: Something like 4 crores.... --: (silence) --: 4 Crores ???? --: Is any bank offering you that much amount? Me: No! --: Then? Me: If you can offer me 4 lakhs just like that some other bank will give me 4 crores as well :) --: Ok Sir. (disconnect) :) Today Mobile rings ... Me: Hello --: Hello, this is XXX calling from XXX bank. Sir, you hold XXX bank credit card, right? Me: Yes. --: Sir, XXX bank is offerring you a ready cash of Rs.4,65,000/- Me: Last week only I told you folks that this is very small amount. I am looking for amount like 4 Crores... --: ccccrore ?????? (hung up) Nice entertainment right?
Read more