Unauthorized sign-in attempts


Once your account is passwordless, 2FA no longer protects a password — it protects account recovery and security‑critical actions.

2FA still triggers when you:
  • Add a new device
  • Change security settings
  • Reset sign‑in methods
  • Recover your account
  • Sign in from an unusual location or device
These are the moments attackers target, and 2FA blocks them.
 

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Was considering biting the bullet and chatting with MS support. But then I feel sick and dont do that. Cause, you know
Try3 said:
Review recent activity / View my sign-in activity used to show attempted as well as successful login attempts for MSAccounts. It might still do so.


Denis
Click to expand...
I thought so to but on that page it only shows me successful logins, which are all me.
 

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echo2446 said:
Knowing just your email could allow them to induce a prompt on your MS Authenticator, for example, when trying to make a new login account on Windows. I would change the login "aliases," i.e., change your account/username to see if the problem goes away:

HTML: 
https://account.live.com/names/manage?refp=profile
https://account.live.com/SignInPreferences?amru=names%2FManage

It's likely that your email address has been pwned recently (my long-time email was recently, and I received more spams). I personally wouldn't use any of the exposed email addresses for signing in to a Microsoft account.

If you can't bear to part with using the email for your MS login, you can disable the MS Authenticator app for login for a while and add it back later after this attack wave has subsided. I personally wouldn't do this because I'm wary of Microsoft's login methods breaking.
Click to expand...
Microsoft and logins is why I'm a bit suspect of the Passwordless option. I feel like its just asking for getting locked out because of something they screw up

*edit for spelling
 

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antspants said:
You don’t disable Authenticator to disable the email login 2FA, disabling authenticator does not disable your 2FA settings so you will still receive an email.
You simply disable the email option:
Click to expand...
The OP is having a problem with the MS Authenticator prompting for confirmation, all without them initiating the action. It's more like an MFA prompt fatigue attack (not exactly, because the MS Authenticator allows you to log in directly). They are not receiving email codes or links to confirm.
 

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Well I went ahead with the Passwordless Account as per what seems to be the prevailing advice from folks. I disabled getting email alerts for it and stuck with SMS, Authenticator codes to verify. I hope it stops these notifications cause it's getting aggravating not knowing whats causing them
 

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EddieG said:
Well I went ahead with the Passwordless Account as per what seems to be the prevailing advice from folks. I disabled getting email alerts for it and stuck with SMS, Authenticator codes to verify. I hope it stops these notifications cause it's getting aggravating not knowing whats causing them
Click to expand...
Those choices you see when setting up a passwordless account are for alternate ways to prove who you are. I kept everything available including email.
 

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Well that didnt fix the issue, going passwordless. Im still getting notifications from Microsoft Authenticator to approve/deny a login attempt to my MS Account. Frustrating
 

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What phone is running the Microsoft Authenticator?
 

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    Intel Series 3 Core Ultra X9 388H
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EddieG said:
Well that didnt fix the issue, going passwordless. Im still getting notifications from Microsoft Authenticator to approve/deny a login attempt to my MS Account.
Click to expand...
You can try simulating this yourself. Open a browser incognito. Launch Microsoft account | Sign In or Create Your Account Today – Microsoft, "Sign in", put in your email, "Sign in another way," ask for approval from a mobile device, and your mobile will prompt you.

You need to change your login alias, like mentioned.

echo2446 said:
Knowing just your email could allow them to induce a prompt on your MS Authenticator, for example, when trying to make a new login account on Windows. I would change the login "aliases," i.e., change your account/username to see if the problem goes away:

HTML: 
https://account.live.com/names/manage?refp=profile
https://account.live.com/SignInPreferences?amru=names%2FManage

It's likely that your email address has been pwned recently (my long-time email was recently, and I received more spams). I personally wouldn't use any of the exposed email addresses for signing in to a Microsoft account.
Click to expand...
 

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Alright. So if I go to a private window (opera beta) and put in my email which is my login it wanted me to use a passkey, was a little bit of a click about until I got it to try logging in with an app (authenticator). It gave me the number to use with the approval. I DID NOT get an alert on my phone like I do for the unknown request. I DO however have the request in the app if I go and manually open Authenticator on the phone
 

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My Computer My Computer

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Windows 11 Pro3.00 gigahertz Intel 11th Gen Core i7-1185G716 GB
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Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
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Manufacturer/Model
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
CPU
3.00 gigahertz Intel 11th Gen Core i7-1185G7
Memory
16 GB
I get this about once a day. Can anyone definitively say if this means a hacker has my password or not? In my MS account, recent activity does not show any failed sign ins and only successful sign ins from days ago. My password is only in the cloud and it is salted and encrypted; I'm confident it has not been guessed.
 

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kelper said:
Can anyone definitively say if this means a hacker has my password or not?
Click to expand...
If you get a notification that says "Approve sign-in? Request xxxx", then they may have your password, as I got this when I tried logging in with the password, and MS automatically sent a 2FA request to the phone.

If you get a notification "New sign-in request for your Microsoft ac.. [email protected]" and when you tap on it, it prompts you to press a number and approve, then they probably don't have your password. I got this when I tried loggin in in "Other ways" by sending a request to the mobile.
 

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