Gmail signed itself out

CalypzeCalypze Stockholm, Sweden
edited March 2008 in Science & Tech
I'm not sure where to post this, but I guess this is the best section.

Today something strange happened when I was logged on into Gmail. There was a note in the place of the chat function window that there was technical problems with the chat function so it didn't work (though that didn't bother me). Also, I changed my password and secret question stuff. I'm not sure which of them that happened first, the chat notice or me changing that stuff. Hopefully, it doesn't matter.

In any case, I started writing on an e-mail (a response actually). I spent some hours doing that (I did other things simultaneounsly, thus the long time), and eventually decided that I would not send it, at least not today. So I pressed the button to save the draft, but then had a message popping claiming that I was no longer signed in into Gmail, (thus the draft couldn't be saved), and I could just click OK. I checked that I was connected to the Internet and the network, and I was, so no problem there. Also, I hadn't (myself, at least) removed any cookies or cache, and the Google cookies were in when I checked.

I can't recall Gmail ever signing out itself during long sessions. Does anybody know what it could be caused by, and if it is something to worry about, from a security point of view. I tried to search for if there was any online report of a Gmail problem related to this, but I couldn't find any.

Also, is it theoretically possible for two computers to be signed in at the same time to the same Gmail account? Perhaps one possibility is that a hacker was signed in into my account at the same time as I was, and he/she did something (like signing out) which affected by sign in status (I'mparanois perhaps, but maybe it's a possibility).

Comments

  • broady81broady81 Member
    edited February 2008
    I would say it could be something to do with GMail itself resetting, likely due to the technical problems you mention and were alerted about. That's my logic anyway. Can't say I have ever had any problems.

    And it definitely does sign you out when log in on another PC - I often leave mine open on my Folding box and log on during the day at college. It still displays the window but when you come to interact with it you are prompted to log in again. I think it might even update new messages, you just can't read them (without logging in).

    Hope this offers you something - I wouldn't worry about account security if you just changed password/security answer :)

    EDIT: Is your message not saved anywhere in drafts ? Mine atleast auto-saves, so you should be able to see when you were logged out if it stopped saving. I suppose it will only update when you change the content though... (Confirmed)
  • CBCB Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Der Millionendorf- Icrontian
    edited February 2008
    Gmail logs you out every two weeks for re verification of your password. Sometimes it happens in the middle of a session.

    I don't think it's anything to worry about, just log back in when it happens.

    Logging on from two different locations doesn't cause Gmail to behave any differently with the exception of some GTalk functions. (I've noticed that if I'm chatting with someone from one PC, then I send them a chat message from a different PC it will sometimes minimize the chatbox on the first PC.)
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2008
    What CB said is indeed the case.
  • broady81broady81 Member
    edited February 2008
    My bad.
  • LeonardoLeonardo Wake up and smell the glaciers Eagle River, Alaska Icrontian
    edited February 2008
    Gmail logs you out every two weeks
    Two hours?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited February 2008
    Weeks.
  • Gate28Gate28 Orlando, Florida Icrontian
    edited February 2008
    what i do is use HTML mode and always copy my message before I sedn it in case i lose it....thanks to epic training on SoE forums
  • CalypzeCalypze Stockholm, Sweden
    edited February 2008
    So there's nothing to worry about? Never heard about that two weekly signing out thing, strange that I didn't stumb upon it earlier.
  • CycloniteCyclonite Tampa, Florida Icrontian
    edited February 2008
    You're safe. :)
  • CalypzeCalypze Stockholm, Sweden
    edited March 2008
    Cyclonite wrote:
    You're safe. :)

    Yeah it seems so:)

    In regards to the hacking fears, I wonder if it is possible to check in any way if you have had uninvited visitors in you e-mail account, given that they just look, and not change anything?
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited March 2008
    No, it isn't possible.
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited March 2008
    Thrax wrote:
    No, it isn't possible.
    But you can set a trap.
  • CalypzeCalypze Stockholm, Sweden
    edited March 2008
    Keebler wrote:
    But you can set a trap.

    Interesting indeed. Though it requires that someone walk into it, and may hardly fool a dedicated cracker.

    I wish Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo etc could implement that one could see the time of the latest sign-in and the IP address being used then. Some bank supposedly have that for their accounts.

    Ultimately though, the whole concept of passwords feels somewhat primitive.
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