Account Recovery Options for PIDs

Account Recovery Options for PIDs provides a secure, effective, and easy way to recover use of your PID if you have forgotten your password. Before you may need the service, you can establish a personalized mechanism by

• entering a cell phone number that can receive a text message with a one-time password;
• entering a domestic telephone number (cell or landline) that can receive a voice message with a one-time password;
• entering an OpenID-enabled Google or Yahoo! account. For more information on OpenID, see the OpenID Web site.

Establishing these options includes a test of the option (phone number, Google or Yahoo! account). Your number will not be used for other services unless you have given permission elsewhere. Carrier charges may apply for receiving text messages. When selecting your options, you will also be asked to enter an e-mail address where a notification can be sent to you whenever your password is reset.

You will need to review your account recovery settings on a yearly basis; if you have not managed your account recovery options in the past year, you will be prompted to review them. You can view your account settings any time by logging on to the Central Authentication Service Accounts Web page. If you change your phone number, remember to change your account recovery options accordingly.

Should you forget your PID password in the future, these options will make resetting the password much easier. You will need to know both your PID and your VT ID number as part of resetting your password. For instructions on resetting your PID password using Account Recovery Options, see Using Account Recovery Options to Reset PID Password.

Although you will continue to be able to use the option of calling 4Help at (540) 231-HELP (4357), the Account Recovery Option is more secure, and is intended to be more convenient. There may be special circumstances in which you may wish to prevent password reset calls to 4Help, and this option can, if you want, be disabled.

Caution: Disabling all of the account recovery options requires you to schedule an appointment with Student Network Services to appear in person at the Blacksburg campus during business hours with appropriate identification to reset any forgotten password.