You see this is where I get confused. I have Steam Guard set up for Email and I don't get an Email when I Log in. I Log in with my Password only and the explanation for the Email only Option is that a Code won't be sent unless I am logging in from a new device. I am assuming that you have both Phone and Email checked off in your account Drac.

I really don't get how guys can haul around those big phones. Can't put it in your back pocket because the phone would break when sitting down, can't put it in the front pocket because the phone would break when sitting down, can't put it in a shirt pocket because it would fall out and break. LOL I don't like carrying anything in my pockets. Its plenty enough for me to have a wallet, keys and chapstick. I would have nowhere to put these big phones now a days. plus I only need a phone for emergency so I also don't see why everyone in the world has one. Now if they went back to a convenient flip phone size I may be interested.

That's why my husband has a small $70 smart phone which he carries in a holder on his belt like this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075KKKNHV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Since I just logged in to my Steam account earlier, when I just tried again, I did not get two-step authentication. I have no idea what that time period is if you haven't logged in for some time that you will need a code. Again, this is for the email notification which is what I use.

I have a iphoneSE and it fits in my front pocket... 5" long....

So you don't have a two step Log in for Email then right Drac. So what I have is all they offer for Security with Email. I would think that if you tried to Log in from say a friends computer it would send an Email with a Steam Guard Code because Steam does not recognize it. So this option is still only a Password Log in, vulnerable to hackers which is what happened to me. If I did have a phone then I would think that their Steam Guard Phone App is the best security they have where it is a truly two step process.

Or I would have to get a Fanny Man Purse https://i.postimg.cc/pTbkXpLZ/hip-bag-guy.jpg

Now a phone the size of the old Pagers is about the only thing I would do on my belt and would be perfect.

No, I have two-step log in by email on my Steam account. It seems there are two things that trigger it... either 1)log-in from a new device such as a new computer or even a different browser or 2) not having accessed your account for a certain period of time. When I logged in this morning, it said, "It appears you are using a different device or you have not logged in for some time," or something to that effect. I then was sent a code in my email account registered with Steam. I entered it and was good to go. When I logged in a couple of hours later, it didn't trigger two-step authentication because I was using the same device and had just recently logged in.

Gads, I LOATHE man-purses even on women! My husband's phone isn't a whole lot bigger that one of the old pagers and he keeps on his belt. He is much better about carrying his all the time than I am.

You can get a case with a holster. Otterbox also helps of you drop it

Well, I have a little flip phone but can barely figure out how to make a call on it let alone how to see a text. Sometimes when I see a message that I missed a call and I try to "view" it, I can do it, and sometimes I cannot "view" it for the life of me! Anyway the phone is very old and not registered to me (or however that works) so I would not want to use it for this Steam authentication as I would probably never be able to get on Steam. Someday, I hope to get a new phone, of my very own, and have somebody teach me how to use it However, I just can't justify the cost to want to actually do it.

As I told Greyfus, my husband has a very nice little smart phone that he got for $70. We use TracFone and he pays about $10 a month for his.

Well, if I ever get one, maybe he can teach me how to use it

This is the most technologically challenged human ever! He has slowly figured it out although he still asks me how to do something now and then. Being able to actually get and listen to messages was a success! The one thing he will never do is text... he is 6" 6" tall with hands to match... his thumbs and fingers on that tiny keyboard are hysterical!

Maybe in my next life but for now they are too big for me to lug around...plus I don't want to talk to anyone anyway let alone read or text, I hate typing on a keyboard than squinting to see those little keys

GreyFuss....

I agree, Winfrey!

And at my age the only people that want to talk to me are telemarketers and scammers

Talk about relics, I finally bit the bullet and got rid of our land line in January. I hated to as we have one phone that is hard wired to the system, so even with no power, we would still have a phone. But I got tired of paying $60 a month for a dozen spam and telemarketer calls a day. And yes, the number was registered with the federal and state do not call lists.

Greyfuss, I get my activation code on the Steam app on my phone. I have phone notifications on for everything, like amazon, paypal etc. If it is offered, I set it up. Hackers get better all the time!

Yes, they hack phone aps also!

Thanks Sheriff

Sounds like your way would be a true two-step sign in as you can't get on Steam at any time without completing both steps.

I wonder if staying signed on to Steam all the time would prevent any hackers from getting into your account. If you are signed in, how would they be able to sign in to change any information on you or would staying on all the time make it easier for a hacker?

From what I've read it wouldn't make any difference because they get in by abusing the password recovery system.

If you have a 2nd computer you can try logging in with that one while you're still logged in with the first computer. Or you could try logging in from the same computer with two different web browsers. Some websites will allow more than one log in at the same time while others will bump the first connection. I don't know what Steam does.

You can be logged into Steam on two different computers at the same time.

Thanks for checking.
I guess that settles it then. There's no advantage securitywise to staying logged into Steam. It won't keep someone else from logging in.

I didn't just check it now. I had been using both the 10 and 7 for the last few months of last year. There is some message that will pop up that you might catch though. It doesn't stay long so you can miss it. I don't remember exactly what it says but something like " computer 2 is available for streaming now" or similar.

I just turned on my Win 7 and started Steam in offline mode but didn't see the pop up on Win 10 ,so I wonder if the hackers can download your games and then, even if you change your account and get it back, maybe they can still access under your old account in offline mode to play those games.

According to what I've read, offline mode only lasts 10 or 11 days. People who've gone on vacation to places without internet have discovered this to their detriment.

I read that you can play in offline mode forever if the games are up to date, unless Steam requires you to sign in for some reason.

"3. Steam will prompt you to restart in offline mode. Only fully up-to-date games at the time of the restart will be available, so make sure everything is updated. However, Steam won't check for updates after this point, meaning you can keep playing games in offline mode indefinitely."

Quoted from this website: https://www.businessinsider.com/can-you-play-steam-games-offline

I don't know. I've been playing some casual games in offline mode for awhile now with no problems, but I am afraid to try a longer Adventure game and maybe half way through not be able to finish it.

In this Steam article I don't see any mention of "time": https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-agcb-2555

I might be wrong, but I think it depends on the game.