I learned not too long ago that the Key-fob Authenticators were discontinued for sale?
I much prefer the key-fob as opposed to a Mobile App for 2-form authentication myself.
Is there a way to go about getting a replacement or replacing the battery in my Authenticator?
They are no longer in production, so this is not possible.
I recommend against trying. I can’t remember for sure, but I recall reading somewhere that the fob was designed in such a way that a crucial component will break if it’s broken open.
The mobile authenticator is the only option once it dies.
I can tell you from experience, opening up a keyfob authenticator breaks it completely rendering it useless. It snaps the chip in half that houses the number generator.
I honestly used to feel the same way. I was hesitant to move to the mobile version, but now that I’m on it, I actually prefer it a whole lot more!
To each their own I suppose. I’ve several applications/games/accounts that require a Mobile Authentication as it is and I find them absolutely horrendous and frustrating in most cases.
Call me old fashioned I guess.
The mobile authenticator you can set it how often you want it to ask for a key. I have one and have rarely used it.
It recognizes my home location
Also if you want it every time there is a push button send command that will auto fill the code for you.
Most of them are pretty meh, but the Blizzard authenticator’s pretty well-designed. So long as you have an internet connection, you just push a button and you’re good to go.
I got my fob when Wrath was released, it’s still working all these years later. I wouldn’t worry too much OP.
I Know this is an old post but no one mentioned Blue Stacks.
This is a program that runs on a PC that emulates a mobile phone. Run the program and install apps to it. I use it now for my SWtoR account because my fob for that died. My fob for WoW is still working. Additionally, if you search for “battle.net authenticator fob” you will find it available from 3rd party vendors.
If security is your goal, my opinion is that running Blue Stacks is more secure than an app on your phone. Sometimes people loose their phone or misplace it. When was the last time you misplaced you PC?
Pro Tip: If you’re going to re-image (reinstall windows) your PC be sure to remove the authenticator prior to re-imaging and re-apply it afterwards. 
The reason no one brings it up due to the fact it defeats the point of the authentication. You know, if someone tries to break into an account, the item that isn’t on your PC isn’t hacked as well.
Not sure even how your blizzard account would be hacked. However, hacking any online account doesn’t mean your PC was hacked but, that may have been the case. I’ve been online gaming since Feb of 97, Diablo 1. I was running NT4 at the time.
There were times that someone would threaten to hack my PC. It never happened, and hasn’t since. 24 years of online gaming. Listen to you IT professional at work and DO NOT open email attachments or download from untrusted sites.
You know that. I know that. However, many computer users do not know that, or they know it but don’t do it, or they get tricked.
In a perfect world, no one would have to worry. But for those that don’t know any better, defeating one layer of the security process is detrimental.
The problem I have with Blue Stacks Authenticator, if your machine and HDs goes down, you are boned. Not only you have to re-install wow, but you’ll have to go through the process of removing and replacing the emulated authenticator. The whole point of a 2F system is that the authenticator is separate from the computer. An unauthorized user that has access to your machine defeats the whole purpose of it. I knew someone that used Blue Stacks Authenticator and WoW on his laptop, Guess what? The laptop was stolen and the account was ransacked. I highly recommend not using the emulated authenticator.
Well. I don’t install apps on my phone and I pay for only 100mb of data so my phone bill is less than $10/ month. So that’s why I use Blue Stacks. I spose if I was really worried about it, I could install it on another one of my PC’s and keep them separate.
I understand there are tons of computer illiterates but if your’e a gamer you really shouldn’t be. Just saying .
Edit: I don’t own a laptop, and if I did - ya I wouldn’t use Blue Stacks
You do you…
There is a reason why Blizzard doesn’t recommend using it. It doesn’t matter if you are “computer illiterate” or a “Black Hat”, it’s a security hole. I rate it up there as using the same password on all your accounts and websites.
You don’t really need a data plan for the Authenticator, it will work fine from WiFi. I have it installed on a iPad with only WiFi.
Hey. Thanks. That’s a great Idea! I have a tablet I don’t use much I can put it on there.
Much appreciated idea!
Gah this thread was over a year old.
I’m pretty sure I have read that you now need to have the mobile authenticator associated with a phone number and it can no longer be run on an android emulator because of that.