Need to update email settings?
ATTChrisZ's profile
Employee

Employee

 • 

169 Messages

Thursday, July 14th, 2022 3:51 PM

The dreaded 205 error code - Information from the AT&T Community

Learn what is going on and what need to do to secure & update your email account

Update

2/1/2023: Our teams are working on 2-Factor Authentication. This will be rolled out to a few customers to start. This will help increase security to prevent bad actors from attempting to access the account. 

I know the 205 error code is a bit maddening, but we're here to explain why it's happening and what you can do to prevent it from occurring. In addition, our internet teams are aware of the problem and working quickly to resolve it. To regain access, you will need to reset your password and update your security questions

The culprit?

We are in an age where everything is online and there are those out there taking advantage of that. These bad actors are trying to get into everything and anything like your emails, where this useful information is found. I wish it was something AT&T could control with a switch but at the end of the day, it is a bad actor on the other side of the keyboard. I myself fell victim to this when someone got access to one of my streaming accounts. 

What AT&T is doing

AT&T Security is investigating this and blocking IP addresses of those bad actors who make these login attempts. We also are locking the accounts to protect your email. You may see alert codes like:

  • Error code 205.2 - you'll have to wait a full  24 hours before resetting your password. Attempting to sign in before the full 24 hours will reset the 24-hour timer.
  • Error code 203.3 or FL002 - you'll have to reach out to our teams directly.

Update

On Friday, August 26, 2022, our teams began blocking VPN Providers that were allowing bad actors to target AT&T email. They also implement a backend fix alongside the blocks. The good news, we are seeing a reduction in attacks. We are NOT done though - because of the nature of the issue, our email teams will continue to monitor this and take action

What you can do to get back into your email

  1. Clear cache and cookies
  2. Reset your password.
  3. Once reset, select "keep me signed in" - this can help prevent bad actors from accessing the account as well

There is a chance you are locked out and a password reset is the only way back in. Please note, that you may need to wait 24 hours before attempting a password reset, depending on if your account was targeted.

There are a few things you can do to protect yourself below. 

Please note: AT&T is no longer able to provide verbal password resets due to security reasons. For both free and current internet subscribers, you can reset it online. For free accounts, security questions and recovery emails should have been set up prior.

Secure your email account

Learn what you need to do to make your email safe like changing your email password, securing your computer, and more.

Update your security questions & answers

  1. Go to Profile and then Sign-in info.
  2. In the Online security questions section, select Change security questions.
  3. Complete and save your security questions and answers.

Learn more about security questions.

Don't out your email for offers or prizes 

Unfortunately, there are some offers and sites that are too good to be true and these nefarious parties take advantage of that. So, be careful with what you share. I tend to give an email that is not associated with my main email I use for bills or personal communications, I use a generic one.

Secure your device

As with above, there are some sites out there that are hot spots for viruses. Untrustworthy sites are a hotbed for digital thievery. You can protect yourself by only visiting trusted sites and protecting your browsing experience with virus protection for your computer or device. AT&T does offer a security suite for qualifying internet subscriptions.  At the end of the day, virus protection can help make sure your experience is more secure.

If you have other questions regarding your email experience, please visit our AT&T Email Forums Support Page.

ChrisZ, AT&T Community Specialist 

*I am an AT&T employee, and the postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent AT&T's position, strategies or opinions.

Still need help? Ask a question! Our 1.4 million members typically respond within 1 hour.

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

Community Support

 • 

2.7K Messages

2 years ago

Check out the info above to learn how to address error 205 and how to secure your email account. 

ChrisZ, AT&T Community Specialist 

ACE - Guru

 • 

9.9K Messages

2 years ago

The "bad actors" story matched what upper level AT&T folks are telling people.  But they're saying this is a result of someone buying a data dump from the dark web.  So none of the possible causes you cite are valid, at least not for this situation.

What doesn't make sense in all of this is that this has been going on since late October so why did it take AT&T until early June to decide it was "bad actors"? 

And secondly, attacks like this are a dime a dozen and can be mitigated with commonly available services and tools.  Why are we still seeing it 5 weeks later?

New Member

 • 

3 Messages

2 years ago

7-14-2022 Just got  off of the phone with att  dsl support same problem  I have been living in this nightmare for 8 weeks on iphone and desktop.. Same problem  205.20   I can not toggle between the i phone and desktop .. new password required everytime..

On  7-13-2022  a new much bigger problem popped up ..My clients are not able to send me orders -- they are getting bounced back.  This has never happened in 30 years.  Am I am out of business   VERY bad..

There is no work - around  .. I am told ATT has bigger issue causing this... and I can not repeat what i was told --  I promised. I was told it occurred June 3 -

Is ATT  able to solve this Problem instead of closing down our email.

Community Support

 • 

230.7K Messages

2 years ago

We're here to shed light on your email inquiries, @Needtechhelp!

 

With your first inquiry, the current workaround for the care code is to continue resetting your password as prompted. If you ever get to the point where the password reset does not work for you, let us know!

 

Now with the bounce back concern, you will need to contact our Postmasters via email using abuse_rbl@abuse-att.net. It can take a few business days for them to respond.

 

Don't hesitate to reach back out if you ever need our assistance again. Thank you for choosing the AT&T Community Forums!

 

CalebP, AT&T Community Specialist 

New Member

 • 

3 Messages

2 years ago

Many years so many phone calls well  over 50 hours for technical help and today..... was the first help call where I was actually told about, directed to, and invited to join this forum..  Thank you Caleb for responding I will reach out to Postmaster now. It is beyond me that ATT can not  "Plug this nasty Hole"

Community Support

 • 

230.7K Messages

2 years ago

You're welcome, @Needtechhelp!

 

Don't hesitate to reach back out if you ever need our assistance again. 

 

Thank you for choosing the AT&T Community Forums!

 

CalebP, A&T Community Specialist 

New Member

 • 

9 Messages

2 years ago

Stop posting these bogus solutions and responses. None of them work  

Tutor

 • 

10 Messages

2 years ago

I had the same problem and got it resolved, at least for now. I contacted support through chat and told him I was getting this 205 error and asked him to resync my account. He did and I haven't rec'd that error in over a week.

ACE - Guru

 • 

9.9K Messages

2 years ago

You'll be back.

Contributor

 • 

10 Messages

2 years ago

I've got the same problem:

Looks like you’ve tried to sign in unsuccessfully too many times. Recover your ID or reset your password to continue.
CARE CODE: 205.2 [LU003]
How do you get to support??????  Someone indicated they got to support through Chat.  How????  Debby

Not finding what you're looking for?
New to AT&T Community?
New to the AT&T Community? Start by visiting the Community How-To.
New to the AT&T Community?
Visit the Community How-To.