Apple recovery key to keep remote hackers from stealing my Apple account

Christine96too wrote:

Will an Apple recovery key prevent a remote hacker from taking over my Apple account?

Only if your threat is an adversary that can somehow get past the Apple Account Recovery checklist, including getting past Recovery being blocked by you just continuing to use your gear as you already do; as normal.

Successful account Recovery requires all gear except the device requesting recovery to be and remain quiescent, and unused for an Apple-determined interval. Use the gear, and the recovery request is rejected.

Having a recovery key does mean you absolutely need to preserve that key too, if you ever need to have your Apple Account password reset. You will need a trusted device and the account password, or the recovery key. Lose both, and you’re locked out permanently.

“Permanently” here meaning forever, and with no means to regain account access. This unlike some other definitions of “permanent “ in use by some folks, which seem to mean “not permanent”.

And if the recovery key exists and is somehow compromised, the key can be used reset the account password. Which is the opposite of what you are seeking here.

Here are the steps I would follow, and how far through that list depending on your particular risks and requirements and adversaries:

• Better Securing Your Data, and Apple Account - Apple Community

Generation of an Apple Account Recovery Key only prevents Apple from helping you recover your account in the event of a disaster.

Read about it here:

Set up a recovery key for your Apple Account - Apple Support

It’s NOT for “everyone.”

Use ONLY with extreme caution; AND only if you have a well conceived — and practiced — Disaster Recovery Plan in place.

One can fairly easily get themselves permanently locked-out of their Apple Account.