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LinkedIn forcing me to disclose my phone number to log in? No thanks

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Re: LinkedIn forcing me to disclose my phone number to log in? No thanks

#41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have private relay enabled via iOS iCloud. I have no extensions installed. Preload top hit is enabled on safari by default. (Not sure if this is could be a factor). I only use safari across my devices. 2FA is enabled for LinkedIn and save password. That is it. I access LinkedIn frequently throughout the day.

> I have private relay enabled via iOS iCloud I can see that might be it - because it means LinkedIn would be seeing you logging-in from different IP addresses in different geolocations every time (though Apple doesn't let you virtually change-country, I understand in the US it does make it look like you've moved-state).

Good point. I checked my private relay settings in iOS iCloud. It is set as “maintain general location” along with a description “ Maintain your general location to receive localized content, or enhance your privacy by using a broader IP address based on your country and time zone. Safari Private Browsing always uses an IP location from your country and time zone.”

Re: LinkedIn forcing me to disclose my phone number to log in? No thanks

#42

I have a friend who is a lawyer and has access to LexisNexis. When I found out what is in there for sale (and it's like a 30 year old service!), I kinda wanted to give up. It all feels like "Privacy Theater". Why would I worry about linked in when people can buy my most private info from so many places that I didn't even know existed? Are we just kidding ourselves? (I live in the USA.)

My approach has been, gradually, to put everything into LLCs and trusts. Mailing address is one of the storefront vendors. Two real phone numbers and a couple VOIP numbers. I mostly use Signal for people I want to speak with.

I don't yet have a good screen of the address on my driver license, as I get some perks where I live and want to keep that for now. I am using passport more domestically for ID because it does not have an address.

Basically, don't put any property or services in your name, and all mail uses the storefront address. I suppose rich folks have wealth management person at bank who recommends an attorney for these schemes. It wouldn't scale at reasonable price point to make a service for this, though I have considered it. Most people "don't have anything to hide" so they will not see value in such a service. If people won't opt out of TSA's voluntary full body scans, they won't be interested in privacy.

You can't screen everything overnight without help, so start small like put a car in a trust or LLC with address somewhere else.

The downside, or upside?, is that on paper you will have nothing. Definite upside is keeping controlling paperwork straight and replicated to people I trust.

Re: LinkedIn forcing me to disclose my phone number to log in? No thanks

#43
post #9

It's a standard measure to increase the cost of fake identities to decrease spam and Sybil attacks. If you exclusively belong to communities that don't have such measures, you will be dominated by third parties who create mass accounts instead of the platform. Choose your poison I guess.

I'm embarrassed to admit this but I created a fake LinkedIn account of a woman I used to rope in men for sales calls. I "friended" probably 200 odd linked in open networkers over the course of a week and then would flirt with guys using my catfish account. Those guys would enevitably get sappy and I would rope them onto a sales call with me as a bait and switch. I hated doing sales as well as myself and got out of it…

What were you selling, and was your flirting via the LI app?

Re: LinkedIn forcing me to disclose my phone number to log in? No thanks

#45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So would I. An identify/human verification API provided by USPS would be awesome.

It takes 3-5 business days for a letter to get from one desk to mine, that won't work when you want to sign-up for your next impulsive Reddit link click-through. There is id.me though (a non-governmental company, but effectively endorsed by the US federal gov), but because I highly value pseudonymity I don't want to use my on real, government-linked, identity for frivolous things - and I'm not aware of anyone like id…

The identify / human verification API can be instantaneous, like pretty much all others (after you have verified your identity to the USPS and received a mechanism to verify yourself).

And it also does not have to reveal identity, just whether or not you exist in USPS’s database as a real person.

Re: LinkedIn forcing me to disclose my phone number to log in? No thanks

#46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm embarrassed to admit this but I created a fake LinkedIn account of a woman I used to rope in men for sales calls. I "friended" probably 200 odd linked in open networkers over the course of a week and then would flirt with guys using my catfish account. Those guys would enevitably get sappy and I would rope them onto a sales call with me as a bait and switch. I hated doing sales as well as myself and got out of it…

What were you selling, and was your flirting via the LI app?

Based on my messages in LinkedIn, he was probably a LinkedIn employee selling Premium.

Re: LinkedIn forcing me to disclose my phone number to log in? No thanks

#48

I have a friend who is a lawyer and has access to LexisNexis. When I found out what is in there for sale (and it's like a 30 year old service!), I kinda wanted to give up. It all feels like "Privacy Theater". Why would I worry about linked in when people can buy my most private info from so many places that I didn't even know existed? Are we just kidding ourselves? (I live in the USA.)

My approach has been, gradually, to put everything into LLCs and trusts. Mailing address is one of the storefront vendors. Two real phone numbers and a couple VOIP numbers. I mostly use Signal for people I want to speak with. I don't yet have a good screen of the address on my driver license, as I get some perks where I live and want to keep that for now. I am using passport more domestically for ID because it does n…

Note that if you are in the US, you will have to report yourself as beneficial owner of these LLCs to FinCEN starting Jan 1 2024[0]. The government super duper promises not to leak the info[1].

[0] https://www.fincen.gov/beneficial-ownership-information-repo...

[1] https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/12/16/2022-27...

Re: LinkedIn forcing me to disclose my phone number to log in? No thanks

#49

The best solution I have to fixing this is somewhat complicated but worth it. First get a prepaid phone number and the card for it using some backup phone you have. Then port that number to Google voice or some voip text service. For some reason, when you sign up with google voice or a voip service using their number allocation tool, services know that it's a voip number. But when you port it, they never seem to find…

I might try this. There's no way I'm giving linkedin my phone number.

Re: LinkedIn forcing me to disclose my phone number to log in? No thanks

#50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm embarrassed to admit this but I created a fake LinkedIn account of a woman I used to rope in men for sales calls. I "friended" probably 200 odd linked in open networkers over the course of a week and then would flirt with guys using my catfish account. Those guys would enevitably get sappy and I would rope them onto a sales call with me as a bait and switch. I hated doing sales as well as myself and got out of it…

What were you selling, and was your flirting via the LI app?

you know what they say: any app is a dating app if you are brave enough.
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