I have a similar problem with yandex. It's not hardware, just an email account, but I'm locked out of one I used for stuff because they are now asking me for my phone number because of "suspicious activity". I don't want to give them one.
Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
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Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#12I have the same when logging in to my Google account provided by my employer. I don't have 2FA set up, so they have no prior knowledge of my phone number.
I'd also like to understand how this is possibly useful?
In my case I was travelling, so had no option but to enter the number of the nearest available random person willing to lend me a phone for the purpose, with no idea what it would be used for.
It is cynical to suggest it's to boost their network of connected phone numbers, but I can't think of a better explanation?
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#13I have the same when logging in to my Google account provided by my employer. I don't have 2FA set up, so they have no prior knowledge of my phone number. I'd also like to understand how this is possibly useful? In my case I was travelling, so had no option but to enter the number of the nearest available random person willing to lend me a phone for the purpose, with no idea what it would be used for. It is cynical t…
What you're describing is a "cost proof" - namely that the user has something we can verify that costs some amount of money and is unique. So when the service I work on asks for a phone number verification, it's not always to determine your ID - it's to cut down on spam from users unwilling/unable to set up tens or hundreds of phone numbers, which I imagine is the majority of spammers.
Adding it to existing accounts, though, makes less sense to me. Retroactively checking that an active account can cost proof seems like the most intrusive way of doing this, particularly as part of OS login - at this point you have so many signals that you should already be able to detect the user is a spammer or not.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#14Stop buying computers that require you to provide your identity to ad companies in order to use them.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#15I have the same when logging in to my Google account provided by my employer. I don't have 2FA set up, so they have no prior knowledge of my phone number. I'd also like to understand how this is possibly useful? In my case I was travelling, so had no option but to enter the number of the nearest available random person willing to lend me a phone for the purpose, with no idea what it would be used for. It is cynical t…
What you're describing is a "cost proof" - namely that the user has something we can verify that costs some amount of money and is unique. So when the service I work on asks for a phone number verification, it's not always to determine your ID - it's to cut down on spam from users unwilling/unable to set up tens or hundreds of phone numbers, which I imagine is the majority of spammers. Adding it to existing accounts,…
Then it also seems especially odd to do this on a paid-for G Suite account.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#16> Am I crazy or does this seem like an extremely cynical attempt to get more phone numbers?
Nope you are not crazy at all, that's exactly what they are doing. It's the same pattern in practice of online banks that are demanding you give them an SMS capable phone, it's so that they can in the backchannel identify you through AT&T, which is really teh corporate face of the NSA (don't argue with me, 33 thomas st. nyc), and the implications there is that they have many things tied together in fusion centers so they can use something like palantir to instantly profile you when you put in that number and it draws in via their backchannel apis your bank accounts into a single view along with your other information, like medical, civic, etc that's literally what fusion centers do. It's all hooked up for THEIR convenience, and its all keyed off now on google's gaia_id. They tether your phone number(s) to gaia_id and voila all these data sources get drawn in....it's all about the convenience to the five eyes/nato people to force you to use their free sandwich stuff and get everyone tied into the central hub of services that is google
So I agree with others: don't use a chromebook. I have an older friend who needed a laptop for work and I made the mistake of getting a chromebook. The f*cking thing didn't do TKIP correctly in WPA2 so it didn't work with my wifi without making major changes to security in a tactical frustration that made ME look like I didn't know what I was doing
It was a G d nightmare, but needless to say I will NEVER use a chromebook again, esp after hearing your issue with the phone
Just get a refurb lenovo from tigertits or newegg and put linux mint debian edition with xfce on it. The end
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#17Twilio SMS is an option at $1 / month
I've had problems using Twilio numbers to create Google accounts. I think voice activation does work, but you need to forward the number to your own number.
It should be assumed they check the phone number provider and block twilio as a spam prevention technique.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#18Go create a google voice account and put in that number.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#19I can't offer any advice that can help you quickly or is guaranteed to work. Write a longer and better composed post on some platform, with details of what you've tried, whom you tried to contact at Google, responses (or the lack thereof), etc. Share it on HN, Twitter and elsewhere to get some traction. If you can get it to someone at a senior level, that may help. Sadly, that seems to be the only way to get some companies to pay attention.
I'm not sure if your Google account is tied to a Gmail address (it doesn't necessarily have to be), but I would advise anyone who uses (or must use) Google's services to use an email address from another provider so that if you lose access to the Google account, your email also doesn't disappear with it. Further, disentangling oneself from such providers and going with those whose business depends on your monetary support may be a better choice (where feasible). I also get that these suggestions may sound absolutely ridiculous.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#20Stop buying computers that require you to provide your identity to ad companies in order to use them.
Well said; it really is that simple on principle.