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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

#191

Post by Symbiote »

Loic wrote: post #74
Symbiote wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please don't generalize about Europe unless you're certain the statement is true. You can buy a SIM card in a vending machine in at least airports in Denmark and the UK.

Last time I was there in Denmark I had to provide a CPR number to enable the SIM card. For the non-danish people the CPR number is basically your lifetime number for everything from social security, to tax, payroll, etc.

Perhaps if you want a contract, but it would be rather pointless requiring a CPR number, yet selling SIMs in the arrivals hall of Copenhagen Airport.

Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook

#193

Post by fiblye »

bobdole123456 wrote: post #172
fiblye wrote: post #52

I've had this happen with gmail accounts randomly. Most of the time with computers I've been using for years on the same network. The worst occasion I've ever had was the one time I was traveling. I was getting by with only wifi and, naturally, didn't have a phone number to confirm my account with. I didn't have a number bound to my account, either, making the whole process pointless. How did I get into my account? I…

It’s a security measure FOR THEIR SECURITY, not for yours. It’s an anti-spam, and anti-abuse measure. So they’re not giving away free resources that get used to harass their users. Why would Google need you to give them your phone number to associate that with you? They’re on many of the phones in the world, someone you know has already done that for them, or you used your own phone to do the same.

If Google hired reasonable smart engineers, they'd know that a 10 year old account with a stable history of regular emails isn't a spam account.

Unfortunately, Google doesn't seem to have the best staff. Or even good staff.

Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook

#194

Post by stephen82 »

vageli wrote: post #136
stephen82 wrote: post #115

They have done this to me a couple of months ago with my Gmail account and got really panicked, because I had all my contacts on it. After I have managed to restore it more than 4 hours later, I permanently deleted my account and Google immediately contacted me with apologies, asking me for the reason I did such thing. They have tried to persuade me to restore my account with a couple of emails, but it was already to…

> They have tried to persuade me to restore my account with a couple of emails, but it was already too late. Where are they sending those emails, to your Google account's backup account?

Yes, on my alternative email.

Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook

#195

Post by CaptainZapp »

bobdole123456 wrote: post #173
CaptainZapp wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't want to spend money. Not even a few quid, because a scummy company suddenly doesn't let me access my device, which I "own" for years without surrendering even more personal information. That's apart from what other posters explained. That in a lot of countries you can't just get a sim from a kiosk, or a vending machine without proper identification.

This is an anti-spam and anti-abuse requirement, not because they need you to tell them your phone number. They’re on most of the phones in the world, and have access to all the billing records associated with your phone number, as they’re a cell phone service provider. They’re asking folks who they think might be abusing the service for this information, so they identify themselves in a way that Google can report to…

Given that this is a very new account I smell trolling, or astroturfing. Just in case it's not, I bite:

This is an anti-spam and anti-abuse requirement, not because they need you to tell them your phone number.

Any means of backing up that statment? Specifically, why are anti-spam measures needed to access a device?

They’re on most of the phones in the world

So what? A lot of people, myself included, will never, ever use an Android device. Especially since they don't trust Google one yota not to completely violate their privacy. In terms of the discussion this is a red herring.

and have access to all the billing records associated with your phone number, as they’re a cell phone service provider.

It's here, where your comment gets outright ludicrous. From [1]

When the mobile device is turned on or is transferred via a handover to the network, this new "visited" network sees the device, notices that it is not registered with its own system, and attempts to identify its home network. If there is no roaming agreement between the two networks, maintenance of service is impossible, and service is denied by the visited network.

The visited network contacts the home network and requests service information (including whether or not the mobile should be allowed to roam) about the roaming device using the IMSI number.

If successful, the visited network begins to maintain a temporary subscriber record for the device. Likewise, the home network updates its information to indicate that the cell phone is on the host network so that any information sent to that device can be correctly routed.

There is NO, whatsoever exchange of subscriber information, safe for service information required for billing. Pretending that "Google can associate billing records with your number" doesn't pass the smell test.

The idea they’d need you to tell them this information so they could use it is kind of laughable.

The idea that the ilks of Google, Facbook and all those dodgy add tech brothers and sisters would not abuse any means possible to violate your privacy is laughable.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaming

Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook

#197

Post by bobdole123456 »

CaptainZapp wrote: post #195
bobdole123456 wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is an anti-spam and anti-abuse requirement, not because they need you to tell them your phone number. They’re on most of the phones in the world, and have access to all the billing records associated with your phone number, as they’re a cell phone service provider. They’re asking folks who they think might be abusing the service for this information, so they identify themselves in a way that Google can report to…

Given that this is a very new account I smell trolling, or astroturfing. Just in case it's not, I bite: This is an anti-spam and anti-abuse requirement, not because they need you to tell them your phone number. Any means of backing up that statment? Specifically, why are anti-spam measures needed to access a device? They’re on most of the phones in the world So what? A lot of people, myself included, will never, ever…

You don’t think there is a system for network providers to identify customers to each other?

How about to law enforcement?

Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook

#198

Post by bobdole123456 »

fiblye wrote: post #193
bobdole123456 wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s a security measure FOR THEIR SECURITY, not for yours. It’s an anti-spam, and anti-abuse measure. So they’re not giving away free resources that get used to harass their users. Why would Google need you to give them your phone number to associate that with you? They’re on many of the phones in the world, someone you know has already done that for them, or you used your own phone to do the same.

If Google hired reasonable smart engineers, they'd know that a 10 year old account with a stable history of regular emails isn't a spam account. Unfortunately, Google doesn't seem to have the best staff. Or even good staff.

10 year old accounts get hijacked all the time.

Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook

#199

Post by blackbrokkoli »

bobdole123456 wrote: post #198
fiblye wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If Google hired reasonable smart engineers, they'd know that a 10 year old account with a stable history of regular emails isn't a spam account. Unfortunately, Google doesn't seem to have the best staff. Or even good staff.

10 year old accounts get hijacked all the time.

Yeah, maybe.

But it's Google. I could name at least 12 datapoints to check wether it's still the same user it was for 10 years on top of my head. Starting with "still using the same device" going to probably things like "typing style", given how sophisticated their AI is.

There is really no excuse for Google's ADD and implementing half-assed features and stopping to support them 2 months later...

Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook

#200

Post by bobdole123456 »

blackbrokkoli wrote: post #199
bobdole123456 wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

10 year old accounts get hijacked all the time.

Yeah, maybe. But it's Google. I could name at least 12 datapoints to check wether it's still the same user it was for 10 years on top of my head. Starting with "still using the same device" going to probably things like "typing style", given how sophisticated their AI is. There is really no excuse for Google's ADD and implementing half-assed features and stopping to support them 2 months later...

This isn’t a feature to authenticate the account. This is to identify the person using the account. They’re tying the person using the account to a phone number that person apparently controls, and thus a billing contact.

This usually means Google suspects you of doing something that might be abusive.

In this case: re-activating a dormant account that was in a data dump would be a safe bet.

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