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Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook

news.ycombinator.com

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

#31

Post by whyagaindavid »

Are u worried about your country's security services or Google? Not sure of the question. If it is (1) then stop using anything from big 5 tech. It is likely changing ips and locations possibly makes google feel suspicious that your login is being compromised. For my very paranoid friend, I bought 2 X 'U2F' key completely open source at https://u2fzero.com/ (unlike some of Yubico keys) . All problems went away.

Also remember any form of 2-factor is better than none. Yes, GSM can be hacked and yadayada.. but even one extra factor always slows down. See even a senior Mozilla dev got hacked without 2FA: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/08/02/chrome_web_develope...

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

#33

Post by userbinator »

hirsin wrote: post #13
zbuf wrote: post #12

I 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,…

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.

If anything I think it's the opposite --- dedicated spammers have shown they can farm resources like accounts of various types, so phone numbers aren't out of their reach. It's the casual users who don't want to give away their phone numbers or setup a throwaway one which will be turned away.

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

#34

Post by Casseres »

saryant wrote: post #28
negutron wrote: post #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),…

This conspiracy theory makes no sense. Why on earth would your bank need identify you by phone number when you already have to give them your social security number to open the account?

> you already have to give them your social security number to open the account

FYI, no you do not have to.

> You are not required to have a social security number to open a checking or savings account.

Source: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-i-get-a-checkin...

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

#36

Post by sixstringbudha »

>Am I crazy or does this seem like an extremely cynical attempt to get more phone numbers?

Yes it does. The normal Gmail interface I get now has a forgot password link which is by default activated after I enter the username. I have to explicitly jump over that to continue entering the actual password and thus to my mail box.

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

#37

Post by cm2187 »

emerongi wrote: post #6

They've essentially bricked your machine and are demanding your phone number to un-brick it? Sounds like a case for a legal battle.

Sonos just did the same. They want you to create an account (and therefore give them an email) and otherwise are effectively bricking the device in the latest update.

Was time to get rid of this pos.

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

#38

Post by diamondo25 »

negutron wrote: post #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),…

About your WiFi issue: you shouldnt use WPA2 TKIP, because it is insecure.

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

#39

Post by Rebelgecko »

newscracker wrote: post #19

I 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 com…

How do you even find someone to contact at Google? When I tried in the past, the only support was for people that had some sort of recurring SaaS contract or for AdWords
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