Earlier quoted context omitted.
Fair enough. I'd just pick up a random sim card at any supermarket, comes with a free phone number.
FYI being able to just buy a random SIM a any supermarket is not common outsid the UK.
FYI, it's possible in Ireland.
Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
91–100 of 205 posts
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#92Earlier quoted context omitted.
No. Why would you spread lies like that?
It's a question. The user saying that may be wrong in that assumption, but to counter assume intent of spreading a lie is a bit of stretch.
Isn't it true that questions are very handy in rhetorics? No, you do not get a pass just because you claim you were not sure. If you don't know, then don't suggest it. It just muddies the water.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#93I'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…
I had a Gmail account for a secondary email address that I used at times. One day I logged in with my email and password, and Google said I needed to further verify my identity. Well, my security question was a bogus one because I was confident with my password manager and backups it would not be needed. But, I guess I was wrong, because I didn't anticipate that knowing the password wouldn't be enough for Google. I n…
Precisely the same thing happened to me. I removed Google from my life entirely, and I'm really happy about it.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#94I'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…
I had a Gmail account for a secondary email address that I used at times. One day I logged in with my email and password, and Google said I needed to further verify my identity. Well, my security question was a bogus one because I was confident with my password manager and backups it would not be needed. But, I guess I was wrong, because I didn't anticipate that knowing the password wouldn't be enough for Google. I n…
Next time, add your security questions to your password manager.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
They closed that loophole in Europe after the terrorist attacks of recent years. You can't buy pre-paid SIM cards without giving an ID anymore.
In Portugal you can buy and use a prepaid sim card without showing your ID or giving away any personal information. On the other hand buying credit is done via the bank, so you only have a few euros to spend before losing anonymity.
It's different in different countries. Estonia, Latvia, Netherlands allow sim cards wihout IDs. Poland, Switzerland do not.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#96Outlook Mail does the same. Registered a free email account, logged in from other IP (from the same network) and got a requirement to enter a phone number.
Had the same experience with an outlook account used for registering sites I don't trust.
Microsoft's excuse (lie) was that, my account had sent too many spam messages.
Got pissed and abandoned the account.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#97I'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…
I think the correct term is security by obscurity. Every time I need to "ID" myself I just borrow someone else's phone.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#98I 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
Some of them read Hacker News.. if your problem makes it to the frontpage you might be in luck. But again, this is really not the way this should work.
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#99I'm waiting for the day that LinkedIn will refuse to let me login without configuring a phone number. I don't use smartphones.
> I don't use smartphones This has nothing to do with smartphones. Last week I decided to create a Youtube account as their premium, ad-free service is now available in the UK. All was going well on my laptop until I hit the page demanding a phone number. Any number, smart or dumb. Not having a burner-SIM to hand I just closed the tab.
Do these services take landline numbers as well?
Re: Tell HN: Google requiring phone number to log into Chromebook
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Doesn't Apple do that too? One of the reasons I use Linux on my MacBook.
You can set up a Mac or iOS device without ever logging into an Apple account. The only place it is "required" (well, not strictly required , but I guess an iOS device is not that useful otherwise) is for the App Store to get apps (someone correct me on this but I'm not sure you can download free apps without an Apple account, and there's a way, although convoluted IIRC, to create one without entering credit card details)