• fonix232@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    47
    ·
    13 hours ago

    phone numbers were already an almost mandatory addition to new Google accounts. You need to set up 2FA when you make a new account, and the option to use an authenticator app is so well hidden… meanwhile Google still wants your phone number “to authenticate you”, even though it’s less secure than storing your password on a post it on your phone.

    • Doomsider@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      46
      ·
      edit-2
      13 hours ago

      I work with homeless people and I discovered you can no longer make email without a cell phone with any major provider. I can’t get them into their social security without an email.

      I was able to find an email provider that didn’t require a cell phone, but then you had to use a cell phone to get past the verification on the social security site. You are absolutely fucked without a cell phone now.

      • TotalCourage007@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        11
        ·
        10 hours ago

        Thats really twisted. They really want to make not owning a cell spy a crime. Every time I learn something new about Surveillance it makes me more anarchist.

        • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.club
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          8 hours ago

          The problem is that it isn’t an intentional design decision. It just happens to be the easiest way to add a “cost” to sign-up.

        • Doomsider@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          8
          ·
          9 hours ago

          Proton doesn’t work with social security website unfortunately. I ended up using Tuta mail but then later got stuck on Login.gov because it required either a cell phone to verify by taking pictures of ID or a desktop with a camera for a video call.

          Needless to say this is not something someone with no computer skills can accomplish. What is even worse is the local social security office stopped taking walk-ins. The solution? You guessed it, use the social security site to login and request an appointment…

    • purplemonkeymad@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      10 hours ago

      I tried to make a second account recently, and it wanted me to scan a qr code with my phone that then wanted to send me a text message. At the same time they were saying “this won’t associate your phone with the account.” I don’t believe that.

      • Bluegrass_Addict@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        8 hours ago

        believe nothing any company claims… assume whatever they claim is a lie, and they are about to defraud you because we’ll… that’s all they know how to do… illegal activities, mislead, fraud…