Sites that demand phone numbers

Discussion in 'privacy problems' started by RockLobster, Dec 17, 2017.

  1. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    I have noticed a disturbing trend, websites locking my accounts usually claiming that they think I am a bot for no apparent good reason and then demanding my phone number to unlock them.
    Twitter recently did this as did some email providers.
     
  2. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    Doesn't surprise me. The disturbing trend will get more disturbing but the trouble is people will typically capitulate because they're already hooked. Any site demanding such information is not worth staying with but who's going to listen to that? I would unceremoniously give them the proverbial flick and not look back.
     
  3. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    I haven't given them my phone number, but you're right, most people probably will add that to all the other personal information they already gave up to corporate internet.
     
  4. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    Well, you can lease mobile phone numbers. Some of them even work for verification.
     
  5. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    They're going to want fingerprints & retina scans sooner rather than later.
     
  6. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    Yeah. And then there'll be a market for those ;)
     
  7. aih

    aih Registered Member

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    I don't think the reason is really site security or account security if all the site is doing is demanding a mobile phone number. My understanding is mobile phone number is becoming the unique identifier for collating information on the individual for the purposes of the people and concerns that market in that information.

    Probably. See above. What would be more unique than your fingerprint or retina.

    Precisely.
     
  8. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    I think there is a second, more insideous reason, which is to prevent anonymous participation.
    That may not seem like a big deal until you consider, a lot of people may not post opinions on controversial topics, or give their support to controversial projects, when doing so may have consequences in their real life so forcing people to identify themselves is therefore, a form of censorship.
     
  9. Carver

    Carver Registered Member

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    And it will probably be listed on the dark web if it isn't there already.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2017
  10. aih

    aih Registered Member

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    Point taken. That as the real reason or one of the real reasons makes sense, too.
     
  11. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    USA still the best. But barely.
    In 20 yrs or so all this silly concern about privacy, fairness, truthfulness & justice will disappear. Probably get to the point if you voice concern about these things you'll get locked up.
     
  12. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    It won't be 20 years. Those qualities have been eroding as a process for decades but the escalation of their demise can be clearly seen. It's also happening to varying degrees around the world, and I think 20 years is optimistic before the rot spreads everywhere.
     
  13. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    I thought I was being pessimistic with my 20 yr pronouncement. I'm really hoping for 30 yrs because I should be senile by then, maybe the rapture or nuclear armageddon or something. I don't want to live in Orwell's 1984.
     
  14. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    It's about seeing what's around you and being real about it. Optimism or pessimism tend to be built on wishful thinking rather than facts.
     
  15. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    I agree and equally of concern is how we are prevented from discussing this or the causes, by so many so called, discussion forums. Some by way of rules, some by way of upvote/downvote systems that allow for groups of people to work together in brigades to surpress posts that contradict their agenda, some by way of terms like "fake news" and "conspiracy theory".
     
  16. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    Yes RockLobster I hear you. On the one hand I can see why sites do this, as the internet doesn't lend itself to respectful dialog as we used to know it face to face or at least there was more accountability. In other words arguments are more likely to break out from behind a screen with a messy outcome and if there is any resolution it is much harder to come by, especially if people dig in. On the other hand, opinions don't count for much but facts do. Some of those are verifiable and it is a shame if those are stifled. I think the problem is Security and Privacy doesn't end with Security and Privacy and for that reason it's really hard to know when one crosses the line. It's also frustrating. It dovetails and is so interwoven with a lot of other things.

    Unlike that stupid phrase "conspiracy theory" I really do believe there is fake news and always has been. It's just that the term has been so whipped to death all for the purpose of making people lose site of the fact that it is real. There's a reason for everything.
     
  17. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    @Reality yes it is very frustrating at times although I do agree with what you say about sites that have to deal with argumentative individuals, I do feel their rules or methods are abused by those who wish to suppress factual information that contradicts the line they would prefer and I believe this kind of thing is becoming a common theme on the internet.
    A friend of mine runs a site, he uses it to try and get people to understand the big picture and he says it how he sees it. Some people may not like it but in my opinion he is factualy correct on most all of what he says.
    He has been censored by Google and FB, his site has been attacked and hacked and he is not allowed to upload his videos to YouTube anymore.
     
  18. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    I think respectful dialog has a chance of getting somewhere whereas arguments with name calling don't get anyone anywhere. Probably most if not all forums have to watch and deal with this all the time. If I understand you right and you mean others (like the powers that be) are taking advantage of sites' rules and methods as a way to suppress information, then yes I can see that happening. Nothing surprises me at the lengths these said people will go to, to confuse, suppress disrupt and so on.

    I stay far away from FB but I know certain people have complained bitterly about Google and their tricks including being censored, their channels disabled/frozen, unreasonable copyright strikes, views decreased, subscribers unsubscribed, penalized for not using ads etc. I also think unfiltered youtube searches can be heavily skewed especially with current news items. Remember some of us know and have mentioned how the word terrarysm has been widened to include almost everyone. Similar deal on youtube. Everyone lives under the threat of some PC garbage logic like being accused of h8 speech for the most ridiculous of reasons. It's another mechanism to shut people up.
     
  19. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    There's no rational conversations between our .......... leaders. I've never seen ridicule, lack of mutual respect, tolerance, humility, & kindness at lower levels. Except when the Civil Rights movement first started & was threatened by widespread violence which wasn't immediately condemned by the whole of society and instead celebrated as a God given right long over do.
     
  20. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    That much of your post is clear and I pretty much agree with.
     
  21. RockLobster

    RockLobster Registered Member

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    Well, just to update, Microsoft is still holding my email to ransom unless I give them my phone number.
    The only thing I did to provoke this is attempt to access my email from a different device than usual, which they claim represents suspicious activity.
    Isnt the entire point of webmail supposed to be its accessibility from any device?
    Also, more to the point, I fail to see how giving them my phone number is proof of anything. Do they think if I was a hacker trying to break into an email account I wouldn't have access to a phone?
    I could send them any number of any phone I have access to.
     
  22. Uitlander

    Uitlander Registered Member

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    I would agree with Reality. I ditched live.com and a yahoo.com email accounts because of this. That said, if you are determined to stick with such Big Bro groupies, the workaround is either to buy a burner phone, get an answering service for couple months, or try this:
    http://www.inumbr.com/?v=home_1
    I'm sure there are other circumventions. Anyone care to add to this?
     
  23. Uitlander

    Uitlander Registered Member

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    If you don't like the 1984 scenario, now would be the time to start hoarding your money. Ted Kaczynski had the right idea with his remote Montana cabin, but he overestimated how much protection it would provide. If you want to live under the radar, you cannot paint a target on your back. Urban dwellers will be the first to be scrutinized, so the more remote the better.
     
  24. Reality

    Reality Registered Member

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    Same here @Uitlander. Years ago (before I knew better than to avoid hotmail like the plague) I got an ultimatum from M$ that I would need to supply a phone number if I wanted to keep my email address. I was more than happy to let it go but I was intrigued as I watched it die the most slow painful death you could imagine - like months past the cutoff day I could still log in, somewhat intermittently. Perhaps M$ thought I'd soften over time. I didn't. These guys want every scrap of information they can get from you and they'll trot out their tailor-made excuses to that end.

    @zapjb, sorry to burst your bubble but it's no joke to become senile whatever timeline you have in mind. As to an Orwellian type society, it is what it is and it's already started. No one is going to stop it but no one even wants to hear that, much less why. There's crucial choices to make and going insane isn't exactly an intelligent one.
     
  25. TairikuOkami

    TairikuOkami Registered Member

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    Phone number a personal information? People do not mind giving their number to a random pizza delivery guy, but they mind giving it to protect/recover their valuable accounts?
    Not to mention, that online companies are bound to follow privacy protection laws, unlike some random dudes you give it to. It is not like your number will be listed online.
    I provided my number to all my online accounts, FB and Google included, then again I am protected by EU laws, I guess it is different in US, where is zero protection.
     
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