Internet wanting more personal info about you

[Loppan Torkel]

I've got a Gmail account and for some time now a notification pops up asking me for my phone number, in case my password gets lost or something. I won't give it to since there's no good reason to do it, but I think I've heard that if you create a new account you have to register your phone number.

Where do you draw the line for what information you leave out on internet and what services are you willing to exchange more info for what they offer? Have phone-salesmen become a nuisance for you yet?

How much info about you is available on Facebook? Do you trust them more than other services on Internet or is it more or less a necessity to be there and to trust them?

 

[Cheetah]

As little as possible.

I have several Google-accounts of which one is used solely for my real emails, Facebook knows my facebook-friends and several pictures of me, and my browser is set to automatically deny any cookies, unless I say otherwise.

Planning to become an active user of TOR as well I think.

 

[dwaxe]

but I think I've heard that if you create a new account you have to register your phone number.

Shouldn't that be easy enough to check?

 

[Newbunkle]

If I was asked for more info I'd just fill in something random and fake.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Shouldn't that be easy enough to check?

Not easy enough, but I did check it now to be sure. They want your phone number to verify your new account. Google also ensure that there's nothing to worry about.

 

[Mise]

Sometimes, I want it to know a lot more about me, to make my life easier. In other situations, I want to be anonymous. Ultimately, I don't mind them asking, as long as I have a modicum of control over it.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Since it is ostensibly just a way for you to verify your identity in case you lose your password, you can provide them any number you wish. Of course, you might want to write it down someplace...

Speaking of identifying info, I once had a run-in with a person who worked as a customer service rep at a credit card company. Finally, I demanded to talk to her supervisor and she even refused to do so! I ended up canceling that card. Months later, I was asked for my mother's maiden name at a different credit card company to prove it was really me. I told the person the name and she told me that was not correct. I responded "Of course it is correct! Don't you think I know my mom's name?" The other person had apparently changed it! After a brief discussion with her supervisor, I got it changed back...

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Since it is ostensibly just a way for you to verify your identity in case you lose your password, you can provide them any number you wish. Of course, you might want to write it down someplace...

You have options to have your account verified via either SMS or voice-mail, it seemed. A fake number wouldn't do much.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Well, that sucks. They recently asked me to add my number to my existing account and had no such requirement. Use the number of a relative or friend.

Personally, I find their directed ads a bit alarming. Do I want to talk to a drug alcohol intervention counselor? Am I interested in a hot chick from South America who wants to marry me? And now, how about a Sprint account, apparently so I can more easily receive google phone calls?

I wonder if they helped develop the NSA software that tracks all internet usage in the US and elsewhere...

 

[LucyDuke]

If I was asked for more info I'd just fill in something random and fake.

This.

Sometimes, I want it to know a lot more about me, to make my life easier. In other situations, I want to be anonymous. Ultimately, I don't mind them asking, as long as I have a modicum of control over it.

And this.


I generally assume anyone that wants to know anything about me badly enough will find out. The threat of Choicepoint is keeping me honest more than the threat of god ever did.

And yeah, Google has my phone number. Why should that bother me?

 

[Maniacal]

Facebook pretty much exists to sell your information anyway. Not to mention the 100s of shady "LIKE TIHS" stuff on the web and Facebook apps.

 

[Abaddon]

Sometimes, I want it to know a lot more about me, to make my life easier. In other situations, I want to be anonymous. Ultimately, I don't mind them asking, as long as I have a modicum of control over it.

this.

 

[Bestbank Tiger]

Use 985-655-2500 as your phone number. It's one of the Rickroll numbers.

 

[Singularity]

Well, that sucks. They recently asked me to add my number to my existing account and had no such requirement. Use the number of a relative or friend.

Personally, I find their directed ads a bit alarming. Do I want to talk to a drug alcohol intervention counselor? Am I interested in a hot chick from South America who wants to marry me? And now, how about a Sprint account, apparently so I can more easily receive google phone calls?

I wonder if they helped develop the NSA software that tracks all internet usage in the US and elsewhere...

I feel a bit like the guy sitting under the desk with a tinfoil hat, but I think the whole concept of personal freedom and representation on the internet and in customer databases is as vulnerable as a fish in a barrel. And that the overriding need for generating revenue from this data and the danger of being the target of a personal vendetta from people with access to your personal data is too large.

If anything the PS3 network attack also showed us that confidential data is not safe in both a macro and micro scale.

Until I feel my personal info is a lot safer than it is today I won't give out an iota of info more than strictly necessary. But international mood is that anyone can be a terrorist, so there's already a ton of sensitive data stored on me online in case I should embrace my inner terrorist. And frankly Wikileaks, Anonymous, j35t3r and their peers aren't making me feel much safer than the so called democratic governments sentinel policies.

The internet grew too big too fast. And I fear it's going to take a loooong time before we've matured the security side of it.

 

[GinandTonic]

Mr L. La of La La Inc has registered an awful lot of nonsense us software licences for me.

 

[Skwink]

Dillian Pennypacker has helping me open up a few account lately.

 

[Maniacal]

Use 985-655-2500 as your phone number. It's one of the Rickroll numbers.

Except I think it sends a text message so that would be completely pointless.

 

[Bill3000]

I've got a Gmail account and for some time now a notification pops up asking me for my phone number, in case my password gets lost or something. I won't give it to since there's no good reason to do it, but I think I've heard that if you create a new account you have to register your phone number.

It's for extra account security so you can reset your password, for example if you're hacked or forget your password. They'd text or call you for an activation code.

 

[Disgustipated]

?? I never had gmail ask me for a phone number. That seems strange. They only asked me for a backup email address if I ever need to retrieve a password or whatever.

As for security on the internet, gmail still has no idea who I am. So I'm not scared of them. I'm just an anonymous user with no name.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

?? I never had gmail ask me for a phone number. That seems strange. They only asked me for a backup email address if I ever need to retrieve a password or whatever.

As for security on the internet, gmail still has no idea who I am. So I'm not scared of them. I'm just an anonymous user with no name.

And an IP address that the ISP can use to identify you with a court order