Re: Google 2SV without mobile number

Frank Slootweg wrote on 10 May 2024 15:07:22 GMT :

Oh. I missed that. Thank you.
I'm allergic to 2SV/2FA as I feel it's an obvious invasion of privacy.

 
  You're of course free to (try to) prevent use of 2SV/2FA...

Yes. I know. Privacy is getting more and more difficult every day.
Mainly because Google makes the rules and others follow those rules.

Luckily, OAUth2 is still working for Thunderbird & FairEmail on Android.

but AFAIK, authenticator 'apps' (programs) don't have any privacy issue.

I just looked up my old XDA thread, which I updated with Andy's new
information, and at the same time I looked up what the existing OTA apps
are, which, last I tested the available free ad-free OTA apps, all
_required_ you to give them your personal information to set 'em up.

Perhaps others can comment on that.

I'd be happy to learn more as I get frustrated instantly whenever any app
requires me to identify myself using personal information such as OTA apps
do when you're setting them up for the first time.

I'm not going to test them again but for others, here are some OTA apps
that were listed in my app archive when I did a dir on the OTA folder.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.twofasapp
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.authy.authy
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rcdevs.auth
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.azure.authenticator
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.fedorahosted.freeotp
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beemdevelopment.aegis
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zoho.accounts.oneauth
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.shadowice.flocke.andotp
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bitwarden.authenticator
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smmservice.authenticator
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.authenticator.authservice2
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.authenticator.app.starnest
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.liberty.android.freeotpplus
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.authenticator2
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=authenticator.two.factor.authentication.otp
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=otp.authenticator.app.authentication.password

Much appreciated the clarification as Andy always has good information
(so I wanted to be clear that I understood what he was informing us of).
 

  Creating a new Google Account without a phone number has always been
possible, at least it still was on October 23 when I last tested this
(probably/possibly (also) for you).

 
Everyone says that but I'm no technical slouch and it *always* asks for a
second verification, whether a phone or an email, and I give it neither.

 
  Yes, it *asks*, but you can *skip* it.

I understood what you said. I've heard it said so many times.
As I said, I'm no technical slouch on finding a "skip" or "ignore" button.
But maybe things have changed since last week (or maybe I made a mistake).
Just let me test it later today and screenshot it for the team.
 

Hence, it refuses to set up the account. I'll try again later to screenshot
it for the team such that my experience has been GMail always requires it.

 
  That would be nice. Perhaps things are different for this side of the
pond (Andy, Chris and I are in Europe).

I'll do it from my own ISP and I could try it from my phone's T-Mobile data
but I've _never_ been able to set up a Google Account without needing to
give them private "real" data.

BTW, this is about setting up a new Google Account, not about Gmail.

Maybe they're different in terms of setup, but I've never set up "only"
GMail. I set up a "Google Account" and it comes with the GMail (AFAIK).

I could be wrong - as I had never doubted it - but to me the GMail account
comes with the Google Account. Thanks for the clarification.