Re: Codes sent by text message

The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> wrote:

Some annoying websites insist on authentication by requiring me to enter the number they send by text message.  For some reason my google voice number is never identified as a real phone number and I have to use my old phone with the $10/year SIM to receive their code.
 WTF?  Why is the google voice number not a REAL phone number?

I use GV, too.  It is considered, because it is, a VOIP service rather
than a telco or cellular carrier.  The site wants to track to a device,
not to a VOIP service.  The IMEI number of your phone is gold to
trackers.
"How the Pentagon Learned to Use Targeted Ads to Find Its Targets—and
Vladimir Putin"
https://www.wired.com/story/how-pentagon-learned-targeted-ads-to-find-targets-and-vladimir-putin/
Physical phones are preferred for tracking.  They want to track by
device, not by service.  Even landlines are preferred over services.  GV
operates much like a PBX or forwarding service using simultaneous ring
to call your phone(s).  Sites won't know what are your devices to track
when you give them GV, OOMA, or other PBX/forwarding services.  Some
sites won't let you use e-mail aliasing or forwarding services, either.
They want something more direct.