#infosec
3498 posts · Last used 3h
Security / privacy heads up: It looks like Google is now publicly linking the phone number on Google Pixel phones (or at least Pixel 6 and up) to any Gmail/Google account you've logged into that phone with.
"Phone number verification is turned on by default. We verify the phone number and add them to all Google Accounts that are signed in on the device. This applies to both current and future accounts and phone numbers. "
I.e., if you write erotica, have an Only Fans, do sex work, etc., and you have logged into your alt email addresses on your phone, Google will now make your personal phone number "findable" for anyone who has that email address.
This will potentially adversely affect a lot of (vulnerable and/or marginalized) people.
Everyone has been opted into this by default (because who has heard of consent or security in tech circles grrr).
To opt out:
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On your phone, go to Settings, then next to your account name at the very top, go to "Google Services and Preferences".
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Under “Privacy & security,” select Phone number verification.
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Select whether to verify your phone number.
If you don't want your different identities linked and findable, make this change asap.
I hope that tech and especially infosec people and privacy advocates raise hell about this. (No one listens to the rest of us.)
*I don't work in tech, but I haven't seen tech people talk about this yet (from my limited Fedi vantage point).
Stay safe and keep your people safe.
Read more in the Google support pages.
https://support.google.com/android/answer/7521240
You're welcome to boost or share this post, but if you see tech professionasl discuss it, I'd much rather you quote them, and if you discuss this outside of Fedi, please do not give me credit. I don't need reply guys coming at me, I just want to flag people on what might be a problem. Thanks for your understanding.
Has anybody here solved the following conundrum?
- wanting a bluetooth/gps tracker to be able to recover a stolen bicycle (or other use case)
- not trusting Google, Apple and other companies to not use/sell/lose data
- using a deGoogled phone and Linux computer (in my case, LineageOS and Fedora)
That is, I would want to be able to recover my bicycle if stolen, while keeping my daily movements as private as possible. Enshittified web search has not helped much..
#askFedi #fediHelp #bikeTooter #bicycle #cycling #biking #security #privacy #infoSec #opSec #deGoogle #lineageOS #linux #fedora
** Help me find profiles to follow ... ***
Looking for these kinds of accounts to follow to keep informed on software and papers: ActivityPub and Fediverse hosters and software developers.Secure communication hosters and software developers.Usenet / NNTP hosters and software developers.Cryptographers, cryptanalysts, cipher code makers and breakers.Writers of papers and preprints.Textual Criticism buffs and translators, including producers of papers and software. #Introduction #ActivityPub #Fediverse #Usenet #NNTP #InfoSec #Papers #Cryptography #Cryptology #Encryption #Bible #TextualCriticism #Antiquities #Translation







