Sadly I will no longer be able to maintain my blog. An FBI friend once told me “it’s not Big Brother you need to worry about, but Little Brother”. The vast number of private companies amassing data on you has grown and everyone knows Google is now among the worst. I value my privacy and refuse to divulge my private phone number in order to access my accounts. Bugger off Google.

So, with no access to the blog or my gmail account I’m dead in the water for now. Sorry to those who were awaiting my report and photos of my upcoming penectomy. It scheduled the first week in June but I’ll have to figure out another way of keeping my followers up to date.

Very sorry to hear this. Your blog was an excellent resource...

I agree about the problems w/ Google, and I avoid it as much as I possibly can. I find Startpage is a good alternative for searches, not sure what to suggest for blogging.

I have a Google account, sort of - the name on it isn't mine and I think I used a forwarder for the email verification. I only use it for the one Google group list that I'm required to be on, and the only time I log into the account proper is my periodic review of privacy settings to make sure everything that can be turned off is...

I also run multiple filters and blockers on my Firefox install, and only allow the bare minimum Javascript needed to allow sites to load.... (Not to mention that I'm also running Debian Linux....)

WheelyCurious

Sorry to hear your new, I hope in time you will find a way around it.

All the best

Are they demanding you submit your phone number or just asking? I've had requests from FB to give them my number but have always refused and I still have my account.

Google has taken to any time they do not recognize the IP address you're trying to sign in from, demanding you use your phone to capture a QR Code to verify its you. It's damn annoying. I've traveled a couple times in the past 2 weeks and each time I changed location it's done this. "We don't recognize you..." is how they're doing it.

I'm much with Sean Thomas on this one... I did it for my routine personal account, however I'm not doing this for the other account I had set up to send spam messages to (IE what I considered a throwaway address I could give to people who are data collecting). What annoys me more, is they've set this up so that if you move location, then return to one it should recognize, it STILL makes you go through this process.

Once I settle into a new location, I will be seeking alternatives because of this. Everyone is insisting you give them entirely too much information which they DON'T need, just so they can monetize it.

HumanFly (imported) wrote: Wed May 18, 2022 1:18 am Are they demanding you submit your phone number or just asking? I've had requests from FB to give them my number but have always refused and I still have my account.

Demanded to access email and blog. No other options were offered. If any of you computer guys can suggest a work around I can get back to posting.

I’m very curious about your next step, etc. What exact surgery will you be having and how does the wife think about your soon to be new status? Thanks in advance for future updates. I’ve been checking the blog and hope you find a way to do updates. Good Luck

There is light at the end of the tunnel wherein I have found a way to set up a “burner” phone number. I constantly amazed learning new things about this internet business. For a few bucks you can get a separate phone number, which may have some other advantages to preserve one’s privacy. Anyway, when I get some more time I’ll get it set up and be back on the blog and my email.

Stevenator I’ll address your question with a new post.

Okay. Thank you very much

Sadly we are in a surveillance state now.

Snooping and censorship are rife.

Big tech are constantly configuring algorithms to catch folks out.

So can totally understand where you are with this.

Thanks for the blogs they were enjoyable and informative.