Privacy

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Creating dummy Google accounts (lemmy.world)

submitted 6 months ago by OnePhoenix@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I use GrapheneOS ony phone and a Mac with the security options as optimized as possible. For most of my emailing etc, I use Tuta and Proton. There are instances however, where having a Google account is beneficial (some apps for example won't download from Aurora store in anonymous mode).

Is it advisable/possible to create a dummy Google account with minimal ID/credentials? And if so, what are some best practices for doing so?

Or, do I resign myself to the fact that with more control over my data, I have to sacrifice more?

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[–] Linguist@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Maybe I'm wrong but if I recall don't you need a phone number and such for a google account which is an identifier?

[–] Rolando@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago

I created a google account last month, using a new chromebook hooked up to wifi. It let me create the account without a phone number, let me install software etc. Then when I rebooted, it demanded a phone number because of "suspicious traffic". (wtf?)

[–] MicrowavedTea@infosec.pub 4 points 6 months ago

Last time I opened a new Google account ~2019 I noticed if you did it from some countries it didn't ask for a phone number (even on a vpn). I remember Greece and Romania being two of them. It's been a while since then but it's worth a try. But you also had to receive an email within a few a hours otherwise it asked for a verification. This was all through trial and error so take it with a grain of salt of course.

[–] OnePhoenix@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Possibly, but other than that there aren't any real verification steps when entering info to create an account (you can just add bogus info).

If there is a phone number required, I have used burner numbers in the past which may work.