Why are things so hard to log into these days? Just

Are there ways not to use these things?

But hackers attack the organisation you jump a million hoops to get in to.
Does it matter your passport is a more secure ID verification than another, when the hackers take your verification details off a site to re launder?

@lilkitten the default security setting on phones always seems to be for the message to display in full, in general I always have to go through settings on a new phone because the default is to allow all kinds of things that I wouldn't have.

I agree - that doesn't make any sense about message display defaulting that way - especially as they must know people are using 2FA. I think this is part of the push to to use Face ID or fingerprint. I know people who were really pleased with Face ID and fingerprint but then they switched it off. I asked them about it but they just groan and say it will take too long to explain why they don't want it.

I didn't know you could do that, I'll look into it. It always seemed weird to me - say someone stole my phone and laptop, they don't even need to figure out how to get into my phone, so it seems to not provide much security

@lilkitten I set my phone so it won't show on a lock screen. They seem to be automatically set to have a message preview, but I changed it sor it just says "text message". It shows who the sender is though, but it doesn't show the content of the message.

Probably been said further up, but the face ID might be a one-off due to recent law changes. Should only need to do that once. I get why they need to check us on multiple devices, though it's a faff. Sometimes I get problems with veri codes coming through hours later though. It also seems a little pointless that you don't need to unlock your phone to see the code, seems that would add better protection

Emeraldroulette:
I say a variety of things....
I tell them I have a skin disability and they are discriminating against me and breaking the law. True- cos if I have an outbreak it would not recognise me.

I tell them they don't need to scan my face.

I tell them to have a zoom call with me and I ll show them my passport.

I tell them their systems are unreasonable and that other agencies do NOT insist on this measure. Which is true. The millennials think their way is the only way.

I tell them I worked for HM prison service and had to disclose every address I lived at since being born but NEVER had to do a face scan.

I tell them I have had jobs in this country since I was 12, I have full ID and I do not need a face scan to confirm who I am.

Every single person backs down.

It's a hill Im willing to die on.

I don't have the NHS app. I thought it was compulsory to do the face scan thing now. In fact, I got the impression from another thread that the next time I log into my government gateway it's going to ask for that. I hope not.

I'm quite happy with 2FA. If people are given the choice between face scanning and 2FA, wouldn't most of us pick 2FA?

If it's a choice between the current iteration of rubbish technology, and going back to things like cheques - which I haven't used for a decade or more - I would choose going back to that.

@Capillaryaction How did you get them to change their minds? I've got two clients who require required it for the ID pass that lets me access their office. It wouldn't have occurred to me to say no because I imagine they'd just find another contractor. Do you mean they require a face scan every time you enter into the premises?

@LauraNorda you've given me an ear worm now 🎤 This ain't no technological breakdown... this is the road to hell.

I really hate this technological nightmare we seem to have sleepwalked into.

Come on, Carrington Event Mk2.

I am a face-scan refuser.

The NHS app has an option on the first page you can click on saying 'log in by email address' or summat like that. Face scanning is easily avoidable there.

I have refused three times to get my face scanned by companies who want to take me on as a contractor. I sometimes get patches of Eczema on my face and I find it intrusive and annoying.
EVERY TIME I get an annoying millennial who declares it to be essential, and every time I challenge it and they find some other way.
we must resist this menace!

I've just had a major rant at one of these situations.

I've had a barrage of emails telling me they are upgrading to new portal system please log in before it goes live to check import etc etc. I finally got round to it today.

So - I use my email address to log in as instructed. Need password so you are told to go through lost password process. Sit and watch the paint drying whilst awaiting link. Link finally arrives, set new password (same as I used before!) and then..... the dreaded 2FA. I have a choice of SMS or email. I opt for SMS. That still hasn't arrived so I try again with email. More waiting for paint to dry. It eventually shows up 25 minutes later and has expired before it arrives...

I may get to log in one day but it's sucked enough of my life force for today

I’ve been watching this thread and waiting for a comment like this.

I’ve recently had a situation where my dad was hospitalised and my mum (who relies on my dad for just about everything) then couldn’t even ask a friend to get something from a supermarket because she hadn’t had a bank card for so long the bank just stopped issuing her new cards. So, she was completely stuck. I live 80 miles away and could hardly “nip” to the local co-op for her so the whole thing turned into a bit of a muddle.

They are fiercely independent (despite being in their mid/late 80’s) and refuse to do Power of Attorney because that will “admit defeat”. The whole situation is ridiculous but there is no changing their mind. My dad does hold his own with online banking but this situation proved my mum just wouldn’t be able to cope. but will they do anything about it!? NOPE! Grrrr!

And, I struggle with all the online stuff, passwords, how many pictures have motorbikes in, what is the name of your pet (I don’t have one!?) etc… it drives me insane! It took me 18 months to sort out my EA Games account because I couldn’t access an email address (and I’m not shy with technology).

So, just how older people manage is actually beyond me, but I also admire them for trying to tackle it too!

And now today there's an Internet outage that's affecting many apps 😔

1. Security has to beef up to keep pace with hackers finding new ways to get data
2. Too many people set dumb/easy to crack passwords/fail to set up 2FA

If you want to use apps and tech but don't want to get hacked, you have to accept jumping through numerous hoops to log in to things/prove your identity.

It's absolutely tedious and mind-numbing, but you can't put a price on security.

Spoke to a 30 something today who told me that it takes a lot longer to do individual tasks because of software changes. I didn't raise the issue. She said it to me because of something that is going to take longer than when she did it for me last time.

True. It’s like 40% of the car park charge just for “admin”.

It also costs more to pay via Ringo than it does to pay by contactless in lots of places. That is if the contactless is working of course. My local council had to withdraw it as it broke down so often.

I am in if there is a campaign! Been ranting about this for years. And I hate being treated like I am a silly irrelevant older person who doesn’t understand technology. I do, and that’s why I can see that we have totally jumped the shark with all this.
Ive complained to my doctors about the convoluted appointment process, and the practice manager told me that their patients find it convenient… sure, the ones that don’t give up before they manage to get an appointment! It’s a barrier to care for precisely the people who likely need it most- the old, the sick, people in pain.
And I don’t want bloody apps for everything in my phone. I’m thinking about ditching my smart phone completely and wonder how possible life even is without one?

I've noticed that more and more car park machines have now got a contactless payment option, which is great for me as I point blank refused to ever use a parking app.

I find myself having to do some deep breathing to use car park apps. If you haven’t used the particular one for a while and have changed your car God help you! I yearn for the days when I could stick a quid in the machine.
I parked on a Sunday which was free after 5.30pm. I paid my 2hrs taking me past 5.30pm but then the app sent me a reminder that my parking was expiring in 2hrs. It made me doubt I’d read the parking restrictions incorrectly (that’s a whole other thread!).

I think they hope people won’t bother to track their spending or increases in price (that you have to log in to find the details of).

I’m with SP and use my laptop to access my account - my laptop remembers all my passwords so that works. Out and about with only my phone…..I wouldn’t bother.

The outrage and negativity about ID cards was crazy - they already know all about you down to where you are ,or if phone is off where you last were when you used it, your IP address, your address and if you used photo id, What you look like .

The scariest part of this is that all our data is being stored on dozens of servers.

all this rubbish about making it harder for hackers and scammers, it's an illusion no, they'll just head for the server and hack that. If that kid who hacked into the Pentagon can do it, you can bet that they can find a way. It's just a more enjoyable challenge for them.

Ive got rid of any supermarket or retail reward card that forces me to download an app. It's just not worth the hassle and the risk. I don't need puddly amounts of money off my Boots shampoo or a free coffee after I've had to spend £40 on coffees for the privilege. It's all just a massive con!

So the lack of an off-line option an even bigger deal

It sounds like a lot of us would welcome it.

I don't have banking apps on my phone. Can someone explain to me how big a problem is if the phone gets stolen? Or if it isn't working? Please and thank you.