October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Google is announcing a slew of new features related to the sign-in process and account usage. New Google Account security protections include requiring JavaScript to be enabled when logging in and removing harmful apps during Security Checkup with Play Protect.
On the Account login page, Google runs a risk assessment that only allows the "sign-in if nothing looks suspicious." This analysis to protect against phishing requires that JavaScript be enabled, with Google noting that only .1% of users have it disabled. If that is the case, you will be prompted to enable it before signing in.
Chances are, JavaScript is already enabled in your browser; it helps power lots of the websites people use everyday. But, because it may save bandwidth or help pages load more quickly, a tiny minority of our users (0.1%) choose to keep it off. This might make sense if you are reading static content, but we recommend that you keep Javascript on while signing into your Google Account so we can better protect you
Once users are signed in, the Security Checkup feature now takes into account nefarious applications installed on Android devices, with Google Play Protect leveraged. You might be prompted to uninstall any harmful apps found on your phone, while Google recently beginning to recommend that users removed unused, but logged in devices.
(Score: 2) by Unixnut on Friday November 02 2018, @09:16AM (2 children)
That is what I have been doing for ages, and for a long while it has been fine, because those sites were generally entertainment, or minor ones I could do without. However now more important sites are doing it.
For example company hiring pages. I am coming across pages where, after I fill in all my details, add my CV, etc... for a job application, the final step before submission is to solve the damn Google recaptcha. So either I do it, or I abandon the effort so far for the job application, and look elsewhere. This decision now affects my ability to apply for jobs.
Even some low-key (i.e. not critical) local government sites have started using the damn recapcha. Currently that isn't a problem as the pages used for are low key and have alternatives, but I can't help but feel it is a trial run, and with time more critical online systems will depend Google having unfettled access.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday November 02 2018, @02:09PM (1 child)
"So either I do it, or I" call the wife to solve it for me.
(Score: 2) by Unixnut on Friday November 02 2018, @05:43PM
That's the solution! I need to get a wife! :-D
Although arguably it doesn't solve the issue of Google borgifying the web, just means you personally don't have to deal with it. The problem is still there...