Remove asking for Phone Number Options to help secure your account

[Quietstorm75]

There really is no benefit as much as disadvantages

1. What guarantee will I get that by adding my phone number it won't be sold to some telemarketer telling me the benefits of taking advantage of the "financial stimulus package" or how I can get another great rate on my loans or credit cards? ToS agreements change and although you technically may not sell them to a third party, there's no guarantee that it won't be sold to a "partner". The Do Not Call list doesn't cover them.

2. If my data is stolen, I already have to be concerned about my name, birthdate, home address, bank account, credit card number, my dogs name, my mother's maiden name, my favorite hobby etc... being used for identity theft so how is adding my phone number suppose to help secure this information? I don't even have a legitimate facebook account, so why do I want even more personal information about myself posted?

3. So what happens when you got to get a new phone number? Or better yet, someone whose not authorized to use your account changes your phone number?

Asking for phone numbers is just as bad as an idea as asking for someones social security number or blood type. Please look for safer alternative solutions.

[anon_amos]

Messaggio originale di SK RaZoR:

Absolutely pointless thread. Its not putting a gun to your head. So long as there are like 3 people who want to use this option - it should remain. If you are allowed to say - I decline - any discussion of this is utter BS. In the same way asking a restaurant to stop serving shrimp because I never eat it.

Except there is no option to decline. If someone wants to use this feature, go for it, give them a number that is your choice. I choose to decline but I am not offered that option. I couldn't give them a number even if I wanted to as I do not own a cell phone so cannot receive sms messages and I am sure I am not the only one in this situation. That aside I have no intention of giving them a number, cell, landline or other.

[Start_Running]

Messaggio originale di anon_amos:

Depending where you live people are covered by certain rights when it comes to dealing with businesses and the transactions with them.

This is from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada dealing with purchases from retailers. I would think Steam/Valve falls under this category.

"You do not have to provide personal information that is not necessary for a transaction, so if you aren’t comfortable with the explanation you are given, you can decline."

Decline what.. because if it is deemed required by the seller then your only declination is of the transaction. Ergo, You stop using the service.


Laws are very funny depending how you look at them. Again. It's llike No Shirt No Shoes. if Steam Says they require a phone number. Then they require a phone number. If you do not want you are free to stop using steam's services and transacting with them.

Case in point I'm quite suure Banks require a phone number to open an account. As would say an auto dealer, doctor, hospital, etc.

[anon_amos]

Messaggio originale di Start_Running:

Decline what.. because if it is deemed required by the seller then your only declination is of the transaction. Ergo, You stop using the service.

The seller can ask for it, I have the right to decline. And what retailer is going to turn away business now and forever over something they do not need. If a bricks and mortar retailer asked for your phone number everytime you purchased something from them, telling you it was required, would you provide it?

I have spent quite a bit with Steam in the 9 years I have been with them. If they want to decline any future business with me, fine, there are plenty of other places to purchase my games.

[Start_Running]

Messaggio originale di anon_amos:

Messaggio originale di Start_Running:

Decline what.. because if it is deemed required by the seller then your only declination is of the transaction. Ergo, You stop using the service.

The seller can ask for it, I have the right to decline. And what retailer is going to turn away business now and forever over something they do not need. If a bricks and mortar retailer asked for your phone number everytime you purchased something from them, telling you it was required, would you provide it?

That depends on the retailer. Several of the PC vendors in my town have my number as do two of the book stores and and at least one roadside fruit vendor. WHy? Because I perceived an advantage. But yes, retailers are quite within their rights to turn away clientel. Night clubs do it every night, as do theatres and and dining establishments and malls. I mean every store has a dress code that you must follow to some degree. I dare you to go shopping at wallmart in a thong.

I have spent quite a bit with Steam in the 9 years I have been with them. If they want to decline any future business with me, fine, there are plenty of other places to purchase my games.

That'd be your choice. As said. you are free to choose whom you do business with and the terms by which you will. Here's the thing. SO is Valve. if your terms are incompatible well.. Nice knowing yah.

[anon_amos]

Messaggio originale di Start_Running:

Messaggio originale di anon_amos:

The seller can ask for it, I have the right to decline. And what retailer is going to turn away business now and forever over something they do not need. If a bricks and mortar retailer asked for your phone number everytime you purchased something from them, telling you it was required, would you provide it?

That depends on the retailer. Several of the PC vendors in my town have my number as do two of the book stores and and at least one roadside fruit vendor. WHy? Because I perceived an advantage. But yes, retailers are quite within their rights to turn away clientel. Night clubs do it every night, as do theatres and and dining establishments and malls. I mean every store has a dress code that you must follow to some degree. I dare you to go shopping at wallmart in a thong.

Pretty sure there is someone on the people of walmart site that has done just that. :-)

As said I do not have a cell phone to receive sms messages so cannot add a number even if I wanted to, and I am sure I am not the only one in this situation.

I have over 550 games and do not plan on stopping my purchases anytime soon. If Valve wants to stop dealing with me, well that is their loss not mine.

[Black Blade]

I am really not getting what you guys talking abut it
You do not have to provide the phone number, you are able to do so, and for now they nug you abut it
That dose not pass that law:
"You do not have to provide personal information that is not necessary for a transaction, so if you aren’t comfortable with the explanation you are given, you can decline."

You can decline to provide the phone number, and you can, you can buy with out it, that means nothing abut nagging you to add it... so there is no law clash here

Edit

In other words you can Decline, don't give it, keep buying and doing what ever you like with out it...

[Frigidman]

Ive been bothered for my phone number with a huge green banner in Steam so many times now. I am getting sick of seeing it and clicking it away. Sure I can keep clicking it away and never give them my personal ph#, but its heck of annoying to be constantly badgered for it.

[Boots of Doom]

Take the green nagware away or I will start looking elsewhere for games.

[Sodacan70]

All the points the original poster have made are valid.

It seems that it's not just Google willing to go right up to that 'creepy line' (if not stepping over it and misusing it on a few occasions - and they asserted the data would NEVER be misused too).

Everyone keeps predicting the future saying Valve would never do this or Valve would never do that... How do you know what Valve will or will not do in the future?

In the news in the UK today: Talk Talk telecoms and internet service provider, hacked with details of an estimated 4 million customers stolen.

The best protection is to limit the amount of personal data held online in the first place.

[Start_Running]

Messaggio originale di Sodacan:

All the points the original poster have made are valid.

It seems that it's not just Google willing to go right up to that 'creepy line' (if not stepping over it and misusing it on a few occasions - and they asserted the data would NEVER be misused too).

Everyone keeps predicting the future saying Valve would never do this or Valve would never do that... How do you know what Valve will or will not do in the future?

In the news in the UK today: Talk Talk telecoms and internet service provider, hacked with details of an estimated 4 million customers stolen.

The best protection is to limit the amount of personal data held online in the first place.

Which paradoxically increases your vulnerability. It's Ironic that those that complain about thise the most are likely the same ones who will be complaining about the time taken for action when their accounts are inevitably hacked or hijacked.

Catch 22. The more points of contact you provide the harder it is for hijackers and the faster they can respond in the case of one. You are free to not give the information but the reverse becomes true .

Also as said. If someone wants your info, they probably already have it. I mean as pointed out, anyone at a phone company's call centre can take a thumbdrive to work and download any amount of phone numbers, names and addresses they want. This gets creepier when you factor how many of these services are outsourced to other companies.

[Geomike]

Messaggio originale di Start_Running:

Messaggio originale di Sodacan:

All the points the original poster have made are valid.

It seems that it's not just Google willing to go right up to that 'creepy line' (if not stepping over it and misusing it on a few occasions - and they asserted the data would NEVER be misused too).

Everyone keeps predicting the future saying Valve would never do this or Valve would never do that... How do you know what Valve will or will not do in the future?

In the news in the UK today: Talk Talk telecoms and internet service provider, hacked with details of an estimated 4 million customers stolen.

The best protection is to limit the amount of personal data held online in the first place.

Which paradoxically increases your vulnerability. It's Ironic that those that complain about thise the most are likely the same ones who will be complaining about the time taken for action when their accounts are inevitably hacked or hijacked.

That's complete speculation with absolutely nothing to support it other than a "what-if" scenario. Further, it ignores the real issue under discussion here, which is people requesting an option to opt out of the green banner notification that pops up every 48 hours according to Valve employee Sean J.

This forum is for Suggestions / Ideas, OP provided a suggestion to stop flashing the banner after it has been declined, and people are chiming in to second it. Your discussions and theories on account safety are irrelevant to people who are not interested in protecting their account with their cell phone number. Some people don't have cell phones, some people just dont care about extra account security.

1.) If this is really an optional feature then Steam should stop spamming and nagging users about it AFTER they have declined once. This might lead to people's accounts being compromised in the future, as they were warned about on the banner.

2.) If it is NOT an optional feature, then Valve should stop including the "not now" button and just force users to provide a phone number. This might cause customers who don't have cell phones, who can't text, who live outside their phone coverage area (e.g. UN peacekeepers, diplomats etc), or who are simply uninterested in sharing their phone number, to stop using Steam. This is both Valve's right to require as a vendor, as well as the customers' right to decline by not using the Steam service.

Do you have an alternative solution to options 1 or 2 above?

[Sodacan70]

Sorry I thought my post was obvious enough and didn't need futher explanation.
The other option is Valve don't do it at all.

If you're really that worried about people hacking accounts and the email a code option is failing so badly (it probably isn't - but why do they need phone numbers all of a sudden?) you should turn to biometrics.

[Frigidman]

I dont care either way what their current or future intentions are with phone numbers.

1) I will never give them my phone number, no matter what reasoning anyone thinks up.

2) Being constantly asked when I constantly say "NO" is very simply, visual abuse to customers.

[Frigidman]

PS: And yes, I was yet again bothered by the stupid bright green prompt... for the umpteeth time now. I lost track how many times. And no, I don't clear cookies... cookies are good.

[Start_Running]

Messaggio originale di Frigidman:

I dont care either way what their current or future intentions are with phone numbers.

1) I will never give them my phone number, no matter what reasoning anyone thinks up.

2) Being constantly asked when I constantly say "NO" is very simply, visual abuse to customers.

They're web portal. They can put what they like. As said.just leave it alone , if it stays their uyour eyes will grow accustomed to it in a matter of 3 days, and you'll have a mental blind spot within as much time, no more than 5 days.