Patricia Rossini, Ph.DJan 6, 2023
John Francis

I never sign into sites with a Google or other shared ID, but I've really noticed a great increase in sites popping a signin offer.

You should never share identities across different sites, it's an all-the-eggs-in-one-basket problem.

And Google will use it to track the hell out of you across all those sites, and sell your semi-anonymized identity to ad hawkers.

Steps to disable it here.

https://gadgetstouse.com/blog/2021/07/20/remove-sign-in-with-google-account-pop-up-from-websites/

How to Disable 'Sign in with Google Account' Pop-up on Websites

You might have come across such websites that ask you to sign in before giving you access to their content. If that website is one that you trust and

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Jan 5, 2023 at 3:21pmWeb
Show threadGrant AndersonJan 5, 2023

@johnefrancis
I will NEVER use credentials from any site to authenticate to another that has no connection to the original. This started when sites started suggesting using FB credentials (you’ve got to be kidding me!) and now am seeing many Google suggestions. No. Just no...

I’m starting the move to get away from Google services, not for any particular reason other than fatigue from being the product.

Show threadChristopher WalkerJan 5, 2023
@johnefrancis Yeah I don’t want any big companies tracking me. That’s why I always sign in with GitHub. Which is owned by [checks notes] Microsoft. Dang it!😂
Show threadJohn FrancisJan 5, 2023

@cswalker21 to be fair, not signing in with Google isn't going to stop them from tracking you, it's just going to give them a tiny bit less tracking data, and keep a bit more control for you.

I think the only way to stop Google & FB from effectively tracking you is to use something like AdNausem all the time to inject noise into their processes.

Show threadRick RaeJan 5, 2023

@johnefrancis
I never do either, and thanks for the details on disabling the "offer."

Maybe worth pointing out, though, that there are a rare few services that rely on external authentication "authorities" like Google.

#Tailscale is one example...

Show threadJohn FrancisJan 5, 2023

@RickRae it's a little more blurry with Google Workspace accounts, since the subscribing organization is actually in control of the identities (within reason), and Google is just providing plumbing. A happy medium for orgs. that don't have an in-house identity management system...

Tailscale seems to offer custom SAML/OIDC providers for Enterprise subscribers. Not bad I guess.

Show threadRick RaeJan 5, 2023
@johnefrancis
Encouraging to learn that. Since I'm not in that space I was thinking more of individual users.
Show threadDomJan 5, 2023
@johnefrancis I kind of like Apple’s implementation of SSO. Every login gets a unique, hidden email address in the process and apple isn’t in the business of selling info. I don’t use it for anything important, but it’s handy for some sites.
Show threadJohn FrancisJan 5, 2023
@geektoybox I don't trust Apple any more than anyone else. They'll sell that info when someone can get a bonus for it, which won't be long, if they aren't selling it already and just whitewashing it.
Show threadElias MårtensonJan 6, 2023

@johnefrancis also, if Google decides you've broken some policy they will lock you out of your account with no way to appeal. Then you'll be locked out of any site you used your Google identity to as well.

Definitely not the good idea yo put your eggs in one basket.

Show threadJohn FrancisJan 6, 2023
@loke quite a problem even if you don't use a shared-identity, since being locked out of a gmail account associated with your other accounts locks you out of password resets etc.