Mobile phones, anyone else who doesn't need one?

Graetzbridge said:
You don't need any of that for a mobile phone.
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Please do explain. I do a lot of this on the go whether via laptop or via phone, so yeah I do need to use my phone for all of the above. It's actually quicker as everything is locked with a fingerprint whereas on desktop I'd have to type in a long password or if stored in Firefox Sync, then still whip out whatever 2FA method is being used be it app, SMS, email etc etc. It's just faster and simpler and a little more secure via the app.

There is no replacement for contactless payments in stores though. Physical cards max out at £45, there is no limit for Google Pay if I'm buying car parts, or stuff in a store for the places I shop.

Bouton Aide said:
You now need a 2FA/MFA app on desktop. I switched mine over to Authy. It has a desktop app so you no longer need to have a phone. That's locked with a master password.
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I use the Microsoft 2FA app as I don't trust the longevity of non-first party ones especially with security stuff like account MFA. Also the Microsoft one is linked to my MS account and is necessary for logging into any MS service like Office 365 or account as it relies on the app approval for that method of MFA via direct push notification. Something that wouldn't be possible in Authy in this quick and convenient way.
 
I could probably live without a smart phone, but a mobile phone of some sort to make a call or send a rudimentary text message when needed would come in handy. No chance do I need to send an animated emoji or an aubergine.

Most of the time my phone sits in another room on silent, and I hardly need look at it. My work phone on the other hand, is another story...but I'm paid to use that.

The need to religiously have access to things like weather, reminders, emails, calculator etc is just, in my opinion, unnecessary and use of technology for the sake of it. Personally, I think people put way too much reliance on their phones, and would struggle to function in life without one (2FA aside), which is a sad state to be in.
 
mrk said:
I use the Microsoft 2FA app as I don't trust the longevity of non-first party ones especially with security stuff like account MFA. Also the Microsoft one is linked to my MS account and is necessary for logging into any MS service like Office 365 or account as it relies on the app approval for that method of MFA via direct push notification. Something that wouldn't be possible in Authy in this quick and convenient way.
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I don't use any app approval methods as of yet, everything I use is standard at the moment.
 
If something you use has 2FA, enable it at all costs. There is nothing worse than reading the stories of massive faff getting back into a compromised account because the perps got the password. With 2FA there is no way anyone can get in unless they physically have your phone and know the unlock PIN/pattern. A desktop 2FA is less secure in my eyes as a computer is more likely to be compromised than a phone for the average person. I've been in IT since before internet to know what the average computer user is like with keeping things up to date whereas phone OSes and apps are updated much more frequently.

Mikeyboy said:
The need to religiously have access to things like weather, reminders, emails, calculator etc is just, in my opinion, unnecessary and use of technology for the sake of it. Personally, I think people put way too much reliance on their phones, and would struggle to function in life without one (2FA aside), which is a sad state to be in.
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It's not an issue really. It is the evolution of communication. Before smartphones people paged, sent letters, voice called etc etc. Now it's quicker and easier via smartphones. Same thing, just in absolute real time. I don't care about animated stickers etc but being able to catch up with multiple groups of people in an instant and arrange stuff is so much more convenient now than it was in the early 2000s. Right now as an example I'm in them middle of confirming final details for a week away in Wales with 16 people and we have gone from sorting out the private chef's menu for everyone right down to smaller specifics This would have needed multiple visits with everyone in person in years gone by to arrange, print outs, emails etc etc whereas absolutely everything has been done via WhatsApp.

Comms technology evolves, we have to evolve too.

[FnG]magnolia said:
e: because people posted stuff while I typed ...

@mrk I'm not sure if you're advocating for Google Pay or highlighting its flaws :cry:
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I'm a long term user of both Samsung and Google Pay (don't have an iPhone else I'd be using Apple Pay too). There are no flaws unless you know something I don't?
 
Lose your phone/break your phone, phone runs out of battery - what do you do? Majority of people can't just pull out another XXX amount of money to get another one.

2FA on 0365 tenants is an absolute nightmare at times. Users forgetting their phones, breaking phones e.t.c. I'm constantly removing requirements from accounts because of it. I can go a whole day now sitting disabling them. :)
 
All 2FA methods have a secondary MFA option when you can't get to your phone. a secondary email address for example or another device or backup codes. You kind of have to set them up usually on any good 2FA enabled service.

It is unlikely you will ever run out of battery whilst needing 2FA. 99% of the time you are sat in front of a computer anyway and all computers have a USB port.... charge the phone for a few mins to get some juice. You are thinking up scenarios that are so few and far between it's not even an issue :p
 
mrk said:
You are thinking up scenarios that are so few and far between it's not even an issue :p
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Sometimes an issue though. When a user forgets their phone do you send them home to get it? You know I'm not talking on a personal level here right? I manage logins / tenants that require 2fa to log in.

I think you are talking from a personal level here where as I'm on about business.
 
Oh yeah it ultimately boils down to the IT team on that front. It's a non issue for office workers or remote who connect via VPN. For more secure environments those IT teams have 2FA tokens in place anyway or have work supplied mobile phones for work related stuff.
 
mrk said:
Please do explain. I do a lot of this on the go whether via laptop or via phone, so yeah I do need to use my phone for all of the above. It's actually quicker as everything is locked with a fingerprint whereas on desktop I'd have to type in a long password or if stored in Firefox Sync, then still whip out whatever 2FA method is being used be it app, SMS, email etc etc. It's just faster and simpler and a little more secure via the app.

There is no replacement for contactless payments in stores though. Physical cards max out at £45, there is no limit for Google Pay if I'm buying car parts, or stuff in a store for the places I shop.



I use the Microsoft 2FA app as I don't trust the longevity of non-first party ones especially with security stuff like account MFA. Also the Microsoft one is linked to my MS account and is necessary for logging into any MS service like Office 365 or account as it relies on the app approval for that method of MFA via direct push notification. Something that wouldn't be possible in Authy in this quick and convenient way.
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Not really a lot to explain. I just use email for both business and social. It keep records.
 
I only really use my phone for three things.

1. GPS satnav. Means I don't have to prepare the route beforehand. Before phones I had LandRanger maps that I would carry with me.
2. Camera. Before phones I didn't have a camera. I use it sparingly.
3. Emergency calls (not yet had to make one, but the facility is reassuring).

Other than that I don't touch it.

Sure I could live without it but what else lets you make emergency calls outside (assuming you are in an area with signal, and that's not guaranteed down here).

I don't use FB/Twitter et al, and even if I did, I wouldn't even consider browsing using such a tiny screen for very long.

I genuinely don't know how people can tolerate using such tiny screens for viewing the web, media content, etc. Everything is just so damn cramped. Nah, screw that - I'll wait till I get home.

I often wonder what content people literally can't wait to view, such that they must view it on their phone, in all its tiny, impractical glory :p
 
mrk said:
Oh yeah it ultimately boils down to the IT team on that front. It's a non issue for office workers or remote who connect via VPN. For more secure environments those IT teams have 2FA tokens in place anyway or have work supplied mobile phones for work related stuff.
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Yeh ofc, I know where you coming from on a personal level though. I know if my phone broke right now I couldn't replace it. I could fix it if the screen broke for example but not buy another iPhone outright. Without 2FA access I wouldn't be able to do my job. I could however, just log into another device like a tablet/smartphone but this is why I moved over to Authy. I don't ever want to be in the position of not been able to log into anything. I look after too much now to be risking a day without not logging in.

For passwords, every single one of mine are 20 chars long now and I needed a password manager so moved over to BitWarden self hosted. Sits on a little Linux box beside me and auto backs up every 4 hours.

2FA turned on everything where possible as well. If it has it, it's turned on.
 
Graetzbridge said:
I don't have a mobile phone. I use email for everything.
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Please God that it never happens, but if you were to break down on a Motorway in the middle of the night,
would you send an email to the AA/RAC?
Or God forbid again, if your wife/husband collapses with a possible heart attack,
would you email the emergency services?
 
martin363 said:
I have a phone, but only use a data sim in it, it means I don't have a phone number, but can use all the data services, which works great for me. It is also significantly cheaper than a usual sim.
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How do you call anyone?

GP?
Customer service?
Breakdown?
Emergency?
Reservations?


There is a fine balance to be had with a phone. I have zero social media apart from tiktok and even then I ain't used that in about 6 months.

No Facebook, no insta, no snap, never had then either. I only got tik tok for the comedy stuff.

I do have twitter but again that's just for following projects I like.

My phone is used for Chrome and games mainly and WhatsApp. The camera is probably it's best function and video calling.

I understand there are people who spend all day on Facebook. Those are the ones who need to seek help. I wouldn't be able to function as well without a phone like if in a car accident with no phone you are pretty much screwed.
 
Jean-F said:
Please God that it never happens, but if you were to break down on a Motorway in the middle of the night,
would you send an email to the AA/RAC?
Or God forbid again, if your wife/husband collapses with a possible heart attack,
would you email the emergency services?
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Exactly this. People who think you don't need a phone clearly are folk who live at home with their parents and Don't leave the house. A lot of places you simply cannot email.
 
Yet again the contrarians of OcUK come out just cut off their nose to spite their face.

The physical phone is not the problem in any scenario, its what you choose to use it for. There's no conceivable reason not to have a mobile phone in this day and age, unless you're in a scenario where someone else does things for you that us mere mortals do via our phones. Even then, I'd argue that you're using one by proxy.
 
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