[hosting] Would Phone Verification Upon Signup Put You Off?

[Jack]

Hello,

In a further method to prevent fraud on our service we are thinking about implementing phone verification for countries where the most abuse originates from.

It would work like this:

1. Before creating a web hosting account for the first time, you will be asked to enter in your phone number.
2. After doing so, you will be displayed a 4 digit PIN number.
3. An automated computer program will phone your number and ask you to enter in the 4 digit PIN.
4. After you have successfully entered the PIN you can create as many accounts as you'll like.

It won't cost anything at all.

Would you be put off by our service if we did this?

[Zone]

Jack, Based on all the hacking attempts lately, I certainly understand you contemplating phone verification for new accounts. For me personally, however, I probably would not sign up for a free service that required phone verification. That said, I certainly very much appreciate all your efforts in providing the free hosting services here @Zymic. Cheers .....

[Jack]

Hi,

Any reason why you would not signup? Is it due to the fact you feel your own phone number is considered sensitive information? What if phone number never touches our service, and is verified by a third-party anti-fraud website?

Thanks

[Zone]

Hi,

Any reason why you would not signup? Is it due to the fact you feel your own phone number is considered sensitive information? What if phone number never touches our service, and is verified by a third-party anti-fraud website?

Thanks

What you mentioned about phone# being sensitive information, is one of my main reasons. I'm a bit of a privacy buff and hesitate giving too much personal info, even on paid accounts (just my pov). Cheers .....

[Jacob]

I would still signup for it mainly becuase I know how those sort of systems work and usually if people put that sort of system in place there is a reason behind it.
I think a large majority of the community wouldn't sign up becuase of the privacy issue.
Great idea though.

Jacob.

[Banjo]

I totally agree with Narzy, It wouldn't bother me signing up by using a phone.

[lawny]

phone vertification wouldn't bother me either

[AHN-David]

I suppose it would put some people off but they would just be spammers.

doing phone verification would be a great system to be put in place.

[Griffonbait]

I am not sure this phoning will prevent fraud, but it should reduce fraud. It is quite possible to give a phone number of a club or other person's house, or what about a public phone or stolen/friend's mobile phone (used without permission)?

Just a thought.

[Shourav]

Well, nice idea. I'll not mind to provide number on zymic, as I'm grateful to this service. But when it's a question of registering new users, I'm not sure, is it a good idea or not. I guess, some people will look for another free hosting solution due to bypass mobile number verification. People are lazy, and bit sensative. Aren't they?

But I think you should introduce this system. ..The fewer the users are, the purest are they .. Sorry for my bad english. LOLz.

[AnthoAsho]

It would be a good idea. In my opinion anyway.
I felt cool when google called me, it may have been a computer, but it was still cool.
Plus, it'll be the only phone call I get that isn't from my parents!

[lostirish]

I don't have any problem providing you with my phone number, Jack, and I think it's a small price to pay for the splendid free service you provide. I'm sad to see that you're selling zymic, but I can understand as to why you want to move on in this age of so much economic uncertainty.

Regards,

Lost Irish, who resides on the Southern California Coast, and he had a nice phone conservation with a guy at Lunarpages, in our sunny, Orange County

[howbya]

You might consider allowing a single site without requiring a ph#. Give users a chance to testdrive zymic before providing the info. I don't know the typical habits of abusers. If they typically only open a single site it wouldn't help but if they open site after site it may.

[MrTouz]

Facebook uses that. They text you to validate your account.

I think it's a great idea... how to make it work is a mistery but if it's free !

I see why lots of people won't register tho... :/ but i would.

[wormat22]

I would not sign up, because my phone for some reason does not receive many text messages. Many sites that have required text based phone verification have been required to call me in order to help verify my account.

[Redeyemonkey]

Im happy with phone verification.

[KoratCat]

That were clearly an improvement to Zymic and overall internet security. There are laws against abuse of data like that. I'm sure Zymic doesn't intend to break these but rather help improving internet security.

So, very fine with me!

[satu]

Facebook now also requires phone verification for new accounts.
For me, it's a turn off because we joined the forums to share our opinions and ideas and feedback but our phone numbers? Maybe not.

What if we get junk/spam sms into our phones because someone forgot to protect the phone number file? Almost like giving your email. But then email we can just change but to change one's phone number is really a hassle. So in short - phone verification is not fine with me.

[swordz]

You have a point - but at no point did Jack say he was storing your phone number - it's used immediately, we won't need it again, why store it? Much less hassle data protection wise for us then.

swordz

[kohonac]

i would be ok with a third party doing the phone verification but not everyone has a phone with SMS so it would need to be sent in an email or put on the screen if ya would like to make open for everyone to sign up. And alot of people us Real verification like for paypal they send you a letter in the snail mail so as to verify your address and there are others out there. It would just need to be handled with care as to not invade anyone privacy.