I Hate Google.................

[10ClarionSt]

..........WITH A VENGEANCE! I've just bought a new phone. Every time I want to use anything on it, I keep getting a screen asking me to sign in to Google with my email address and by doing so I give permission for access to all files, folders, photos, contacts etc. WHAT THE FK FOR?!!!! I just want to use the phone! I didn't have any of this with my previous phone.

[chelle7272]

You should be able to skip it but without it if it is an android smartphone you won't be able to use email, apps etc.

[Guilbert53]

If it is an Android phone then you are far better signing in with Google for all sorts of reasons (Google make Android).

Maybe your last phone was not an Android phone.

[Guilbert53]

One example of why you should logon with Google on your phone.

Every photo or video you take on your phone is uploaded to the internet on the web site Google Photos. It uses your Google logon to do that.

If you lose your phone then all the photos and videos will still be up on Google photos so you can still access them.

Very useful as so many people lose their phone or have them stolen.

[Guilbert53]

Another reason for logging on with Google.

All the settings on your phone, as well as other information on your phones like contacts etc are backed up to your Google account all the time (without you having to do anything).

If you lose your phone and get a replacement then when you logon to the replacement phone with your Google account then all the things Google backed up will be downloaded to your NEW phone and it will look just like your old phone.

Also after a couple of years you decide to get a NEW phone then as soon as you set it up and logon with your Google account all the information that has been backed up is downloaded to your new phone.

So having a Google account and logging on to your phone is very useful.

[hc4361]

I love Google :D

[TheChair]

iPhones and Windows phones also expect you to register.

[hereIam]

I'm with hc ...

[Old_Geezer]

Sounds like a list if reasons NOT to have anything to do with control freak organisations who abuse their power, to me.

The other night I was stopped (temporarily) from dropping off to sleep by some voice from the tablet telling me she didn't understand something. a) it shouldn't be listening, it's an abuse of my privacy, b) no one had said anything so of course silence couldn't be understood, c) why the flip is she trying to converse when I'm trying to drop off !

Google is one of the worst for transgressing your rights and uploading things you gave no explicit permission for. Possibly because it's an American company with no understanding of privacy and basic rights, only of what they can get away with under laws.

[Quangoid]

Could be a virus, be weary about banking online and other sites pincodes and passwords until you get the green light.

[hc4361]

Why haven't you got the listening facility turned off, OG?

[Old_Geezer]

It is as far as all the Net advice says. But clearly it only pretends not to be listening.