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Comment by breakingcups | Hacker News Reader

What if I want to vote against both Apple and Google but still be able to do my banking business?

What banking business? Use a web browser, or just bank in person like everyone did not long ago. Carry a credit card instead of Apple/Google Pay. That's what degoogled Android users do and it's a very minor inconvenience anyone with a little bit of maturity should be able to accept. Also, cash is much better for your privacy.

And if you require a one-time SMS code for purchase (which can be adjusted via their website, most likely), then you still have an option that is not Apple and Google. I use a dumbphone for "banking" (SMS)... and a credit card, and the website. Those are really all the 3 things I need to do banking, as you have said so correctly.

It’s not possible. Logging in to a banking website is becoming strictly speaking impossible w/o a phone.

I've never really experienced that. Which banks?

Belfius for example of you have ever used itsme with them. Also Digi (a mobile phone company in Belgium) since it uses itsme for authentication. Itsme is strictly an Android and iOS app.

More info on this is going to come out, but banks are going through hell right now with AI agents accessing user accounts and even firing off transfers and other accounts activity, and their legal teams are losing their minds.

So a bank shutting down a website right now and the "forcing" some Google/Apple "verification" makes a lot of sense in that context.

Choose a different bank, then. I've gradually stopped using the phone apps, not really by design but just because I don't often feel like that works better than the real web site. Both USAA and my local credit union have perfectly good desktop web sites.

I never do Banking on my phone and never had an issue.

Yes you want a phone for SMS to log on to the web site. But I avoid banking apps on a phone. Dont need them.

In the EU the app is often mandatory, no SMS fallback

Somebody downvoted you but I agree: I must use a banking app to either enter a code or use my fingerprint to authorize operations, login included. No bank is using SMSes anymore here (Italy.)

SMS are an American thing. Only credit card companies are using them and they are American.

Or instead of hamstringing your entire way of life and making things immeasurably harder.. we could regulate them too.

The country I live in (VN) recently banned online banking without using a mobile app and biometric verification via selfie. The sites had to withdraw access.

You can bank without Apple iOS/macOS or Google Android/Chrome.

You can also vote with your wallet regarding banking. Put your deposits in another bank.

When one party has a trillion votes and you have like 1000 or so, that is not voting. That is just exiling yourself.

Edit: exiling not exhaling

If an entity has a product that has a trillion people choosing it, the marginal benefit to society to build an entirely new product for 1000 people or so isn't worth it. The people whose time would be required to produce that second product for a very, very small 1,000 person market would better serve society by working on other goals.

Nor should those 1,000 people get to try to use the government to tell the other trillion what product they should have to buy.

Nobody is trying to bar anyone from anything. We are talking about options. We need ways out, otherwise it's an unfair market and all we get is enshittification.

But if the 1000 are persuading others with meaningful benefits and gaon momentum it's a different story.

It's really not. Not when they make it impossible to use government and banking services without Google play services.

Select your bank(s) accordingly.

Use a laptop

Why should your bank trust you?

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