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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallSigning in to another app with an existing Google, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Apple account can save you from creating and remembering a separate password. The tradeoff is that access to the app becomes tied to that provider account, and the app may receive identifying information or additional data you approve. What it receives—and what happens when you disconnect it—varies by provider, app, and permission.
What happens when you use a provider to sign in?
The provider verifies your identity and helps the third-party app create or access an account for you. That does not automatically give the app your provider password or every piece of information in your account. It also does not guarantee the app is trustworthy: the app still handles any information it receives under its own privacy, security, and retention practices.
It helps to distinguish three related actions: using a provider to sign in, linking an existing app account to a provider, and authorizing ongoing access to provider data. An app may request only basic account details for sign-in, or it may ask for broader permissions. Read the authorization screen rather than assuming every sign-in button works the same way.
How the providers differ
| Provider | What may be shared or controlled | Practical downside |
|---|---|---|
| After consent, basic Sign in with Google can share your name, email address, and profile picture. Separate requests for Google data can involve additional permissions. | Revoking consent stops further access or updates, but does not retrieve information already shared. You may need to ask the app to delete it. Google Account Help; Google access controls. | |
| Current official permission details and revocation effects are not established by the sources available for this article. | Do not assume Facebook shares the same data or offers the same controls as another provider. Review the current Facebook authorization screen and official account settings before approving or disconnecting access. | |
| X (formerly Twitter) | Depending on the permissions approved, an app may be able to read posts, view followed accounts, change profile information, post, access Direct Messages, or view email if that permission is separately granted. | Review each requested permission. X advises using its OAuth authorization flow; do not give an app your X password directly. The app may use, store, and share received information under its own practices. X Help. |
| Apple | At first sign-in, apps can ask for your name and email address. Where available, Hide My Email can provide a unique relay address that forwards messages to your personal inbox. | Stopping use of Sign in with Apple signs you out; reusing it may return you to the same app account. Some apps may offer another login route, such as setting a password. Apple Support; Hide My Email; Manage apps using Sign in with Apple. |
Why convenient sign-in can cost you control
Your access depends on the provider account
If you lose access to the Google, Facebook, X, or Apple account you used, you may also have difficulty getting into the third-party app. The app account and provider account are distinct, but the available recovery route depends on the app. Before disconnecting a provider or closing its account, check whether the app lets you add a password, recovery email, or another sign-in method.
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#1 Best Overall
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
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The app has its own data practices
Information shared for sign-in does not remain under the provider’s control once the app receives it. Google says the developer determines how long shared data is retained; X likewise advises reviewing the app’s terms and privacy policy. A provider’s sign-in button is not a promise about how the app stores, uses, or shares your information.
Extra access may go beyond identifying you
Some authorization screens ask for ongoing access to data or actions that are not necessary just to identify an account. For X, the documented permission examples range from reading posts and viewing followed accounts to posting or accessing Direct Messages. Consider whether each requested permission is needed for the feature you want, and decline or choose another sign-in route if it is not.
Rank #2
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5C NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5C NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
Email addresses can connect accounts
Sharing an email address can make it easier for an app to associate your sign-in with an existing account or contact you. Apple’s Hide My Email can reduce direct exposure of your personal address by providing a unique relay address, but it does not erase the app account or remove the need to manage the relationship. Apple says relay messages are forwarded to your personal inbox.
Revoking access does not necessarily erase what was shared
Removing an app’s permission generally addresses future access; it does not guarantee that information already received is deleted, nor does it necessarily delete your account with the app. Google explicitly says revoking consent does not take back data already shared and that you may need to contact the app to request deletion. Treat provider access and app-account deletion as separate tasks.
Rank #3
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The YubiKey 5 NFC is the most versatile physical passkey, protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
What to check before signing in or disconnecting
- Read the permission screen and decide whether each requested item or action is necessary for the app’s feature.
- Check the app’s privacy policy and how it handles retention and deletion.
- Before disconnecting a provider, confirm the app’s recovery email, password, or alternate sign-in option.
- Review connected apps in the provider’s account settings and revoke access you no longer want.
- If you want information already shared removed, contact the app; revocation alone may not delete it.
- For X, use the official OAuth flow and never hand your provider password directly to an app.
- For Apple, consider Hide My Email when it is offered, and understand that its relay forwards messages rather than removing the app relationship.
What happens if you stop using a provider to sign in?
The result depends on the provider and app. Google says removing a connection stops further access but does not take back data already shared, and the third-party account remains distinct from your Google Account. Apple says stopping use signs you out; signing in with Apple again may return you to the same account, while some apps may let you set a password. For Facebook and X, check the current provider controls and the app’s own recovery options rather than assuming the same behavior.
Before you revoke access, make sure you can still enter the app through another method if you intend to keep using it. If you want to leave the app, separately follow its account-deletion process and ask about data deletion where needed.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The information below is per-pack only
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key C NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key C NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key C NFC via USB-C and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
Rank #4
- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
