Chances are you’re not an international spy, a member of an organized crime family or a drug smuggler, but in a world where smartphones contain reams of sensitive personal data and can easily be used to track our locations, a burner phone might make sense to anyone wary being an “open book.”
Burner phones are disposable, prepaid mobile phones that, if used correctly, can provide anonymous communication.
“Burner phones are used for a very specific, time-limited purpose and then discarded,” says Danacea Vo, founder of Cyberlixir, a cybersecurity provider for nonprofits and vulnerable communities told the news and tech outlet Wired. “They’re mostly used to separate your identity from the identity of the device. Anonymity is the goal.”
While it’s easy to see why criminals would be interested in anonymous communication, there other populations that can benefit from using these devices, such a person attempting to escape an abusive relationship or someone who’d prefer not to provide their main number for online dating or give it to strangers while selling items on an online marketplace.
Journalists have been known to minimize their exposure by using a burner while reporting out a particularly dangerous or volatile story. Activists might find them useful for not leaving a cellular record of their presence at a, hopefully, peaceful protest.
The disposable devices can also simply be used as a backup in case your primary phone is lost, broken or being repaired.
However, to truly guard personal anonymity, how you purchase, set up and use a burner phone is critical.
Where and how you purchase a burner phone matters because, for instance, if bought in a popular big-box electronics store with a personal credit card, there are two immediate problems. First, the device can be linked to the buyer through the credit card transaction. Second, any large electronics retailer is going to have a video record of the exchange.
If a large electronics retailer is the only option, Wired suggests first purchasing a prepaid credit card with cash at a different location to pay for the burner phone because a cash purchase at big-box store may be more conspicuous.
Now, on to the truly cloak and dagger.
Many of the big- box retailers are highly focused on monetizing customer data and deterring theft, meaning there is a likelihood that along with store surveillance cameras, they could also be facial recognition technology.
So, for those privacy diehards, wearing a hat, medical mask and neutral, unmarked clothing that covers up any visible tattoos would be an important step to take.
Finding a small, independently operated store that makes no attempt to collect customer data is an ideal spot to purchase a burner phone.
Any cellular or wi-fi enabled device, a smartphone, tablet, Apple watch or any other devices, should be left at home because the signals these devices emit could potentially be used to determine an individual’s travel history.
Yet another consideration when going to buy a burner phone are license-plate readers. Covering one’s track is increasingly difficult in the modern era. Additionally, using a ride share service or public transit with a credit can also leave a trail.
If complete anonymity is the goal, travel must be planned carefully.
Once purchased, do not immediately turn the phone on and test it. Some retailers might offer to help you activate the phone, but it’s best to politely decline and take these steps on your own. When the phone is activated, it immediately connects to the mobile provider’s network and begins transmitting location data based on the cell tower it connects to.
“Do not power the phone on near your home, work, or usual hangouts,” Cyberlixir’s Vo told Wired. “Activate and test the phone somewhere far away, preferably in a crowded or busy area where you blend in.”
Experts suggest keeping the device powered off and kept in a faraday bag, a case that prevents electromagnetic signals from being tracked, accessed or hacked.
Finally, burner phones are only meant to be used temporarily, from one to seven days and only for quick communication. The more the device is used, the less anonymous it becomes.
More information on burner phones and other alternative smart devices with tools for anonymity can be found in the article written by Wired.
The post How to buy, set up and use a ‘burner phone’ in California appeared first on KTLA.
