Has anyone successfully used a prepaid phone and number for app registration?
Has anyone successfully used a prepaid phone and number for app registration?
I’m looking into getting a flip phone with a separate number so that I can sign up for a few apps that without associating them with the complete identity profile in the data marketplace that is linked to my actual phone number.
To be clear, the apps will still be downloaded and utilized on my primary smartphone. But the phone number through which I receive verification codes during registration will be a separate device.
Has any one done this? Tips for selecting a cheapo phone and prepaid service?
Yes, I created an entire fake identity with it that I'm now using here so I can say what I want without worrying about loosing my job.
One thing to keep in mind is that most prepaid providers require you to use the phone every once in a while, or you loose the number (don't ask me how I know and don't ask me what happens if I forgot my password)
Yup, it works in the Czech Republic and it's fully anonymous. How would they know it's prepaid?
I use phones from e-waste, 2G still works here so there's plenty of Nokias (even 3310-like ones) I can use.
A bit out there, but I plan on doing this soon:
- Get a SIM
- Grab an old Android phone
- Relay SMS to Matrix via the SMS bridge
I already use Matrix bridges for Signal, Discord, IRC, etc, so this means the number is never tied to my location, but I can use it for things like banking 2FA.
You should publish a guide once you do it. That sounds pretty interesting.
I could, but honestly the guides for Matrix and then for the mautrix (not a typo) bridges are pretty good if you click through to them: https://matrix.org/ecosystem/bridges/sms/
This is standard practice for me. You don't even need another flip phone. Most phones come with a dual sim tray. I keep the 2nd sim in my phone and keep the sim switched off in the settings. I do all signups with this number.
Got flip phone recommendations?
Nope. I've never used one.
This is the answer I was looking for! Thank you!
The IMEI number on the phone is essentially locked to the device, swapping sims won't change it. So a phone activated under your real name on one network could technically get traced back to you even when using a different SIM card.
Also, carrying a phone with both SIMs active is completely unprotected from correlation attacks by anyone with access to the cell tower data. It'd be blatantly obvious that the location of one SIM is the same as the other all the time.
All depends on the threat level you expect, but if you're worried about a VOIP account being compromised to get your real number, you are talking about pretty sophisticated actors.
Just be careful about the sim expiring. Each network will have its own rules. The sim I have stipulates that it needs to be topped up at least once every 6 months and a call or SMS sent every 3 months to keep it active.
Honestly, if you don't want a separate device, I'd sign up for a VoIP number. I use voip.ms, it's a dollar or two a month for the number, and you pay per minute and per text (about a penny each, IIRC). You can forward calls to your primary number, or set up a SIP app (I'm using one called ZoiPer). I usually load it up with $20 per year or so.
The problem I have with this is that it still links to my primary number through data profiling. Seems like a good option if I just want to keep my personal number separate from my work clients. But for data privacy, idk.
Through data profiling? Not sure what you mean.
smspool seems like a much simpler / cheaper solution.
i've been using prepaid for almost a decade now and i only buy $100 androids with the latest release and i use my voip number for everything.
i started doing the prepaid plan because i don't always renew each month since i only need the data connection and i'm almost always at home. the $100 androids are a thing for me because i'm klutz with all personal electronics. so it's more like i accidentally stumbled upon this form of privacy rather than seeking it out from the onset.
Depends on country. In the United States, you might look at something like the T-Mobile Connect prepaid plan and the Nokia 225 4G. And yes, prepaid numbers absolutely do work for app registrations. I've been on prepaid for years and had no issues. It's voice over IP numbers that have problems.
A way around that is to port a prepaid number to a voip service. I've kept old numbers that way when moving
I guess I can’t go with T-Mobile because I idiotically handed over my ID to them when I was checking out plans and running on 2 hours of sleep. They asked for my driver’s license “to see if you already have an account with us”, I handed it over like a robot zombie, and watched in slow motion as they SCANNED IT INTO THEIR STSTEM. Identity infrastructure. No T-mobile for me :/
I don't see why it wouldn't work. Just VoIP numbers often get rejected.
I've used Temp-Number for that in the past to create anonymous accounts,
you pay a small amount for each account,
and it's only charged if you successfully receive a verification code:
https://temp-number.org/Make sure to also use No-Script to block Google + Cloudflares JavaScript on the site though:
https://noscript.net/