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?

  • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com
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    1 month ago

    The provider of the SIM on the old phone who provides the phone number, and data brokers associated with them, will never be able to associate that number with my actual location, because the old phone will be in a static location.

    The provider of the SIM in my main phone will have a number that is never used, and it’s location can never be tied to the number that is actually used because the old phone relays VI’s matrix.

    Is it better than avoiding SMS altogether? No. Does it obfuscate? Yes.

    I also plan on having VNC on the old phone for running banking apps that GrapheneOS may not support in the future.

      • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com
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        1 month ago

        Your cell phone company associates SMS with your location all the time, and sells that data to brokers who overlay it with app data associated with a phone number.

        I’m not sure what you’re not following. Just because another provider has my location, doesn’t mean a broker can associate that location to a phone number on another provider (and thus connected apps).

          • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com
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            1 month ago

            OK, let’s do this step by step. We’re going to use a prepaid SIM like op mentions:

            • Buy SIM prepaid at Walmart with cash
            • Activate that SIM in a phone at a static location, not your home
            • This is sold to broker 1
            • Buy SIM from normal provider using your CC
            • This data is sold to broker 2
            • Broker 2 asks broker 1 for into on person
            • Broker 1 has no discrete match due to lack of payment data
              • Aslanta@lemmy.worldOP
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                1 month ago

                Not just for banking. For any app that does not need to know my entire work, housing, medical and purchase history, and my entire contact list just to make a transaction on their app.