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> Unlike a burner phone, you wouldn’t constantly be throwing it away (just getting new SIMs every once in a while) In that case, you probably also want to rota

> Unlike a burner phone, you wouldn’t constantly be throwing it away (just getting new SIMs every once in a while) In that case, you probably also want to rotate IMEIs, right? I don't know if the feds are routinely considering it, but they could correlate all the SIMs by looking at the unchanging IMEI.

derefr 9y ago
A side-piece phone isn't a burner phone (thus why I said "unlike a burner phone.") A burner phone is a phone used to avoid unification of identities by the state; a side-piece phone is a phone used to avoid unification of identities by private individuals. The usual example being your wife trying to figure out if you're cheating on her, but here's a few other examples: • your wife's lawyer in divorce-court, who would love to compel cell-tower IMEI logs, but has no legal grounds to do so • your mother who you don't want to be made aware that you're a working as a prostitute • your abusive partner or parent who you're trying to arrange an exit from • or, the ever-present cloying example: your friend—who is very nosy and knows your regular phone's unlock code—but who you're trying to arrange a surprise party for Basically, as a burner phone is to Tor, a side-piece phone is to a browser's Incognito Mode.
- oh_sigh 9y ago
  Why wouldn't your 'side-piece phone' just be another normal phone? What does removing the camera and GPS module have to do with any of those scenarios?
  - scurvy 9y ago
    Lowers the cost? While not paramount in a non-burner scenario, lower cost is generally preferable.
  - Buge 9y ago
    derefr didn't suggest to remove the camera or GPS. derefr just wanted a phone that's easy to text on, not too expensive, and has a long battery life.
- ataturk 9y ago
  I think you're on to something here but you're not getting it quite right--what you're describing is just a more private smartphone than we have today. It doesn't matter why you think you need it and it doesn't have to be for illicit reasons. Also, why can't a manufacturer simply install analog switches to toggle the camera, mic, gps, etc.? There could be just a little set of DIP switches on the back allowing the other to provably turn off the privacy-invasive features. Another idea is a small faraday cage to place your phone inside of. Privacy is going to be at an all time premium in the 21st century, we need our tech working for us.
foobaw 9y ago
It's also not very difficult to change your IMEI..This would make it quite complex for feds to investigate, I presume.
- jonathanstrange 9y ago
  Not necessarily, see my other comment. If the Telecom company cooperates, they could even look for phones in the network that switch the IMEI and scrutinize these phones particularly, because there is almost certainly something dubious about them. Unless people turn off the phone and remove the SIM before switching it should generate highly suspicious network traffic.

derefr 9y ago

A side-piece phone isn't a burner phone (thus why I said "unlike a burner phone.") A burner phone is a phone used to avoid unification of identities by the state; a side-piece phone is a phone used to avoid unification of identities by private individuals. The usual example being your wife trying to figure out if you're cheating on her, but here's a few other examples: • your wife's lawyer in divorce-court, who would love to compel cell-tower IMEI logs, but has no legal grounds to do so • your mother who you don't want to be made aware that you're a working as a prostitute • your abusive partner or parent who you're trying to arrange an exit from • or, the ever-present cloying example: your friend—who is very nosy and knows your regular phone's unlock code—but who you're trying to arrange a surprise party for Basically, as a burner phone is to Tor, a side-piece phone is to a browser's Incognito Mode.

oh_sigh 9y ago
Why wouldn't your 'side-piece phone' just be another normal phone? What does removing the camera and GPS module have to do with any of those scenarios?
- scurvy 9y ago
  Lowers the cost? While not paramount in a non-burner scenario, lower cost is generally preferable.
- Buge 9y ago
  derefr didn't suggest to remove the camera or GPS. derefr just wanted a phone that's easy to text on, not too expensive, and has a long battery life.
ataturk 9y ago
I think you're on to something here but you're not getting it quite right--what you're describing is just a more private smartphone than we have today. It doesn't matter why you think you need it and it doesn't have to be for illicit reasons. Also, why can't a manufacturer simply install analog switches to toggle the camera, mic, gps, etc.? There could be just a little set of DIP switches on the back allowing the other to provably turn off the privacy-invasive features. Another idea is a small faraday cage to place your phone inside of. Privacy is going to be at an all time premium in the 21st century, we need our tech working for us.

foobaw 9y ago

It's also not very difficult to change your IMEI..This would make it quite complex for feds to investigate, I presume.

jonathanstrange 9y ago
Not necessarily, see my other comment. If the Telecom company cooperates, they could even look for phones in the network that switch the IMEI and scrutinize these phones particularly, because there is almost certainly something dubious about them. Unless people turn off the phone and remove the SIM before switching it should generate highly suspicious network traffic.