5 ms·

This doesn't seem like something which is of concern but on a tangential note, I wanted to check how you guys maintain your phone number privacy. Consider the c

This doesn't seem like something which is of concern but on a tangential note, I wanted to check how you guys maintain your phone number privacy. Consider the cases: - I absolutely hate giving phone number to new ecommerce sites as it is just a database that will eventually get leaked. The only one I can trust here is Amazon probably. - Phone number on packages. A person can read your name, address and phone number from a package which seems like a lot of info. Address is required but phone number shouldn't be as you can very well redirect the call using custom pins. - Talking to new people on dating apps. I don't use IG, so phone number is something I have to exchange. Now I would never give my number to an anon on internet but on dating apps I have to for my own benefit. Do you guys maintain burner phone numbers for these cases?

vmception 6y ago
I maintain dual sims in my iphone. For dates this means that my "burner number" also has blue text messages, revealing to them it is an iphone and that other features are available like facetime and airdrop in the future. I also maintain google voice numbers to set up additional accounts on places and more easily filter spam. Right now, my one device has three numbers on it. (2x sim, 1x google voice).
- actuator 6y ago
  I need to upgrade my Pixel 2 to a dual sim phone too. I think this seems like the easiest way. Not sure how WhatsApp etc support dual sim though.
  - vmception 6y ago
    WhatsApp is the only one that makes it inconvenient. Perhaps Signal is one identity too, and therefore less convenient. But you can always at the very least set up the accounts, using your browser on a PC. You just won't get chat notifications for multiple numbers on one device. Telegram app lets you have 3 accounts logged in, the only similarity being that setting up a Telegram account requires phone number authentication. But the similarity ends because a Telegram account on your device doesn't need to be linked with a phone number accessible from your device.
    - actuator 6y ago
      I think the problem of going outside prevalent apps like Text/iMessage/WhatsApp is that not everyone will have the less prevalent ones. Few people have Telegram, Signal seems like a very niche tech/journalist thing.
      - vmception 6y ago
        Thats just informative for you. I'm not really focusing on the dating use case and have already solved that for myself, and for you, and I'm not sure why you are overthinking it aside from your upcoming expensive of buying a new phone and additional cellular plan. The practicality is already there.
  - philposting 6y ago
    You can install WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business, with a number on each. WhatsApp business has some extra functions for businesses, but is otherwise the same.
    - actuator 6y ago
      It does show you are texting with a business account which might just seem weird to the other person. If they didn't find not having IG shady before, I am sure they will now.
      - vmception 6y ago
        You’re overthinking this. I’m aware of people that immediately ask for social media, and rationalize it with trying to disprove infidelity or an assurance they wont get murdered, I can tell you that most people I’ve dated over the past two years did not ask for that. At this point I think there is a level of maturity involved in not asking questions you don't really want the answer to, as they too would prefer not to lead with their social media. Its pretty much the same as introducing a date to your friends. You don't typically lead with that. YMMV.
        actuator 6y ago
        The IG thing was just in response to the WhatsApp thing. But you are right, no point overthinking and complicating it. I will upgrade to a dual sim phone and use the other sim for new stranger communication. Though I think a lot of people do want to see IG, just to get an idea about your life, friends etc. Like a way to know about you without prodding too much. I anyway don't use IG anymore so I just say I don't have it, and as you said they seem to be fine with it.
- bartvk 6y ago
  > I maintain dual sims in my iphone That's a very good idea, thanks for this.
- vmception 6y ago
  update, I just made a google voice number for my newer sim. the google voice app lets you switch between any logged in google account seamlessly. 2x sim, 2x google voice. yay new accounts I can sign up to, again
gorgoiler 6y ago
For commerce I use an SMS to email gateway and automatically file those emails into a separate mailbox. It started attracting spam after about a year. I found that I never need to be alerted about anything via SMS though. The only time I use it is when I know I should have just received a message, which is at the top of the inbox above all this week’s spam. I’m quite aware that I’m side stepping a lot of two factor policies by doing this. (My phone mail client can read all my email accounts.) One has to be careful not to do anything silly and I’m glad GitHub steered away from SMS 2FAC.

vmception 6y ago

I maintain dual sims in my iphone. For dates this means that my "burner number" also has blue text messages, revealing to them it is an iphone and that other features are available like facetime and airdrop in the future. I also maintain google voice numbers to set up additional accounts on places and more easily filter spam. Right now, my one device has three numbers on it. (2x sim, 1x google voice).

actuator 6y ago
I need to upgrade my Pixel 2 to a dual sim phone too. I think this seems like the easiest way. Not sure how WhatsApp etc support dual sim though.
- vmception 6y ago
  WhatsApp is the only one that makes it inconvenient. Perhaps Signal is one identity too, and therefore less convenient. But you can always at the very least set up the accounts, using your browser on a PC. You just won't get chat notifications for multiple numbers on one device. Telegram app lets you have 3 accounts logged in, the only similarity being that setting up a Telegram account requires phone number authentication. But the similarity ends because a Telegram account on your device doesn't need to be linked with a phone number accessible from your device.
  - actuator 6y ago
    I think the problem of going outside prevalent apps like Text/iMessage/WhatsApp is that not everyone will have the less prevalent ones. Few people have Telegram, Signal seems like a very niche tech/journalist thing.
    - vmception 6y ago
      Thats just informative for you. I'm not really focusing on the dating use case and have already solved that for myself, and for you, and I'm not sure why you are overthinking it aside from your upcoming expensive of buying a new phone and additional cellular plan. The practicality is already there.
- philposting 6y ago
  You can install WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business, with a number on each. WhatsApp business has some extra functions for businesses, but is otherwise the same.
  - actuator 6y ago
    It does show you are texting with a business account which might just seem weird to the other person. If they didn't find not having IG shady before, I am sure they will now.
    - vmception 6y ago
      You’re overthinking this. I’m aware of people that immediately ask for social media, and rationalize it with trying to disprove infidelity or an assurance they wont get murdered, I can tell you that most people I’ve dated over the past two years did not ask for that. At this point I think there is a level of maturity involved in not asking questions you don't really want the answer to, as they too would prefer not to lead with their social media. Its pretty much the same as introducing a date to your friends. You don't typically lead with that. YMMV.
      - actuator 6y ago
        The IG thing was just in response to the WhatsApp thing. But you are right, no point overthinking and complicating it. I will upgrade to a dual sim phone and use the other sim for new stranger communication. Though I think a lot of people do want to see IG, just to get an idea about your life, friends etc. Like a way to know about you without prodding too much. I anyway don't use IG anymore so I just say I don't have it, and as you said they seem to be fine with it.
bartvk 6y ago
> I maintain dual sims in my iphone That's a very good idea, thanks for this.
vmception 6y ago
update, I just made a google voice number for my newer sim. the google voice app lets you switch between any logged in google account seamlessly. 2x sim, 2x google voice. yay new accounts I can sign up to, again

gorgoiler 6y ago

For commerce I use an SMS to email gateway and automatically file those emails into a separate mailbox. It started attracting spam after about a year. I found that I never need to be alerted about anything via SMS though. The only time I use it is when I know I should have just received a message, which is at the top of the inbox above all this week’s spam. I’m quite aware that I’m side stepping a lot of two factor policies by doing this. (My phone mail client can read all my email accounts.) One has to be careful not to do anything silly and I’m glad GitHub steered away from SMS 2FAC.