5 ms·

I’m with you that it’s gross Apple is using this technology, OTOH though your hiding your face and paying cash to then take what you bought and configure it wit

I’m with you that it’s gross Apple is using this technology, OTOH though your hiding your face and paying cash to then take what you bought and configure it with a device that identifies you to that very business and probably even can track where you fought it by ID.

sneak 5y ago
I use a brand new apple ID (each of which requires a burner number to create) for each and every device, and I don't attach payment info to the account (free apps only), and I don't put SIM cards in them (apple receives the device serial and sim card serial when you insert one), I don't use iCloud/FaceTime/iMessage, I keep location services off at all times, and I only allow them internet access via a VPN-only router that filters a lot of traffic. It's a pain in the ass. I've had every one but this 12 pro is very likely my last iPhone.
- vxNsr 5y ago
  What’s the point of a smart phone if you only have WiFi and no gps?
  - netr0ute 5y ago
    WiFi calling
    - hanniabu 5y ago
      Linked to your wifi, paid by you
      - shuckles 5y ago
        WiFi calling doesn’t use the device’s VPN settings? Even if it doesn’t, the poster said they also use a router VPN.
        vxNsr 5y ago
        The phone number itself is linked to them in someway. Paying for your physical device in cash is meaningless if you’re gonna connect to internet you own and use credit cards, etc to operate it.
        shuckles 5y ago
        I think that’s definitely true in some countries but not all. For example, you can buy burner phone numbers (prepaid) in the United States without presenting ID.
    - vxNsr 5y ago
      Still need to be in WiFi range for that… 90% of smartphone things are better on a computer, only convenience makes ppl use the smartphone, but a big part of that convenience is mobile service and GPS. Take that out and you may as well get a dumb phone and use your laptop for everything else.
  - sneak 5y ago
    I have a separate battery powered device that does LTE backhaul and VPN and provides wifi, on which I have root and iptables/tcpdump. This way the VPN can't be bypassed on the phone, and I can inspect and filter traffic. Uber can be used by entering an address (eg one a block down from my house) with location services off. The only things I really miss out on are things that don't work at all without location, like the snap map or tinder.
    - vxNsr 5y ago
      Based on the phone number in your bio you appear to be based in chicago, is there a reason you are so worried about gov tracking but put your real name and phone number in your bio? This just seems like all incredibly inconvenient as a training exercise but I can't think of real reason someone on hn would do this only to make it very easy to ID them in other ways.
      - leesalminen 5y ago
        That's likely a burner number. sneak's website states that he is out of Berlin. He got ya!
        sneak 5y ago
        ...my SIM card is an SF number, my mailing address is in Manhattan, my domain name ends in .berlin, and I'm in precisely zero of the cities listed in this thread right now. ;)
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]

sneak 5y ago

I use a brand new apple ID (each of which requires a burner number to create) for each and every device, and I don't attach payment info to the account (free apps only), and I don't put SIM cards in them (apple receives the device serial and sim card serial when you insert one), I don't use iCloud/FaceTime/iMessage, I keep location services off at all times, and I only allow them internet access via a VPN-only router that filters a lot of traffic. It's a pain in the ass. I've had every one but this 12 pro is very likely my last iPhone.

vxNsr 5y ago
What’s the point of a smart phone if you only have WiFi and no gps?
- netr0ute 5y ago
  WiFi calling
  - hanniabu 5y ago
    Linked to your wifi, paid by you
    - shuckles 5y ago
      WiFi calling doesn’t use the device’s VPN settings? Even if it doesn’t, the poster said they also use a router VPN.
      - vxNsr 5y ago
        The phone number itself is linked to them in someway. Paying for your physical device in cash is meaningless if you’re gonna connect to internet you own and use credit cards, etc to operate it.
        shuckles 5y ago
        I think that’s definitely true in some countries but not all. For example, you can buy burner phone numbers (prepaid) in the United States without presenting ID.
  - vxNsr 5y ago
    Still need to be in WiFi range for that… 90% of smartphone things are better on a computer, only convenience makes ppl use the smartphone, but a big part of that convenience is mobile service and GPS. Take that out and you may as well get a dumb phone and use your laptop for everything else.
- sneak 5y ago
  I have a separate battery powered device that does LTE backhaul and VPN and provides wifi, on which I have root and iptables/tcpdump. This way the VPN can't be bypassed on the phone, and I can inspect and filter traffic. Uber can be used by entering an address (eg one a block down from my house) with location services off. The only things I really miss out on are things that don't work at all without location, like the snap map or tinder.
  - vxNsr 5y ago
    Based on the phone number in your bio you appear to be based in chicago, is there a reason you are so worried about gov tracking but put your real name and phone number in your bio? This just seems like all incredibly inconvenient as a training exercise but I can't think of real reason someone on hn would do this only to make it very easy to ID them in other ways.
    - leesalminen 5y ago
      That's likely a burner number. sneak's website states that he is out of Berlin. He got ya!
      - sneak 5y ago
        ...my SIM card is an SF number, my mailing address is in Manhattan, my domain name ends in .berlin, and I'm in precisely zero of the cities listed in this thread right now. ;)
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]