3 ms·
This is one of the problems with mobile -- there's isn't any one universally correct answer to this (or most questions), so I'll answer to the best of my knowle
by barathr 4y ago
This is one of the problems with mobile -- there's isn't any one universally correct answer to this (or most questions), so I'll answer to the best of my knowledge. IMSIs are what are associated with your identity (because it's your SIM and service) in a normal mobile plan, and it's what was (is?) used by carriers when they aggregate / analyze / sell location data.
IMEIs can be queried by a network core (not the tower) and US carriers probably do this every once in a while to check against their stolen phone database. It can be changed on some devices but not others. It's not inherently tied to you as a person but of course it is tied to that device.
For those who don't need mobile data service of any sort, I think that PGPP Relay does what's needed -- decouples your IP from your identity -- and you can use WiFi networks without revealing anything.
- sneak 4y ago> IMEIs can be queried by a network core (not the tower) and US carriers probably do this every once in a while to check against their stolen phone database. It can be changed on some devices but not others. It's not inherently tied to you as a person but of course it is tied to that device. It's also linked to the rotating IMSI, so all of the rotating IMSIs that are used at the times the IMEI is interrogated are linked together from a metadata standpoint. They're also all linked to every other IMSI that was ever used with that IMEI (at the times the IMEI is interrogated). > US carriers probably do this every once in a while to check against their stolen phone database Hourly? Daily? Monthly? Only on first-time seeing a new IMSI?
- biktor_gj 4y agoProbably on every connect, there are ways to randomize your IMEI on every boot on certain phones though (that might be not very legal in some countries)
- throwaway67743 4y agoCarriers globally check at registration time to deny stolen phones access (via various shared databases) etc, this has been the case for a long time and someone selling mobile services should know this.
- throwaway67743 4y agoPlease familiarise yourself with how cell networks actually work, you can't throw out comments like this because it's just not true.
- NoImmatureAdHom 4y agoI know it's work, but...could you explain?
- throwaway67743 4y agoIf anyone else asked sure but I reviewed your comments earlier and I think it might be a lost cause.
- ajvs 4y agoI'm curious also.