this post was submitted on 27 Oct 2024
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Privacy

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I'm investigating getting off the cell network permanently to avoid at least the constant triangulation of my position. I figured I'd look into getting a VoIP number and getting calls and texts over WiFi. I don't mind being unreachable when I'm not connected to a hotspot, so it's not a problem for me.

But before looking for a good VoIP provider, I decided to check if WiFi still worked in airplane mode. And indeed it works. But to my surprise, when I connected the WiFi, my cellphone provider's name also came right back up at the top right of the screen. In airplane mode? What the hell?

Long story short, after investigating a bit, I realized I had WiFi calling enabled. So I can in fact already get calls and texts without being on the cell network.

And I'm thinking, maybe that's good enough for privacy?

I mean I know SIMs leak information like ICCID / IMSI / IMEI so obviously they have no reason not to do that over WiFi also and that's not so hot.

But on the plus side, none of that information is linked to cell towers and location anymore - at least not precise location if I'm not on a VPN - the baseband processor is off and can't do whatever shady chit-chat it does with the SIM and the cell towers, and I can still use my normal phone numbers without having to change and tell a million people that I have new numbers if I go with VoIP.

Also, I don't store my contacts on my SIMs and I use a deGoogled Android. So I figure that limits how much adversarial software can exploit the SIMs to leak data.

So it seems to me that WiFi calling may be a good solution for me for better privacy without too many compromises.

Can you think of something I missed that I should know before using this feature?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I strongly suggest you look into jmp.chat. That's what I've been using exclusively for the last 3 months , no problem. When I'm out, I just carry a prepaid 5G mobile modem with me, and have yet to miss a single call or sms (as far as I know). I haven't missed being attached to a mobile provider in the least. And since my mobile modem is unlocked and prepaid, I can just throw away the Sim if I don't want to use them anymore and use some other provider. Nevermind the huge savings since I moved to this flow.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Are you aware that using the same device with different SIMs is not helping your anonymity because IMEI is the same?

Power to you for not having GSM enabled on your phone though

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Oh, I know. The reason for switching Sims is because they do something I don't like, not for anonymity or even privacy. But it's good that you mention it here.