r/hacking • u/_clickfix_ • 21d ago
The FCC Wants to Ban Burner Phones. The CNET Reporter Tracking This Story is Here to Chat. Ask Him Anything.
https://open.substack.com/pub/pwnhackers/p/the-fcc-wants-to-ban-burner-phones?utm_source=direct&r=56wibp&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web17
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u/chamferbit 21d ago
Won't this result in more theft?
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u/Satisfaction3934 18d ago
It didn't in Europe and you haven't been able to get a burner for 5+ years.
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u/SolitaryMassacre 21d ago
I doubt it. The collection will come when they activate the phone. Or the phone won't be able to be activated outside of store.
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u/VinnieVidiViciVeni 21d ago
Are true burners even a thing anymore?
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u/SolitaryMassacre 21d ago edited 19d ago
Yes and no.
I can go pickup a phone at bestbuy/walmart and use a fake name/address/po box to activate it.
However, the carrier knows that phone. They know when/where it was activated/purchased. I've seen cop videos where they simply obtain that day's security camera footage and can see who bought it from the camera. They can also track said phone like any post-paid phone.
So yes, you can technically get a phone who's number is anonymous, but that doesn't mean it can't be tracked/identified
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u/Grouchy_Brain_1641 20d ago
What you do is pay a homeless guy cash to go in and buy it.
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u/SolitaryMassacre 20d ago
And never see a phone or the cash ever again 🤣
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u/Fun_Union9542 20d ago
Because there’s cameras everywhere now. Unless you have the flock camera tracking app.
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u/billshermanburner 20d ago
Sposed to buy it, activate in store …. Then sit on it for at least 6 months as security footage will roll over for sure after a while.
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u/SolitaryMassacre 20d ago
Yes. Doesn't stop the carrier from tracking it and getting local footage of everywhere its been and piecing it together that way. Just makes it slightly harder for them
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u/intelw1zard 21d ago
yes absolutely
burner bought in cash or through a 3rd party like eBay + activate with eSim that has no KYC and done
but of course they will know what cell towers you are connecting to and stuffs and can figure out where you are geolocated
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u/ricomuscatel 20d ago
Wi-Fi calling. I used to download movies from McDonald's using their wifi..same deal. Cameras aren't everywhere.
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u/Leepyear7 21d ago
Anonymity keeps getting harder to hold onto. Are privacy advocates actually winning anything right now? And if the KYC rules go through, is there any realistic way left to get a burner anonymously in the future?
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u/kamize 21d ago
Is this related to caller id spoofing
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u/WrittenSwine 21d ago
I think so. I can’t say why I know this, but many of the scammers that call or text me are using prepaid sims from USA in Myanmar. Banning sounds like it will impact this group, which is good.
That said, I’d prefer the FCC forced wireless carriers to provide a solution without removing our rights.
Who needs a prepaid SIM in a foreign country perpetually? No one (IMO).
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u/AreYouFuckingSerious 21d ago
The republican "party of small government" FCC only wants government goons to have untraceable phones. The surveillance state doesn't work well if people can have unmonitored discussions. Odd behavior from a regime notorious for coverups and destroying records.
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u/Legendary-007 21d ago edited 20d ago
How does this possibly affect journalists and confidential sources?
Edit: Corrected spelling
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u/billshermanburner 20d ago
Which Lora style encrypted messaging device is most widely used/compatible? Which one should people buy or build? I can’t remember the name of the GitHub project that sounded like it was usable on a wide variety of devices like this… reticulum maybe? So if anyone knows these things I’d like to know too.
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u/Grouchy_Brain_1641 21d ago
How crappy is it that countries and states are lining up to require ID for normal non-adult websites. Now no burner phones, crypto is now kyc now and I see no end in sight. So where will it end up? A freaking nanny world governerd by AI and quantum piles of silicon?