Privacy

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I have an issue with how SIM cards are handled in most countries (lemmy.ml)

submitted 10 months ago by WbrJr@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

25 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Almost all countries require official authentication to activate a SIM card. This seems to me as a huge privacy problem, if the country can track sim cards across cell towers and connect them to a person. It seems like a dystopian system, that we litterely can not hide from our governments without turning off our smartphones. It seems incredibly unnecessary to me and just sets up the system to be abused.

Or do I understand something wrong?

What can we do against this? There are some sim cards that can be bought second hand, but they will not be a long term solution.

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[–] Sal@mander.xyz 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Almost all countries require official authentication to activate a SIM card.

Fortunately not in the Netherlands. I don't think that's the case in the rest of the EU. I can use free sim cards as much as I want!

When communicating with cell towers, a phone will also broadcast its unique IMEI identifier. So, even if you swap the SIM card every day, your IMEI is still being broadcast the same.

Changing the IMEI of a phone in the EU is illegal, unless the manufacturer consents: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/31/section/1

So... I have a Chinese 4G mobile router, and the manufacturer gives me the permission to change the IMEI as it is an integrated feature of the device. I use that for my data. The data codes I purchase small quantities in bulk with cash, and I can access the router via its ip from my phone's browser to send the SMS messages to activate the data codes as needed. Since WiFi connections are abundant around here I keep these codes for emergencies. I can go a few months some time without activating data codes. I mostly use them when traveling internationally.

[–] neutron@thelemmy.club 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Brand of the 4g router?

[–] Sal@mander.xyz 2 points 9 months ago

I have the Tianje MF903 (https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/32719535459.html), which I bought early 2022.

But just now I have done a search and I see many more pocket wifi routers now. Unfortunately I can't tell you if they work well, or if it is also possible to change their IMEI easily. The one I have is functional, but it doesn't have a very long battery life.