Is it safe to put sim card to my new 2nd hand phone?
from 721_bipsty@lemmy.ml to privacy@lemmy.ml on 05 Jun 2025 17:09
https://lemmy.ml/post/31214861

I have 2nd hand pixel 8a with grapheneos and i havent putted sim card in it since i have it, in my country i have to have registered sim card, iam afraid of IMEI be linked with sim card and once i put it in im f**ked, the reason i need to put card is to verify bank which need sim card being in device.

I did some research but became dumb from too much information

(sorry for my english :D)

Edit: also i want to be private because of my feature, idk if i wont live in country where propaganda is normal

#privacy

threaded - newest

JASN_DE@feddit.org on 05 Jun 2025 17:12 next collapse

iam afraid of IMEI be linked with sim card and once i put it in im f**ked

Fucked in which way?

721_bipsty@lemmy.ml on 05 Jun 2025 17:15 collapse

Like my name and things releated to me will be linked to imei, i know its kinda schizo, but i dont want to be easy to find. I didnt commit and crime or anything, as i said kinda schizo thing

RheumatoidArthritis@mander.xyz on 05 Jun 2025 17:20 collapse

Do you mean you’d be linked to potential crimes of the previous owner? Well yeah there’s a slim chance but then you show authorities a proof of purchase.

Or if you mean your personal privacy, that’s non existent at the moment you connect to a cell network with a registered sim

721_bipsty@lemmy.ml on 05 Jun 2025 17:26 collapse

Sorry, i dont really understand the second thing u said, what i want is to have phone which isnt really linked to me, want to be propaganda-proof, i use tor, signal, probably i already leaked my device so its findable to me as a person, but if i link once sim card with imei it is linked forever, right? I mightn’t be clear, sorry for that, if u need morw information i am open to answer

sunzu2@thebrainbin.org on 05 Jun 2025 17:45 collapse

Do you pay for the cell service under your name?

721_bipsty@lemmy.ml on 05 Jun 2025 17:58 collapse

no, but already used the card for many accounts

Ulrich@feddit.org on 05 Jun 2025 17:47 next collapse

First, it’s very much not a “schizo” thing, and such people might find that offensive so you might consider a better word choice.

Second, if it’s possible in your area you can pick up a pre-paid SIM from Best Buy or something with cash. They could still possibly link that back to you with cameras in the store so put on a nice medical mask and some glasses and a hat. Shove a rock in your shoe so they can’t read your gait.

Yes, putting a SIM in your device that you are registered with will identify that phone as yours. But you can just take it out when you’re done. Just have to keep it because you may need that phone number again.

You can try getting a number from somewhere like Cloaked but they can usually detect if it’s a VoIP.

Unfortunately a phone number is something society expects you to have in order to participate.

721_bipsty@lemmy.ml on 05 Jun 2025 17:57 next collapse

sorry for the word schizo, i said it because im just a normie who want to be undetectable (as i said before propaganda-proof), i dont want to offend anybody, i will look into prepaid card more, thanks for advice :)

dysprosium@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 05 Jun 2025 19:28 collapse

How about E-sim? Then you don’t need to enter a physical store at all, let alone dance to the cameras

721_bipsty@lemmy.ml on 05 Jun 2025 20:50 next collapse

yeah, but wont it be the same? probably sim and esim will somehow link my phone and my personality will be linked into phone

dysprosium@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Jun 2025 10:52 collapse

Yeah but the difference is is that you can buy esim more privately. You can do it online from your home. There are services that provide anonymous (ie via crypto) esims with mobile data, calling, sms, even roaming. If I remember correctly, Silent Link is one of them

721_bipsty@lemmy.ml on 06 Jun 2025 11:02 collapse

But will it be safe? Wouldnt that mean that somebody who owns this card would somehow have access to my device?

dysprosium@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 07 Jun 2025 07:31 collapse

I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. What card? Esim is witbout any physical card, right? It’s a code you enter in your phone so it automatically connects to the provider.

I don’t think this is less “safe” as you put it. Perhaps a tiny tiny bit, but I don’t really know. Safe enough I guess

Ulrich@feddit.org on 05 Jun 2025 22:55 collapse

I dunno, I’d be more comfortable being able to physically disconnect the device.

dysprosium@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 06 Jun 2025 10:54 collapse

Maybe, although a good custom ROM may help you out there. Also, removable batteries are coming which may also suit your need of killing off all connectivity. EU may have mandated it

who@feddit.org on 05 Jun 2025 19:08 next collapse

If you put a SIM into a phone that has power and cell access, then an association between the SIM and the phone’s IMEI will be recorded somewhere.

If your identity is linked to that SIM, then it’s only one more step to link your identity to the phone, of course. You’ll have to decide for yourself whether that’s unsafe for you.

catloaf@lemm.ee on 05 Jun 2025 23:50 next collapse

Keep in mind that a lot of countries have introduced ID requirements on stuff like phones due to people like terrorists and drug traffickers buying them as burners.

jet@hackertalks.com on 06 Jun 2025 04:50 collapse

And protestors and whistle blowers and human rights reporters

Mirokhodets@lemmy.ml on 06 Jun 2025 02:15 next collapse

What happens when you insert a SIM card? The operator receives: The IMEI of your phone. The SIM card number (ICCID). The Wi-Fi network name (if Wi-Fi Calling is enabled). The location (by towers). And yes, this permanently binds the IMEI to the SIM card in their database, especially in countries that require SIM registration. If the SIM card is registered to you, then: Any insertion into the device is logged. IMEI + number = you can track which device is being used and by whom. Banking Apps usually check: The presence of a SIM card. Sometimes - so that the SIM number matches the number specified in the banking system. The presence of active Internet (mobile or Wi-Fi). Something like that

a4ng3l@lemmy.world on 06 Jun 2025 17:19 collapse

In Europe that would not be permanently stored but is would be for a while indeed. A few years after the subscription’s validity at least.

burgerchurgarr@lemmus.org on 06 Jun 2025 02:35 next collapse

Kycnot.me is your friend. Go to a public WiFi (ideally use a VPN), get some Monero, buy a phone plan without KYC.

stupid_asshole69@hexbear.net on 07 Jun 2025 22:57 collapse

You can’t use the cell network and preserve your anonymity without committing identity theft or fraud crimes or without someone else willingly laundering sims with you.

It’s almost always better to treat your phone and cell network usage as not anonymous unless you only need to do a few specific things.