Before putting my current SIM card into my Brax3, I did some research on SIMs to better understand them. I’ve watched three video explaining them in detail:
SIM OS itself and the Baseband Processor talk to each other & initiate the transmission of various system data to Carriers. Exact transmitted data cannot be seen by the user, and technically is sent without express consent. Data can even be stuff from the OS of “normie” phones, and turn on cameras & mics. However, the SIM & Baseband Process CANNOT share OS information for de-Googled phones?
A SIM card from your Carrier is Know-Your-Customer (KYC). Therefore, if it’s in ANY phone (“normie” or de-Googled), Carriers can track your device’s movements and geolocate you specifically because they know whose SIM it is.
A Calyx hotspot can be purchased nearly anonymously (providing personal alias or nickname, maildrop address, and payment made in cash or using a service like Privacy.com with one-time use or refillable payment cards).
Using a no KYC hotspot decouples your identify from the SIM, and if the hotspot is used with multiple devices, the usage data transmitted to the carrier can be harder to confine to one individual for profiling or surveillance purposes. The ability to power off the hotspot can also be leveraged to break Provider’s ability to track you continuously. Furthermore, Cell Tower Triangulation is less accurate than WiFi Triangulation which helps preserve your privacy.
Use a good, reputable VPN even when using the hotspot to serve as a final layer of protection and anonymity, since the 4 or 5G signal received by the hotspot will be “converted” into WiFi for hotspot use.
If the above is in fact correct, then is it true to say that there is an inherent irremovable privacy risk using a standard or eSIM, regardless of whether your phone is de-Googled?
Yes, you are correct. The amount of KYC information collected by the cellular provider will have a huge impact on the direct ability to link a person to a device. However, even without specific customer data, a user on the cellular network can still have their location tracked based on their connections to cell towers. Authorities can obtain historical records that, when analyzed, can provide pattern of life information that could be used to de-anonymize the user, even if they did not provide accurate KYC information. The use of a VPN will not prevent you from cellular based location tracking, but does provide an important layer of obfuscation regarding specific website usage.
Absolutely. If for any personal reason you need or want your phone not to be linked to you, the first thing is to never insert a SIM card registered in your name. As I mentioned in another thread, we talk a lot about Google and Apple, but the biggest thieves of privacy and data are the traditional mobile operators. They can see absolutely everything about us from the moment we do anything with or from the phone. Regards.
So what you’re telling me is that my privacy phone is already ruined?
Did I inadvertently invalidate an entire range of frequencies used by Brax network and Brax phones by installing my old sim?
I thought what Rob said was that the value of a de-goggled phone was no goggle ID.
I thought Rob said I could use T-Mibole as a carrier and still have privacy.
I guess I’ll have to return my phone and issue a formal app-ology.
I guess I’m not smart enough to use this technology without risking everyone else’s privacy.
Great. Just great.
You haven’t ruined anything or done anything wrong. I bet over 90% of the people that have this phone put in an existing sim card from a normal phone. That does not affect anyone else’s privacy
Thank you for responding. According to Blaster’s post above on this thread, I’m no longer able to achieve privacy due to installing my old sim. I must have missed the point of Blaster’s post…
Thanks. I’m starting to calm down. I’ll turn my phone back on in a few minutes.
Brax is a Privacy device, not a security device. Its not going to “hide” you from government and similar entities. And if you read the TOU of Lineage, e/os, etc. I believe they all state this. Rob Braxman’s recent video even states this.
If you’re looking for a “security” type device, to hide your activities, the BraX3 is not that device.
I’m well aware of that. I don’t need to hide my activities. And to me, the term “security” is a one word oxymoron.
I was shocked to find Rob. A man with the knowledge to have a chance at privacy in electronic devices. And he’s sharing his knowledge, and even offering products! The last thing I need to do is ruin Rob’s work by logging in to goggle, or inadvertently installing an old sim card. Which I thought according to Rob, was okay, until I read the posts above. Imagine my panic.
@MikeL5280 - nothing to worry about here…The frequency bands associated with the device are simply a range of radio frequencies that cellular devices and towers use to communicate. There are a range of frequencies so that overlapping towers can avoid interference and provide a clean signal to users. The frequency bands are not unique to BraX, so there is no threat of compromising anything.
Also, @xancudo is correct…unless you are LITERALLY running from the government or some other scary organization, the BraX3 is an excellent choice for a device. It will provide users with privacy by default, but will not make you disappear. The truth is, if you were trying to hide, the cellular network should be avoided altogether.
No, no please. @Xancudo has explained it very well. The BRAX and iodeOS are designed to focus on your privacy and let you choose what and with whom you want to share, while seeking a balance between privacy and functionality. But it’s not a device focused on security, and privacy is not the same as being untraceable or erasing yourself from the system. On any device where you insert something that’s registered in your name and it’s a connected device, you’re already exposing your identity. Enjoy!!!
I use prepaid datasim in my travelrouter. Then an prepaid sim in the brax3 with mobiledata off state. Both sims are not linked to any id. I fill them with cash in my local shop, no need for id sharing.
Do you seriously think that’s the objective and meaning of my messages? I’m sorry, my English must be very bad because it’s quite the opposite. I’m simply telling you to fight for your data and your privacy without forgetting that a smartphone is a tool and also an object for staying connected, and yes, to enjoy it… Obviously at some point you’re going to have to be more or less connected and therefore identified. If that seems like bad advice to you, I’m truly sorry. Enjoy!! And yes, I laugh because I like this and I’m a cheerful person. Regards, buddy!
Your deleted message…so the others can understand my reply.
I was going to mention the way you expressed your thoughts being… loose?.. but honestly I suspect my diminished cognition before your English. It’s early, I had an emotional reaction to this thread yesterday, and I fractured my skull over the crown from ear to ear resulting in a subdural hematoma a little bigger than a fist over both parietal lobes 39 years ago. Yeah, diminished cognition without a doubt. And difficulty controlling my emotions.
I’m glad you could laugh about this. I get upset about the govment peering in on everything we do and lose control.
I like your new explanation more. Have to be connected and identified is more true statement than advice. My goal is to vote against govment overreach by not allowing them to know how many pieces are in the bowl before I flush. The art of war is: if you know enough about your enemy, you don’t need soldiers to control him. Ever notice, they get to know everything about us, but we have to refer to them as “the deep state” because we don’t even get to know who they are?
I’m sorry I was splitting hairs. I hate when I do that. Thank you for staying cheerful during my irrational emotional outburst. My apologies.
Don’t worry! We’re all here because we’re fed up with the abuse of power and them doing business with our data!!! This space is for debating, sharing impressions, giving advice, and ultimately learning and having a good time! Regards!
This is intriguing…I assume this is Europe? If anyone here in the USA has a pathway for the T-Mobile MVNOs, please post it!!
(..or maybe I’m the only one unable to successfully perform a search query on this subject. In the same way we used to walk up to a gum machine, put in a penny or nickel and rotate the handle to get a handful of gum, I would love to just conduct the simple transaction to which you allude.)
I have had the same experience. I found an article here that sort of hit on the issue in the USA (or at least I thought it was a valid point). My personal conflict with the data-only sim is just reliability, with certain MVNOs, and the experience of paying with a CC. I also feel some conflict with the whole argument of “no number - no link”
With that, and while more expensive, you can go to most any T-Mobile store and pay cash for a SIM. They won’t ask for any ID. As long as you pay cash, your name will not be associated with the account. Just walk in, and pay them cash for any number of required months. While this is not really data only, it does keep your name detached from the number. Then just maybe uninstall Messages and Phone from Preinstalled Apps in Settings.
I have done this, with exception of uninstalling the Phone app. And this is more expensive as it is T-Mobile.
