I’m looking into getting a flip phone with a separate number so that I can sign up for a few apps that without associating them with the complete identity profile in the data marketplace that is linked to my actual phone number.

To be clear, the apps will still be downloaded and utilized on my primary smartphone. But the phone number through which I receive verification codes during registration will be a separate device.

Has any one done this? Tips for selecting a cheapo phone and prepaid service?

  • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.comEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    Your cell phone company associates SMS with your location all the time, and sells that data to brokers who overlay it with app data associated with a phone number.

    I’m not sure what you’re not following. Just because another provider has my location, doesn’t mean a broker can associate that location to a phone number on another provider (and thus connected apps).

    • Claudia@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      1·
      2 days ago

      I’m not sure what you are t following. They’re associating your location with your phone number non stop. The sms message is just you sending a message.

      Another provider has you location, another broker can pay for your information. Brokers clean up all the data they receive and match it to specific individuals. That’s how they do their job.

      Broker 1: hey got any data on person01?

      Broker 2: hey I got data on person01, how much you willing to pay?

      Broker1: sweet, I’ll pay this much.

      • fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.comEnglish
        1·
        1 day ago

        OK, let’s do this step by step. We’re going to use a prepaid SIM like op mentions:

        • Buy SIM prepaid at Walmart with cash
        • Activate that SIM in a phone at a static location, not your home
        • This is sold to broker 1
        • Buy SIM from normal provider using your CC
        • This data is sold to broker 2
        • Broker 2 asks broker 1 for into on person
        • Broker 1 has no discrete match due to lack of payment data
        • Claudia@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          1·
          18 hours ago
          1. Broker 1 is stuck with cheaper data on somebody they know exists. The phone is in a static location switched on and proving location data.
          2. Periodically broker 1 asks other brokers for information on people who also are in the same place at the same time.
          3. Broker 2 says they have a match and sells it to broker 1.
          4. Broker 1 & 2 are able to resell much more valuable data on some privacy freak.

          Data isn’t some silo locked up. They have data sharing agreements allowing them to look at each others data and pay for transfers of useful information. Their profit comes from making initial collection agreements with the phone companies/banks/stores giving them sole access to raw data.

          At the end of the day OP wants to do all of this for his bank’s 2fa codes. The bank that knows who he is and where he lives due to know your customer laws.

          Just disable internet banking, paper statements, stops all data from being made in first place.

          Cash only phones only work from a privacy perspective if they are your single phone. As a secondary phone they’re just another number on your data broker profile.