Use your phone anonymously: setup, apps, SIM and Internet

There are many reasons for not disclosing any data and using a cell phone completely anonymously. We tell you what to look for here.

Why should you use your phone anonymously?

An anonymous cell phone has many advantages:

• You will not receive any unwanted calls as no one can identify you with your number.
• Normal phone calls can basically be listened to and monitored by anyone without an anonymous cell phone.
• You also no longer give your location or your surfing behavior without further price.

Which devices are suitable?

The question of which device you can best use is rather complicated.

• The classic "old bones" are particularly useful here, that is, cell phones that have no smart functions, but are only used for making calls and writing text messages.
• Android smartphones are also very suitable, since you can root the system with a few tricks and easily remove unwanted services and apps.

Receive anonymous SIM card

Getting a legal anonymous SIM has now become almost impossible.

• In the meantime you have to provide your name and address with every SIM registered in Germany.
• In Austria, for example, you sometimes get a SIM card without personal data. However, make sure that you don't pay too many roaming fees.
• In Germany, anonymous SIM cards can be found in many dubious "cell phone shops". These are mostly used cards that have already been registered.

Set up anonymous cell phone

When setting up an older cell phone that does not have any "smart" functions, you basically do not have to do anything else. The situation is different for smartphones.

• With smartphones, you should be careful not to accidentally send any data to Google or other companies. If possible, reject everything here and do not allow yourself to contribute to "location improvement" or the like, for example.
• You should also not log in with a Google account or use Google Apps.
• You play it safe if you set up the device (even older devices) in a foreign location so that neither any corporations nor your cell phone provider knows your location. Switch the device off completely after use. Activating flight mode and deactivating GPS does relatively little.

Get apps and surf the Internet

You can use other providers to install apps anonymously, i.e. not via the Google Play Store.

• On the one hand, there are many store alternatives, such as Aptoide, F-Droid, Uptodown, APKMirror and Co.
• If you surf the Internet, you should always use a VPN, or preferably a connection via Tor.
• You can encrypt emails with PEP, for example.

In the next article, you will learn how to use WiFi on the Arduino.