What level of SIM privacy can be achieved in Australia? I haven't seen this talked about anywhere so I thought I'd ask the question.

I've read Michael Bazzell's books where he suggests to buy a pre-paid SIM with cash for data, and use VoIP for legacy calls.

Unfortunately, you can't purchase a SIM or phone number in Australia without your ID. Including a VoIP number.

I've also seen Silent Link thrown around a lot, but they are quite suspicious. They make connections to Israel (as well as other countries), and with a no-number or data-only SIM, you still get assigned a Polish number, which in actual fact, makes you stick out like a sore thumb (especially if you're using it for months or even years).

So, my question is, is this something to even pursue in a country like Australia, especially if you're just an average person? I've moved all conversations with family/friends to Signal, and to counter approximate location tracking, I have aeroplane (airplane) mode enabled 24/7, unless I need data (rarely). If I need to make a call, it'd happen over Wi-Fi calling, unless it is not available.
Thanks.

    As another Aussie, I've often wondered how to enact some of the stuff MB talks about in his (e-)books, and from his earlier podcast, which I listened to Way Back in the Day when Justin Carroll was still involved -- pre Ep87. Remember how they used to use made-up names to introduce themselves? ("I'm Chetwynd Bandersnatch", "And I'm that guy from high school") It was based on their Complete Privacy & Security Desk Reference, vols 1 & 2. Ah, the old days....

    Anyway, I've never really managed to make much headway with this direction because of the way the law works here. And, for example, the fact that MySudo still does not have any Australian phone numbers. The level of "extra"-ness required to do stuff that is simply basic in the US is so daunting and confusing. I wonder whether there might be a Session group that deals with doing MB-type things in Australia.

      For data only https://www.keepgo.com/ is pretty good. They have a local distributor And they send pre activated European based SIMs. It's a bit pricey but they almost always have a 50% off sale on.

      Getting a phone number is another issue. I don't have a solution there.

        LunaticBuzz Yeah that is interesting.

        Yeah, I've contacted MySudo about that but they don't have any plans to add Aussie phone numbers unfortunately.

        If someone like a group chat ever comes to fruition, let me know lol.

        If you don't mind me asking as a fellow Aussie, what's your setup for most privacy?

            DeletedUser84 they do! They operate on the Telstra network in Australia if you get the World SIM. Their SIMs are distributed out of Melbourne, or at least they were a couple years back.

                Pretty sure you can register a prepaid SIM with a credit card alone in Australia. You could then get a burner cc to register that and use that for mobile access.

                There are some VoIP providers that provide Australian mobile numbers which you can then use to give out as your main number.

                  You could always emigrate.

                  We welcome Aussies here, but we do try to encourage them to take English lessons.

                    redfoxjumper how does one get a burner CC? I've tried before with a pre-paid vanilla visa but they are now recognised and blocked across all carriers.

                        DeletedUser84
                        You don't, legally. At least assuming that pre-paid cards are blocked.

                        Well not at any reasonable price. I mean if you are willing to set up a Belize trust with a Nevis LLC using nominee directors for everything, have that own a UAE company, and then get a Swiss bank account for the UAE company along with getting corporate credit cards for the UAE company. You can do it.

                        Assuming that the Australian government wants to find you, they will get the info from the CC company and then have to get the UAE to cough up records, before getting Nevis and then Belize to do the same. And for true privacy you use a stolen identity to hire the lawyers to set it all up in the first place.

                            DeletedUser84 I pestered MySudo in the past about .au numbers. Nothing changed. I used a UK +44 number for a while through MySudo, but it was somewhat awkward giving it out to people (what? +44?), so when I swapped from Very Leaky Android to Graphene, that went away.

                            My set-up is basically as much as I can get working of the techniques MB talks about in Extreme Privacy (mostly 4th & 5th edns) as well as those in the PDF e-books on computers and phones. This includes EteSync and Protonmail. But I eventually took Pop!OS off and went back to plain Debian Linux for both computers since I liked it more. I had used other de-Googled Androids before, but it was Extreme Privacy: Mobile Devices that pushed me to come to Graphene, and I have never looked back.

                                LunaticBuzz that sounds great! With your phone number situation, are you using your SIM number for communication or a VoIP number? And what about for data?

                                I saw a guy on the forum here using a Crazytel VoIP number with a regular KYC SIM for data?

                                    DeletedUser84

                                    Governments, especially anti-freedom ones like Australia, really don't like monetary anonymity.

                                    A credit card not tied to an identity is the very definition of that.

                                    If you want a CC that can't feasibly be tied to your identity and are unwilling to violate the law then you are looking at a complicated chaining of legal entities across multiple selected jurisdictions.

                                    It is expensive and doing it right will cost you tens of thousands of USD in initial setup fees and thousands more each year in maintenance fees.

                                    Or you find some homeless guy with a government issue ID who is willing to be your front man for a hundred bucks and hope he doesn't tell the government about the arrangement.

                                    Because if the government knows the ID or CC that was used then they can search for all SIMs linked to that ID/CC and mark any that can't be explained for detailed investigation. Note that doing this is likely a crime, consult an Australian legal professional for a detailed analysis.

                                    You may also be able to get a physical prepaid SIM card at the airport. Or convince a tourist to let you use their identity for one. Some dude flying back to Brazil and unlikely to ever come back to Australia may well be willing to use their passport to buy you a reloadable prepaid SIM. Just wait a few months to start using it.