How do you manage keeping your phone number private

greendesk

Anyone use apps like Burner? Or just have a real burner phone? Any better recommendations?

N1b

greendesk it's hard to keep a phone number private once you shared it. Best you can do is compartmentalization, meaning you get some VOIP numbers and share them in different circles (one for friends, family, collegues, dates etc.). For SMS short codes you get a real number (preferably anonymously with silent.link or any other service at your disposal) and never share this number with peers, just use it for receiving SMS and maybe mobile data. If you can't get a VOIP number to work with a messenger, you might need to use multiple real numbers and then deactivate/remove the sim card since you don't use it for calls or SMS. That costs additional money of course and might therefore be not desirable.

You can use the GOS tools like contact scopes to limit what you share from your device. You won't likely be the weakest link in your peer groups though and others will save your number alongside full name, mail address, home address and who knows what and then allow WhatsApp etc. to read it. You can and should try to educate the people around you, but the best way to protect your data is to not give it away in the first place.

At least that's my 2 cents. :)

applesbana

greendesk

I like mysudo in theory. Provides 9 numbers (with their most expensive tier) and unlimited calls/texts on those voip numbers all wrapped up in a nice interface.

However, the downsides are:

Cannot sign up on a graphene device, must use a standard android/iOS device for setup and then you transfer over to graphene
Must use google play services if you want notifications of incoming calls/texts
only works in a handful of countries. This is a bummer as a killer use case of voip imo is being able to use it anywhere in the world if you have data
spotty if you’re using a VPN
some reports of people having their accounts shut down for alleged violations of their terms with little explanation and without a way to discuss/appeal. This could be disastrous for some if they really rely on these phone numbers

[deleted]

greendesk I do not. I try and use my JMP.chat number where I can, but only because they're more reliable than regular SIM, especially in any kind of roaming setting, not because of some 'privacy' angle.

I use eSIM as my regular number that people know. It's not public or anything, but for all intents are purposes it might be as @N1b remarked.

The rest are just single or multi-use nano SIMs I use for what is mostly just data. Some are no KYC PAYG, some (especially when traveling) required blood and stool sample to be issued and forever contaminated my ostensibly clean IMEI. All in all, not a great situation.

ve3jlg

N1b

I changed my phone and contacts slightly to prevent my caller ID from being sent out on calls except to people I trust, and who don't install snoopy apps that will leak collected caller ID and name to surveillance capitalists.

I'm using the default AOSP phone app for these instructions.

Proceed: Phone > 3 "." menu > Settings > Calling accounts > (name of cell service provider) > Additional settings > Caller ID
Select "Hide number"
Exit.
Your caller ID will be blocked (not sent) by default now. Toll free 1-8xx and some other numbers can still get your calling number by other methods (e.g. via Automatic Number Identification). I discovered that my city's 311 number received calling number even if blocked.

Test that caller ID blocking is working by dialing a number you are willing to share your caller ID with. Confirm your actual Number and name is not displayed when the destination rings.

Now go into phone contacts (address book).

Add "*31#" before the numbers you wish to send caller ID to. This prefix will cancel the default caller ID blocking default you just set for each call with that contact. Save the updated numbers for the contracts.

Test by calling a number you want to send caller ID to and verifying that it is displayed.

If you also display caller ID for calls from that contact, you need to add another contact number for them of type "other" which has the original, plain number without the prefix.

Test by having that number call you and verify it is displayed.

This is an ugly hack but it works for me. The "show caller ID" prefix "*31#" must be tested with your mobile service provider as it may not work with all. Some phone apps may be more sophisticated and able to inject the prefix into outbound dialing. I have not researched this. I have very few numbers that I call and want to send caller ID to, so this config was an easy way for me to enhance my privacy when I call local businesses, government offices, and other people etc.

This caller ID selective unblocking prefix setup might work on any phone which can enable default caller ID blocking, not just GrapheneOS on Pixel. It has been tested and also works on an iphone.

spiral

N1b

Have you used silent.link ? If so, can you share your opinion of it?

spiral

ve3jlg

Really great info, thanks!

Murcielago

ve3jlg

Funny, my workaround is quite similar.

With the difference that I always display my number under menu>settings>calling accounts>cell provider>additional settings>caller ID> Number displayed in outgoing calls (fits my threat model).

For people and companies etc. to whom I do not want to display my number, I have prefixed a #31# in the phone book - this suppresses my number for these call recipients. If I spontaneously want to suppress my number for other calls, I copy paste the number and also prefix the respective call with #31#.

If you also display caller ID for calls from that contact, you need to add another contact number for them of type "other" which has the original, plain number without the prefix.

Smart - I adopted it straight away, thanks for the hint!

N1b

spiral yes I use one silent.link data eSIM, it is working as expected. When crossing borders I sometimes have to change roaming profiles with the SIM Toolkit app, but other than that I get good reception and can choose the network provider which is great since depending on where I am, there is a noticeable difference in reliability of each network.

applesbana

[deleted]

For future reference (or others), silent link can be a good way to avoid kyc SIM card purchasing in foreign countries, also I recently used airalo and it worked great for me

[deleted]

applesbana I know of them, I even checked out a podcast episode with the founder, but came away unconvinced this is something I need. Additionally, one of the benefits of 'local' SIMs is that their numbers are picked up by said locals. No landlady in Bangkok is picking up calls with Fairfax, South Carolina area code.

applesbana

[deleted]

Good point about having a local number. I didn’t run into that issue in South America bur could see it happening. But I like the convenience of landing and having a working esim without needing to give me passport over to get a sim

[deleted]

applesbana But I like the convenience of landing and having a working esim without needing to give me passport over to get a sim

Yeah that's nice I agree. I've looked into hodgepodge of different 'international SIMs', but haven't really found anything I would be excited to use. Also, and not hijack the thread (which we already achieved to do anyway), I find silent.link website copy to be really sleazy. It's part of the reason they didn't click for me, albeit maybe a silly one.

[deleted]

[deleted] That said, it's nice to know people in this community find them to be a good value prop.

Skyway

Kind of off topic.
One way to keep your number from being spammed or shared is simply don't answer if you don't know the number .
If its a spam call like trying to renew your auto warranty , once you answer they mark it as a good number to spam.
I use jmp.chat when I have to give a number out to unknown services.

Blastoidea

Can’t you only allow calls from folks who are in your contacts?

graphene32942

N1b How do you open the SIM Toolkit app to switch roaming profiles? Under Settings -> Apps -> See all apps -> SIM Toolkit, there's no button to open the app.

[deleted]

graphene32942 https://github.com/GrapheneOS/os-issue-tracker/issues/2183#issuecomment-1538593593

N1b

graphene32942 I have that sometimes too, a restart helps in my case and I can open the app afterwards.

mmmm

I have never really cared to much about giving my number out, at least with prudence. The people that already have it after 10 years of use have already probably leaked it anywhere and everywhere. What I don’t like doing is being forced to use it in order to be identitied by companies like Google and Facebook who then have a tangible piece of information which which to profile the ‘real’ you with what you do, say, search for, or buy online whether you try to be semi anonymous or not - and seem to think that it’s their right to do that to boot. It’s the fact that is is non optional and there is nothing anyone can do about it that gets me.