Are there any bitcoiners on CH that have given up using the SIM card? Many modern android smartphones have esim and there are many services that allow you to anonymously download esim with an internet package. Combined with a confidential OS like Graphene OS, I think it would be an interesting experience.
After all, in fact, why do we need a phone number in 2023? For banking applications? two-factor authentication? (this is evil. Don't use your phone number for this!)
There are plenty of people who live without a phone, so living without a phone number is definitely feasible.
why do we need a phone number in 2023?
Some websites require a phone number to sign up (e.g. Twitter). But those websites are unnecessary and usually a bad idea to use anyways.
two-factor authentication?
Any company that requires you to use SMS for MFA is insane; simjacking is no joke. I wouldn't do business with such a company.
Some companies will let you use a phone app (e.g. DUO). A few will let you use a generic 2FA/MFA client (e.g. https://github.com/paolostivanin/OTPClient).
for banking applications?
If you can't get a bank account without a phone number, then it's time to go all-in on Bitcoin.
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YES!! It's become the norm to have a 'number'. We cannot own these numbers, only rent them from a limited number of companies (oligopoly) for a high price, whilst simultaneously sacrificing our geolocation, content, and identity.
SMS is not secure 2FA, we all know this. I have graphene, and it does NOT have a sim (nor e-sim).
By switching on airplane mode, you can still use wifi and bluetooth but your IMEI is not continuously transmitted to every base station in the vicinity.
If you need SMS for that annoying provider who doesn't support true 2FA then you can use crypton.sh and rent a number for a few euros a month
If you need internet (and who doesn't) then you can buy a throwaway sim each month and stick it in a VPN dongle. This way ALL your comms are encrypted, double-encrypted if you have VPN on your phone also.
Yes it means carrying a dongle in addition to a (graphene) mobile, but you can finally use a mobile and have true privacy.
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Using Graphene OS with a local sim for incoming personal calls/sms and a silent.link esim for mobile data. Works like a charm.
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