What Do You Think?

[ronnybailey820]

In a world where "big brother" is gaining more and more power, often illegally gathering information and aggressively tracking down anyone that dares even speak negatively about the government, its policies or actions.

The following is very basic information one should keeping mind on just how easy it is for the government to spy on anyone. And some basic information about how not make the job to easy for the governments.


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Part of this content is from SaferMobile's
Mobile Surveillance - A Primer," https://lab.safermobile.org

Your SIM card and our mobile phone can dentify you.

Changing your SIM card is not enough
to stop being identifed - every phone
has a unique number! Change your
mobile phone AND your SIM card if you
need to be safe.

Both your SIM card and your mobile phone
itself can identify who you are. Any communication
your phone has with the mobile
network - whether placing or receiving a call,
sending a message, browsing the web or just
remaining connected - includes identifying
information about the phone and the SIM card.

How can a SIM card compromise me?

The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
card stores information about the
mobile service subscriber. It is what
your service provider uses to identify who you are,
based on personal information or documents that you
submitted.


How can my mobile phone compromise me?

A SIM card identifes who you are, but your mobile
phone itself can also get you into trouble. Each mobile
phone has a unique number, the International Mobile
Equipment Identity (IMEI). This number can be
tracked at all times.

International Mobile Equipment Identity Number
(IMEI)

Check your mobile phone for
the IMEI (often located
behind the battery) or dial *#06#
from your phone to and display your mobile
phone’s unique number.

People often assume that a SIM card is the only way
for your mobile service provider or authorities to
identify you or track your location. Many people
change their SIM cards frequently, but continue to
use the same phone. This is a mistake! It is the combination
of your SIM card (which identifes you)
and your IMEI number (which identifes your
phone) that allows you to be identifed and tracked
constantly.

A few things to remember to help
you stay safer:

Buy prepaid SIM cards, and if at all possible avoid
registering the SIM in your name.

Buy a cheap, low-tech mobile phone that you
don’t mind throwing away if necessary.

If you are concerned about being monitored,
don’t just change your SIM card, get rid of your
mobile phone too.

Always try to avoid sharing sensitive information
over your mobile phone.

Your mobile phone can
track you.

Your mobile phone is constantly registering
your location on every cell tower
it connects to.

Take out your battery or
leave your mobile phone at home if you
don’t want to be tracked.

How does my phone show my location?

When your mobile phone is switched on, the
network knows your location, triangulated from
the nearby cell towers that record your phone’s
signal. Your location might be accurate to as much
as a few meters in a densely populated area but
only to a few hundred meters in a rural area with
few cell towers. If you make or receive a call or
send or receive a text message, your location at
that time is stored in network records. Note that
this is a function of the mobile network, not of
any particular surveillance. All networks triangulate
your signal. This is important to
remember as this information can be
used against you!

A few things to remember about tracking:

Carry extra SIM cards from other mobile networks
that you can switch with your regular
SIM. If possible, carry more than one phone.

Take your battery out of your phone during and
when travelling to and from group meetings to
avoid cell phone triangulation and location tracking.

If you are concerned that you are being tracked
by authorities, get rid of both the SIM card and
the phone that you have been using.

Your phone can eavesdrop on you.

Even when you are not using your
mobile phone, it can be used as a secret
microphone for others to listen to you.
Take out your battery (don’t just turn
the phone of) or go far away from your
phone while having private conversations.

In normal use, your text messages and phone
calls can be monitored by your network operator.
Calls can be listened in to and recorded,
and recordings can be passed (legally or
illegally) to someone else.

Mobile phones can also be used as microphones
for others to listen in to your conversations, even
if you are not using your phone. For example, if
you are meeting with some friends, and your
mobile phones are on the table in front of you,
they could be being used to listen and record
your conversations. The only way to prevent this
is to take the battery out of
the phones - turning it off is not enough!