New iPhone app
As discussed here recently (and not so recently), it can be risky to give your phone number to people you have never met in real life. If things turn sour it can become a real nuisance, or worse.
I came across this new app today: Burner - Disposable Phone Numbers.
"Burner is a privacy layer for your phone, providing alias phone numbers at the push of a button.
Fast, safe, and totally private - get Burner numbers as often as you need them, and get as many as you want.
Give out Burner numbers, and make and get voice calls and SMS texts, just like any other phone number. Keep them for a month, or longer. Burn them when you're done.
Perfect for dating, job searches, short-term projects, craigslist transactions, Twitter, Tumblr, and other social media, and for whenever else you want to be in touch and want to keep it on a private line, or don't want to give out your real number."
The down-side is, it's obviously perfect for creepers to.
Thoughts?
-
nux (FF Host) - 11 Aug, 12
Brunswick Heads, NSW, AUExcellent explanation guys. Cheers.
756 Comments - 117 Blog Posts
-
nux (FF Host) - 11 Aug, 12
Brunswick Heads, NSW, AUOi !
What about my fart joke?!?!
:(756 Comments - 117 Blog Posts-
nux (FF Host) - 12 Aug, 12
Brunswick Heads, NSW, AUOhhh, cover all bases, i like it!
:)756 Comments - 117 Blog Posts
-
-
Discretion87 - 11 Aug, 12
Broomfield, VIC, AUYeah. At a glance, it would appear that it uses iMessages' protocol to selectively associate a phone number with a user's phone. Uses internet connectivity rather than celltower networks.
As for the traceability of it, any packet that comes through a network leaves a mark of where it's been. Use the 'tracert' command in the Windows CMD shell to seen an example of this. If you receive a creeper message through the 3G wireless network, the people who own the infrastructure (Telstra, SingTel etc) can trace it. If it's through WiFi, same deal.
It is at this point that I wonder whether iPhones have a MAC address equivalent...Probably something to do with Apple ID association. As CSC has pointed out, though, it's a breach of the Telecommunications Act here, so it isn't available.
None of these apps such as Burner are a substitute for proper screening procedure, though. The best way to protect yourself is to talk to someone online for a while before giving out *any* personal details.
62 Comments - 6 Blog Posts-
(Private Profile) - 11 Aug, 12
-iPhones, like all other GSM phones have a thing called a UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) which basically give the phone hardware a unique number the software can reference.. There are no two UUID's that are the same.. Given that, there is a possibility that Burner uses that number to reference and take control of the broadcom GSM/GPRS communications chip in the phone. That alone means that the people who wrote burner will actually have a record of YOUR phone when the app launches.. The second one, is the PUK (PIN Unlock Key) which is the unique number your SIM needs to identify your telephone number on the providers phone network.. Burner would have to know that, to allow it to bypass your real phone number.. Doing so would also give the creators of burner access to your private data, if they so choose..
Anyway, I just connected to my US based internet connection and got burner… All it is a VoIP System based in the USA… So the data from the phone is coming through the internet (or 3G) network, not the GSM network… The only thing sent to them is a username and password you create and an IP address.. so its very safe to give it out to people… Nobody can tell your real number, where the phone is or who owns it - UNLESS your iPhone is jailbroken.. If you dont change the passwords on your Jailbroken iPhone, someone (like me) can just use that IP to log into your phone and check out all the info.. (Peter Hernadez in Long Island, NY - please change your password on your phone, moron :)
One other note.. The VoIP number is linked to the rotary collection of US based area codes.. so yes you CAN use burner her in Australia, but it will give you a US telephone number, which nobody in Australia would be stupid enough to call, because of the expensive flag fall fee… :)
Geeky wasn't it?
-
-
(Private Profile) - 10 Aug, 12
-Not available in Australia.. Its a breach of the Telecommunications Act here..Great Idea, but it only works with US numbers…
-
-
(Private Profile) - 10 Aug, 12
-The connection is still going thru your service provider, and as far as i am aware, by law they have to save and store the details of every device connected to there Domain.
-
-
nux (FF Host) - 10 Aug, 12
Brunswick Heads, NSW, AUSomeone's been watching The Wire!
756 Comments - 117 Blog Posts
-
nux (FF Host) - 10 Aug, 12
Brunswick Heads, NSW, AUGood question, i notice on the link that the numbers dont resemble aussie numbers, however it does say that you can choose your prefered area code - whether that includes aussie, who knows..... It seems that the app generates the number for you, rather than you choosing your own. It also looks like you buy credits for "minutes"... but still, if i were handing out my number... i'd be happy to pay a few bucks for them to not know my real number.
756 Comments - 117 Blog Posts
-
nux (FF Host) - 10 Aug, 12
Brunswick Heads, NSW, AUI think the general point of the blog is, that this app is safer than giving out your phone number. It's not designed to change the way people behave.
756 Comments - 117 Blog Posts
-
(Private Profile) - 10 Aug, 12
-Skype has it too. Landnumbers connected your Skype account. You pay in advance for a period. I had one once but decided to use my workphone instead. I have a landnumber connected to my mobile and landnumber is easy to change and it cannot be traced. I presume there is one bad guy out of 100 so the chance for needing switch boards help is very small. Besides they have excellent routines for how to handle stalker and protect the employees. In my business we have real phsycos as clients.
Nevertheless - sounds liike a great app :)
-
nux (FF Host) - 10 Aug, 12
Brunswick Heads, NSW, AUAhhh, i see your point. I'd imagine the police would be able to track them if necessary, they can track everything!
I'm not much of a tech head, but i'd imagine this app would work via internet connection, thus it would have an IP. The exchangeable phone numbers would be like usernames.
(just a guess though)756 Comments - 117 Blog Posts
-
nux (FF Host) - 10 Aug, 12
Brunswick Heads, NSW, AUVery cool idea. I don't see how its not safe? They don't have your real number.... that can only be a good thing. If they keep pestering you, ie: not getting the hint - then you can delete that number and create a new one... where's the downside?
756 Comments - 117 Blog Posts
-
Skypes's solution where you buy your own landnumber suits suits me fine. I have tried it a free times. Seems not tracable at all. I answer in my mobils's Skype interface or at laptop as usual. I think it works in almost all lands
You can choose number from a list. I think you had to buy a number for a month