Why I don't use a SIM card and neither should you

SIM cards are dangerous. So I don't use them. Support my work: / thehatedone

I don’t actually use a SIM card. And I mean no SIM at all. No physical card, no eSIM. My methods of going about my digital life are very unconventional. This is not what regular people do. But because of my many years of privacy research and investigations, to me, it was completely normal. I understand the privacy implications of using a SIM. But to the uninitiated, not using a SIM for data and texts is out of this world.

For friends and family, I use end-to-end encrypted messaging apps – for me that’s mostly Signa and Matrix. But even the freaking Facebook Messenger is encrypted now. There is no excuse to use unencrypted communication today and cell communication should get deprecated.

For the rare instance when I need a phone number, usually for ancient services like a bank or the government, I do have a dumb phone that’s off all the time and is only on when I need to make a call or when I am expecting a text or a call. I also have a Faraday bag for when I am feeling extra cautious.

For data, well.. I don’t use data. I use public WiFi when possible and when not, I download some offline entertainment when needed for longer routes. Usually getting a WiFi is not a problem as they are ubiquitous in every city – be it a coffee shop or a shopping mall.

So this is why I don’t use a SIM and how I go about my life without it. The more people know about this the more secure we all get so share this video with those you care about in your life.

SOURCES [references available in the transcript]
[0] https://www.zeit.de/datenschutz/malte...
[1] https://www.zeit.de/digital/datenschu...
[2] https://www.qualcomm.com/videos/5g-mu...
[3] https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2018...
[4] https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/fi...
[5] https://www.nokia.com/thought-leaders...
[6] https://www.wired.com/story/5g-securi...
[7] https://www.wired.com/story/5g-more-s...
[8] https://harvardlawreview.org/print/vo...
[9] https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-d...
[10] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...
[11] https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachmen...
[12] https://www.engadget.com/fcc-fines-am...
[13] https://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/911/A...
[14] https://threatpost.com/torpedo-privac...
[15] https://www.wired.com/story/torpedo-4...
[16] https://www.ndss-symposium.org/ndss-p...
[17] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...