GSM Burner Phone Suggestions

[Blind Owl]

Hey Techie TESTies,

I'm shopping for a decent yet well priced burner phone for international travel. GSM, so I can utilize SIM cards (either pay as you go from home or from foreign service providers). I need something that will handle Whats-app, and video calling, either via Facebook Messenger, Google DUO, Skype, etc. Basically I need to be able to communicate effectively with my family while away, without exposing my main phone (and there-by my digital security) to possible exploitation while abroad.

Thanks in advance you Glorious Bastards.

Owl.

 

[Mich Angel]

Look at the LG or huawei mid range version mobile phones online they are sold world wide so most likely to be compatible with most of the worlds cash sim card.
They have a fair affordable price for the mid range versions and they handle most apps avail to day.
If you have a store for used mobile like we have here, you could pick up a good used one that some one turned in when upgraded to newer model for a lot cheaper than a new.
I would not recommend buying used online tho... you never know what you get then.. ;)

CHEERS!

 

[Blind Owl]

Look at the LG or huawei mid range version mobile phones online they are sold world wide so most likely to be compatible with most of the worlds cash sim card.
They have a fair affordable price for the mid range versions and they handle most apps avail to day.
If you have a store for used mobile like we have here, you could pick up a good used one that some one turned in when upgraded to newer model for a lot cheaper than a new.
I would not recommend buying used online tho... you never know what you get then.. ;)

CHEERS!

Thanks Mich. I'll look into them.

 

[Mich Angel]

Thanks Mich. I'll look into them.

You're welcome my friend.

CHEERS!

 

[Bruce]

huawei could mean exposure these days ... and Owl needs real international GSM to maximize his chances for decent cell coverage ( ... tough topic

 

[Harkonan]

When I think burner phones ... I think of the cheap GSM phones sold out of China online for cheap (places like banggood). But as someone alluded to, there are questionable security concerns with atleast certain chicomm phones.

Unless you are worried about physical security of your data, a VPN can also serve very well.

 

[FZD]

Something like Samsung J3 (Unlocked) might work, here's a list of compatible countries:

Samsung SM-J320R4 Galaxy J3 2016 4G LTE International Compatibility

Wireless frequency band information for networks, devices, and countries - Stay connected anywhere in the world

www.frequencycheck.com

EDIT: Also, frequencycheck is a useful resource for checking coverage

 

[Blind Owl]

When I think burner phones ... I think of the cheap GSM phones sold out of China online for cheap (places like banggood). But as someone alluded to, there are questionable security concerns with atleast certain chicomm phones.

Unless you are worried about physical security of your data, a VPN can also serve very well.

Good to go on the VPN. As for physical security, it could be an issue. I'm also thinking about the exploitation of the cell phone number itself, and that tying back to my personal life. That could really be fixed with getting an in-country SIM, or even a pay as you go one from here before I leave. But with the amount of personal information that is on any given phone, I'd prefer to just have a clean slate when traveling.

Something like Samsung J3 (Unlocked) might work, here's a list of compatible countries:

Samsung SM-J320R4 Galaxy J3 2016 4G LTE International Compatibility

Wireless frequency band information for networks, devices, and countries - Stay connected anywhere in the world

www.frequencycheck.com

EDIT: Also, frequencycheck is a useful resource for checking coverage

The J3/J2 are top of my list at the moment. Good find, thank you! As for the frequency check, that's a great tool. Thank you!

 

[Blind Owl]

Thinking about the J2. Also wondering how necessary it really is. By the time you switch over your 2 step for various accounts, and access your google account, etc, aren't you just as compromised as if you did nothing at all? I mean, will factory resetting my phone, only putting on the apps I need, and running a VPN do about the same?

 

[Harkonan]

will factory resetting my phone, only putting on the apps I need, and running a VPN do about the same?

Pretty much.

 

[Thraesh]

As I know your line of work, will this be business or vacation on personal time

 

[Blind Owl]

Pretty much.

I mean, there's no way I'm going to go 6 months without having to access my own shit at some point. Especially 2 step authentication.

As I know your line of work, will this be business or vacation on personal time

Business. 6+ months.

 

[Thraesh]

Business. 6+ months.

Are they not issuing a phone for you? Normally for me I have a pay as you go phone and just buy a sim card when I get to where I'm going. For apps on phones I have a dummy email account made for those and usually have any extra info I need saved on my external hard drive. For programs such as Discord I normally log on those on my laptop and use a VPN.

 

[Blind Owl]

Are they not issuing a phone for you? Normally for me I have a pay as you go phone and just buy a sim card when I get to where I'm going. For apps on phones I have a dummy email account made for those and usually have any extra info I need saved on my external hard drive. For programs such as Discord I normally log on those on my laptop and use a VPN.

Issued phone? No clue. Maybe.
This is more for communicating home with my family. Honestly, I will have an internet puck once I get there, so I just use a VPN and can then use Facetime or Skype, along with whatsapp, to communicate with my wife and little guy. I can use my tablet and laptop for that.
I am leaning the same way your mentioned, but everyone I talk to has a different story when it comes to personal security. My buddy who's there now took his personal cell and threw on a VPN, called it good. Others are suggesting going full bore and taking a burner with dummy account etc. I can do without a phone, but I do want something in my pocket if I'm out and about that I can use to make a damn call if I need to. Or order an uber/taxi. That kinda thing.

 

[Harkonan]

For physical security, having a lock that will factory reset the phone after failed attempts should be solid enough. Just don't put any personal data on the SD card if you have one.

For data security, a VPN should be solid enough as well as it will mask your location and encrypt any data you are sending or receiving.

 

[Thraesh]

Issued phone? No clue. Maybe.
This is more for communicating home with my family. Honestly, I will have an internet puck once I get there, so I just use a VPN and can then use Facetime or Skype, along with whatsapp, to communicate with my wife and little guy. I can use my tablet and laptop for that.
I am leaning the same way your mentioned, but everyone I talk to has a different story when it comes to personal security. My buddy who's there now took his personal cell and threw on a VPN, called it good. Others are suggesting going full bore and taking a burner with dummy account etc. I can do without a phone, but I do want something in my pocket if I'm out and about that I can use to make a damn call if I need to. Or order an uber/taxi. That kinda thing.

For sure, and 6 months away is a long time. My personal requirements are different from others at time too. Even when not travelling, I rarely use apps on my phone. I have Discord on there which I may hop on once in a blue moon and other than that, several offline games to kill boredom if I have to wait and I just text and call on it. Most everything else for me is done on desktop/laptop. If I travel I just toss certain info into notepad/MS word (not passwords) and save it on my extrernal and just use a dummy phone, with those same offline games. Again, this works for me and I have travelled quite a bit, however I know others that just shrug it off or go above and beyond. It all comes down to how much a person wants to go in to it. Also it can involve more investment.

Knowing your work, I'd ask for a phone first off. They may have one already allocated for you

 

[Blind Owl]

For physical security, having a lock that will factory reset the phone after failed attempts should be solid enough. Just don't put any personal data on the SD card if you have one

That's easy enough.

For data security, a VPN should be solid enough as well as it will mask your location and encrypt any data you are sending or receiving.

Yeah, and as I won't have mobile data turned on for most of the time (unless absolutely necessary) then it's kind of a moot point.

It kind of brings me to the whole "they can search your phone at the border thing" now. Do I merely reset my phone ahead of time, only adding what I need, or just get a cheap phone to take over, but use my current SIM? This is more a question for myself, lol.

 

[Blind Owl]

For sure, and 6 months away is a long time. My personal requirements are different from others at time too. Even when not travelling, I rarely use apps on my phone. I have Discord on there which I may hop on once in a blue moon and other than that, several offline games to kill boredom if I have to wait and I just text and call on it. Most everything else for me is done on desktop/laptop. If I travel I just toss certain info into notepad/MS word (not passwords) and save it on my extrernal and just use a dummy phone, with those same offline games. Again, this works for me and I have travelled quite a bit, however I know others that just shrug it off or go above and beyond. It all comes down to how much a person wants to go in to it. Also it can involve more investment.

Exactly this. Which brings me back to the question I'm running with, which is the choice between running my own phone, albeit factory reset and stripped down, or just get a damn burner and utilize another SIM (which can be cheap here, so probably uber cheap over there). I have a bit of time to do some research, lol.

Knowing your work, I'd ask for a phone first off. They may have one already allocated for you

Yeah, I shall do this.

 

[Radegast74]

Exactly this. Which brings me back to the question I'm running with, which is the choice between running my own phone, albeit factory reset and stripped down, or just get a damn burner and utilize another SIM (which can be cheap here, so probably uber cheap over there). I have a bit of time to do some research, lol.

Yeah, I shall do this.

Hmmm...depends on how much of a pain setting up a burner phone is vs. backing up your old phone, resetting, using it, and then restoring it later on?

I'm thinking...if you are going places and you are worried about the physical safety or loss of your phone, go with the burner.

If, however, you are simply worried about safety/malware/other stuff on-line, I'd go with the VPN.

Just my opinion.

 

[Blind Owl]

Hmmm...depends on how much of a pain setting up a burner phone is vs. backing up your old phone, resetting, using it, and then restoring it later on?

Honestly, the thought of switching over all the 2 step authentication is enough to make me not want to do anything, lol