Comments on: How to have an anonymous phone conversation

By: Dexter Morgan

Dexter Morgan — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 05:00:58 +0000

If you *REALLY* want to have a secure conversation, meet the person face to face, and whisper in each others’ ears. Make sure no one can see your lips moving. Otherwise, your conversation could be picked up and recorded– where it can be listened to (or read) at any time. Please do not trust *ANY* encryption method– the NSA has cracked them all. I know what I am talking about– cryptography is my field. Another way is to use a “dead-drop”, but that can be compromised if you are not keeping the drop under surveillance 24/7. Messages should be encrypted with a paper-and-pen “one-time-pad”– which is the only encryption method that has not been (and probably cannot be) cracked. Just Google “tradecraft”, and go from there.

Of course, if you are not doing anything illegal (like not reporting your offshore accounts, trusts, and controlled foreign corporations, or not paying taxes on your world-wide income if you are a “US person”) then you have nothing to worry about…

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:56:50 +0000

I am in Panama and went to get a cell phone. First, they told me the phones for $10 only work in Panama. To get a phone for USA and Europe, I had to pay $50. Then, when paying they asked for my passport and would not sell me a phone without me filling in an ID number on their forms. Of course, I filled in a false name and made up a passport number. Even though I speak Spanish–haltingly–I can understand everything. But whenever I balked at their “requests” and tried to buy time to think, they figured I was yet another stupid American and let me have my way. They actually got very exasperated at one point, yelling at me in English. So I bought a phone without showing a passport, but I suspect if I looked smarter or spoke better Spanish, I may not have gotten away with it…

By: Möpsi

Möpsi — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:54:08 +0000

I don’t know that anyone has built a real quantum computer yet, but the spooks might pretend that they have, while “dowsing” the information field for the answers. Regardless, the govts have placed their big bets in both areas, and you have just heard where I think they are more likely to have had their success, since so many others have. I would not even trust one-time-pad encryption, because I don’t think electronic secrecy is a practical concept. Quantum/molecular invalidates and obsoletes electronic/photonic, and likewise information field invalidates and obsoletes quantum/molecular. Everything else is 30-50 years in the past, and it was not even any good back then, except as comfort for those who put their faith in it (hmmm, that sounded slightly religious).

For confidentiality, I would either just fly under the radar and hide my information in plain daylight, or just avoid computers altogether.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:40:51 +0000

Carlos,

Skype handed over their encryption algorithms to the NSA by court order some time ago. Actually I don’t trust any encryption as whatever the government releases technology into the public domain, it’s usually AT LEAST 20 years old (sometimes more than 50). If you don’t think they have teams of mad scientists with beards to the floor walking around underground NSA installations, who built quantum computers that long ago, you are either in denial or you need to get drunk in the bars around the inside of the D.C. beltline for a few years.

By: Bob Hays

Bob Hays — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:32:39 +0000

FWIW, I just posted a trip log regarding Panama under the Black Paper release topic. In it I comment on getting a Movil cell phone.

By: BorisV

BorisV — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:45:36 +0000

Err… What’s wrong with just buying a Tracfone with enough pre-paid minutes in the closest Walmart? Pay cash, refuse to give your personal info when you activate the phone, just do it via phone itself, not thier website, that’s it.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:21:15 +0000

Skype uses AES-256 encryption which is about as good as it gets. Unlike many websites where info-security implementation is piecemeal, the skype guys are real techno gurus (http://www.skype.com/security/detailed-security/#review). And if you never use skype-out/in (VOIP to land line paid service), it’s completely anonymous. Of course the problem is getting other people to use some funky new internet thing where you have to get the audio mic and speakers set up properly.

Can the NSA hack into AES encryption? I can’t imagine so, but Simon would know better (if he’s allowed to say; though I’m wondering why he didn’t bring it up). As long as you use a decent password (not family member birthdays) and are not using it to call land lines, I think it’s pretty secure.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:45:06 +0000

Simon, take a look at what the Canadians can do, eh!
Spy agencies allowed to eavesdrop on Canadians abroad.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/spy-agencies-allowed-to-eavesdrop-on-canadians-abroad/article1314787/

By: Joel

Joel — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:32:25 +0000

Re:anonymous phones. You mentioned in addition to Panama where one can get the SIM chip you referred to, to wit, China. I will be going there early next year. Could you possibly tell me – or your subscribers – what to ask for or what it is called by name in China (Hong Kong also?) and if a similar phone can be bought as well? (I should think so given the entrepreneurial and copying skills in that part of the world.)
Also how about the idea of buying a number of these chips and phones as well as time on each to stash in places just in case, or to give to family members for emergency – and private – contact? Does this make sense?

By: Me

Me — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:46:30 +0000

I’ve not looked into this but using skype and VPN protection (cryptohippie is pretty good) may offer similar protection. I’ve been told by cryptohippie that skype conversations are anonymous but have not verified this.

By: Expat X

Expat X — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:29:13 +0000

“When you return to your home country, you will be able to call anyone you wish knowing that you are completely anonymous.” Just remember not to ever say “Hi Jill, this is Elliot Tretzalewska from Point Barrow.” Heh.

In the US, at least for now, one can get Virgin Mobile service without any sort of ID (they’ll put whatever name on it you like, same with the associated email address, if you choose to provide one), and then pay cash for top-up cards.

By: Wade

Wade — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:48:23 +0000

I tried the *#06# on my Verizon Wireless phone, and it did not work. Also I can buy a phone here with prepaid minutes and give them no personal information, so it is anonymous.

By: Bill Young

Bill Young — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:37:50 +0000

Simon,
Good grief ,,, I think the takeaway from the gov’t eavesdropping issue is, or should be by now, a commonly understood actuality. It’s Big Brother time, end of story. So, just don’t shoot your mouth off, on the phone, about any weird stuff that’ll attract attention to you. Big deal makers know this. If some wacko is so stupid as to blab about his or her wacko intentions, then they need to be caught. They’re stupid … And, pulling off the Panama gig is cool, but who is gonna just blow down to Panama, buy the set-up and use the deal for a buck a minute ? Anyone at that level has easier ways to communicate privately.

Keep it coming …
B. Young