Originally Posted by Gray
Let me elaborate on how phones work.
As much as you could use a VPN what would be the point really, sure, they couldn't track your IP, but there's really no point doing so in a cellular network as it is dynamic always. Cellphones are designated an IP based on how much traffic there is currently. So if you found a cellular phone having an IP adress it's only temporary as when you move around and switch towers, as your phone tries the closest one due to better reception and data speeds, and to conserve battery as searching for a signal burns the battery out.
So, how would one track a phone or determine who owns it?
Just as with computers having HWID, phones have IMEI numbers, a MAC-adress, a serial number and also most likely a SIM CARD
A sim card is usually directly tied to you, your social security number and whatever else that is you, like... your adress.
The MAC adress isn't changing on a phone, unless you root/spoof it, but lets face it, you likely aren't.
I am not sure if you could change a serial number, but I'm having doubts, so they could realistically run a history of owners, locations this serial number have been, by checking which towers it's been, make an area where to start searching for you, set up an intercepting tower and then eventually find you. IF they wanted to.
As for the IMEI number, I think you can change it, but that usually takes it's toll, like apps not working properly, system going weird etc.
Stay while you're ahead if you're not ready for the risks, petty usage might be more lenient before they decide if it's worth tracking you or stopping you during your purchase.
As much as you could use a VPN what would be the point really, sure, they couldn't track your IP, but there's really no point doing so in a cellular network as it is dynamic always. Cellphones are designated an IP based on how much traffic there is currently. So if you found a cellular phone having an IP adress it's only temporary as when you move around and switch towers, as your phone tries the closest one due to better reception and data speeds, and to conserve battery as searching for a signal burns the battery out.
So, how would one track a phone or determine who owns it?
Just as with computers having HWID, phones have IMEI numbers, a MAC-adress, a serial number and also most likely a SIM CARD
A sim card is usually directly tied to you, your social security number and whatever else that is you, like... your adress.
The MAC adress isn't changing on a phone, unless you root/spoof it, but lets face it, you likely aren't.
I am not sure if you could change a serial number, but I'm having doubts, so they could realistically run a history of owners, locations this serial number have been, by checking which towers it's been, make an area where to start searching for you, set up an intercepting tower and then eventually find you. IF they wanted to.
As for the IMEI number, I think you can change it, but that usually takes it's toll, like apps not working properly, system going weird etc.
Stay while you're ahead if you're not ready for the risks, petty usage might be more lenient before they decide if it's worth tracking you or stopping you during your purchase.
