00:20:25
mx_mandelbrot42:matrix.org:
Where can I cheaply rent a UK phone number using Monero while keeping my IMEI private? Any recommendations?
09:05:25
gan:skhron.org:
IMEI is fundamentally always exposed, it's required for authenticating with the telephony network, however unlike IMSI, it's could be change with ease on some smart phones (depends on the country, and sometimes the network) > <@mx_mandelbrot42:matrix.org> Where can I cheaply rent a UK phone number using Monero while keeping my IMEI private? Any recommendations?
09:07:28
orly_owl:
a uk voip number wouldnt show your imei
09:07:41
orly_owl:
not to the voip provider anyway
09:50:40
321bob321:
https://blog.torproject.org/staying-ahead-of-censors-2025/
09:53:47
gan:skhron.org:
orly_owl: Wouldn't VOIP provider have the phone number then?
10:20:43
BlueyHealer:
That's the point?
11:52:03
ivan:tmux.io:
hello world
14:44:00
mx_mandelbrot42:matrix.org:
This service seems promising: https://crypton.sh/
14:56:14
gan:skhron.org:
BlueyHealer: Not the virtual number, that is, VOIP provider usually require some amount of PII, including unironically a phone number
14:57:47
gan:skhron.org:
@mx_mandelbrot42:matrix.org: eh, since you're looking at eSIMs, maybe also look at https://silent.link
16:23:39
mx_mandelbrot42:matrix.org:
Thanks. I'm not looking at eSIMs, but rather their physical number option.
16:25:33
orly_owl:
get a cheap phone and a uk sim?
16:30:13
BlueyHealer:
Travelling abroad for a sim would be prohibitively expensive, lol
16:34:26
gan:skhron.org:
@mx_mandelbrot42:matrix.org: "physical number" as in?
16:35:27
gan:skhron.org:
I assume, a physical sim, and not as in non-virtual VOIP number
16:45:03
orly_owl:
bah
16:49:19
BlueyHealer:
But why was IMEI mentioned then? Who has to not get the IMEI?
16:55:41
gan:skhron.org:
BlueyHealer: Unknown, it can't be private by its nature, so I assumed that the person meant their other number or something
16:57:32
BlueyHealer:
Yeah, that's why I am confused by the question...
17:56:38
nioc:
russia just banned roblox
17:56:55
nioc:
in part because of terrorists
17:56:59
nioc:
oh ok
18:00:17
basses:matrix.org:
most probably because of pedos, but dont want to upset people in charge
18:01:12
nioc:
they don't mention pedos but they do mention lgbt
18:03:23
gan:skhron.org:
I mean, they're currently blocking WhatsApp, reportedly FaceTime and SnapChat, so I wouldn't be surprised, gonna await a post on ntc.party then > <nioc> russia just banned roblox
18:03:54
gan:skhron.org:
nioc: https://mrelay.p2pool.observer/m/skhron.org/57yvicO6U3ODp1B2mS19GeQpjKJuDGZ6.png (ruterr_LGBT_blured.png)
18:04:01
nioc:
ban all the things
18:04:31
gan:skhron.org:
I probably shouldn't post the unblurred version here, so just imagine unblurred image there in your mind
18:04:56
nioc:
TIL lgbt is an organization
18:05:01
gan:skhron.org:
(it's an image from Crocus City Hall Attack)
18:06:09
gan:skhron.org:
It was banned [declared as an extremist movement] the day before the attack happened
18:06:53
nioc:
they are banning US platforms
18:07:16
nioc:
excuses can be anything
18:07:53
nioc:
our propaganda good, yours is bad
18:08:37
gan:skhron.org:
They're looking at platforms with UGC, so it's not just le propaganda
18:11:01
nioc:
so only SGC? S=state
18:11:26
nioc:
anyway, thx for the control guys
18:11:41
nioc:
I expect nothing less
18:12:43
nioc:
I am more concerned with Cat running out of Thanksgiving turkey after tomorrow
18:14:29
gan:skhron.org:
Funny that they decided to touch WhatsApp, since it's the working class favorite, a lot of businesses are actually depend on it
18:14:29
gan:skhron.org:
It's fun and dandy when the state touches kiddie stuff, but affecting businesses is another thing
18:14:29
ravfx:xmr.mx:
@gan:skhron.org: Did it infect like the whole everything like in latam?
18:14:29
ravfx:xmr.mx:
You can't do any business here without that scam
18:14:59
ravfx:xmr.mx:
you need whatsapp to order shit or even get a job
18:15:02
gan:skhron.org:
@ravfx:xmr.mx: Depends, it's 50/50 split with Telegram
18:18:38
basses:matrix.org:
I think telegram is more popular in Russia than whatsapp
18:18:49
basses:matrix.org:
also it will never be blocked
18:23:36
gan:skhron.org:
Younger people prefer Telegram, while older people prefer WhatsApp, E.g., car shops usually use whatsapp for internal stuff and general communication (if desired, they also use just telephony) with the clients
18:23:53
sech1:
max.ru ftw!
18:24:44
gan:skhron.org:
@basses:matrix.org: Depends, they already blocked calls on it
18:25:09
sech1:
whatsapp leaks everything to the 3-letter agencies, so it makes sense that Russia doesn't want it
18:26:42
basses:matrix.org:
misinfo
18:26:48
gan:skhron.org:
sech1: yeah, they want to make Russian version of WeChat
18:26:56
basses:matrix.org:
actually everything on telegram is in plain-text
18:27:23
sech1:
yes, because leaking sensitive data to the enemy's agencies is a matter of national security
18:27:44
sech1:
All truly independent countries have to build their own infra
18:27:48
sech1:
like China and Russia
18:27:55
basses:matrix.org:
whatsapp collects a lot of metadata
18:28:04
basses:matrix.org:
and give it on request for govs
18:28:08
gan:skhron.org:
@basses:matrix.org: Telegram does cooperate with various states, so that's expected
18:28:10
sech1:
the alternative is to be in US's sphere of influence and use their apps
18:28:23
basses:matrix.org:
but it is e2ee by default unlike telegram which is plain text by default
18:28:35
sech1:
whatsapp? e2ee by default?
18:28:36
sech1:
lol
18:28:48
sech1:
have you seen the source code? Has anyone independent seen it? Verified it?
18:28:50
gan:skhron.org:
Fiasco of MTProto 1.0 is far more interesting than the fact they keep 1v1 secret chats on mobile clients only
18:28:55
basses:matrix.org:
yes, even if you dont trust it, at least it is something
18:29:36
basses:matrix.org:
what happens if some agency break into telegram servers, you trust their promise of securing servers in multiple regions BS?
18:29:43
gan:skhron.org:
It has been a snakeoil since day zero, Pavel is also a questionable character as well
18:30:01
sech1:
even more questionable since his mysterious release from France
18:30:29
basses:matrix.org:
also mtproto 2.0 is not fully open source
18:31:11
basses:matrix.org:
also the mysterious of russia suddenly stopping block of telegram servers after coming to some "agreement"
18:31:28
basses:matrix.org:
telegram is worse in every way
18:31:36
basses:matrix.org:
even crypto scam in group chats
18:31:42
basses:matrix.org:
ads
19:10:00
BlueyHealer:
TG pisses me off
19:10:21
BlueyHealer:
yes, ads are one of the biggest gripes
20:37:09
ravfx:xmr.mx:
https://xmr.mx/ravfx.txt
21:05:33
ivan:tmux.io:
have yall seen kik? thats what i imagine telegram will be like in a few years
21:05:42
ivan:tmux.io:
rampant bots that flood your dms the momnt you show up in any group chat
21:11:08
gan:skhron.org:
Most IM platforms unironically don't have any kind of protection against invite spam beside either just turning it off fully or there may be some kind of control in rare cases, but the moment one would step in a public server/room/channel/whatever - it'd be a free-zone
21:39:49
BlueyHealer:
I have had invites off for as long as I remember, only manually allowing it from time to time. I wish I could just leave eventually.
21:41:19
BlueyHealer:
BTW this is one of the reasons I am sad Simplex is going the sus route - because I love the model of "each contact has a different identifier".
21:43:35
BlueyHealer:
Although now that I check, the "who can message me" is now not "my contacts", but "my contacts and Premium users". Premium is one more reason to despise the platform.
23:50:23
mx_mandelbrot42:matrix.org:
Sorry for the confusion! I mentioned IMEI in my question, but my main focus was on renting a UK phone number with privacy in mind. I appreciate all the insights from ppl who chimed in. > <BlueyHealer> Yeah, that's why I am confused by the question...