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authorNicholas Johnson <nick@nicholasjohnson.ch>2024-05-27 00:00:00 +0000
committerNicholas Johnson <nick@nicholasjohnson.ch>2024-05-27 00:00:00 +0000
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DTMF.io has shut down. Links to the website have been replaced with archival links.
# Disclaimer
-I am not in any way affiliated with [DTMF.io](https://web.archive.org/web/20210403000611id_/https://dtmf.io/). I was not paid to write this (I wish). If I am paid to write about something, I will always disclose it. I will never write things I do not agree with for money. I just happen to think [DTMF.io](https://web.archive.org/web/20210403000611id_/https://dtmf.io/) is a good service and people ought to know about it.
+I am not in any way affiliated with [DTMF.io](https://web.archive.org/web/20210403000611if_/https://dtmf.io/). I was not paid to write this (I wish). If I am paid to write about something, I will always disclose it. I will never write things I do not agree with for money. I just happen to think [DTMF.io](https://web.archive.org/web/20210403000611if_/https://dtmf.io/) is a good service and people ought to know about it.
# Purpose
-One reason I feel compelled to write about privacy and anonymity is there are so many poorly researched guides out there that don't offer real anonymity, but advertise that they do. Existing guides either have a [freedom](/2020/10/20/use-free-software) issue, privacy issue, or other issue which makes them less than ideal. [DTMF.io](https://web.archive.org/web/20210403000611id_/https://dtmf.io/) really impressed me, so I decided to share it with all of you. Also, I plan on writing a guide on anonymous e-commerce in the future. When I do that, this post will make a good reference since a phone number is required in many cases when doing e-commerce.
+One reason I feel compelled to write about privacy and anonymity is there are so many poorly researched guides out there that don't offer real anonymity, but advertise that they do. Existing guides either have a [freedom](/2020/10/20/use-free-software/) issue, privacy issue, or other issue which makes them less than ideal. [DTMF.io](https://web.archive.org/web/20210403000611if_/https://dtmf.io/) really impressed me, so I decided to share it with all of you. Also, I plan on writing a guide on anonymous e-commerce in the future. When I do that, this post will make a good reference since a phone number is required in many cases when doing e-commerce.
-Sometimes I get asked why I insist on such high standards of anonymity, privacy and freedom in everything. What on earth kind of threat model do I have to insist on such high standards? No, I don't possess state secrets or anything of that level. If I did, I wouldn't be blogging about Big Brother since Big Brother is probably on the list of keywords that gets flagged by [3 letter agencies](https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_agencies_in_the_United_States). My philosophy on this actually aligns pretty closely with [Richard Stallman](https://stallman.org/). I'm just very ethically motivated. Specifically, it's a matter of [preserving my freedom](/2020/10/20/use-free-software) and resisting Big Brother. It's not just that I want to resist Big Brother. I think everyone ought to hold high standards like I do in order to [raise the bar on privacy](/2020/11/14/raising-the-bar-on-privacy) and protect democracy.
+Sometimes I get asked why I insist on such high standards of anonymity, privacy and freedom in everything. What on earth kind of threat model do I have to insist on such high standards? No, I don't possess state secrets or anything of that level. If I did, I wouldn't be blogging about Big Brother since Big Brother is probably on the list of keywords that gets flagged by [3 letter agencies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federal_agencies_in_the_United_States). My philosophy on this actually aligns pretty closely with [Richard Stallman](https://stallman.org/). I'm just very ethically motivated. Specifically, it's a matter of [preserving my freedom](/2020/10/20/use-free-software/) and resisting Big Brother. It's not just that I want to resist Big Brother. I think everyone ought to hold high standards like I do in order to [raise the bar on privacy](/2020/11/14/raising-the-bar-on-privacy/) and protect democracy.
# Problems with Existing Anonymous Phone Number Guides
I'll begin by pointing out a few problems with existing guides out there for obtaining an anonymous phone number. Let's take a look at [appsverse](https://www.appsverse.com/blog/heres-how-to-get-an-untraceable-phone-number/) as a case study. Their first method for getting an untraceable phone number is a burner phone.
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ Method 3 is phone apps. Appsverse recommends phoner, which is a proprietary app
# SMS Privacy
Update (19 Sept. 2022): This service no longer exists.
-[SMSPrivacy.org](https://web.archive.org/web/20220511142136id_/https://smsprivacy.org/) is worth a mention. You can send and receive sms messages over a web interface. The sign up process doesn't require providing any personal information. It has a [v2 onion address](http://smspriv6fynj23u6.onion/) and doesn't require JavaScript which is always a plus. The only gripe I have is the price. 0.0015 BTC per day per phone number is asking too much for most people. It's even more expensive for a physical phone number that you can use to sign up for websites.
+[SMSPrivacy.org](https://web.archive.org/web/20220511142136if_/https://smsprivacy.org/) is worth a mention. You can send and receive sms messages over a web interface. The sign up process doesn't require providing any personal information. It has a v2 onion address and doesn't require JavaScript which is always a plus. The only gripe I have is the price. 0.0015 BTC per day per phone number is asking too much for most people. It's even more expensive for a physical phone number that you can use to sign up for websites.
# Introducing DTMF.io
-[DTMF.io](https://web.archive.org/web/20210403000611id_/https://dtmf.io/) is the best service I've come across for an anonymous phone number. Like SMS Privacy, it can be accessed over a web portal. There is no third party JavaScript. The web portal is available in several languages. It requires no [personally identifiable information](https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personally_identifiable_information) (PII) to sign up and supports 2-factor authentication. Unlike SMS Privacy, it has a more reasonable price tag. It has a [v3 onion address](http://dtmfiovjh42uviqez6qn75igbagtiyo724hy3rdxm77dy2m5tt7lbaqd.onion/) for Tor. It supplies landline, mobile, SIM mobile and toll-free phone numbers from all over the world. You can pay with Bitcoin, Lightning, Ethereum, Litecoin, Monero and Perfect Money. Monero support is a huge plus since it's the only cryptocurrency with private payments by default. You can also make calls using SIP or your web browser. SIP is convenient because it allows you to bypass [the JavaScript trap](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html) of using the web portal. Like SMS Privacy, it does not require you to enable JavaScript in the browser for sign up or sms, although calling won't work without it. DTMF.io has an API available to pro and business customers allowing automated account control, sms and calling. Their [terms of service](https://web.archive.org/web/20210506055108id_/https://dtmf.io/terms) and [privacy policy](https://web.archive.org/web/20210506063909id_/https://dtmf.io/privacy) seem reasonable enough. You can't expect much privacy using sms anyway, which is why I can't recommend using it for very much except maybe website sign up and only if it's required. I also recommend you avoid sharing PII using your anonymous number. Keep in mind a social graph could still be constructed of which numbers you're contacting and at what time. To reduce linkability, you should use a different number for each website you sign up for, if you can afford it.
+[DTMF.io](https://web.archive.org/web/20210403000611if_/https://dtmf.io/) is the best service I've come across for an anonymous phone number. Like SMS Privacy, it can be accessed over a web portal. There is no third party JavaScript. The web portal is available in several languages. It requires no [personally identifiable information](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personally_identifiable_information) (PII) to sign up and supports 2-factor authentication. Unlike SMS Privacy, it has a more reasonable price tag. It has a v3 onion address for Tor. It supplies landline, mobile, SIM mobile and toll-free phone numbers from all over the world. You can pay with Bitcoin, Lightning, Ethereum, Litecoin, Monero and Perfect Money. Monero support is a huge plus since it's the only cryptocurrency with private payments by default. You can also make calls using SIP or your web browser. SIP is convenient because it allows you to bypass [the JavaScript trap](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/javascript-trap.html) of using the web portal. Like SMS Privacy, it does not require you to enable JavaScript in the browser for sign up or sms, although calling won't work without it. DTMF.io has an API available to pro and business customers allowing automated account control, sms and calling. Their [terms of service](https://web.archive.org/web/20210506055108if_/https://dtmf.io/terms) and [privacy policy](https://web.archive.org/web/20210506063909if_/https://dtmf.io/privacy) seem reasonable enough. You can't expect much privacy using sms anyway, which is why I can't recommend using it for very much except maybe website sign up and only if it's required. I also recommend you avoid sharing PII using your anonymous number. Keep in mind a social graph could still be constructed of which numbers you're contacting and at what time. To reduce linkability, you should use a different number for each website you sign up for, if you can afford it.
-I know I criticized using apps for an anonymous number before, but that's because they are proprietary. DTMF.io supports SIP. So, you can use free (as in freedom) SIP calling apps to make calls or you can use the official free (as in freedom) [DTMF.io app](https://web.archive.org/web/20201030213136id_/https://dtmf.io/app) for sms and calling currently available on Android. You can build it from source for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and GNU/Linux. Voice calls aren't currently supported in Windows or GNU/Linux though. It does not require Goolag Play Services and only asks for permissions it needs. It will even work without camera, microphone or contacts permissions enabled.
+I know I criticized using apps for an anonymous number before, but that's because they are proprietary. DTMF.io supports SIP. So, you can use free (as in freedom) SIP calling apps to make calls or you can use the official free (as in freedom) [DTMF.io app](https://web.archive.org/web/20201030213136if_/https://dtmf.io/app) for sms and calling currently available on Android. You can build it from source for Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and GNU/Linux. Voice calls aren't currently supported in Windows or GNU/Linux though. It does not require Goolag Play Services and only asks for permissions it needs. It will even work without camera, microphone or contacts permissions enabled.
The only recommendation I'd make if you plan on using it is that you pay anonymously and don't provide an identifying email address on sign up. Also, if you use the Android app, you should proxy the connection over a VPN or Tor (with [Orbot](https://guardianproject.info/apps/org.torproject.android/)) that way the service never gets your real IP address. Use Tor Browser with the onion address to access it over the web. Other than that I don't know what more you can ask for. The other anonymous phone number services (except for SMS Privacy) either don't allow you to pay anonymously, require identifying information, have proprietary JavaScript, or some other problem that makes them unsuitable. As far as I can tell, DTMF.io is the only game in town for a cheap, ethical, anonymous phone number. If you're using anything else, you should definitely make the switch.