Android Ghost? The case for Travel Routers
Beast Security, Ducking Geolocation, Evading blocks, Anon Audio, and a whole new world
Tor’s Downsides
Not only is Tor slow, but it also can’t do audio calls.
Audio calls use UDP packets, while Tor is TCP. And the Tor exit IPs are blocked, which makes it annoying to use Orbot on Android because you want all your apps to work at once.
But if Simplified Privacy’s VPN is put on the router,
And then a different VPN is used for the phone itself, at a price point of $1/month, it offers easy anonymity.
What is GLiNET?
This company sells these small travel routers that you can use for Wifi, either with a SIM card in it (or Ethernet), when you’re on the go. They are small enough to fit in your pocket.
No SIM
SIM cards (especially with a KYC IMEI) are a way to track your movements in real-time, and who you stand near, even in airplane mode.
Now you could buy a degoogled phone with cryptocurrency to at least keep your name off the IMEI. But an additional potential tool is to use a travel router with a SIM.
Internal or External to Router
GLiNET travel routers can either have a SIM card inside it, or outside it.
Internal
If it’s inside it, then it’s faster.
I recommend this for most people. However, then it should be kept in a faraday bag when it’s not used. And keep in mind the Mudi v2 doesn’t yet have open source OpenWRT support.
External
Others have a USB slot to insert an external SIM, such as the “Slate” model. This is slower, but doesn’t need a faraday bag to hide your location. Also, many of these models (such as the Slate pictured here), require an external battery which makes it a pain to carry around and setup on the go. (especially outside or bad weather)
Firmware
GLiNET routers come with a modified version of OpenWRT. The GLiNET version is closed source, but the original OpenWRT is open. While users can flash the open source OpenWRT on the older versions of some of the routers, the newest and fastest one with the SIM inside it is not yet supported.
My advice:
If you’re just going to be passing encrypted traffic through a 2nd layer as a disposable shield, I would just go with the newest, fastest, and most convenient one. (Which is Mudi v2 at the time of this writing, but if they update it, then reach out to me update this article)
VoIP
Hand-in-hand with no SIM card and using a travel router is VoIP. We discussed using VoIP to hide your location, and how it goes through the internet, to a provider who coordinates with the regular telephone lines.
WAN vs LAN
As previously discussed, the WAN or worldwide port is much more hostile from a security perspective than a “LAN” port (local area networking). By introducing another firewall layer in your networking, it dramatically improves security when compared to just having a SIM in the phone itself and connecting directly to the enemy.
This is even more true if both the phone and router have VPNs (or Tor).
Even if you want Tor,
Another possibility is hiding Tor use.
With a VPN router, you’d be hiding from the ISP that you’re on Tor. And given the risks of Tor, it makes sense to give yourself another shield.
Benefits of Travel Routers:
-Reduce and Control the Geolocation tracking of SIMs
-Anonymous Audio Calls, which Tor can’t do. (signal, matrix, simplex, ect)
-More effective VoIP location hiding, without the burden of the 24/7 SIM card in the phone
-Anonymous apps or web traffic without speed or blocks.
-Increased Security of a 2nd Firewall
-Dirt cheap burner Simplified Privacy Wireguard configs ($1)
-Hide Tor if you want it for texting on chat apps
-Hide from an unknown or malicious Tor entrance guard
Software Help:
Proceed to GLiNET VPN Tutorial
Hardware Help:
Buy a Router or Phone from us
Pay cryptocurrency and make up a fake name, this is great for semi-anonymous IMEI identification. We also have huge discounts on GrapheneOS Pixels.
Note: Our goal here is NOT to help you do crime, we just provide this crypto router service to help people get easy privacy, and get setup with our VPN. Our primary mission is software development, and this is just a side-hussle to go with the VPN service.
If you really want to learn and take your privacy to the next level, Access our VPN, and subscribe to our new content via: Podcast RSS, Session list, Nostr, Bastyon, Article RSS, or join the Signal Group
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