What is a Burner Phone and Why Use One?

In an age of increasing digital surveillance, a burner phone offers a layer of anonymity by separating your identity from your communications. The primary goal, according to cybersecurity experts, is to use a device for a specific, time-limited purpose and then discard it. Whether you need one depends on your personal risk model—the unique threats you face as a journalist, activist, or private citizen. While effective, maintaining a truly anonymous burner phone is a challenging and meticulous process.

Setting Up a True Burner vs. an ‘Altphone’

For maximum anonymity, a ‘true burner’ requires stringent precautions. This involves purchasing a basic phone and prepaid service with cash, while disguising your identity and avoiding any digital or physical trail that could link you to the purchase. The phone should only be activated and used far from your home or work, kept off when not in use (ideally in a faraday bag), and used for a very short period—typically one to seven days—to prevent patterns from emerging in cell tower data.

For many, a more practical solution is an ‘altphone.’ This is often a repurposed or new smartphone used to compartmentalize parts of your digital life, such as a device dedicated solely to attending protests or for international travel. To set it up, you should factory reset the device, avoid linking any personal accounts like your Apple ID or Google account, and disable unnecessary location services. An altphone helps obscure specific activities rather than your entire identity.

Ultimately, no device is perfectly secure. For situations where there is no room for error, experts advise forgoing a phone altogether.