Burner Phone 101

Burner Phone 101

Staying Connected, Staying Safe While You Travel

🎯 Course Goals

By the end of this class, students will:

  • Understand what a burner phone is and why travelers use them.
  • Be able to set up a functional burner phone securely and affordably.
  • Know how to protect their identity, data, and communications abroad.
  • Make informed decisions about SIM cards, apps, and safe disposal.

🗓️ Curriculum Outline

1. Introduction (10 min)

Topics:

  • What is a burner phone?
  • Situations where they’re useful (travel, activism, online dating, temporary business, border crossings, etc.)
  • Legal considerations — what’s allowed, what’s not.
  • Comparison: primary vs. burner phones.

Hands-on:
Students brainstorm 3 travel situations where using a burner makes sense.

2. Choosing the Right Burner (20 min)

Topics:

  • Types of burners:
    • Cheap feature phones (talk/text only)
    • Unlocked Android phones
    • Prepaid smartphones
  • Cost, coverage, and tradeoffs.
  • Unlocked vs. carrier-locked devices.
  • eSIM and travel SIM options.

Demonstration:
Show examples of each category. Compare price, usability, and anonymity.

Exercise:
Students identify which phone model fits their use case.

3. Acquiring a Burner Anonymously and Legally (15 min)

Topics:

  • Where to buy (big box vs. small retailers vs. vending machines vs. online).
  • Payment methods (cash, prepaid cards, cryptocurrency).
  • Minimizing personally identifiable data.
  • Registering SIM cards — country-specific rules.
  • Using travel or “tourist” SIMs abroad.

Tip Section:
How to avoid linking to your primary Apple/Google ID.

4. Setting Up Your Burner (25 min)

Topics:

  • Initial setup without linking personal data.
  • Creating a fresh Google/Apple ID.
  • App minimalism: what to install and what to avoid.
  • Secure messaging options (Signal, Session, Element).
  • GPS and location settings for travelers.
  • Using a VPN and encrypted DNS.

Hands-on Lab:
Each participant sets up a clean device profile or a simulated burner environment on their phone.

5. Using Your Burner Safely (20 min)

Topics:

  • Best practices for communication and browsing.
  • Avoiding cross-contamination with your main identity.
  • Storing travel contacts securely.
  • Temporary email, messaging, and cloud options.
  • Recognizing common tracking and data-linking pitfalls.

Scenario Practice:
Border inspection, lost phone, emergency call, social media posting.

6. End-of-Trip Protocols (10 min)

Topics:

  • Backing up data (if desired).
  • Factory reset and SIM destruction.
  • Reusing vs. recycling.
  • What not to do (selling a used burner without wiping).

Hands-on:
Walk through a full reset/disposal checklist.

7. Ethics & Global Considerations (10 min)

Topics:

  • Respecting local laws and privacy standards.
  • Using burners responsibly — not for deception or harm.
  • The balance between personal safety and transparency.

8. Wrap-Up & Resources (10 min)

Recap:

  • 3 key takeaways: Safety, Separation, Simplicity.
  • Recommended reading, apps, and tools.

Optional Certification Quiz:
10-question multiple choice to earn “Burner Phone 101 Certificate of Completion.”

đź“š Materials & Resources

  • Sample burner devices
  • Prepaid SIMs or dummy SIM cards
  • Wi-Fi hotspot
  • Handout: “Burner Setup Checklist”
  • Handout: “Traveler’s Quick Privacy Guide”
  • Slides or printed guide covering the key concepts above