A burner phone is a mobile device that is used for temporary and thus discarded use, frequently to obfuscate or avoid detection. But in practice, these phones tend to be associated with criminal activities, yet they are just as viable for legitimately purposeful activities revolving around privacy in sensitive communications. The inclusion of GPS in them is not something that you (or users like you) will trust if you’re the sort that uses these burner phones to separate yourself from social media and the internet. If you’re concerned about this app being tracked, this guide will answer your questions on the issue and hopefully put your fears to rest.
Do Burner Phones have GPS?
Normally such a phone is reasonably priced and available without long-term contracts or other identifying information. They might also provide prepaid minutes and data plans that can be reloaded as you need them—as most Android or iOS phones would. But with things so good on the outside, can we put that level of trust in the hands of these phones to provide this safety? Let’s discuss it.
Do Burner Phones have GPS?
It depends. Some burner mobiles have GPS, some don’t. With specific models and manufacturers, the phones’ GPS capability depends on the manufacturer. Normally, a burner mobile includes some rudimentary mobile with just a couple of capabilities, GPS is not a normal component of such a considerable number of these cell phones. But newer models have GPS. If the burner mobile has GPS, it may not be active (which is a much larger problem) or simply disabled by the user to add privacy and anonymity.
Is it even possible to track a burner phone number?
You can track a burner number, yes. However, tracking a burner mobile number is more difficult than tracking a regular mobile number. That is because in many cases burner mobile is associated with anonymous or untraceable communication. No matter how hard you try, law enforcement agencies have found a way to track a burner phone. Some other things to mention about these techniques are cell tower triangulation, GPS, etc.
Is it possible to Trace Burner Numbers Back to You?
And yes, Burner phone numbers can lead back to you through GPS and other technologies. Tracing a burner phone number depends greatly on how anonymous and private are you when obtaining and using the burner number.
- The downside to buying a burner number using your real name or other identifying information is that it’s traceable back to you.
- Likewise, if when using the burner number you call or send messages that divulge your identity or location, it will be traced back to you.
- The problem is, though, if you do take steps to maintain your anonymity and privacy, such as buying the burner phone number with a fake name and address, not answering or responding to calls or messages that could identify you, and disposing of the burner phone once it’s paid for, for example, it can be much harder to trace the burner phone number back to you.
Can a Burner Phone be Traced to a Location?
A burner mobile can be traced to a location. There are many different types of ways you can trace the location of a burner phone besides GPS such as cell tower triangulation and Wi-Fi hot spots. While it’s impossible to trace where the burner mobile ends up, if the burner mobile is only used for a brief time and has no identifying information, it is harder to find its location.
Is it possible to track burner phones by police?
Yes, burner mobiles can be tracked by police. A burner mobile can be tracked by any government or law enforcement agency. But there are things you can do to make a burner mobile more private and anonymous, like using it for short periods, staying off the hook for cellular and other location tracking features, and turning it off until you need to use it. If you get yourself a burner phone to use for illegal activities, no matter how much you try you will be traced by the police or other law enforcement agencies using GPS and other tools! Let’s understand the difference between a burner and vs prepaid phone now.
What are the Advantages of a Burner Phone?
The benefits of using a burner phone apart from not having GPS are listed below:
- You can also use a burner mobile to keep your privacy and anonymity.
- It’s very cheap and can be used as a a backup or second phone.
- Sometimes it can be used as a temporary phone.
- In the event of a security breach or hack you can use it to help prevent your personal information from being compromised.
- With a burner mobile, you have a little more control over who can access your personal information and who might be calling without your permission.