Topics:
Phones
 
Privacy-centric platform: Librem phone https://puri.sm/products/librem-5/
 
Generic Brand Name Consumer Phones:
 
enhancements
	security
		cell phones
		To protect your phone in general without terrible inconvenience, you can:
		Provide an alternate number to call if found by affixing a label to the outside of the phone, as the "signature" or "name" for the second screen or bootup screen
		Turn an "if found please call..." label graphic into your lock screen logo or background photo.
		Set fingerprint recognition or face recognition with a personal pin or pattern failover. This way, if the camera or print reader fails, you can still access your own information. Likewise, if the screen cracks, you can still unlock your phone and have better chance at recovering important information or maintining limitted use.
        Set a pin on your sim card if you have one.
        Encrypt your phone contents. Most modern phones will do this. It takes a lot of time once and the phone must remain plugged in while it does this, but there should be little if any noticable long-term performance differences. 
			AVOID HIJACKING/port-out problems-- this means somebody STEALING YOUR PHONE NUMBER while you're using it.
			Prevent this by set a pin on your account!
			AT&T att.com/esupport/article.html#!/wireless/KM1051397
				For accounts that have been combined with another kind of service including DIRECTV, internet, or U-verse TV-- a single 4-digit passcode was created at activation and is required.  For mixed-service combined accounts, additional security is not available. For cell-phone only accounts (serving any number of phone numbers)
				login att.com/my/  (att.com/my/#/login)
				1. Select which wireless number to secure from the dropdown if more than 1 on account
				2. Wireless Passcode > Manage Extra Security > check "extra security"
				3. re-enter passcode
			T-Mobile support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-37477
				login my.t-mobile.com
				1. Select "Text message" or "Security question" and click "Next"
				2. Follow the directions from there (5 minutes).
				3. Set your pin/passcode at the Set Your PIN/Passcode screen and click "Next."
				4. Done. Logout of My T-mobile if forwarded.
			Sprint: sprint.com/en/login.html or goto sprint.com and click "My Sprint" toward the top middle.
		    ALSO:
		        Use a second line or DISPOSABLE line to protect your primary account (see disposable phone number apps below)
		        This way, your primary number isn't exposed to anyone when you list in the classifieds, use it for free trials of products or services, let a salesperson follow up with you on something specific or do anything that could expose your phone number to annoying sales calls or even account hijacking. 
	unwanted calls
		all phones
			donotcall.org
			apps:
				---- free disposable phone number apps ----
				2ndline: Droid: Yes, iPhone: Yes
						is a freemium Commercial product by TestNow, Inc., a Canadian Company
						Servers located in US and Canada
						Poor Privacy Policy. Advertising and Tracking and disseminates.
						Clear revenue stream of advertising plus service sales.phoner / phone:r Droid: Yes, iPhone: Yes
						Photon company, US based company, poor privacy policy.  Advertising, tracking, clear pixels, etc. Clear revenue stream of advertising and 
				keepsafe - My Number Lookup service (collects your info. from public sources and shares with legally, everyone)
				---- free call-filtering apps ----
				doianswer.com
						Droid: Yes, iPhone: Yes
						antispam
						German company (Computer Service Langenbach GmbH d/b/a Joker.com): Excellent privacy policy and EU laws.  Company has a good reputation and community involvement with qualified and experienced employees.
	tricks
		receive email as sms
		the easiest way to figure out your phone's email address is to text to your own email address and then go read the "From:"  address.  It's usually a format of your10digitPhoneNumber@yourcarrier.com
		martin@email2sms.info/ maintains a pretty beefy worldwide list in his free time. Check here: https://email2sms.info/ 
A few specific carriers for the United States are listed here: 
        Alltel: your10digitPhoneNumber/@message.alltel.com
        AT&T: your10digitPhoneNumber@txt.att.net
        Boost: your10digitPhoneNumber@myboostmobile.com
        Nextel: your10digitPhoneNumber@messaging.nextel.com
        T-Mobile: your10digitPhoneNumber@tmomail.net
        Speedtalkmobile: your10digitPhoneNumber@mailmymobile.net
        Sprint PCS: your10digitPhoneNumber@messaging.sprintpcs.com
        US Cellular: your10digitPhoneNumber@email.uscc.net
    Verizon:VERIZON has not been working, however these are supposed to work
      your10digitPhoneNumber@vtext.com --- verizon text  (previously @vzwtext.com)
      your10digitPhoneNumber@vzqpix.com --- verizon pictures or sounds text
    Virgin Mobile: your10digitPhoneNumber@vmobl.com
Home
    For home, there are wireless failover options for autodial-type security and alarm systems that we would strongly recommend to people in high-crime areas or higher-profile individuals. 
Vehicles
		Sprint Drive hotspot --
			$10-$25 monthly service creates WiFi hotspot, 24/7 Emergency Roadside Assistance, vehicle location and speed tracking, diagnostics, collision detection
			Requires compatible car, signup at Sprint website and device plugged-in. Good for monitoring usage by new or guest drivers.
			Lojack technologies previously used by shippers, government entities, car dealerships, and rental companies are now available to the public.
			Some people use cheap ($5-$10/mo.) cell phone plans and GPS-enabled cell phones such as their old smartphone as a DIY version of lojack, but maintaining the battery creates a technical problem.  Someone with some electrical skill can wire a charger for a phone with the approximate difficulty of an audio amplifier install.  For temporary or short-term use, just slipping a smart device in the truck or behind the back seat can work for monitoring new drivers, or guests borrowing a car, if local laws permit.