What is Burner Device?
A temporary device purchased anonymously and used for a specific purpose, then discarded to prevent it from being linked to your identity.
Burner devices provide maximum compartmentalization — use once (or for a limited time), then destroy.
How to Use
- Purchase: Buy with cash at a retail store. No loyalty cards.
- Activation: Use a prepaid SIM purchased separately with cash
- Never connect to your identity: Don't log into personal accounts, connect to home WiFi, or call personal contacts
- Disposal: Factory reset, physically destroy SIM, dispose of device and SIM in different locations
Use Cases
- Sensitive communications (whistleblowing, journalism)
- Travel to high-risk countries
- One-time registrations that require a phone number
- Protest communication
Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't carry your burner and personal phone together (correlated location data)
- Don't activate the burner at home or work
- Don't reuse the burner for different purposes
- Don't call contacts from both your personal and burner phones
Related Terms
Burner Phone
A prepaid mobile phone intended for temporary use and easy disposal, typically purchased with cash to avoid identity linking. Used for privacy-sensitive communications where the phone and SIM can be discarded after use.
Compartmentalization
The practice of separating different activities, identities, or data into isolated compartments so that a compromise in one doesn't affect the others.
Operational Security
The practice of protecting sensitive information by thinking like an adversary to identify vulnerabilities in your own behavior and communications. OPSEC goes beyond technical tools to address human factors that could expose you.
Have more questions?
Use our guided flow to get the right next privacy step for Burner Device.
Open Guided Flow