As digital privacy concerns grow, many travelers are rethinking the devices they carry internationally. Due to the fear surrounding electronic search reports at border intersections, some travelers have chosen to use burner phones rather than bringing personal phones to protect sensitive information. But is that necessary? it depends.
How the burner phone works
Burner phones are secondary, usually inexpensive, in combination with a prepaid SIM card. Travelers may use burners to limit their exposure to sensitive personal, professional, or political information that may be included on their personal mobile devices. Burner phones are cheaper, and simpler non-martphone options cost just $20. The more features you need on your phone, the more expensive it becomes. Burner phones are prepaid, generally disposable, and provide travelers with blank phones that are not connected to all data.
You can purchase an unlocked phone and purchase a prepaid SIM card individually, or choose the phone that comes with the included prepaid plan. Get easy mobile phones from major online retailers such as Amazon and major stores such as Target, Best Buy and Walmart. Even convenience stores like 7-Eleven carry them. Carriers such as Tracfone and Boost Mobile are most well known for their simple prepaid plans.
Why do travelers worry about privacy at US borders?
Travelers have less privacy protections at US border crossings than other countries in the US. Marina Shepelsky, founder and CEO of Shepelsky Law Group, explains that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have important authority to inspect electronic devices, and that they can access sensitive data such as medical records and unique business information during their searches.
As previously reported, the European Union has digital privacy laws and constitutional protections, restricting the authority to search for electronic devices for border officials, but CBP agents have broader authority to do searches without warrants or doubt.
Additionally, it is not legally necessary to unlock your device or share your password during a border inspection, but if you do not, your phone could be detained.
“If an electronic device cannot be inspected because it is protected by a passcode or encryption or other security mechanism, the device may be subject to exclusion, detention or other appropriate action or disposition,” the CBP policy states.
Who should consider using a burner phone?
“Travelers, including visa holders, green card holders and individuals with past immigration issues should be aware that CBP has the authority to search for luggage, phones and laptops, even if they don’t have a warrant,” Shepelsky said. Shepelsky can technically refuse to provide a password, but Shepelsky explains that the rejection could lead to further detention on your phone or affect the situation of non-citizen immigration.
Professionals in regulated industrial or legal fields face increased security risks when mobile phones have sensitive client information or private information, says Joshua McKenty, CEO and co-founder of cybersecurity firm Polyguard.
“Crossing borders can potentially pose a legal risk, as the rights and liability of border officers to assess the threat can be at odds with their obligation to maintain confidentiality,” explains McKenty. “For travelers like these, keeping their workplace phones at home may be the best option.”
Other uses of burner phones
Burner phones aren’t just useful at the border. Some travelers use them for privacy and convenience as a way to escape smartphone confusion during their holidays.
Chad Walding, Chief Cultural Officer of Supplement Company NativePath, uses burner phones regularly internationally to restrict potential data leaks from accessing unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
Others like content creator Isheeta Borkar like to use burner phones for both safety and simplicity. She and her husband often lock their major devices in a hotel or Airbnb to avoid losing or being stolen during their daily outings. Instead, they rely on low-cost, unlocked phones for essentials like maps, messaging, and local apps.
“There’s not one thing to worry about,” says Volker.
How to lock down your personal phone for international travel
Digital Forensics and Incident Response Consultant Calum Baird said there are multiple ways to secure your personal phone without the need for a burner phone. Before you begin the process, you can back up your phone to cloud storage and make a copy of all the data you deleted from your phone. This is what he recommends:
- Minimize saved data: Remove old documents, photos and unnecessary downloads on your phone by navigating to files and selecting Delete or Archive. Consider temporarily uninstalling apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and more, especially if they contain private conversations.
- Disconnect the cloud service: Sign out of your device or accounts tied to an individual app. These include Apple ID or Google accounts, and cloud platforms such as iCloud, Google Drive, and OneDrive.
- Clear App Cache: A cache is a temporary storage file that contains an incredible amount of data. The method of clearing your cache depends on the type of phone you are using, but you can find instructions online by searching for a specific phone model. Some settings offer a “clear cache” option, while others may need to remove and reinstall to completely reset.
- Uses strong local security settings: Set a strong password for your device. Long alphanumeric codes provide more protection than four-digit pins, which can be changed in your phone’s passcode settings.
- Create/log in an alternate account: Log in to your spam email account and fake Instagram account (also known as “Finsta”). This doesn’t have many posts or chats if you want to run additional measures without completely wiped everything.
- Lock down your SIM card: I will use ESIM whenever possible because I cannot delete it and cannot copy data. If you cannot switch to ESIM, you can set and pin a password on your removable SIM card.
