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Is it a good enough solution for IMEI tracking to use an alternative device to provide a hotspot connection?

This approach appears to protect any new device that hasn't inserted a SIM card from being identified.

But I'm not sure how much information is carried to the second device by using hotspot.

Is this a good solution so far? Should I try to spoof IMEI?

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[-] happeningtofry99158@lemmy.world 2 points 21 hours ago

thanks a lot.

I am trying to keep my device IMEI information private

May I also ask how much information is carried to the second device by using hotspot? By this I meant the phone with IMEI will be able to know my device name, but what else? Will the phone with IMEI also be able to know the device model?

[-] catloaf@lemm.ee 2 points 14 hours ago

It will know as much data as it would for any other wireless client. MAC address mostly.

[-] happeningtofry99158@lemmy.world 1 points 5 hours ago

thanks a lot! what about device model, is this info also sent?

[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 2 points 18 hours ago

I am trying to keep my device IMEI information private

By replacing it with another not-private one? For what purpose?

[-] happeningtofry99158@lemmy.world 1 points 18 hours ago

using another not-private device is just a temporary solution. In the end I would like to use a portable router that supports MAC/IMEI randomnization

[-] Ulrich@feddit.org 4 points 18 hours ago

Not sure how that would work. IMEI is how the carrier knows who you are and grants you network access.

[-] HelloRoot@lemy.lol 4 points 15 hours ago

They certainly can be spoofed or cloned.

But thats as illegal as it gets and faces serious proscecution.

[-] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 3 points 14 hours ago

Spoofing IMEI isn't helping if OP pays for the service with bank account / credit card, or walks in a store to pay but with face exposed, or turns on the cell-hotspot device on at home (because they'll be able to associate the SIM/Service-Plan with your address via cellular triangulation, and thus your identity)

this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
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