Are there eSIM Hidden Dangers?

Some new phones like the iPhone comes only with an eSIM option. No physical SIM cards. Does this matter? Isn't it more convenient when a SIM card does not have to be inserted? This may be a direction we are going into that may prove to be a dangerous move for privacy.

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I'm the Internet Privacy Guy. I'm a public interest technologist. I'm here to educate. You are losing your Internet privacy and Internet security every day if you don't fight for it. Your data is collected with endless permanent data mining. Learn about a TOR router, a VPN , antivirus, spyware, firewalls, IP address, wifi triangulation, data privacy regulation, backups and tech tools, and evading mass surveillance from NSA, CIA, FBI. Learn how to be anonymous on the Internet so you are not profiled. Learn to speak freely with pseudo anonymity. Learn more about the dangers of the inernet and the dangers of social media, dangers of email.

I like alternative communication technology like Amateur Radio and data communications using Analog. I'm a licensed HAM operator.

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[nextgenelectronica]

I can answer some of your questions:
1. E-Sim is not stored in rom, and thus not removed with a factory reset / reflash.
2. You need Google Play Services to install a E-Sim in most if not all cases ( at least in the Netherlands ), but no need to sign in to Google.
3. You can remove an E-Sim using a service menu ( on Google Pixel phones at least ).

I had to install an E-Sim on a degoogled phone, this was not possible on a Google Pixel 6A with Lineage OS and Arrow OS without Google Play Services, had to bring it back to stock, sideload a carrier app and then download and install the E-Sim.
After the E-Sim was installed i could flash my deGoogled firmware ( erase everything ) and
still use the E-Sim afterwards..

Luckily it is possible to erase the E-Sim with a deGoogled phone, no Google Play Services needed for that..

Haven;t tested this with Micro-G..

Hope this answers some of your questions, i will keep my current phones and will never use E-Sim again..

Thanks for explaining how a phone works with and without an (E)Sim regarding radios!

[imaginemyshock]

I suspect the time will come when it will be too dangerous to have a phone at all.

[jacklewis]

"Are esims a problem for privacy? In my opinion, yes! "

Didn't see that one coming 🙂

[tomnoyb]

Had eSim on Pixel-5. It was useless. It was forever being disabled (by the carrier whose name started with a "V"). Always requiring a visit to a store and never requiring less than an hour.

[esquilax]

I have noticed that WhatsApp (I know, not a privacy friendly app, but that's not what I'm asking about) message backups can be decrypted on another phone, if you transfer your SIM to the new phone and re-register WhatsApp on the new phone. This indicates the decryption key is derived from information on the SIM. Do you know what information that might be? Could it be this KI value?

[rattsjcfanpage]

Yeah…. I think I’ll go back to a flip phone, I’m tried of this technology crap. It’s nice but it’s too much and it’s ruined our lives. No one talks anymore or call each other, I rather call than text. It’s getting ridiculous out there.

[timbinder]

Hi Rob, I'm in the U.K. Last July I updated my phone and i now have an iphone 14 plus. When I purchased this I asked for an Esim. The reason for this is that if my iphone was lost /stolen any criminal would not be able to remove the physical SIM card because there isn't one. I was under the impression (maybe mistaken) that this would make my phone more secure.

[CBM]

Hi Rob, it's great to see that your channel has gotten so much traction on YT! I used to stay up and watch you and Ron Waxman on Periscope :)

[Putrakampungan]

E-sim data can be remove from the phone. I had my android, I remove my old e-sim which I don't subscribe already.

[pwnmeisterage]

Many people assume and will even argue that eSIMs are superior to SIM cards.
Because the phone OEMs and the carriers have positioned eSIMs as a commodity technology.

Before you automatically, blindly, passionately assert that eSIMs are somehow superior - before you rush out to buy one - you must answer one specific question: exactly how are eSIMs better, what specific advantage do they provide to consumers that SIM cards do not?

Much prefer physical sims. Most people do and ESIM has been forced on the public.

[itsmaxim]

you can disable any eSIM or physical SIM in settings > cellular, at least on iPhones.

[weekendwarrior]

There has never been an "e" that made something better :-) It's always a software trickery that makes it harder to control and use than the original physical object.

[mediocreape]

i can't believe how well researched your videos are. grat job rob

[seeratlasdtyria]

I had a 'friend' some time ago, who had received a bit of shall we say, unwanted attention, from one of the alphabet agencies. Sooo, he mailed his long time "secure" cell phone to a remote area in equatorial Africa lol. While I can't rerify it, he swore to me later, that sure as hell, a 'contact' of his duly reported to him that sure as hell, two 'unidentified' foreigners showed up where the phone had remained in the local mail depot, and took possession. LOL Sometimes these agency peeps crack me up::) Moral of the story, simply don't use YOUR cell phone if you're going/doing anything 'sketchy'. PS: one caveat tho, you STILL have to consider OTHER forms of surveillance: i.e., sat images (amazing how good the camera's and i.d. algorithms have gotten), as well as the infrastructure for tracking chains of financial transactions, not to mention the standard 'tail' :) In these days, a good old "tangled web of deception" is what you WANT LOL.

[gamergamer]

Thank you for the info! I did not know.

[bahhaziz]

I have a Google pixel 8 and it has the option to erase the eSIM

[crxdelsolsir]

If it is possible, without a doubt the shady people and corrupt will do it.
Redirecting self driving cars
Disabling Internet connected cars
Tracking and mining your personal information your connected electronic device.
Etc

It has been done and every privacy clause is nothing but a feel good narrative.

[pantarei.]

I have a different question. Is it safe to use domain and hosting provider (like eg. OVH with Roundcube) as an email provider?

[ShamanBalder]

10:48 "or have some internet connection"
Thanks for letting me know Airplane mode doesn't help, that was a shocker. But also confusing because I didn't know you can have internet connection in airplane mode.