this post was submitted on 28 Jun 2024
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Privacy

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

On one hand yes, but on the other hand, doesn't it confuse the cell network? I think the IMEI is used for routing or some other similarly basic operation. Like the MAC address, but it's for a larger area and more easily can cause trouble

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

Theoretically, the SIM has its own MAC that’s used for routing on the cellular network; however, the network is required to route 911 calls even without a SIM, and that’s done via IMEI.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

No, there are no confusions. Changing the "id" like the MAC address or the IMEI has no impact on any system.

Its just like a new device joins a network.

For example, when a client device gets its IP from the dhcp server on a router, which allocates a random ip from a specific pool, it does not influence anything like ip packets routing...

The real issue is that it is forbiden, BECAUSE if you randomize it you do not have an unique id anymore to trace back a specific device...

Hope is more clear for you now!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Changing the "id" like the MAC address or the IMEI has no impact on any system.

On the system none, yeah. But if you pick an IMEI that's also used by an other phone, that is what can cause trouble, as I know. It's the same as when multiple devices have the same MAC or IP address on the same network.

For example, when a client device gets its IP from the dhcp server on a router, which allocates a random ip from a specific pool, it does not influence anything like ip packets routing...

That's because it is not random. The DHCP server keeps track of the addresses it has assigned to someone, and will never tell the next new client to use an IP it has already assigned someone.
But if you set your IP statically and pick an IP that is used, or if you run multiple DHCP severs for the same network without coordination, then problems will come.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Yes you are correct!

But in our discussion it was implied/assumed a random UNIQUE IMEI or MAC address.

For example most of people have a pile of unused older phones which are NOT IN USE and you could use thoses IMEIs without issues.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

a random UNIQUE IMEI

How do you guarantee that it's unique? I think you can't

For example most of people have a pile of unused older phones which are NOT IN USE and you could use thoses IMEIs without issues.

Fair, but how does one know which IMEIs were used by now unused phones?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

IMEIs are unique by design... Any existing device SHOULD have a unique IMEI. So when you use an older device IMEI should work perfectly.