Survival Handbook Against the Massive Surveillance
Learn a few tips to resist against the states agenda against us as individuals.
This Cannot Be Stopped
Note: adapted from the original post for people from México
It’s not that I’m being pessimistic, but there are different countries that are focused on being able to identify us by location, whether through using Internet services or being on the street.
It doesn’t matter who governs, or if we vote for someone who claims to oppose it, in the end, one way or another, restrictions on these services will be implemented, since knowing every movement of people is what makes government so powerful.
Let this be clear: the taxes they steal from us are not used to improve our quality of life, but to take away our freedom.
With that clear, let’s look at the options.
Mobile Phone
Google Pixels are the best mobile phones in terms of security, so much so that it’s the only hardware compatible with GrapheneOS, the most secure and private Operating System based on Android available for pocket devices.
Mobile Data Access
When you don’t have Internet access through Wi-Fi, we use mobile data to connect to street antennas, paying our phone number provider.
This is usually tied to a SIM (physical chip), but due to its restrictions, the solution is an E-SIM.
An E-SIM allows you to connect to the mobile data network, but not all providers give you a number to receive or make SMS or calls (I’ll provide solutions for this later).
I recommend using a provider that at least offers the option to pay with Monero/XMR, to protect your identity with respect to the service you’ll use.
Communications
SMS and calls using the default apps on mobile phones are not secure, since they lack encryption.
Your provider can read and listen to your conversations (and believe me, they do it without discrimination).
Use an app that has end-to-end (E2E) encryption.
It’s also important that it allows you to use it without needing a phone number, which is why I rule out WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal.
If you have no alternative and must use WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal, use a service that allows you to purchase SMS or already-created accounts.
Finance
All banks make it mandatory to have a phone number capable of receiving SMS for authentication tokens, supposedly for security, but in reality it’s so the government can coerce you if necessary.
There’s no way to avoid needing a SIM to have access to banks, but you can opt for alternatives.
- Cash money
- Monero/XMR
Cash for in-person transactions or physical stores, and Monero for Internet transactions.
Ideally, of course, is to always use Monero, and there are even businesses that accept it in person, since it’s a currency completely outside the traditional system.
Additional Resources
Search for more services that respect your privacy and data.
Posted: June 29, 2026